Summer Evening Recollection

When the Poetry Sisters add a challenge to the Poetry Friday Roundup, it is fun to try out a new move. Today their theme is hindsight and the directions read: "Pick one of your old poems to revise and/or write a new poem in conversation with it...(any form)." 

Thinking of a recent trip to Jones Beach, I reflected on how the darkness of evening could immerse the shoreline in stardust.  Since no one can linger on the boardwalk past 8 pm, I could only imagine the effect. In a serendipitous moment,  I found a scratchings of a could be a poem from 2019:

reflecting on

nature holding court 

in its sanctuary 

of stillness becomes

an early writer's recollection

(I am not sure what I was thinking of by inserting the word early.)

The above thought moved me to write a last line, lit by fireflies, but then, I made another decision.  In my latest blog post, I photographed an empty bench and Rose Cappelli commented. "I especially loved the image of the empty boardwalk bench. I think that could be a photo that needs a poem." With that I decided to transform the poem and photo into an image poem illuminating what a starlit night might look like at the historic Jones Beach on Long Island.  You can see the finished product below.

I chose a poetic form, 15 words or less poem, that Laura Purdie Salas, one of the Poetry Sisters, has used many times to prompt writers to create.  This exercise made me wonder what I had in mind last year when I penned my original thoughts and tucked them in my notebook.  Does nature change our perception of an event after it has happened or make us understand its ever-present magic when reflecting?

Now, I am off to join Heidi Mordhorst, poet, teacher of little ones, and climate activist, who is the Poetry Friday Roundup host for this week.  She is sharing news of a California shoe strike that symbolized a unique protest against climate change and showcases an original poem, Back to School with memories of 2001.  The end of the year is going to be one filled with many different emotions and this is why I need to bring positivity into focus and add poems that bring a sense of tranquility to my busy days.

Note:

With summer around the globe estranged in many ways due to COVID-19, I am gathering a collection of image poems for my #EmbraceableSummer Gallery Collection.  If so inclined, join in the fun of creating image poems on the topic, Summer 2020 in the Midst of Quarantine Life. I am hosting Poetry Friday at my blog on September 4, 2020 where I will share creative work to showcase the beauty of summer even during trying times.  My image poem above is an example of what you might try if you are inclined to use digital art to convey your message.