Poetry Friday - The Good in Memories

 It's Poetry Friday, and Jan Godown Annino is hosting on her website, Bookseed Studio here!   She's brought us a poem from far away, a paean to our dear earth, something to keep close, to keep well! Thanks for hosting, Jan! 

                      I know that you all may know these words from Tolkien, and yet, they are ever in my mind. 

       “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

        "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

         You may know that wildfires are in numerous places here in Colorado, some continuing to rage, no diminishing in sight. They are not near Denver, but the smoke is, making it challenging, dangerous for some, to be outside. I miss my usual times, but still have to do some things. This recent time brought a poem out of the smoke! 

A Chore Whirrs Up A Memory

finding solace in the everyday

mowing my tiny lawn

my old push mower whirrs me along

I spread the cuttings

like my grandpa showed me

adding free fertilizer

funny how those old words stay

keep me remembering my times with him

how he managed

hard days softly

Linda Baie ©

   

Poetry Friday - That Pandemic Summer

     Poetry Friday is hosted by Carol Varsalona here at Beyond Literacy Link with a beautiful array of responses to this past pandemic summer! Thanks, Carol!  

      



        After helping my two granddaughters starting only online and with my grandson at college with online, hybrid, and one in class, I am amazed at the variety of tasks teachers and administrators must do to make it all work. A nephew is beginning his first job as a principal this year. Yikes! What challenges he has faced and is facing! Best wishes to every single one of you this beginning of a year like no other.

A few weeks ago, Carol asked us to share an image poem on the topic, Summer 2020 in the Midst of Quarantine Life. My summer has been filled at home, at the grocery, with my in-town family, and at the used bookstore where I volunteer. I've worked hard to stay safe, spent long hours in at-home tasks like reading, drawing, and writing, and of course, the usual cleaning and cooking. I watch the political news, am writing postcards and letters to urge those in power to ACT, hope I can help a few campaigns as we move closer to the election. I am fine and am grateful for that. While I have embraced this summer as I am able, I know that it has not been easy for many, hoping that better times will come.
            I watch other news about things like weather around the globe. love looking up, have a couple of favorite spots to see the wide view of the Rockies' front range, lucky at times to see Pikes Peak down south.  I imagine I've posted more sky pics than anything else. This summer, however, I've both watched and smelled the sky. There are now five wildfires going in the Colorado Rockies, one of which recently passed the all-time record which happened in 2002 and nearly burned our cabin. This time it has burned 139,000 acres, perhaps more by the time this posts. I know the fires in California are more by far and have taken so many peoples' homes. Our fires have destroyed many fewer buildings, but the habitat of thousands of animals and some of those animals themselves are gone. 
           Thus, my #Summer2020intheMidstofQuarantineLife has revolved around the sky!