End-of-Embraceable-Summer Slice

"Find your joy and let it run your life." - Cleo Wade

Cleo is a writer, poet, and author "being hailed as the "Millenial Oprah." As a positivity personality, I am drawn to her inspirational quotes. I open this segment of my Embraceable Summer Gallery offering joy to those who take a quick gallery walk through the collection of inspirational, artistic expressions. 

Let's start with a look at slicer Molly Hogan's muted marshland photo found on Twitter. The serenity of the scene offered inspiration to compose a haiku that was quickly tweeted to Molly. 

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Welcome to #EmbraceableSummer Gallery Seen Through the Artistry of Slicers

Alone at the marsh. 

Feeling blessed.

-Molly Hogan, 2020

My response to Molly:

stillness sets sharing

end-of-summer quietude-

marshland's gracious gift

©CV, 2020

Slicer Kevin Hodgson's response to Molly:

Blessed is the thin

branch still stretched

from the tree, standing

like a beacon in open

fields of grass and water,

a moment's respite

for birds and poets alike

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Spot two is a scene from slicer Terje Akke's country of Estonia seen on her blog.

summer seaside stroll

bright as sunshine it stands-

nature nurtures life

©CV, 2020

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Slicer Fran Haley's illustrates the quiet beauty of nature in this lovely photo.

cradled among trees

winding path beckoning-

future is fragile

©CV, 2020

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The last stop on the gallery walk was found at slicer Margaret Simon's post, This Photo Wants to Be a Poem. It is a dreamy, digitized photo by another slicer, Paula Bourque.

Margaret Simon drafted the following poem for Paula's photo:

I would like to be remembered*

as someone who softened things

like the still, blue surface

of a lake at dawn.

*words from a Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote, "I would like to be remembered a someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability."

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Silence speaks in soft shadows,

inviting life to reflect

upon painted horizons.

©CV, 2020

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At the end-of-summer, nature embraces the energy of summertime, cradles earth in shades of golden sand, and folds into the arms of autumn. 

I salute the summer season that still wishes to stay here on Long Island and offer hopes for an abundant autumn of well-being and fiery kaleidoscope colors.

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Thank you to the following slicers, Terje Akke, Paula Bourque, Fran Haley, Kevin Hodgson, Molly Hogan, and Margaret Simon, whose work I share in this segment of the Embraceable Summer Global Gallery of Artistic Expressions. 

Now, I am off to join Two Writing Teachers for the Slice of Life Tuesday.

September Sails On

Poetry Friday is a weekly place to celebrate the power of poetry, so join me this week for another crop of poetic goodness. Our host, Jone MacCulloch, is celebrating many different events with us: the debut of her new website, recognition of the latest collaborative effort of two of my favorite poets, Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell. Jone provides a sneak peek into their new book, HOP TO IT: Poems to Get You Moving. that celebrates its book birthday on October 15, 2020. Jone is also recognizing National Math Storytelling Day at #MathStorytellingDay, and #NationalBraveDay. Lastly, she invites poetry friends to write a poem that tells a math story or honors a brave woman. 

My math story begins with a digital inspiration created to bring hope to the 2020-2021 school year of learning in a strange new world. I offer a Shadorma poem format that is a new one for me. It consists of a 3-5-3-3-3-7-5 syllable pattern. Pangs of nervousness swell but the excitement of challenge spurs me on. The third image prompts me to create a Zeno, a pattern featuring syllables of 8-4-2-1-4-2-1-4-2-1 with an "abcdefdghd rhyme scheme created by J. Patrick Lewis. The next photo allows me to try out the Poetry Princesses' challenge: use the word ponderous or an image of a hippo in any poetic format. 

bravely taking the helm at sea,

maneuvering

the wheel,

glee

spreads like sea salt

on waves,

free-

rising crystals'

swishing 

spree

©CV, 2020

Photo by Judi Drucker

 graceful sails blow peacefully,

stretching across new crossways

opening channels of thought

with each swell of swishing waves

ponderous times are set free

summer dances its swan song

©CV, 2020

There is something about a writing challenge that brings on a "be brave" moment. Recalling the sailing trip with our friends, the Druckers, the freshness of the sea air and the gloriously-clear sky freed my mind of worry as summer started to drift away.

For those who missed other editions of my #EmbraceableSummer Gallery filled with poetic goodness and artistic expressions from around the globe, please click on the following:

Introduction to Embraceable Summer Gallery

Unveiling Embraceable Summer Gallery 2019

Sending Summer Goodbys from Embraceable Summer Gallery 2019

September Bidding Summer Godspeed

September Bidding Summer Godspeed

September slips in with a summer stance but midway starts to offer a slight change in the temperature. This is when I tend to indulge in the last hurrahs of summer: those anticipated wanderings of the clouds, the slight breezes at the shore, and the whispers in the wind that echo goodby. With each signal, there is an indication that summer is ready for its own vacation. 

