Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by the talented Patricia Franz who last I heard had a bear in her kitchen! I hope there was no repeat visit. Her blog is Here. Thank you, Patricia, for hosting.
Happy Memorial Day weekend! Thank you to all our veterans and service men and women!
Today, with this holiday, I’ve been thinking about summer, because the holiday, for many, marks the beginning of summer. As I grew up in New York State the arrival of summer always meant the arrival of warmth, the hot rays of sun beating down to melt the snow and warm my skin. I’m still in New York State, and in early summer, the change seems like a miracle.
I don’t know if this works, as it’s hot off the press, but I wrote this triolet today to try to capture the change into summer, using a music metaphor.
SUMMERTIME We call it summer when sunshine returns like an itinerant drummer, we call it summer. Such a jazzy newcomer, with a rat-tat-tat that burns! We call it summer when sunshine returns. © Janice Scully 2023
This famous summer poem by Robert Louis Stevenson is in the public domaine. I can feel the swing ascending.
The Swing BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do! Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, Rivers and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside— Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown— Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down!
I wish all children carefree safe time in the summer to be with friends and family. It’s a joy to stay outside in the evening light after dinner.
Happy Memorial Day! Is there a hot dog in your future? I hope there is in mine.
Besides remembering those who gave their lives for our country– and my wedding anniversary – Memorial Day weekend always reminds me of my mom. She grew up in Boston and, despite migrating to the sunny, warm, west coast many, many years ago, insists that we not wear white pants until this weekend! So, after reading your poem, I substituted this: “We call it summer/when white pants return”. 🙂
P.S. Mama and cubs are still hanging around (Mama is likely thinking: Gosh, those people are still hanging around in my forest!)
Janice, thank you for this gorgeous summer drummer triolet! We’ve had a wet and grey spring here in Europe. I’m sure I have webbed toes. I cannot wait for summer to finally arrive.
Your summer poems pair nicely with Laura Purdie Salas’ summer ghazals!
There are no hotdogs in my future, but there WILL be brats on the grill and Mom’s 3-Bean Salad! Let summer begin!!
It’s been a strange, & colder, spring, Janice, so I love your summer welcome. I am really ready for our “jazzy newcomer”. It feels like the perfect poem for us right now.
It’s been a mostly cool spring here in Connecticut, too, so I do appreciate your triolet. One of my aunts lived in Rochester, and she had the nicest gardens. A lovely memory conjured up by Poetry Friday! Thank you.
Lovely, Patricia! I can feel the summer headed our way.
Love the jazzy newcomer! Yes, summer is here — no hot dogs for us this weekend though. Fun to see the Stevenson poem again. Feels so carefree . . .
Janice: I am a big fan of your triolet! It works perfectly for this weekend. And yes, I just had hotdogs tonight, couldn’t wait any longer. Haha. I remember The Swing poem, and I remember swinging as one of the best things about childhood. We pumped and pumped until we felt like we would go rocketing off into the blue. Thanks for these fun summer reminders, and have a wonderful weekend.
I love the way your triolet celebrates the march into summer with rat a tat.
And the swing poem has always been a favourite. Happy start of summer to you. It is very fresh here in my part of Australia at present – but that crisp blue sky freshness which is lovely in its own way.
Wheeeeeeeee! I love a good swing poem and this is a classic. Hooray for a nice, tightly rhymed triolet too! Aren’t they fun? I love them. “Jazzy newcomer” is fantastic. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.
You as well, Linda! Thank you.
Appreciations for this, Janice 🙂 My amazing MoM recited this from memory to me as she pushed me on the swing my amazing DaD made, from discarded telephone poles. It was a high flight into the sky so blue. Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you & yours.
What a sweet memory! Thank you.
“a jazzy newcomer!” indeed – what fun!
“The Swing” is a favorite of mine, and your triolet pairs nicely with it. Hope everyone has a safe and summery weekend!
Janice, I apologize for posting two comments, especially the one calling you Patricia. Oy vey. I was thinking of the hostess of Poetry Friday. I know that’s not your name!
I know exactly what happened because I do similar things all the time. 🙂
Oh summer as an itinerant drummer! I love this (and summer is my favorite).
What a fun comparison, Janice! Sunshine definitely beats and drums down, so it works perfectly :>)
Janice, thanks for the weather report in a poetic fashion. I do remember the turnover to the weather in Syracuse. We are heading to Syracuse and then Rome, NY on Tuesday for my uncle’s funeral. I hope the warmth envelops us. Your triolet is full of verve and a wonderful metaphor. It will be delightful to have a rat-tat-tat opening daylight.
Late commenting this week, Janice, due to the 110 miles we rode on Sat and Sun! Summer as an itinerant drummer–oh yes! I’ll follow that beat all day every day, and I’ll send you my own swinging poem…
Ah, I’m feeling the summer vibes in your triolet! 😀