#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Lovely to feel the ground being soaked by an all night rain into the day. All the plants drinking and the animals too. The heron startled from the wetlands; and the doe and the fawn who watched me walk by with Charlie. I went for a walk instead of a swim needing a bit of a rest and then off to a doctor’s appointment and quickly back to poetry workshop. My poem was successful. I will tweak a bit. I’m glad for it. My poems inspired by gardens and plants and wetlands. A second walk in the afternoon and a long talk with my dear friend visiting from Florida. A ramble across the trestle bridge into the meadow and down the railroad tracks. Tiger lilies and a painted turtle and an assortment of found nests someone left by the side of the tracks. Curious. Wave a sparkler in the house, lighting it up. Weather not at all great for beach today. Tonight, after second poetry workshop which turned out to be a dyad, just two of us discussing our poems, I attended a Zoom presentation hosted by Two Sylvia’s Press of the fabulous poet Jane Hirshfield discussing craft and revision. A stunning woman; a stunning presentation. I love the way the doe and the fawn halted and stared down me and Charlie as we trespassed on their breakfast-time. We’ll try and not intrude on their wetlands feast tomorrow.

And see how the flesh grows back

across a wound, with a great vehemence,

more strong

than the simple, untested surface before.

There's a name for it on horses,

when it comes back darker and raised: proud flesh,

as all flesh,

is proud of its wounds, wears them

as honors given out after battle,

small triumphs pinned to the chest—

Excerpt from “For What Binds Us,” ~ Jane Hirshfield