Imagine the Possibilities

It’s Poetry Friday! Margaret has the roundup today at Reflections on the Teche with a taste of her recent trip to Scotland. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

The seasons seem a bit mixed up this year. After a very chilly and rainy spring, we jumped right into summer heat and humidity. It’s barely September and already the air is chilly, the shadows long, the vibrant hydrangeas a memory. I love fall with its deep russets and golds, sweater weather temps, and all things pumpkin and spice. But it seems early to bid farewell to summer. I’m trying to savor these last days as best I can, some of which is reflected in my list poem for today.

Before Summer Slips Away…

indulge in ice cream from a local creamery
grill corn on the cob in their husks
dine al fresco at sunset
plan a picnic
plant tulip bulbs
stargaze under the midnight sky
tickle your toes in ocean’s tide
burn a candle with a summery scent
pick a bouquet of wildflowers
answer the geese honking goodbyes
celebrate each day, each moment…

before summer slips away.

It’s Poetry Friday! Carol has the roundup today at Beyond Literacy Link where she talks about the art of summering. Be sure to stop by lots of poetry goodness.

My gardens have not been as abundant as they have been in past years. That is probably due to a combination of factors including weather and my gardening skills. But those factors might also include the midnight visitors who help themselves to Hosta leaves, hydrangea buds, and any variety of delectable blooms. Usually in late summer I have a good amount of black-eyed Susans, but this year I could find only one lone survivor.

Imagine my delight then to receive a poetry swap from Sarah Grace Tuttle that included a poem about a black-eyed Susan and a fantastical garden visitor.

Garden Visitor
by Sarah Grace Tuttle

In the bright yellow petals
of a black-eyed Susan
a tiny dragon curls,
purple scales glinting
around the tall, dark cone.
It licks drops of nectar,
humming in joy
like the most fantastic bee.

Inspired by Grace’s lovely poem, I wrote this tanka about my lone survivor:

Look Closely

one black-eyed Susan
lifts its head toward the light
to warm the dragon
hiding like a buzzing bee
within the dark cone center
Draft, RoseCappelli2025

Thanks for reading! Carol has the roundup today at Beyond Literacy Link where she talks about the art of summering. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

It’s Poetry Friday! Heidi has the round up today at my juicy little universe. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

This summer I was treated to some very special poetry swap gifts. Thank you to Carol Labuzzetta and Linda Mitchell for your thoughtful, personal and beautiful packages that brightened my day and will continue to do so. I’m always amazed at the generosity and creativity of this writing community. Thank you all for being part of my world.

I’ve been spending time this summer with Maggie Smith’s Dear Writer, taking time during August to revisit some of the suggested readings and generative writing activities Maggie suggests. One activity was to open a book of poetry and copy words, a line, or a sentence to see if it opens a door to something unexpected. You may have noticed that one of my gifts from Linda was a book of poetry, The Cat Prince & Other Poems, by new-to-me Scottish poet, Michael Pedersen. I was drawn to his poem “The Rain in Cushendall” with its nod to Billy Collins. The words were rich and wonderfully descriptive and led me to this unexpected response:

The Garden in August
(inspired by “The Rain in Cushendall” by Michael Pedersen)

It rained last night…
finally.
Not the cheek-chiseling, rhododendron-rattling rain
like you might find in Cushendall,
but a wish-whispering, softly-soaking rain
that filled the cups of the cosmos
then spilled onto almost-brittle leaves.

Today the air is clearer,
the thirst-quenched flowers perkier,
renewed in spirit
at least for a few weeks…
as summer slips away.
Draft, 2025RoseCappelli

Thanks for stopping by!

I’ve been absent for a few weeks from Poetry Friday. Two trips pulled me away. One was to a retreat at Lake Tahoe with my poetry group, the Nevermores. One to a family beach vacation in Ocean City, NJ.

At Lake Tahoe we had lots of time to hike, work on projects, share, and do some spontaneous prompt writing. Patricia gave each of us a small bottle of poetry prompts disguised as capsules from The Poetry Pharmacy.

I borrowed the phrase “Soon will the…” from one of the prompts in my bottle for “As Summer Comes to a Close:”

As Summer Comes to a Close

Soon will the red day lilies fade
and the black-eyed Susans open,
winking in the breeze.

Soon will the bluebirds and finches
leave nests behind,
fledglings finding their wings.

Soon will fireflies
offer final signals to mates,
waiting in the tall grass.

And soon, with luck, will monarchs
spot the milkweed,
welcoming a new generation.
Draft, 2025RoseCappelli

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And here are a few snippets from the beach:

early morning tide
delivers beach-bound horseshoe crabs
ancient arthropods

******************

searching shooting stars
where ocean and sky are one
simple heart pleasures

******************

Wind slaps
the awning flaps,
flipping them back and forth,
thudding
like runners on a dirt path.

The day will be cool, breezy;
the ocean will be rough, roaring;
the company pleasant, content.
Draft, 2025Rose Cappelli

Molly has the round up today at Nix the Comfort Zone where she offers thoughts about slowing down and appreciating the present. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

It’s Poetry Friday! Tabatha has the round up today at The Opposite of Indifference. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

The second brood of bluebird chicks are close to fledging. Very close. I check on them daily but know not to get too close. Bluebird parents can be very protective. Yesterday I watched from a safe distance -beaks peaking, eyes exploring, feathered friends ready. Sometimes being respectful of nature can be hard, but I remember my own experiences with launching a brood (just two), and I understand.

Even Though

all I want to know
is if the chicks fledged,

the bluebirds swoop
in warning.

Even though
I provided the house,

even though
I protect them from the sparrows,

even though
what I really want

is to watch the chicks
take that first hop into the world.

Might I overstep, interfere,
get it wrong?

Even though
I fledged two chicks of my own,

even though
I watched them misstep,

even though
they found their footing,

I’ll keep my distance…
remembering.
Draft, RoseCappelli2025

My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the flooding in Texas. May you find peace and closure. While nature can be a source of much joy, it can also bring terrible devastation.