Welcome to Poetry Friday for 17 July 2020. More on Poetry Friday, is below.
Float
My dear but overtasked Mom, whose occasionally inscrutable life I ponder more often in the summer than any other season, was an excellent small-lake swimmer in her school days. As an adult, this former athlete, also a high school archer and basketball player, chose as her only sport, the face-up float. So this is for dear Mom.
Mom and me in the sea
She allowed me to
link by hand,
drift alongside her
beating heart,
her stretched-out
living raft.
~ JG Annino, 2020
I wish I owned a photograph of Mom swimming, or just lounging on a lake dock in her one-piece, sleek, classic Jantzen “diving woman” logo swimsuit,(in blue, not red as pictured at the link.) When I grew older, she confided that to invite her body to feel light, to drift, was free therapy, needed bliss, release, otherworldness.
So now, switching moods, because we can use a smile in these traumatic times, I share here from the animal kingdom, what Mom practiced – the free-spirit float. She passed on long before I made this image a few years ago on a trip to Homosassa Springs. A defender of natural Florida, she would want this serene sirenia & you, to enjoy a float if it rolls our way. Strength & peace & also some float to you, in significant days leading to Nov. 3, 2020.
Poetry Friday is within Kidlitosphere, illuminated by poet & educator Renee LaTulippe at No Water River. Last week Ruth hosted, writing from among the lovely people of Haiti. Next week, we connect with Margaret, at Reflections on the Teche. Thank you for your beautiful link ~~ via comments, traditional-style. Keep scrolling for the your thoughts? box, which doesn’t automatically post. If you think there’s a glitch or if you prefer, send your Poetry Friday link to me by owl, snailmail, email, butterfly, turtle, twitter, fb, fern, affirmation or, prayer. I’m anticipating a bit of away-time at zoom events Friday & Saturday that weren’t scheduled when I answered the lovely calendar call, so I’ve posted early. Appreciations for your visit.
As often as I can, I will wrap up your links from comments & notes right here .
^^^^Janice soothes us with an original poem & photo of an element often overlooked. http://janicescully.com/
~~~Amy’s offering some mighty fine lines at BookBuzz. Just can’t get each kind, out of my mind. https://bookbuzz123.blogspot.com/2020/07/window-shelf.html
@@@ Linda’s yuk-yuks are totally lucky ducks. Feel the images, See the sounds! Linda astounds. http://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/refurbished-clunkers.html
🙂 🙂 🙂 Michelle, Fine Artist, features feather finery inspired by On the Teche & she offers more fabulous poem-making (I’ma afloat over one in particular). Do inhale her signature, exquisite poetry in artist inks, too. https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/poetry-friday-poetry-mix-flowers/. I also like to play in Michelle’s studio at Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/michellekoganfineart/
Tim, joins in first time here (to my recollection) with work-in-progress/science fiction. Welcome! images.https://timkulp.com/home/visual-stories I’ll spend more time at his site later, where a Middle Grade novels post led me to a link & thereupon I gorged on a photo gallery of libraries’ eye candy at a swoony copyright-free site. Additional appreciations, Tim!
Carol arrives back at New York from Virginia with questions, thoughts, worries building, about #quarantineoverdrive, employing clunker gifts & outasite art. TY, also, for the sweet treat, Carol! https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2020/07/clunker-line-poem.html
Little Willow peeks out from behind her pile of reading/websitedesign/acting/article-writing/ etc. duties to visit, with her usual depth. https://slayground.livejournal.com/907539.html
Matt has fallen for flowers, but not in the usual way, wrangling a wort, a vetch & who knows what else, along the path. Be sure to continue on at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme for his You Tube channel. https://mattforrest.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/poetry-friday-summer-flowers-my-first-prose-poem-ever/
Bridget, known for “wee words for wee ones,” is up to something BIG! http://www.weewordsforweeones.com/2020/07/wee-source-floating-poetry-across-world.html
Kind Tabatha, who I’ma never indifferent to, serves up clever. https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/
Molly shares artistic comfort at Nix The Comfort Zone – how could she not, with the gifts she unwraps? https://nixthecomfortzone.com/2020/07/17/pf-poetry-swap-and-more/
Tim Gels contributes an original poem that gave me pause, at Yet There is Method. I hope you find time to read & think about it, too. https://timgels.com/2020/07/17/bothered-or-not/ Welcome to Bookseedstudio, Tim.
