Louisiana Summer Sigh
70Writing exercise in the form of a “simile smile” and an original poem about us and summer changing into the next season of life.
How many times have you wanted to sit down and write a summer poem? Well, I’ve been rolling thoughts around in my head for a few weeks now. How to describe summer? How to talk about the weather without being incredibly dull? How not to think about this dreaded time of year when the worst hurricanes in America’s history hit: Hurricane Katrina on 29 August 2005 and Hurricane Gustav on 1 September 2008?
On the Gulf Coast we are on hurricane watch as the season changes, sometimes violently, from the hot humid summer into the cooling winds of change for fall. Hopefully, I captured a bit of local color and gave you “place.” The wonderful photos from my flickr friends are perfect to illustrate and carry the poem deeper into your hearts. If nothing else this writing exercise poem will give you a “simile smile” for the overused word “like”!
More than anything this time period in human history is about profound change. It’s important for us to embrace change, learning to be more emotionally flexible, accepting and kind toward our fellow man. Even a child learns to adapt to change as summer adapts to the fall season coming on stage to take her place for the year.
The July summer heat
Puffed its cheeks out
Like a pouting stubborn child
Told, “Go to bed, now!”
The hundred degree scorching
Soared as hot as that child’s temper
Weighing down the droopy moist air
Like that child’s protruding lower lip.
The scent of change wafted near
Fluttering sweetly on dragonfly wings
Ghostly mid-July presence announced
“Fall approaches; change is coming.”
The heat slowed from fever pitch
Like the child’s temper calming a bit
Then mid-August Perseid meteor showers
Chased high across the sky, amused our inner child.
The heavy August moon, huge eyes hung low
Pointed the way, “Look up! Change is coming!”
The night sky’s face moved different in one instant
Like the child’s, transformed new starred wonder.
The breezes stirred more often late summer
Growing stronger, more bold in their invite
Cooler weather calmed stormy tempers
Like the hugging arms of a patient mother.
The hurricane season of stormy tempers passed
The child’s once fuming countenance restored
Fall lovingly dried the moist air’s heavy tears
Like the child’s face lifted up to his mother’s
All smiles and joy. Breathe.
Denny Lyon
Copyright 14 August 2009
All Rights Reserved
* For more of my crazy poetry, visit my busy musings blog The Social Poets.
* Since I adore thought-provoking quotes, I've started writing commentary to wonderful quotes that grab my attention for the day over at my quotations blog, Beautiful Illustrated Quotations.
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Comments are always welcome!
I love your Louisiana Summer Sigh. We are sighing in Texas, too! Will this heat never end!
Hi, Anthony, thanks for the visit and the kind kudos! :)
Hi, Smireles, thanks for stopping by! Nothing like being reminded of how hot this summer still is... :) Whew! Texas has it far worse with all the water shortages; we have been getting deluged with rain. The big joke at our house is Noah's Ark is about to float on by our front yard. Hope things get better soon for you all.
I love your Simile Smiles. Charming photos...and perfect similes...Thanks The "bottom lip" picture was "too much"!:)
aw i liked that a lot...... saw some things i will come back to also another day ...... after the poem
Hi, alekhouse, thanks for the visit! Yeah, that bottom lip is too cute - and so very human of us all! :)
Hi, Brenda Scully, thanks for stopping by for a look! Love your dove avatar: inspirational!
No indication of change yet here, and when there is, I'll think of your lyrical and poetic words! Well done!
Hi, Christoph, thanks for visiting! What? No fall in the air - just a hint before cool weather descends - in New York City? Right now the moon is "on its back" the past two early mornings which means that cool weather is on its way. (Yes, we get up at 4 to 5 am to go take a look at the constellations and the moon over our little pond in the back yard: spectacular! It's like having your very own planetarium - for free.)
Ahh...but I am not in New York City. Used to live there.
That's right, you're in St. Louis now, my bad. :) The 109 heat index often fries my brain cells from time to time when it goes on and on for months.
Definitely time to move out of state again - and this time to the mountains where the weather is far cooler and there isn't the constant worry and expense of hurricanes. Of course, since the insurance companies have risen everyone's home owners' insurance to astronomical proportions (try a former $1,000 deduction is now a $14,000 to $28,000 deductible whether your area flooded or had damage or not - and the state requires you pay the premiums in spite of basically self-insuring: thank you, george bush on your way out of office) there is now a brain drain in this state as everyone is starting the exodus of moving away, this time permanently.
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Great poems and images - thanks for sharing
Love and peace
Tony
Hi, ahmad, thanks for visiting! I'm sure your website will do well!
Hi, tonymac04, thanks for the visit and the read from a great jazz man, much appreciated!
Denny - as I read the poem I was constantly reminded of the song by Alanah Myles "Black Velvevt" as she sangs about hot summer nights and little boy smiles.
This was a great poem - thanks for sharing.
Hi, jxb7076, thanks for stopping by!
Photo Credits
Angry child photo by JustinLowery.com @ flickr
Screaming child photo by mdanys @ flickr
Lake MartinSwamp, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana photo by onealchristopher @ flickr
River Road Plantation, Louisiana photo by New Orleans Lady @ flickr
Smiling little boy photo by OakleyOriginals @ flickr
Blowing bubbles photo by Pink Sherbet Photography @ flickr
Smiling child photo by Pink Sherbet Photography @ flickr
hub #55
Anthony James Barnett - author says:
3 months ago
Great writing, Denny. Great photo choices to compliement it, too.