I chose to find beauty every day in the month of September. It’s everywhere, if you look. I’m sharing my photos with #septemberbeauty on Instagram. The photo I chose for today came in a text from my daughter who is overseeing a photo shoot in Florida for her ad agency. She was scheduled to go when Hurricane Idalia arrived.
I am lucky that my three daughters communicate almost daily in a group text with me. They send videos and photos and general check-ins. Last night Martha sent a photo of baby June at 8 months gnawing on a piece of pork. They are in the stage of trying out different foods with her. We all enjoyed the funny image.
Katherine sent a beach sunset photo with the message, “My evening.” We know she is working, so the image is not quite as stress-free as it looks, but I found it beautiful and hopeful.
I sit beside you
Margaret Simon, haiku draft
feel your pain; smooth ruffled fur.
Loving to the end.
I didn’t mean to place my sadness here, but poetry is like that. It pulls it out of your soul. My dog of 16 years is dying. I’m struggling to let him go.
Please write a small poem of your own in the comments. Encourage other writers with your comments.
Reflections on the Teche 
Thanks Margaret for your heartfelt poem and for the evocative pic by your daughter. Here’s where your image took me,
SPHERICAL
Ancient machine-o-feet
spin wheels of time
and move us
like grains of sand
through trials…
But time pauses by
tangerine-kissed-horizon
wrapping us in
warm waves
of hope.
Michelle Kogan, draft
love “warm waves/of hope” Michelle –
I’d look for those thru any trial
Love the warm waves of hope. Much needed and appreciated.
Michelle, this poem contains all of life in a nutshell–the exhaustion of the daily grind to the hope, love, and beauty of the earth and being alive.
Ah, Michelle, “tangerine-kissed-horizon” and “warm waves / of hope” — I can just sit there all day. So beautiful!
“tangerine-kissed horizon” is beautiful.
Sigh… it is the last gift we give our pups, to sit with them until they tell us it’s time. 💔 Sending hugs, Margaret.
let me lay with you
breathe pastel peace through your palm
when autumn comes
@draft, PJF
Love pastel peace and palm alliteration and how autumn sounds with palm.
So peaceful and calming.
Ah, this sounds like a lovely love story. The alliteration and vowels sounds in the second line are so peaceful.
“pastel peace” – I’ve experienced many of those skies.
You paint a lovely image with “pastel peace” and soothing too, thanks!
Pastel peace – what a lovely image!
Margaret, I relate to your poignant poem, as we have an older dog who is slowing down. Yes, we spoil him with treats and attention. Thanks to Katherine for this beautiful photo, which makes an amazing poetry prompt.
we are tiny dots
amid vast land, sand, sea, sky,
and yet You love us.
~ Jane Heitman Healy, draft
Ah, Jane, it is a sky like this that calls to our heart and mind about our maker. Beautiful!
ooh…Jane, your words sent my heart into my throat… “and yet You love us” – something deep there. Thank you. – Patricia
“tiny dots amid vast land” reminds us of our humanity.
Wish more of humanity saw themselves as you portray them in your poem–thanks for your sensitive and beauty filled poem Jane!
thank you so much, Denise, pj, Rose, and Michelle
Yes, so true… walking on the beach, watching and listening to the waves makes me feel this way.
Oh, Margaret, such a sweet poem as you hold your special friend for these last days. Peace to you and all who have loved this gentle dog. Your poem is perfect. Here’s mine; I couldn’t resist:
The sun–
the falling flaming
brilliant sun–
holds our attention
so raptly
that one might
actually miss the
quadpod Bigfoot
OMG! – perfect, Denise, how you reeled me in! – Clearly I missed it!
I think I missed it, too! Fun!
Hilarious. My father had a painting of a cloud that looked like a giant. My daughter has it now.
I missed it too, blame it on that gorgeous sky–fun poem Denise!
Ha! Your poem sent me back to the picture to look more closely. Quadpod Bigfoot! Ha!!
Ha! Love the language here and the fun at the end, Denise!
I zoomed in to see it! But then I wrote it from a different point of view.
Margaret,
Your poem and photo touched me deeply. We lost our dog this summer and it has been a great hole in our lives. “Loving to the end” speaks for both dog and owner.
I’ve also been writing small poems about clouds, so the photo was perfect for today. Here’s how I was inspired:
as if signaled by a higher power
storm clouds part
letting in the light
the calm
of day’s end
Letting in the light. Thanks for this and your support.
Soothing and soothsayer-ish, thanks Rose!
Rose, I love “letting in the light/the calm”
The calm of day’s end…
That’s what sunset often brings
The image made me feel small…
Sea Sigh
I’ve gotten smaller as sands swept by
and waves have crashed
taller than I.
As child I thought I’d do it all;
the world was meant
for me to fall
And jump back up, leap over crests,
charge up the dunes,
no need to rest.
But now I slow at every knoll;
the sand or sea
demands its toll.
The sand is deep, the water high
and time has weighed
me down; I lie
In bed of grains with froth at toes
and take a nap
minding my nose.
By Donna JT Smith ©️2023
Ah me, Donna. I’m feeling the slow down, the senselessness of rush to the next thing. Sometimes it’s good to sit and watch the waves go by.
Donna, I love your rhyme & rhythm in this, as well as the contrast from youth to older.
Oh Margaret, I am really sorry for your loss. I am glad that it is beauty that pulled some of the sadness from your soul.
Interestingly, I, too, am reacting with sadness – no surprise since I am, at the moment, dealing with a great grief. Thus, my response reflects some of what you saw.
Look! In the distance – where
sand and sea and sky are no longer separate –
beauty exists.
The last line, Amanda. We must always remember and seek beauty, joy, love–it still exists. Sorry for your loss.
Sand, sea, sky
Come together
On the horizon
And we
Walking together,
Entwined
Become one
I love how this moves seamlessly to become one.
Oh, lovely, Diane! I like your interpretation of those two in the photo better than mine. 🙂 “become one” is lovely.
Beautiful, Diane! This would be a perfect wedding or anniversary poem.