Summer, sing me home…

I want to love  you,  summertime
and s……l……o…….w   this life on down,
going all fluid and free and fascinated,
to live out my art in vivid color
and drink the thanks from every ripe moment.

I want to wander into the mountains with my camera
and hear again the owl in the woods
and find some new swimming holes
and dance by the light of the moon.

I want to dab coppertone behind my ears
and munch cilantro  pulled plenty from the soil
and resuscitate my relationship with the local library
and write a good answer to give
when people say what I should.

I want to linger longer outside on summer nights
and get over the bugs
because you can’t have one without the other
and embrace the storms,
paint my toes berry bright
and get more scars.

To fill my arms with farmer’s market goodness
for fresh salsa
and cobblers
and to  remember how all I need is already here,
to re-purpose,  refurbish and restore
what I didn’t notice before
and when I feel empty,  to fill up on thanks
and wear the coolest cotton dresses.

I want to let summer love me,
to take in the sweetness
and not wish it away in the waiting
for sweet soldier to come home,
to open wide to each shot of courage as it comes
and not miss a moment of living
in all the surviving

and, yes,  I will love you,  summertime.

27 Comments

  1. rachel awes on June 10, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    what a beautiful tribute to summertime
    + your photos are brilliantly rich/gorgeous/deeeeelightful!
    summer love to you, dear! xox

  2. Kathy on June 10, 2012 at 8:08 pm

    Oh my goodness, Jennifer! We long for many of the same summertime splendors! I love your detail…and I send big comforting hugs for your soldier to come back. (When can your son come home, or visit you next? How is he doing?) Do you see fireflies where you live…?

  3. Barbara on June 10, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    I’m trying to get over the bugs, too, because you’re so right… you can’t have one without the other, and I’m loving these summer days and nights! I hope they linger slow and sweet for both of us!

  4. Lee Ann on June 10, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Oh I can sure feel your JOY Jen! You made me smile and wish I could come over and spend a day with you. I just chewed on some freshly picked cilantro from my little pot, earlier today and I love cobalt blue glass too. Really, I can see in your posts lately that you are feeling happy and free… and that is wonderful. But I really do think I need to come over and spend some time with you so more of it will rub off on me. …Wish that was possible. Oh well, thankful for you my friend!

    ♥Lee Ann

  5. S. Etole on June 10, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    I feel as though I’ve splashed in the puddle of color! What a delight your words and images are.

  6. Mimi and Tilly on June 11, 2012 at 5:17 am

    I think I want the same kind of summer as you. Your words refresh me and your art work lifts my heart. Thank you. x

  7. LindyLouMacinItaly on June 11, 2012 at 7:48 am

    I want to love summertime as well, but the settled weather has still not arrived here, rain again today!

  8. Bren on June 11, 2012 at 9:00 am

    So true. Beautifully said and wonderfully illustrated. Those photos just vibrate with life, like your words do 🙂

  9. Lindsay on June 11, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    Did you know this
    Is one of the most beautiful
    Poetic blogs I’ve ever read
    Always such a joy
    To come by and leave a note.

    I try to leave a comment
    Inspired by your poems
    But yours are so much
    Better. 🙂

    Thank you!
    Lindsay

  10. Kel on June 11, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    poignant words on that last stanza Jen
    may your embracing of what is allow that which you truly long for to arrive sooner

  11. kathryn on June 11, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    as i read your words i was whisked back to growing up in WI and those long fabulous summers there!! thanks…that was nice!!

    i especially love that first photo…so beautiful!!

  12. suz on June 12, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    ah wish away
    fall is gorgeous too
    as is winter
    and then oh my it’s spring again
    and then..wulllaa….summer together
    but wishing doesn’t make it so
    therefore we enjoy what is rightnow
    thank you so much for all your words of comfort
    tough this thing called love
    and mamahood

  13. Connie Smiley on June 12, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    So beautiful, Jennifer, your poetic reminder to slow down and keep one’s senses open. But I have to ask, why do you dab coppertone behind your ears?

  14. Jean on June 14, 2012 at 3:29 am

    Your blog is so beautiful and refreshing. I love the colors you capture with your camera and the thoughts you capture with your words. Inspirational.

    Enjoy this beginning of summer.

  15. JBR on June 14, 2012 at 6:11 am

    Jen, lovely said. As always. Blessings my friend.

  16. Louise G on June 14, 2012 at 7:12 am

    and always
    summer loves you
    back
    into blossom
    into colour
    into life!

    Love this — your photos are amazing!

  17. gwen lilly on June 14, 2012 at 8:02 am

    Your seeing, hearing, feeling, creating,loving,braveheart knocks on the door to mine and calls for me to come out and just “be” the real me and play and work the work that is feels like play, passionate-give-it-all-ya-got-abandoning -all-fear-work-play. This is a priceless gift–THANK YOU!!!! Jennifer<3

  18. Kathy Anne on June 14, 2012 at 10:21 am

    I feel the exact same way. You express it so well. I will share this.
    Kathy Anne

  19. Mom on June 14, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    LOVE this one, Jen! Can smell, taste and feel it all! BEAUTIFUL!!

  20. Cousin Cathy on June 15, 2012 at 7:09 am

    Enjoyed stopping buy to read and see the beautiful pictures and refreshing words. Thanks to you were see the beauty in the season.

  21. Anita on June 16, 2012 at 6:48 am

    Jennifer,
    Your photographs are beautiful! Everything about them, color and composition both, speak to me.
    And your words ring so true, and sound so right. I will keep your son in my prayers, that he gets home soon and safely to you.
    xo, Anita

  22. Relyn on June 16, 2012 at 11:31 am

    I wish for you – and for me – all of this and so much more.

    I wish you watermelon seed spitting contests, sparkler writing nights, and shrieking, laughing kids to chase at dusk .

  23. Lynn on June 17, 2012 at 9:40 am

    Oy! The flowers, the words, so much colorful beauty I am swooning!

  24. leslie on June 18, 2012 at 11:46 am

    “to open wide to each shot of courage as it comes
    and not miss a moment of living
    in all the surviving”

    yes. (and i love your blue bottles)

    and i hope and pray your soldier boy is kept safe in all his comings and goings, both now and forevermore…

  25. Kim on June 20, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    beautiful photo and beautiful words. thanks for sharing your heart with the rest of us in this way.

  26. Jo Bossini on July 12, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Ohh so pretty! Like the flowers in Alice in Wonderland!

  27. James Rustafer on April 16, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    Wow, so colorful. You should design patterns for Betsey Johnson.

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