“One way of celebrating the Solstice is to consider it a sacred time of reflection, release, restoration, and renewal.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
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To most people, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. Celebrations begin, garden flowers continue to blossom, and children eagerly await their summer break. On nature's calendar, the Summer Solstice begins the summer season. This year the long day of the Summer Solstice brought a turnover from springtime to summertime.
Seasonal Shuffle
Spring dressed in
flowery finery to welcome summer.
It was the time
for blooming brightness to
restore the earth and simply
indulge in a new season meant to be.
©CVarsalona, 2023
Paul Laurence Dunbar captures the delight of summer in the last couplet of his poem, In Summer Time.
'Tis wealth enough of joy for me
in summer time to simply be.
I read these lines repeatedly for joy was my 2017 one word and be, my guiding one word this year. The last line in Dunbar's poem, in summer time to simply be, became the strike line in my Golden Shovel poem, Seasonal Shuffle.
Please note that many of my previous poems revolve around nature as a bountiful giver. Usually, the Summer Solstice is a joyous time to listen to nature, slow down, soak in the sun's peaceful bliss, and relax. This July 21st, Mother Nature offered earth a darker shade of summer and will continue to water our neighborhood with daily rain-an interesting beginning to summer.
For those who believe in the power of positivity, see the Summer Solstice as a guide on your "slow down" summer journey. Begin the walk to add balance to your life, release negativity to see cups as half full not empty, and rest to restore your spirit. Use each summer day to recharge and renew your energy.
Now at the beginning of the Summer of 2023, meet me
Where pathways meet and pathways part,-
To walk with Nature heart by heart.
Italicized lines are from Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, In Summer Time.
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Tomorrow is Poetry Friday with our host, the master poetic collage artist, Linda Mitchell. She will celebrate poetic goodness in style with her clunker challenge. I look forward to collecting clunker words or thoughts to engage in word play at the Creativity Zone.
Logo created by Michelle Kogan