At this time, I gather my digital tools to create one last picture of the never to be forgotten summer of 2020. If you click here, you can take a gallery walk through the introduction to Embraceable Summer Gallery and read Laura Purdie Salas' Pandemic Summer. Then, travel backwards in time to Embraceable Summer Gallery 2019 where you can take two more gallery walks into a summer where there were no masks, rules, and social distancing. Click here and here.

There are many sanctuaries of silence along the different water bodies on Long Island that offer a respite from the hectic pace and energy of the summer season. This year there was a special need for September's quiet time to forget the incessant reminders of a deadly pandemic with its socially distancing, washing of hands, and wearing of masks. All across the globe, people sought the beauty of nature to wash away any pain, sorrow, or stress and put a smile on behind their masks. I am eager to share some favorite summer spots from across the globe. May this mini-gallery bring relaxation and soothe souls.

by Sharon Norden

offered by Chris Quinn

Thank you to the Contributors to this edition of Embraceable Summer Gallery 2020!

Ramona Behnke

Leonie Bennett

Leanora Benton

Mary Lee Hahn

Molly Hogan

Lillian Lake

Irene Latham

Jone MacCulloch

Diane Mayr

Janet Nestor

Sharon Norden

Brian Rosinsky

Laura Purdie Salas

Chris Quinn

Carol Varsalona

Charles Waters

Jackie Yun

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I offer this slice of life to Two Writing Teachers.

Sending Summer Goodbys from Embraceable Summer Gallery 2019

Do you have fond memories of the summer of 2019?  "It is easy to forget now, how effervescent and free we all felt that summer." (Anna Godbersen, Bright Young Things )  In contrast to the summer of 2020, I present this follow-up Embraceable Summer Gallery collection to the second segment of my summer gallery here.

“The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer."

-George R.R. Martin

From Long Island's Shores

summer tiptoed in

on gritty, heated sand under

feather-stroked skies

now it sings end-of-summer

while softly strumming the blues

©CV, 2020

but

"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart."
-Celia Thaxton
and

-Valerie Tilton, 2019 

During Summertime

butterfly grace notes

hover over my zinnias

prompting a duet

©Karen Eastlund

                                                                      Karen Eastlund                                               Linda Baie                                       

 while children are

or engaging in artistic pursuits.

The Artist

The world awaits her touch

like a canvas craves the brush

behind, she leaves a trail of beauty

bright and full and lush.

-2019 Matt F. Esenwine, all rights reserved

Travelers search near and far for summer sights to savor.

Beachgoers find their happy place at the shoreline.

Readers relax with a good book.

Foodies search farmers markets for delectable tastes,

farm-fresh market

visual feast of produce

in summertime hues

©CV, 2020

Gardeners enjoy the fresh beauty of summer flowers and fruit.

Beware of locust season!

Crafter, Linda Mitchell, finds pleasure in creating environmental-friendly 

paper collage art of re-cycled paper.

Magical Summer Moments

are cherished by many

Sunsets Across the Globe Bid Summer Adieu

From South Africa

to New York City

sunsets share the magnificence of nature's skies.

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Letting Go of  Our Sweet Summer Life is Bittersweet!

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Thank You to the Following Global Contributors

to this segment of Embraceable Summer Gallery

@collidingwithscience (Melissa Chouinard Jahant)

#chazchaz   

Cheryl Alba

Jeri Asaro

Linda Baie

Leanora Benton's Son

Jolie Buchanan

Leia Cator

Jeff & Judi Drucker

Karen Eastlund

Kevin Foley

Matt F. Esenwine

Alyssa H

Mary Lee Hahn

Devin Hartnett

Tara Hartnett

Ruth Hersey

Rebecca Herzog

Molly Hogan

Kimberly Hutmacher

Tracy Scott Kelly

Lillian Lake

Jone MacCulloch

Faige Meller

Chris Militzer

Linda Mitchell

Janet Nestor

Bonnie Nieves

DeAnn Pettinelli

Laura Robb

Margaret Simon

Donna Smith

Donna Tassone

Valerie Tilton

Carol Varsalona

Rita Wirtz

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Listen to the Embraceable Summer Playlist to extend your gallery walk and 

embrace the wonders of summertime.

Artwork by Leia Cator

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Thank you for taking a gallery walk through this segment of the Embraceable Summer Gallery.

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I send this gallery across social media to celebrate the beauty of nature as a constant reminder of what we have to be grateful for as opposed to what we are missing. The first stop is Poetry Friday, hosted by an amazing poet, Matt Forrest Esenwine who is always a supporter of my galleries. You can read his lovely poem to his daughter above in the gallery.