Island gal Ruth invites a peek at her Summer Poetry Swap. Not to miss! https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/
Apples drops down into Bookseedstudio for the first time ~~ welcome!~~ with a post about wide-open, tall-towering, water-flowing, grasses-growing, preserved places & spaces. Go & enjoy this fresh-air share. https://theapplesinmyorchard.com/2020/07/17/poetry-friday-national-park-haiku/
Amy of The Poem Farm fame, gets into the kitchen to whip up a list 🙂 A tasty list. A maker list. A go-do-that-list. http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2020/07/just-make-something-list-poem.html I promise to go-make. Some thing!
Ramona invites us to consider a common summer kids’ drink, through a Marcus Jackson lens. Wow. Appreciations, Mr. Jackson & for Pleasures from the Page https://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2020/07/poetry-friday-ode-to-kool-aid.html
Leader Mary Lee shines light on prolific & moving poet/playright/storyteller/publisher/picturebookcreator/forceforchange, Zetta Elliott, in her highly regarded poetry collection, SAY HER NAME.
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2020/07/poetry-friday-say-her-name.html
Donna at Mainely Write brings her sweet older Sister self to us & she gifted me with tears. xo to D.
https://mainelywrite.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-recap-of-some-squiggles.html
Please help me welcome to Bookseedstudio & perhaps to Poetry Friday, Susan Bruck. She is creator of the nourishing SOUL BLOSSOM LIVING, which features her wisdom & artistry in several mediums, including poetry. Her clever verse about floating in child days, follows her story of a recent, not-be-be-repeated flying encounter. Not-to-be repeated, but you don’t want to miss reading it!
https://www.soulblossomliving.com/floating-and-flying-through-life/
76 responses to “Float”
Jan, I missed last week’s Roundup but I am happy to see these links today – and to read your poetic tribute to your mom. That image of “stretched-out living raft” is so poignant … just the safety and serenity in being near your mother in the water. Ethereal yet real, and lovely.
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hi dear Fran, with appreciations for your visit & kind words. Hope you have floating minutes this summer.
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Jan ~ so much to love here. I like Mom as a life raft. And the true love you have for her glows.
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Appreciations, busy poem-maker, with glow summer wishes, always. xo
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Appreciations, busy poem maker, with summer glow wishes, always. xo
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Thanks so much for sharing your lovely poem and prompt. It inspired me to write a poem about a happy childhood memory. I know that I’m a little late, but if you check back around, here’s a link to my post about floating and flying: https://www.soulblossomliving.com/floating-and-flying-through-life/
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Such a lovely name ~~ Soul Blossom Living. So glad to welcome you here, Susan. Will enjoy looking for your poem. I am dipping in & out all weekend & into next week & you are quite timely.
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[…] as I write this, was Poetry Friday–with the optional theme of Float. Jan, over at Book Seed Studio shares a lovely poem and memory about floating with her mom in the ocean. As a child, I loved to […]
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I can float…kind of. I hover a few inches below the surface mostly! Here’s my link today with a Squiggle and a Poem: https://mainelywrite.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-recap-of-some-squiggles.html
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Hi dear Donna. I love both of your artworks & poems at Mainely Write. I so much appreciate your visit. xo
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Jan, these ARE significant days, and the memory of your floating mom is significant, too. I love the image offered by the words “stretched-out,living raft.” Your whole post is filled with affirmation, including your announcements of posts from our dear community of writers. It’s a delight to read. Thanks for the memory lane visit to a Jantzen suit, too!
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Thank you so much & welcome to Bookseedstudio, most-accomplished Joyce Ray! I want everyone here to know of your good work in children’s literature. I’m glad we also share delight in the olde Jantzen suits:)
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Oooh, I love this poem, Jan! So simple yet so evocative and I adore the last line. What a beautiful memory of your mom. Hope you are staying healthy in the epicenter!
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hey hey Joanne! A delight to enjoy a quick visit here with you, dear Highlights Foundation verse-novelist (2021) pal from My Brain on Books. Yes, we are without symptoms,
have taken & continue on with all strict precautions since early March (me), late March (my hubby.) Our daughter & son-in-law have taken one of the best preventive measures~~ to be not in Florida. We miss them much, but they were already living far away, so we had made an adjustment for that, years ago. Now, if grandkids were in the mix, that would be an added anguish some of our pals widely separated from their wee ones, do struggle thru. We bless facetime, zooms, & our family habit of frequently sending groovy photos & texts, fb private msg. etc. One arrived just yesterday of their new mushroom-growing hobby. Previously I had sent a photo of the odd harmless”click bug” that wandered through our patio, so named because it makes a sound when it jumps. Even the newest bug becomes news when you are so distant! Appreciations & hugs again for popping in. I’m excited to keep up with your march to publication.
