Smiling trees, hiking, campsite, bonfire.
Night falls with a cold shower of tasks,
cooking, place setting, finding, cleaning,
while fireflies flicker in darkening trees.
Loved family become strangers in
flickering light, distant and new.
Their long laughs are the music
that lifts my spirits high, chords that
rock me like a baby, elevate me
like a girl in a crow’s nest, spotting land,
a shore with a thousand sheets of fluting
laughter and dry droplets of pine resin.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: Have you been camping? We used to camp most summers. I remember laughter in the dark, unrolling over lakes.
My words were inspired by these pieces of poetry:
Their long laughs are boats they will ride and ride,
making the shadows that cross each other’s smiles.
— by Naomi Shihab Nye, from the poem, Steps, published in 19 Varieties of Gazelle, Poems of the Middle East, Greenwillow Books, 2005.
A lone boat, a sliver of moon facing the maple woods —
A wanderer’s heart is entrusted to his flute.
Mountain views merge with thousand sheets of rain,
And the last chord fades as our tears fall.
— by Wang Ch’ang-ling, Translated by Joseph J. Lee, Listening to a Wanderer’s “Water Melody” found in Call Down the Moon: Poems of Music, selected by Myra Cohn Livingston, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1995.
Happy Poetry Friday!
Triple thanks to Michelle Heidenrich Barnes this week!! Not only is she hosting Poetry Friday at Today’s Little Ditty, but she also featured a poem of mine a few days ago — too many happy accolades (fanning myself). And lastly, in a give-away on her site, I won a copy of Stone Mirrors: The Sculpture and Silence of Edmonia Lewis by Jeannine Atkins! I started Stone Mirrors, and it is an addictive novel-in-verse about a fascinating woman who leaves everything behind, more than once. So much to be thankful for, my little heart is full! Thanks, Michelle!
There is so much innocence and honesty in your writing. Very Nice!
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Thanks.
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Beautiful.
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Thank you. I just stopped by and read your firefly post. Just lovely. I spent the morning working on a mosaic at my child’s elementary school. Very fun. My hands ache! LOL
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Thank you Brenda. Mosaics…new fodder for writing!
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Doing that today changed me. I’m an all new me, seeing the world in a new way. Life is such fun.
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Can’t wait to read about it.
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A poem that carries with itself a “holistic redemption”, a powerful trascendent conjunction with Nature. We are all one 😉
Have a beautiful Spring ahead, dear Bren… Love. 😀
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Thank you for such transcendent words. XOXO
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I love how you use mentor poems to create your amazing poetry, Brenda. Inspiring! =)
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Thanks, Bridget!
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Long laughs, long smiles. So much to enjoy in the long night.
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Thanks, Dori. I remember the long laughs from summer better than winter, but there must be some in winter, too. 🙂
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Camping, campfires and damper dripping with sweet, sticky syrup. LOVE! And yes, always laughter and water. 🙂
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Another kindred spirit. 🙂 Kids, smores, campfires and songs. No better summer memories. 🙂
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The way our summer is lingering into autumn, I’m thinking Easter camping by the water will be a treat!
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What a concept. Here Easter can be snowy, sunny or anywhere in between. Having the seasons flipped would take some getting used to for me.
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Good Evening! I am unwinding from a long, long week and busy day. And, I love camping! I don’t mind the dirt or the outside living. My favorite job is finding the kindling for campfires. I can spend hours picking up itty bitty sticks, making sure we have enough for starting the bonfire….and again for early coffee before anyone else is up. I am a fire tender, I supposed.
Those long laughs. Oh, they ARE boats aren’t they?! I love how you have made them into something new but familiar in your piece.
Great new photo at the top of your blog. Thinking of spring?
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Hi Linda, glad you are unwinding. I’ve been working on my novel. 🙂 Camping is so fun. Sleeping outside. Seeing the stars. Waking at dawn. My favorite task was finding plates for dessert. 🙂 And putting more wood on the fire.
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We sure did camp when our kids were little. A tent trailer was wonderful, but still lots of work, so these lines:
“Night falls with a cold shower of tasks,
cooking, place setting, finding, cleaning,”
resonated with me. But the lovely sounds, smells, tastes and memories certainly made all the work worthwhile.
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These days I bring a jug of pre-made sangria and we have a fine time. 🙂 Although, I do prefer hotels. 😉
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Camping’s not for me, however, I like the result of your camping experiences. Keep sharing, Brenda!
