Thanks to Mary Lee Hahn who is hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, here. It's A(another) Year of Reading where she's sharing a poem response using a 'clunker' from Linda Mitchell, turning it into a poignant villanelle, one that will touch us all. Perhaps it's about Mary Lee retiring, turning to her changes, but also about these long months we've lived, also changing in many ways? Thanks for it, Mary Lee, and for hosting!
I have been to the beach, a special family trip. And I gathered a few poems, too. Here's one!
Dreamy Browsing
on vacation
I dreamed
about browsing life
remember
I am a bookseller
always scanning shelves
this time,
beach browsing
daily meant
sand between my toes
lapping water, salty breezes,
a vendor’s empanada
everyday a grandchild’s laughter
gurgling in the waves
I wanted to buy one day
or two
pack them in the carry-on
I splurged
and bought them all
Linda Baie ©
47 comments:
Oh, what a wonderful splurge. That's a gorgeous beach photo...from the trip? I love how your poem is a story and includes a bookseller. I did use the clunker line you gave me a few weeks back...but you were away at the beach! Here it is. I see so much personality in flowers these days.
Gladiolas
showing off like high-kick chorus lines
dressed in beaded, jewel-toned costumes
July’s gladiolas bow
waving to the whistles
from the balcony
ever shameless
attention
seeking
blooms
(c) Linda Mitchell
Yes, the photo is from the trip, Linda. Wow, your poem is wonderful and I love that you used the line; those 'shameless blooms' makes me smile! Thanks!
Oh Linda.....YES!!! Splurge, buy them all, pack them, honor them. Such a terrific poem. I feel like I am with you and all that glee!!! I saw your photos on fb and was thrilled for you. I am not able to head to the poetry workshop in Sept. due to a series of schedule conflicts and our already paid for Maine vacation!! So off we go. I hope to get a lot of writing done in my happy place, though it takes second fiddle place to the time with the grandkids ahead. In a way that is vacation, too, vacation for the heart. Love to you! Janet
PS I LOVE the beach and hope to spend time there in Maine this Sept. I am praying there will be decent enough weather to dip my toes in the ocean!!!
Thanks, Janet, it was a special trip, wishing you one, too! The beach is always something to cherish! I'm glad you'll be going in Sept.! I can't make the poetry workshop either, maybe we can go next year if it happens again with Georgia & Rebecca? Happy memories there, too!
Last week I was across the street from "your" bookstore at Cherry Tomato with Carol W! Did your ears burn? (Maybe you had too much sunscreen on :-) That last stanza made me burst out laughing. We went to 3 indie bookstores on vacation (TC in Denver and 2 in Lawrence) and came home with lots of splurges!
I'm planning on next year as long as it's in October! Let's stack the deck with PF Peeps!
Beautiful sentiments, Linda... Yay for splurging with your whole heart!
Yay, Linda, so glad you enjoyed splurging and buying them all. And what a backdrop--sandy toes, "lapping water, salty breezes, /a vendor’s empanada" Delicious!
Welcome back, Linda! Glad you could squeeze them all into your carry-on...my favorite stanza is this one:
remember
I am a bookseller
always scanning shelves
I love the intimacy, the way you assume the reader will remember this knowledge of you with just a little reminder. 😍
No ears burning but sorry I missed you! There's lots of poetry at the store! Thanks!
That would be a fabulous gather!
Thanks, Tabatha, it certainly was a strange dream!
Thanks, Denise, so much to love was there, especially family!
Thanks, Heidi, the bookstore has become a big part of my life. I am lucky!
Loved this poem, Linda. So glad you had a great time. The photo and poem go together perfectly. Thanks!
And some of us are lucky beneficiaries of your great good fortune of a job (aren't you a volunteer or is it a paid thing now?) The new poetry books make my mouth water and my bookcases cry, "ouch, we're squooshed too tightly as it is!!!" Never too many books of poetry.