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Well, rats. I totally spaced on the FLOAT theme. I wrote about my favorite floating memory in 2011 — https://readingyear.blogspot.com/2011/08/poetry-friday-time-does-not-stand-still.html
But here is what I have for this week. A review of the book SAY HER NAME —
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2020/07/poetry-friday-say-her-name.html
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Mary Lee, A stunning photo you shared (August 2011) to match a reflective original FLOAT poem – your words make me want to wade in the river-river & stay floating in these many rivers of thought shared today. Many more appreciations for the poem, the cover, the news SAY HER NAME by Zetta Elliott is here. An important book that will be ordered by many, because of your post today.
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I love floating and it’s one of the things I do well! I can even cross my hands behind my head and cross my legs. Bliss for sure, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been in the water. I’m hoping things warm up a bit more so I can venture into the lake. I’m sharing an “Ode to Kool-aid’ by Marcus Jackson, a sweet summertime beverage from my childhood.
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Ramona, hello & hope the water warms! Marcus Jackson is new to me & I expect to explore his work. His potent you share at Pleasures from the Page, is potent. Many appreciations.
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poem you share ~~
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Oh, what a loving memory poem about your mom. Time in water with family brings back such happiness. Thank you for hosting all of us today!
http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2020/07/just-make-something-list-poem.html
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Hi dear Amy. Your post at The Poem Farm is making me want to take a bite right out of it, or, from the photo! Lucky visitor, that one, in person. Lucky visitors – we here, at Poetry Friday.
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Ohh, I had trouble finding the comment link but was finally successful! I knew it had to be there somewhere. Firstly, I love the idea of a relaxing float. We took advantage of the idea at our cabin recently, when floating on some tubes! Thank you for sharing and hosting this week. I wrote some National Park haiku! https://theapplesinmyorchard.com/2020/07/17/poetry-friday-national-park-haiku/
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Hi, Apples!
Visit again, sometime & appreciations for your kind words. I enjoyed exploring your site, new to me, as you are, too.
best.
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Thanks!
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Your poem and image for today, your tribute to your mom is what I needed. To be able to float until November 3rd…
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I missed the prompt ‘”Float”. Adding to my notebook. Sharing some summer poetry swap goodness.
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Thank you, dear Jone. Joining you in first-floor festivity. We are all eyeing Linda’s summer swap poems & books. I nominate her to be the next Poetry Friday creator to undertake opening an Etsy shop of her art (After Robyn at Artsy Letters & also, Michelle Kogan Fine Art.) So sweet, Laura’s reminding us about the beautify of uninvited guests ,& that surreal mesmerizing petunia photo at the top of your post. I’ve never seen one prettier. xo
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Thank you for your poem and for the wonderful manatee image. Both are beautiful, but your memories definitely top the pair. To float is to trust in the laws of physics and oftentimes in the knowledge we’re in the presence of those who love us.
I’ve posted a piece on some thoughts inspired by a Mark Twain quote at https://timgels.com/2020/07/17/bothered-or-not/
Thank you for hosting this week!
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Welcome to Bookseedstudio, Tim. And appreciations for your appreciation of Mr. Clemons’ thoughts.
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Thanks so much for doing the roundup this week. At Wild Rose Reader, I have a post in celebration of Karla Kuskin and her poetry for children: http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/2020/07/in-celebration-of-karla-kuskin.html
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Elaine, hello & appreciations for selecting this BirthdayDay to celebrate Ms. Kushkin’s wit & wisdom.
I am eager to return to all your rich links at Wild Rose Reader. I went around to find her ROAR lion-cover book, about sounds, which I thought I would fetch from my shelves. It must be in a select stack. Her sketches & poems for children, always adding a surprise thought or feeling, should known by heart. Your post-sharing this week, especially her strawberry, poem, feels like a catalyst for a Karla Kushkin Day.
