I meander the riverside. Meanwhile the
globe spins frenetically, as much of the world
is amok in violent rhetoric. Walking offers
views of spring. Geese nesting, itself
testament to the season’s rebirth. To
see the female sit patiently upon her nest, your
reminder. Hope lives within the imagination.
Written for Meet The Bar Thursday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets across the globe. Today we’re asked to write a Golden Shovel Poem.
What is a Golden Shovel Poem? It’s a poetic form where the last word of each line in a new poem, when read vertically from top to bottom, creates a line from another poet.
What line from another poet have I used in my Golden Shovel Poem?
“The world offers itself to your imagination” from Mary Oliver’s poem Wild Geese.
Photo taken on my walk yesterday, along the banks of the Charles River here in Boston.
lillian the home poet 
❤️
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Glad you enjoyed, Paul.
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I’ve been enjoying your April offerings Lillian.
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I love the contrast of the world ‘amok in violent rhetoric’ and the peace on the banks of the Charles, with the geese nesting, and the lovely photo. Yes, hope does live within the imagination.
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Thank you, Kim. My first attempt at a Golden Shovel Poem. The key is to pick the right line….
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My pleasure, Lill. I agree about picking the right line.
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“Hope lives within the imagination.”
BRAVO!!!
much love
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Thank you, Gillena!
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I love geese nesting, a sign of the spring season. And what a wonderful quote from Mary Oliver’s poem. Enjoy the spring season.
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Thank you, Grace. I do adore Mary Oliver’s poetry!
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Very nicely done, Lillian. I love your beautiful photo and the promise of spring.
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It’s been very fun to keep checking on our mama and papa goose. I hope we get to see those little ones before they all swim away!
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Oh, you will see them. The wander all over the neighborhood!
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This was a great poem, and a reminder that despite what the rest of the world is doing, theres always the respite of nature and all her blessings not to far away. Excellent, write!!🩷
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Thank you for the lovely comment! It’s been so fun to keep watch over this mama and papa goose. We walk by them almost every day. No little goslings yet. It’s supposed to rain over the weekend….we’ll have to put on our raingear so we don’t miss their little brood being hatched!
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I love the cute little goslings, its close to that time here as well!! 🪿
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Absolutely, love this one as I can relate. On my afternoon walks I check on the geese here who are currently sitting on nests. I look forward to seeing the goslings.
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Exactly! Me too!
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Very well formed poem Lillian 👏 You remind me to take notice of the little things – things that in reality are not so little.
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Nature truly is a reminder that no matter the political happenings, the debates and hearings and shenanigans, nature is the true constant in our lives. I think for example, of the Teton Mountains or any mountain range standing sentinel over the earth….and all they’ve witnessed!
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What a great line from a great poet. And then your closing line- perfect.
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So glad you enjoyed!
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Wow, some skillful working of Mary Oliver’s line and I love how you echoed her appreciation of nature. Keep us up to date on the gosling arrivals! A lovely read, Lill.
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You combined fidelity to Mary Oliver’s spirit with a reminder of why we need the balm of quiet contemplation of nature , Lillian…
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the female sit patiently upon her nest, your
reminder. Hope lives within the imagination.
The peacefulness certainly evokes lots of eventualities of things to come. It is a picture of hoping for the best. Wonderful write Lillian!
Hank
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Lovely, Lillian! I’m always eager to see the goslings by the river here. So far, I’ve only seen one nest, but I’m sure there must be more.
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You developed a lovely golden shovel from Mary Oliver’s line, Lillian, and I love the geese photo and theme. What a comfort the natural world can offer us with quiet time to reset our minds in crazy times!
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Beautiful golden shovel–Mary Oliver would love it.
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