Who made this day?
This longest day in the journey.
Scarf thrown off, head tilted back,
away from ticking hands.
No clocks in sight.
More time to revel in the sun.
And she shall do a walk about.
About the bird who places one more
blade of new mown grass upon her nest
and then another and another still.
About time that cannot stop,
but will elongate,
prolong the light on this day,
a broader spectrum in which to heal.
She sees you seeing her.
Watch longer. Hold tighter.
Her body whole, a holy place,
where prayers of so many reside
and battles will be won.
Walk about this longest day,
savor life and love.
Dedicated to my friend, Louise.
Walter is hosting Tuesday’s Poetics at dVerse and asks us to consider the Summer Solstice, perhaps beginning with the idea of another poet. I looked to Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day which begins, “Who made the world?” Photo from Cape Cod — sun rise —
lillian the home poet 
I used the same poem–one of my favorite. It’s only in the last few years that I’ve found so much delight in noticing birds. The other day, I glanced out my window into the tall tree that makes my 2nd floor office like a tree house and saw a robin futzing around her nest. She stared in at me and hasn’t been back. I learned though that robin males build several nests and the female chooses the one she wants. Guess she saw me as a threat. :0(
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Kindred souls again. So interesting that the male builds several nests and the lady has her choice! 🙂 I was also sort of jealous that among the birds, the males were the ones so brightly colored and the females were the dull ones. Seems to me if you have to expel those eggs, then sit there brooding for eons, you should at least be able to wear a coat of many colors! 😉
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That color thing bothers me too. :0)
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A nice introduction to Mary Oliver’s poem, Lillian (and Victoria). The line does set the pace for your wonderful continuance here. Lillian!
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Thank, Walter. Her opening line does go in a different direction here. I have a dear friend fighting cancer and I think of the Summer Solstice as a day when she has more time to live and love and more sunlight within for her body to do its battle.
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a luscious poem. The robin in the tree, her body a holy place. Oh my yes. As are all those who hold life to come inside them. Only now in my middle 60’s have I begun to feel a fascination for babies and their smiles. Walk about this longest day, savor life and love – such wonderful advice for us all. Truly seize each day and hold it close.
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So many ideas got me going here — Mary Oliver’s opening line, the summer solstice hours of sun, the aboriginal walk about….the savoring on more sun to live and love and heal.
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It truly is a marvel of a poem. I think Mary Oliver would be proud of it.
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Thank you!
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Lillian,
“About time that cannot stop,
but will elongate,
prolong the light on this day,
a broader spectrum in which to heal.”
this is the most lovely and positive way I’ve ever heard the long hours of summer days portrayed. Leave it to you, my friend – to find the cool beauty of a sweltering day:)
am:)
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Ah thank you , AM. Sent you an email yesterday — sitting with my first morning cup and about to come your way. Anticipation —-
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so behind, my friend
getting through this week
and will catch up soon
am:)
scanned your email – will return later
sending healing bone thoughts:)
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For several years, a pair of robins built a nest in the eaves of our covered deck, but they haven’t been back for years now. Even in suburbia, we see the odd coyote, wandering deer, & way too many raccoons.
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Nature goes where it will — where there’s a will there’s a way — even within the city. There is a peregrin nest way atop one of the tallest buildings here in the city. My son puts out a box (for lack of a better word) that is for a bluebird nest — and the same bluebird comes several times a year to build her nest there and hatch her young. She allows them to open the wooden hatch door and peer in at the eggs, and then at the little ones for the first 13 days of their life. Mama bird flies to the next tree as she sees them approach, sits on a branch and watches them carefully, and then returns when my son closes the hatch and they respectfully step away. Quite amazing to see!
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Beautiful – so relaxing! I yearn for no clocks!
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Glad you enjoyed! When I rejuvenated (NEVER say retired), I quit wearing a watch! 🙂
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Oh such a wonderfully crafted poem Lillian 😀 vivid in its sheen and lustre ❤
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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So very glad you enjoyed, my friend. Happy I am sipping my morning cup.
