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August 3, 2017

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Poetry

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Summer Postcard Swap

poem by jone rush macculloch on a sunset photo

Thanks to Jone for her amazing poem and photograph that arrived on a lovely plaque:

summer days
families gather
for sunset
skipping stones into the waves
wishing on the first star
— Jone Rush MacCulloch

I wrote this list poem, in response:

Things I Don’t Want to Forget about Summer

Icy drinks after gardening,
the tiny, green tomatoes of July,
fireflies on a twilight stroll,
new onions at the farmer’s market,
eating Phở on movie night,
my daughter downhill, no training wheels,
allegro appassionato crescendos,
orthodonture rubber bands (everywhere),
ice cream at half-price,
harvesting mint for suntea,
blessed rain breaking the heat,
waves, tumbling, saltwater in my nose.

Painting toenails on a rainy night,
lake-water on hot skin,
my daughter, loose teeth, band-aids,
a dragonfly on my hand.
Refilling the ice. Again.
The scent of barbecues and mulch,
writing poetry late at night
to the hum of a dusty fan,
deadheading, trimming, watering,
waking late, editing, cutting and pasting.
Brown bunnies eating my kale.
My daughter healed, her white smile.

Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham

Notes: Happy Poetry Friday and thanks to Donna Smith at Mainely Write for hosting!

45 thoughts on “Summer Postcard Swap”

  3. “Summer days”–what a wonderful place to start for both of your poems! I really enjoyed the slower pace of Jone’s poem and then the building crescendo in your poem Brenda!” These ending lines hit home for me, thanks and hope all enjoy our lingering summer days!
    “writing poetry late at night
    to the hum of a dusty fan,
    deadheading, trimming, watering,
    waking late, editing, cutting and pasting.
    Brown bunnies eating my kale.
    My daughter healed, her white smile.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. What a fun list poem (and a peek into your summer world)! I need to write my own version. Capture the memories before they wither in the hot late August/September sun.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Jone’s image is stunning! Her words remind me of the Rhode Island vacations my family took when I was a kid, and your words bring back the summers when my boys were little. So many happy memories. Thank you for reminding me. Enjoy these last few weeks, Brenda!

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  12. Beautiful poems, both. I love the juxtaposition of these two lines in your poem:
    deadheading, trimming, watering,
    waking late, editing, cutting and pasting.
    Gardening and writing go hand in hand, don’t they?

    Liked by 2 people

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  14. The postcard from Jone is beautiful, Brenda and your list poem, “ah, summer” with so many delights. Not over yet, but soon. Hoping the eclipse will be a big exclamation mark for the end!

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    • Hi Linda, I am writing every day. Thinking about writing when I’m not actually writing. Thinking about plot and sequencing when I’m reading or watching a movie. LOL It’s like an obsession, I suppose. 🙂

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  19. Pingback: Poetry Friday: Poetry Swap # 3 | Jone Rush MacCulloch

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