You're welcome, Karen! I'm happy you like it! It was a wonderful trip!
No pay, Janet! The bookstore is run entirely by volunteers!
I love that you were browsing, like the bookseller you are, at the beach. "Sand between my toes
lapping water, salty breezes, a vendor’s empanada." So much to gather up and enjoy with your family. I went to the MA shore early summer and got to see the ocean there. Good to see you again here.
I was a bit envious of your trip to Belize. We had scheduled one to Costa Rica that was cancelled. Maybe next year...
Your poem speaks to me, grandchildren's laughter, but I love how you use your vocation of scanning bookshelves as a metaphor for scanning days. Clever craft move!
Seeing your instagram photos made me so happy, Linda. I'm glad you splurged. Such precious memories - especially during these times.
Linda. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the beach, grandgirls, and vacation. I especially like that you treasured your "grandchild’s laughte
gurgling in the wave. Your ending is tender view from a loving grandmother: you "splurged", savored memories, and packed them to take home. Good for you.
Thanks, Janice. I wish the ocean wasn't so far away, but I'll take what I am able to. I guess being far makes the trips even more special, that "gathering"!
Sorry for your canceled trip. We knew it could happen but are glad it worked out. I really did have that 'browsing dream', imagined it fit for this special time, along with other life's moments. Thanks, Margaret!
Thanks, Kat. We did some snorkeling and I thought of you and your own beautiful reef pictures! It was all such fun!
The way to "be", right, Carol? I know that you have, too, and most recently. Thank you!
I love your opening lines Linda,
"I dreamed
about browsing life"
Wonderful dream. Thanks for bringing me to your tropical beach vicariously. Today I cancelled our mini-get-away, it was only to Michigan, where there's a lovely beach–but covid counts are gaining to much speed there. So we'll take a few day trips and wait till it slows down again…
Linda, I'm so glad you and your family could gather together for such a wonderful vacation! Your poem is perfect! I've been in Virginia with Hazel (and her parents, of course!) all week and it has been heaven. When it comes to memories with family, we must "splurge and [buy] them all!"
Yes to coming to Highlights!! I was supposed to go in spring 2020 also, so 2022 is going to be screaming for me. However, the grandkids come first in scheduling.....as happened this year.
I saw your board book comment elsewhere, Catherine, and how I know this; it just gets better and better. I feel so blessed having our grands as a regular part of our life.
Sorry to hear about your trip. I'm home now & guess I won't be planning any more trips. Belize was all masking, seemed very safe! Thanks, Michelle!
How wonderful to spend the whole week, Catherine. I know you will keep those memories close, too! Thanks!
Sounds like you had a wonderful beach vacation with your family and I love the poem you have written to memorialize it. Welcome home!
Wonderful souvenirs to bring home from your vacation! I love that you bought them all!
Thank you, Alex, it was a wonder of a trip!
We do "buy" them all, don't we? Thanks, Ruth!
Summer splurging and investing in multiple memories- it's all there in your poem. I'm there in spirit Linda.
Thank you, Alan, the 'best' way to hold summer, I think.
So beautiful, Linda. Glad you’ve been able
To soak up the sun and the laughter
Thanks, Becky! It was a joyful trip, happy to write about it, too!
We both share the love of the beach and grandchildren, so yes, I, too, know the "way to be".
I love the idea of "browsing" the beach - eyes open to all the wonderful memories one can take away. I'm glad you had a good trip - it sounds relaxing and fun!
Thank you for liking the 'browsing', wishing you some good times doing the same!
I love the splurge and I was beach browsing recently so I can totally relate. It's a poem that captures your time perfectly.
Your dreamy browsing is dreamy, Linda. :) You transported me!
And I'm glad you bought ALL the days, lol!
I am adding this image poem to my traveling section of the PF Edition of "Nurturing Our Summer Souls". I did not have any poems by you in my container for this gallery.
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