I am spending some time in New Orleans with my daughters and grandchildren. Soon a new grandson will be here. But in the meantime, I took a walk in the neighborhood. A city walk is different from my small hometown walk, so I took some pictures to set the scene. (Don’t forget to add 80+ temps and 60% humidity to your imagination.)
We took grandson Thomas to City Park and walked around the gardens.
My One Little Word for 2025 is Still. Even in the midst of city traffic and busyness, a moment of stillness can be found.
City Park Haiku
Turtles sun-basking
While heat rises from old stone
Bridges to stillness
Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
I am in awe of the creativity with not only the photos but also the emphasis on your OLW and the metaphorical bridges to stillness with real ones right in the photos. It’s a great way to take a walk AND find stillness and peace of mind. Your grandson is adorable.
In the midst of the pre-baby excitement
mamere finds moments
for stillness
Margaret,
That park and walk are lovely. The ivy on the steps is southern, for sure. On our walk w/ my grandson we watched for flags, one of his favorite things to spy. BTW: Our high today was 96, and it’s fixing to rain. It does get hot in Idaho.
Neighborhood walks are different but I’m glad you found some stillness as you await the new baby!
Your images and words are both absolutely lovely.
What a beautiful little guy you got to walk with today. I’m jealous of your blue, blue skies. We’ve got thunder rumbly clouds, and heat this week.
A walk to choose a book
is still a summer treat.
Black-eyed Susans
salute a flag displayed neat.
Bayou turtle suns itself
Tuesday morning, heat
Today’s summer is sweet.
Thanks for your poetic response.
Margaret, yay for you spending time with your daughters and your grandchildren in New Orleans. Thank you for sharing the pretty flowers, the very cool old bridge, turtles, and adorable Thomas. How wonderful that you will have another grandchild soon. You are blessed. I love your haiku. I’m glad you included the turtles sun-basking. In your third line, I love and it’s a nice surprise how you used “bridges” as a verb making that connection to stillness. Great job! Thank you for sharing your inspiration and joy.
PS Are you going to eat any beignets? I would love to try one some day.
Margaret, thanks for the photos of your city walk. Thomas is growing up fast and is adorable. I am glad that you found a moment of stillness. Heated temperatures exist in VA but today the never-ending storm cooled down the temp-that is a gift.