Thursday, October 5, 2023

Poetry Friday - Inspiration to "Look Up"

    

          It's Poetry Friday! Thanks, Matt Forrest Esenwine HERE at his blog, Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme for hosting! He's celebrating his newest picture book!

         Matt, as you may know, has a book published on Tuesday. I shared it last Monday HERE, loving the fun of sharing this new special book! As my post also shares, I have many happy memories looking and learning about stars with a grandfather. Matt's book brought some of them 
back to me. I imagine he will share how it came to be, but I have been "starstruck" in my thinking since I read, then wrote about it, so I found another favorite poem about stars to offer today. Don't you imagine that when reading this, lots of adults and children will be inspired to stargaze, to learn about stars and constellations, and to write, too? 

               I've been to a few "Perseid" parties in the past, lain bundled up on the ground, looking up, seeing this!



Untitled

      It begins. . . 

Do you remember still the falling stars
that like swift horses through the heavens raced
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
of our wishes--do you recall? 
                      read the rest here


Rainer Maria Rilke

           translated by Edward Snow

       I won't be sharing next Friday because it's the week of my birthday and my family is taking me to Santa Fe and Albuquerque to see the Annular Solar Eclipse and the wonderful Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta to celebrate. I was at the fiesta many years ago and had the fabulous pleasure of going up in a friend's balloon. No matter what, being all together is the best gift of all! I am excited! I'll see many more stars on our trip and the new moon which this leads me to remembering Irene Latham's new book I shared a few weeks ago. 


         And, like last year, because I work at a used bookstore, I would love to gift any of you with a "used" book of poetry for my birthday. It may take a while, but I will send a surprise if you let me know via email with your address that you'd like one? 

The Moon is the first milestone on the road to the stars.
Arthur C. Clarke 



22 comments:

  1. Your October post is a celebration of all things celestial! Thank you for sharing the Rilke poem, "the vast disintegration of their brilliance" is thought-provoking. Happy birthday and enjoy your travels!

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  2. So nice to know we've both been inspired by the stars, Linda - thanks for sharing this!

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  3. Happy Birthday, Linda! Hope you enjoy some stargazing, eclipse-glimpsing, and those joyful balloons. I attended the Fiesta in 2015 and contrary to what Walt Disney claims, I believe the Alburquerque Balloon Fiesta is THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Looking forward to more wonderful poems from you. (I am still enjoying Japanese Haiku from our Summer Swap, so you don't need to send me another book, but thank you!)

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  4. Linda, Happy Birthday my friend. Enjoy your family trip and all the joy that goes with it. You are always so generous with your thoughts since positivity surround you. The poetic gift to others is a reverse birthday present. How splendid! Thank you for sharing Rilke's poem and a book reivew from Monday. I plan on reading that but have to take care of family to-dos that are pressing today.

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  5. Happy Bearthday, Linda! Enjoyed the Rilke poem and your post about Matt's new book. Have fun in NM with the eclipse and balloon fiesta. Sounds like a fabulous time! Safe travels. :)

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  6. Thank you, everyone, for your good wishes! Our night skies are truly marvelous, aren't they? I've been in a bit of a mess much of the day, first tree trimming all the am then a scam email that has taken a lot of time with different people online! Argh, not what I usually enjoy on Poetry Friday!

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  7. Happy Birthday! A trip to Albuquerque, especially during Balloon Fiesta is perfect! Have a wonderful time!
    Diane (newtreemom)

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  8. Oh, my goodness...what a beautiful poem of stars...and I've seen a lot of them! I didn't know this one. Santa Fe is on my bucket list. I want to go there so much...but a trip on a birthday would be the.best! You have to take lots of photos and share with us, please!

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  9. Happy Birthday, Linda! (my fellow Libra :) I hope you enjoy ABQ (my sister and brother both live there) and the magical balloon festival. Your whole post has me in the mood to attend a Perseid party - perhaps on my balcony tonight!

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  10. Happy birthday, friend! You are such a gift to us all! Hope you have a delightful time 💕

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  11. Thanks, Diane, Bridget, & Tabatha! Santa Fe is a favorite place, easy from Denver. It will be a lot of fun going, plus being at the Balloon Fiesta, too!

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  12. Happy Birthday! I love Albuquerque and now I have friends who moved there. This trip sounds wonderful!

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  13. Next week is my birthday week, too! We are kindred spirits. Thanks for sharing the poem and the fabulous photo of the shooting stars. I was in Albuquerque several years ago and loved it. Hope you have a great trip.

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  14. Thanks, Margaret and Rose. Now you need to visit Albuquerque, Margaret! And wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Rose! Nice to hear you've been to Albuquerque!

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  15. Thanks for this trip with the falling stars, their brilliance and the wholeness they bring! And what a lovely weekend you have planned for your Birthday–you'll have to fill us in… Wishing you many Birthday wishes and sky adventures for next week, thanks for this fun post Linda!

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  16. Oh, how lovely this is, Linda. A balloon fiesta! And family. Sounds beautiful. And I love the connection between Irene and Matt's books. I've never seen a meteor shower. We went out to look earlier this year, but I think it was all happening about 3am. And I just couldn't... Enjoy your birthday/trip/family!

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  17. Early Happy Birthday! What a fantastic celebration!

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  18. Happy birthday, Linda! Enjoy the eclipse and Balloon Fiesta! I agree being with family is the best gift of all! Have fun!

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  19. Thanks for this post and sharing Rilke's poem. I hope you have great weather for the eclipse. They're forecasting rain here. Have a wonderful birthday!

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  20. Thanks for sharing this poem. I love the imagery of the stars leaping everywhere. I am sure there were more shooting stars when I was a child, but perhaps I was just more patient. And happy birthday to you!

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  21. Thanks much to all of you, wishing you another lovely week ahead!

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  22. Linda, how fun! You are going to have such a great birthday! I saw the path of the eclipse, and to have the beauty of the balloon festival there too will be quite a site. Perhaps the following week we will get to see pictures from your trip. Thank you!

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