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.