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So beautiful:
“About time that cannot stop,
but will elongate,
prolong the light on this day”
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Ah, thank you my friend. It’s magical isn’t it? The longest day of the year, the brightest …and we should make it so! 🙂
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Ah! The Solstice is meant to be celebrated on the beach with a glorious sun rise/set! This is so full of sprakling imagery 🙂
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Exactly why I dug backwards for this photo from Cape Cod. When I am on the ocean there, or in Bermuda, I always rise early to greet the new day. The days seem longer when the water is lapping beside you 🙂
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Delightful Lillian, I felt the warmth…..
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So glad, Michael — so nice to see you this morning while I’m sipping my morning cup!
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I seem to turn up at your place for breakfast don’t I….
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Beautiful poetry, Lillian! 🙂
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Oh, thank you so much, Josslyn! Truly appreciate your kind words.
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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The delight of this the longest of days.. I do love the thought that these days are for walking. Truly wonderful.
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Yes — I was thinking of the aboriginal walk about — Many many years ago I saw a wonderful film about this. The longest day of light — for walking, healing, living, loving. A day to celebrate!
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I love these lines, which remind me of how summer used to feel when we were kids and school holidays seemed to last forever:
‘About time that cannot stop,
but will elongate,
prolong the light on this day,
a broader spectrum in which to heal’..
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Oh yes….those days when our entire life it seems was spent outside….many times in a very small space meaning our neighborhood yards and hills….with lemonade stands and hop scotch and climbing trees! 🙂 Oh yes, when we were little we knew how to while away the day! 🙂 No guilt, just sure and certain pleasure in every step during that sunshine time of year. Would that as adults we could recapture that sheer enjoyment of the day.
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When we are young, summer gives the impression of being endless, and I think that is the mood of your lovely poem.
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Thank you my friend. The endless hours, sunshine, warmth, what-shoud-we-do-now times of summer. Smiling I am and so glad you enjoyed.
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We had a long day of rain this Solstice, so thank you for this poem, which makes me feel the sunlight. There is something special about these long summer days – a space to breathe and love and heal. Beautiful poem.
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So very glad you enjoyed. I always call rainy days make-your-own-sunshine-days. 🙂
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I love the powerful inactivity implied in your poem. Reading it, I took a deep breath and watched the bird creating her nest.
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There is definitely power in stillness!
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I almost always find stillness as part of the solstice….like a winter solstice that might be calm and white….not to mention the other seasons changing. You have started
something here and I believe others will carry it on.
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So glad you enjoyed, Kathy.
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This walkabout on the longest day is splendid! It made me want to come along, throw my own scarf back, and bask in the healing sunshine.
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So glad to take you with me 🙂
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I love the opening question you’ve posed!
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Glad you enjoyed!
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Beautiful poem, as usual with whatever I read from you, the words seem to drag me in and I want to be there.
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What a lovely thing to say! 🙂 Smiling I am.
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This took me along on a journey of courage, hope and healing. To write this for your friend is such a beautiful gift from the heart. Thanks for sharing it with all of us! Sending positive thoughts and prayers to your friend, Louise.
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Thank you so much, Mish. Truly appreciate your kind words here.
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Beautiful poem, full of emotion and lovely images!
These lines moved me:
“She sees you seeing her.
Watch longer. Hold tighter.
Her body whole, a holy place,
where prayers of so many reside
and battles will be won.
Walk about this longest day,
savor life and love.”
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So glad you enjoyed! 🙂 Thank you so very much for the kind words.
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My pleasure!
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Just excellent Lillian. Goodness but your voice rings clear. 🐞
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So glad you enjoyed!
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Lovely … Summer Solstice tomorrow in Oz, what’s short to you is long to us… the days
Have a look at the Sun rising out of Eerwah, been taking snaps every day in the lead up… might blow you out.
I see things you cannot
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Yes indeed! 🙂
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