July is a popular travel month. Heidi challenged the Inklings to write a postcard poem for this first Friday. “Write a short postcard poem with choice details of your vacation/holiday/getaway/escape location and activities. Conclude with “Wish you were here” or some variation!”
Unfortunately, we had to cancel a Europe trip due to my husband’s injury. I have been perusing social media and pondering the travel of my friends. This is not a healthy situation. I’m having bouts of travel envy.
A friend recommended John O’Donohue’s interview on the On Being podcast. O’Donohue died young in 2008. His interview with Krista Tippett was inspiring. I was especially attracted to his poem “Beannacht” found in his final book: To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings and used it as a mentor poem for my poem “Blessing for Travel”
Links to Inklings:
Linda @A Word Edgewise
Catherine @Reading to the Core
Molly @Nix the Comfort Zone
Mary Lee @Another Year of Reading
Heidi @my juicy little universe
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, how beautiful, soothing, and comforting. “…Making every place taste like home” particularly reminds me of how, on long trips when we’ve stayed in one place for a more than a couple of days (and up to a week) before moving to the next, everything does begin to feel like “home”, and the food, which becomes quickly familiar, does feel like home.
So beautiful, Margaret. I particularly like “may you find beauty in colors dancing across mosaic tiles” – reminds me of Italy.
I can empathize with travel envy. When I was a stay at home mom it was tough. I longed to travel farther and for longer than we did with the little kids. I hope your season changes soon and brings you good travel opportunities. Love this blessing…it’s wonderful for the person who receives it…including us!
Dear Margaret, Appreciations for this soothing poem that I hope helps the poet, as much as me, as I’m not traveling either. These lines especially are a welcome guidance:
“may there come a path
of moonlight
to still your mind.”
I’m late to learning your hubby has an injury & I wish him speedy healing. And I wish some at-home or around-the-bayou fun for you, his caregiver. outdoors, It’s wicked hot here & as usual in North Florida summer, suffocatingly humid, & likely you are feeling local weather constrictions in your short summer away from the intensity of school. I feel a spark of joy will float your way!
Good Luck, Good Diversions, Good Weekend, with hugs.
Thanks, Jan. I’m getting out for walks and swimming with grands. It’s too hot to canoe, anyway. Thanks for reading.
Margaret, what a beautiful channel for your travel envy–to give a travel blessing to others. It is a beautiful step toward wholeness for you and the whole world. There are so many meaningful images–the taste of home, “moonlight to still your mind”, and “colors dancing” to mention a few favorites. Lovely. I hope your husband continues his speedy healing, and here’s to a future trip coming soon.
Ah Margaret, what a beautiful blessing poem full of compassion. I am sorry your husband is injured, and you had to cancel trip. I can relate to travel envy because I injured my knee. when we were cross-country skiing in Co this past February and I couldn’t breathe because of the high altitude even though I had I been taking medication for the altitude. About a month and a half after I came home was when my knee started hurting. Therefore, we didn’t hike in spring at home & I haven’t ridden my bike, yet. Now, that my knee is getting better it has been too hot and humid to exercise outside. This week our oldest daughter has been sending us pics of her boyfriend and her visiting Black Canyon in Gunnison National Park in CO and I have been living vicariously through their long hikes up, down, and around many waterfalls in the park.
In your poem I especially love these lines
“may you find beauty /in colors dancing /across mosaic tiles,” “may there come/ a path/ of moonlight/ to still your mind,” and “may these words surround you/ in an invisible cloak.” I am sending prayers to your husband and you. Looking at other people’s photos from their vacations is good therapy until you can take your own photos on vacation. Continue enjoying the activities with your grandchildren. Thank you for sharing your poem and inspiration.
Gail, I’m sorry to hear about your knee. I am well aware that others have larger health problems. We are blessed that Jeff will recover. Maybe not in our time, but he will be running again. We are thinking about a Christmas trip with our kids and grands. Something to look forward to. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I’ll take your “path/of moonlight” and perhaps dream on it… My plein air classes are serving this summer as my mini travel trips! Hope nature swoops you up and fills some of your yearnings, thanks Margaret.
“may there come a path of moonlight to till your mind” — it is almost midnight as I type and I’m hoping for that path! Beautiful words, Margaret. Thank you.
Margaret, how like you to take a negative feeling and turn it into something beautiful! “May there come a path of moonlight to still your mind” is such a lovely line. I hope your summer is rich in rewards (and healing), even though the travel portion was temporarily delayed. Looking forward to catching up soon!
I love everything about this! It is SUCH a blessing and a great reminder (whether traveling or not) to stay in the moment and receive all we’re given with gratitude.
So lovely, Margaret! I am currently reading ANAM CARA by John O’ Donohue, so your voice is mingling with his! Wishing continued healing to your husband…and a rescheduling of the trip at a better time for your both. As for me, I am not anxious to travel anytime soon. I am looking for that moonlight and finding it at HOME…xo
Oh I love this blessing for travel. I’m so sorry that you are sidelined from traveling for now. That really stinks. But I hope you can make up this trip!
Margaret, it is amazing how writing poetry soothes souls. Travel envy is real especially when summertime is often trip time adventures. Thanks for allowing us time to soak in your poetic thoughts. Stanza 2 shouts out to me, especially lines 3-5. Your words took me back to a vacation to the southern coast of Spain with girlfriends. If it is hot hear in VA, I can imagine what the Teche must be like during the summer. Enjoy your summer with the grands. Thank you for the beautiful card you sent me. It really cheered me up when I opened it.