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I love your memory of your mother floating and her joy. I received a photo from my brother of my mother riding on a float down a slip-n-slide at their retirement home. I should write a funny poem about it. Today I am sharing a new poem from borrowed lines along with two poetry swap poems. Thanks for hosting. https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2020/07/17/poetry-friday-gifts-of-words-line-verse/
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A Slip-N-Slide! Oy! Made for ribboning over silky grass (& not the bumpy lumpy shale among the green stalks of my child days yard.) This will be a summer poem to savor, dear Margaret. Appreciations for your visit & kind words.
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Dear Jan, I love reading about your stretched out living raft mom! Thank you for sharing that beautiful image. I’ve got my latest ArtSpeak: RED poem, about priorities. https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2020/07/artspeak-red-poem-priorities.html Thank you for hosting and inviting us to float! xo
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hey hey dear Irene! I’ma in bubbles about what Kirkus shares for the new and the so-You, THIS POEM IS A NEST.
My review introduction was over at Reflections on the Teche ~~ reflectionsontheteche.com/2020/07/10/poetry-friday-this-poem-is-a-nest/.
We hosted a mamma brown thrasher (or wood thrush) on her nest. Once we saw she was there, we never went close enough to determine, so I must have this book for double reasons.
At your post today the family trip home meditation on living for Moments, via the key of red, is, like you, all wonderful.
xo
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Thank you, Jan, for alerting me to Margaret’s post, which I hadn’t seen before! I am still catching up… and thank you thank YOU for being your wild and precious self. xo
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aww, xo back at you.
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Your memories of your mother and your poem are so tender and loving. Thank you so much for sharing them and for hosting today. I’m sharing a poetry swap thank you and some photo prompt poem responses today:
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Hi dear Molly. After dwelling in your atmospheric post just now, I almost feel that “swap” isn’t a silky enough word for what this exchange shared at Nix ~~ You two have sent me floating, sans aqua. xo
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Your poems are beautiful : “arrowhead seeds.”
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[…] week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Jan Annino at her blog, Bookseedstudio. She’s sharing memories of her mother and a tender, original poem about swimming with her […]
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Jan, lovely poem for your mom. I love that living raft…And, having been born and raised in Florida, I’m a big manatee fan, too :>) I’m at https://laurasalas.com/poems-for-teachers/if-an-aurora-appears-poetry-friday/ with an etheree about an aurora: https://laurasalas.com/poems-for-teachers/if-an-aurora-appears-poetry-friday/
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PS Thanks for hosting!
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A joy to see sunny skies & more lift, such sweet smiling faces of JOY at your site, dear Laura.
I love the dream green photo & your ethereee tribute to our Universe & your Family Love photo.
(Extra xo to the newlyweds!)
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“Living raft” is such a beautiful and touching description. Thank you for sharing a bit of your mother love with us, Jan, and for hosting. I have a clever poem by Brian Bilston for PF: https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/
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Well, it’s about Day that someone got up to no Wood!
Leave it to Crew, Tabatha!
I’m like an ant at a barn-raising, all under this!
Ne plus ultra suede, now I want to pursue J.R. & B.B. so timely indexed at your Metaforce B Wit Ewe site.
Love. You.
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Thanks for hosting, Jan! Your poem for your “living raft” mom is beautiful and shows the strength and peace we need to get to and through that November date you mentioned. Ahem…
My post today is about floating the idea of open call for a newly formed Poetry Across the World Critique Group: http://www.weewordsforweeones.com/2020/07/wee-source-floating-poetry-across-world.html
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Appreciations for your kind words, Bridget. And for any time spent in making that day we have our eye on, be famous & not one of infamy. Kudos on your BIG idea!
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Thank you for hosting today. Your tribute to your mom is so lovely! I’m sharing a poem movie today– interpreting the poem “Imagine” by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Enjoy! https://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2020/07/imagine-by-rebecca-kai-dotlich.html
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I find that I adore anything by certain poets & Rebecca Kai Dotlich is one of them. My shelves hold
several exceptional titles mentioned at your intro to the poem mini-movie, “Imagine,” which is an
exquisite moment in this epidemic time. Appreciations for this gift, Sylvia.
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Thanks for hosting, Jan! Such a nice way to spotlight your mom – your ‘living raft.’ Today I’m trying something new: prose poetry, which I’ve never written, ever: https://wp.me/p2DEY3-2ux
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hey, hey Matt, with a bravo! too, for typing where the prose goes.
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Hi there! Thanks for hosting. I shared some float-related lyrics from the song Half Heart by Jimmy Eat World at my blog, Bildungsroman. https://slayground.livejournal.com/907539.html
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Little Willow, I always learn loads when you visit, as I follow a slip-slide of links
at your deep site.
