I struggled with what to write about today. I started a few poems but they didn’t seem to be clicking with me creatively. I’ll save those to keep working on them. Both are nature-inspired.
I looked into poems about moving. We are just two weeks away from our move. Much progress was made over last weekend as we were able to clean out with a garage sale. Another load has gone into storage and today, another load went to the cabin. I had an emotional time when our photos and artwork came down off the walls the other day but I don’t want to write about that again.
Then, I turned to poets in the public domain. None were sparking my interest until I thought farther into the future than our move. We are planning another National Park trip this fall. But, this time, instead of visiting five parks, we are visiting only one – Acadia National Park in Maine.
Thus, I’ve been reading a lot about Acadia and the State of Maine in general. Maine has produced several big-name poets and writers over time. I remember reading about Mt. Katahdin in my Environmental History course during the transcendentalism part of the timeline. Of course, here I am referring to Thoreau.
But, as far as poets, Maine has contributed Henry Wadsworth Longfellow whose poetry always strikes a chord with me. And, although born in New York, Maine does claim the author E.B. White as their own. You know him as the author of Charlotte’s Web which supposedly is based on a farmyard in Maine. It is one of my all-time favorite books.
One of the things I’d like to see on our visit to Maine is the puffins. Puffins are cold-weather tolerant coastal birds and look (to me) a little like a penguin with their black and white plumage their orange accented bill. They are common to Iceland and Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine! We’ll be too late on our trip to actually visit the island but I’m hoping that on one of our shore visits, we will see some puffins.
So, although I don’t have a lot to offer today in terms of poetry, I am looking forward to some trip/vacation/travel inspiration in a few months! By then we should be settled in at the cabin – and who knows what will inspire me there?!
Since it is Poetry Friday, I’ll leave you with the start of this poem about a pocket prairie I planted that I’ll be leaving when we move. After all my searching, I went back to this and added the third verse…still a work in progress.
Pocket Prairie
In my pocket prairie,
treasures grow
albeit slow
waiting for more sun to make it merry.
Colorful yellow pannicles now,
sprinkle color in a sea of green
with a flash of red waiting to be seen.
By July, I’ll be gone
but pink and purple will arrive
to add some vibrancy, making my pocket come alive!
Colorful prairie flowers, so much better than a lawn.
© Draft, Carol Labuzzetta, 2022
Today is Poetry Friday. Buffy Silverman is our host! Thank you for organizing the roundup today, Buffy! Please visit her site for some more great nature-inspired poetry!
The Apples in My Orchard 
I’m sure your pocket prairie will be hard to leave behind–glad you are writing about those treasures and remembering the pinks and purples that will bloom. I so hope the new owners treasure the prairie, too. And enjoy Acadia. I went on a family trip to Acadia when I was about 12. Went on a naturalist-led walk with my brother and sister (our parents were not interested–the only trip we ever took to a park in a rented winnebago.) That trip and naturalist inspired me to become an environmental educator a decade later!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Buffy! It’s wonderful to hear you were inspired to become an environmental educator. I was late to the profession myself, getting my MS in EE/EI in 2018 when I was in my mid-fifties! But, I love it. And, I especially love working with children! Thanks for your comments!
LikeLike
I’m glad to read about your pocket prairie, Carol, & that your poem captures the memory for you as you leave. Your coming trip sounds lovely. I’d love to see a puffin, too! Best wishes for that move!
LikeLike
Thanks, Linda! I’ll surely be writing about Puffins if I get lucky enough to see them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the endings and beginnings here…
By July, I’ll be gone
but pink and purple will arrive
Good luck with your move! I’m amazed you found time to post anything at all at this time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laura! Yes, I write every day not matter what – as you know some days provide more time than others! 🙂
LikeLike
What a busy time for you! Lots of leavings and arrivings. I can imagine the grief when your artwork left, and I can imagine your grief when you leave your pocket prairie. At least you know it will keep growing. I had to suffer seeing the land lab I had toiled to nurture for years bulldozed and planted with grass. Still breaks my heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, MaryLee. I am sorry to hear that you had to watch that labor of love bulldozed. There is a lot of bulldozing going on around us now. The cornfields and prairies are being demolishd for housing. It is part of why we are head north. We do plan to come back but will build on a ridgetop prarire that will not have much grass at all. Thanks for understanding!
LikeLike
What a beautiful work-in-progress-poem – reading it is like watching an artist put layers of colors on a canvas.
“treasures grow
albeit slow”
I love these lines – the rhythm as well as the reminder that nature won’t be rushed … all things bloom in their time. A welcome reminder in our busy modern world. Best of luck with the move, and your planning for your upcoming trip to Maine!
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I am going to work on a progressive pocket prairie poem using these lines and more as the season goes on.
LikeLike
Your pocket prairie – poem and reality – dazzle. Love reading the backstory to your post. Good luck with your move! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Bridget! I just responded to Denise and told her that I think I’m going to write my own progressive poem about my pocket prairie because it looks different this week already!
LikeLike
Carol, I’ve enjoyed seeing and reading about your prairie. (I like that “pocket prairie” name.) I’m sure you will miss those beautiful colors when you go to our new place, but so many opportunities await!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I agree, Denise! There is a plethora of plants, fungi, and trees just waiting to be discovered by me at the cabin! The praire has already changed since last week – now with some white flowers. I think I’ll make my own progressive poem about my pocket prairie! Good to hear from you! I hope life near the desert is treating you well!
LikeLike