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I’ve moved on to hotels. I really like hotels. 🙂 Thanks, Diane.
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Love this, Brenda, and yes, I’ve camped a lot, early as a child, with my husband, then with the kids, and tons with students. I love the part about family becoming strangers in the dark, exactly right, and this “Night falls with a cold shower of tasks”. Yes, I remember teeth chattering while washing dishes by firelight, waiting waiting for the sleeping bag. Thanks for the memories!
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I’m so glad you remember the same things. I was always so tired by full dark, but then it was probably 9:30 or 10, and that’s late for a kid.
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My family and I have so many memories of “long laughs” around the campfire. I love how you used Nye & Ch’ang-ling’s words as inspiration. Now you’ve got me thinking… Thanks for sharing!
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Glad you feel inspired, too. 🙂
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
HAVEN’T CAMPED IN SO LONG—THE WIFE WON’T AND I DON’T DARE GO ALONE—DON’T KNOW ANYONE WELL ENOUGH TO, EITHER. i DO REMEMBER THAT PINE PITCH! 🙂
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We went to some beautiful places with our pop-up camper. These days I prefer a hotel. 🙂
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My Missus always has.
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I grew up camping each and every summer – we didn’t have a lot of money growing up, but we could always throw a tent in the car and head out to a provincial park campground! As I got a bit older I started to wish I could have the exotic and glamorous holidays my classmates had, flying out to Disneyland, taking cruises and touring Europe. But looking back, I’m so glad I had those outdoor experiences, learning to appreciate and explore nature, to entertain myself, and to make the best of any situation!
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We camped — pop-up — the breakfast cereal version of campers. LOL It was an experience!
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Yes, I camp! This tree reminds me of the pecan trees that I camped under as a young girl. Each one I knew and called by name. Your poem took me back to those moments when I whispered to trees.
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Yay! I love when people bring their memories to the party. 🙂
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I am not a great camper… never have been, never will. But your poem makes me wish I was, Brenda—cold shower and all. Love that smiling tree. 🙂
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Thanks, Michelle. I hope you saw your triple thanks at the bottom. I have appreciated you deeply this week. 🙂
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You’re most welcome, Brenda, on all accounts! 🙂
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I love the idea of long laughs, for some reason that made me feel nostalgic. Your poem reminded me of times I sat around with people i enjoy talking to and having those long laughs. Lovely poem Brenda, thanks for sharing this.
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Thanks for stopping by. I still remember who I was with for my longest laughs. 🙂
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“Their long laughs are the music
that lifts my spirits high”
Love these lines. Thanks for sharing the poems that inspired your poem.
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Thanks, Ramona. It’s a joy to read poetry.
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This line captures nighttime magic for me, Brenda–“Loved family become strangers in/
flickering light, distant and new.” The poems you shared are also wonderful.
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Thanks, Molly. I had to do something with them. They were too wonderful.
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Thanks for sharing these beautiful poems. I’ve never been camping as a kid with my family just with church but my husband and I have been with his kids. It’s so much fun :-). And here I share the Blogger Recignition Award with you 🙂 https://beehalton.com/2017/03/10/cheryl-gave-me-the-blogger-recognition-award/
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Thank you, Bee! I don’t do award posts anymore, but I appreciate receiving them very much!
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Beautiful. I especially like ‘ a thousand sheets of fluting
laughter’ . Thanks for sharing your inspirations too.
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Thanks, Sally. Wish I could still go camping.
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Triple treat indeed! Congratulations, Brenda! The last two lines of your poem speak to me. Lovely!
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Thanks, Carol. Michelle is awesome!
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This is delightful. You have a way of seeing the world that is utterly heart warming.
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Thanks, Suzanne. I try to let the bad stuff go. I’ve had LOTS of practice. 😉
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A wonderful piece, Brenda! It does bring back memories of camping. (many years ago!)
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Thanks, Resa!
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so sweet and lovely – i love the imagery of boats –
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I liked the boats, too. Such beautiful poetry. I didn’t expect it to take me camping, but then, you never know! 🙂
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I didn’t know it’s Poetry Friday! (It’s really Thursday here, but it’s coming!) Maybe I should post a poem too! Yours is super! I love camping. First with my kids, now with my grandkids.
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Thanks, Claudia. I always post early, because Friday morning is a very busy time for me. That way I can focus on reading others on Friday, and my post is out of the way. Feel free to participate!
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Marvelous. (@–>–)
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🙂 Lovely of you to stop by, Dorna.
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