The lines from “Half Heart” hold meaning for me, appreciations.
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Jan, I would like to float alongside you. Your poem made me relax in thought. Ah, to just float endlessly without a care is what I would love to do right now. I can visualize the image of your mom as
a stretched-out/living raft who provides support and love. Thank you for the invitation to enjoy a float and thanks for bringing joy as the PF host this week. I took 2 of Linda Mitchell’s clunker lines to create a video poem and now offering her a choice of 3 thoughts to ponder. https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2020/07/clunker-line-poem.html
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Carol, You are one of the many Poetry Friday powerhouses who astound me with your accomplishments on the page
& on the great stage of life, while I don’t even contemplate a serious trip to the next town (in the C-19
dangerous FLORIDA.) I loved learning your important news, following the links to your Spiritual Thursday
page. WOWZA!
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Jan, thank you for joining me at Spiritual Journey Thursday and thanks for the lovely comment here.
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Hi dear Carol! Lots of moving wishes to you 🙂
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Thank you for the beautiful poem. I read it over and over. I’ve been spending time at a lake with my mother and kids and your poem really resonated with me. Thank you!
Thank you also for hosting this week. Here is my link where I’m sharing some pictures and my latest digital book (still a draft). https://timkulp.com/home/visual-stories
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Welcome, Tim, especially with such synchronicity!
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Welcome, Tim, to what I think is your first visit here?
Wonderful, to have a summertime waterside retreat with your Mom and children.
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Jan, your poem is a lovely tribute to your mom.
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Appreciations with wishes for some soothing moments, this weekend, dear Linda.
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many appreciations, Linda.
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Thanks for the smiles, and your transforming floating poem with the lovely image (and sounds) you capture of you and your mom,
“She allowed me to
link by hand,
drift alongside her”
Thanks also for sharing the fun Jantzen bathing suit– enchanting free-spirit float,” critter, and for hosting the roundup! I’m offering a mix of poems and a WIP summer painting: https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/poetry-friday-poetry-mix-flowers/
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Hey talented artist! I’m eager to visit your site. Thank you for such lovely words, which make me float.
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Appreciations dear MIchelle. And so many embraces for your original poetry at MoreArt4All on WordPress. I’m very touched. xo
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[…] our gracious and ever appreciative Poetry Friday hostess this week Jan G Annino at her blog Bookseedstudio. Jan’s offering a lovely “Float” poem for her mom, and she’s invited us all […]
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What a wonderful legacy and memory you have of your Mom. I would love to find a place to float these days. Lately, I’ve been losing myself at my crafting table while listening to stories. It’s a kind of floating…cutting up old books into butterflies and angels and pretty bits. The idea of floating next to my mom and our hearts beating together in that is such a warm, lovely idea. Thank you for that.
This week I have taken half of the clunkers given to me last week and wrestled them into some shape of poetry. I have to admit…silliness ensued. Hugs to you, dear Jan!
https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/
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You are a floater in your artwork collages, dear Linda.
Floating can be a state of mind, too.
I love your comment on my Mom.
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xo, too!
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Thank you, Jan, for hosting. I enjoyed your tribute to your mom as a swimmer. I love to swim and float! I’m sharing a poem about my dad’s handiwork as a woodworker. My poem is called, “Window Shelf”.
Cheers,
Amy
https://bookbuzz123.blogspot.com/2020/07/window-shelf.html
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Welcome, Amy & thanks for your kind words.
I had a tough time tearing my eyes away from your blog
<a href="https://bookbuzz123.blogspot.com/2020/07/window-shelf.html#comment-
I am swooning over your the unique window artwork/craftwork by your talented Dad. So direct & so potent. Your poem about it, is lovely. The poem could be painted around the window or printed & framed in one of the window blocks. I am thrilled by everything about your post.
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I absolutely love floating in a pool or anywhere. The poem captures the wonder of it perfectly. With my ears under water it’s so quiet and meditative to hear just your breathing and see the sky above. Your mother sounds like a remarkable woman. I wrote a post about Moss and Ireland at http://janicescully.com. Thank you for hosting.
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I’m headed outside right now, dear Janice, because of the WonderWorld post at your blog. We have some here & I want to pour some renewed appreciation upon it.
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[…] to Poetry Friday this week hosted here at Book Seed Studio. You will find a post about one of my favorite things in the whole world. I […]
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