It's Poetry Friday, and Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske is hosting HERE on her website, The Opposite of Indifference!
Thanks for hosting, Tabatha, hoping you aren't snowed in, yet!
I've been reading some short pieces by John Muir recently, and then a few days ago, I was looking through some of the poetry books I own to see if I could give up any of then to the bookstore where I work. Then, I came to a book titled Home, A Journey Through America, illustrated by Thomas Locker, edited by him and Candace Christiansen. It was published in 2000, and has a special introduction by Locker, who shares that his idea of home can be so many things, "For everyone, the place we call home becomes a part of our lives." My colleagues gifted me this book when I moved into Denver back in 2012, with very mixed emotions. The poems range from poets still writing like Jane Yolen, across our history to those well known in the past, like Abraham Lincoln, Willa Cather, Joseph Bruchac, and the poet I chose to share today, John Muir. And Thomas Locker illustrated each poem.
I'm connecting to what I shared last week, a poem finding solace in the imagination when outside in nature, when many of you shared how much peace and joy came when you went outside! See what Muir wrote! Note: some online says this is not a true poem, but well-known lines by Muir. Still, Locker presents it as a poem. See what you think!
Hope you are doing okay if impacted by the storm coming across the US! I'll be watching the news. It was 11 degrees when I rose this morning with a light dusting of snow. We are not supposed to have any more, just cold!
Climb the Mountains
John Muir
Linda, it certainly felt like a poem, even a prayer, to me. Thank you for these reminders to get into nature. Love the "winds will blow their own freshness into you"!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda B! What matters is the meaning, which. Muir gives us beautifully. I always enjoy being reminded of your volunteer goodness at that shop of books previously loved, books waiting for new homes to embrace them.
ReplyDeleteHis & your idea of being out in Nature is telling me to get off the screen, switch into walking shoes & GO!
Appreciations from your fan, JAN
I like the idea of cares dropping away like the leaves of autumn! Thanks for this peaceful, reassuring found poem, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mona, Jan, & Tabatha. It's been a day messing with plumbing again, though this time helping my neighbor's because it affects some of my life, too, like parking spot, etc. In between, am "warming up" with poems from everyone, a best thing for this Friday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem! Not snowed in yet, but about to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marcie, hope all goes well for you & the family!
DeleteLovely poem, especially to end the day with and the art is gorgeous, thanks for sharing it Linda! Hope you weather through this cold spell and the storm tempers down while passing on its energy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle, we really are just having it very cold & a bit of snow. Hope you make it through your snow & cold, too.
DeleteThe words of John Muir are comforting like a poem. I have brought in lots of plants to prepare for the deep freeze this week, but I’m not sure my body is ready. I don’t think we will get the dangerous ice this far south.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing us to HOME. It's a favorite theme for me -- along with John Muir's musings!
ReplyDeleteThe book cover alone captivated me, Linda. Gorgeous! Thanks for these thoughts on home. Stay warm! (We're at -4 right now, but should reach a balmy 9 degrees today.) :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret, Patricia, & Karen! It's nice to read your comments & I'm glad to share this book & Muir's words. I assume you're okay with the weather affecting so many, Patricia. Best wishes to you, Margaret, hope it doesn't dip too much way down in Louisiana. It was - 2 when I got up this morning, but, like you, Karen, it's now - 4. The sun is out so hoping it's better later. Best to everyone for this crazy weather day!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's beautiful. It feels like a blessing. I'll take it. I just designed a lesson around the picture book, 'The Camping Trip that Changed America' by Barb Rosenstock about T.Roosevelt's camping trip in Yosemite with Muir. It was fun to dip into the interaction between these two.
ReplyDeleteas soon as I hit send I saw that I would be anon. Sorry. Linda M.
DeleteMuir's thoughts definitely feel like a poem to me. And isn't that what poems are - thoughts and images that find their way into words on the page. Thanks for sharing. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a poem due to its images. "Cares dropping away fro you like the leaves of autumn." That's what outdoors does to us.
ReplyDeleteLinda, John Muir is one of my favorite people - I learned about him when I went to grad school for my Environmental Education/Natural Resouces Masters degree. When my husband and I went to Yosemite last summer, I imagined him walking alone all through the wilderness, at peace with the world and then willing to fight for it. He has some wonderful environmental essays...
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am, a poem, as well as great advice! Thank you, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful sentiment from John Muir, which certainly feels like a poem. I had an elderly friend Scotty Muir Rutherford, who was a relative of John Muir. Your poem brought back precious memories of her to me. :) Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, thank you all! I've been out & about. It's very cold but not as much as where some of you are. Stay safe and warm, happy to bring a bit of Muir to you!
ReplyDelete