immersed in long-held memory
moments of pure bliss
in a chair with my second
cup of coffee
by the side of a lake
my camera at the ready
in New England, my home;
sitting quietly watching
hearing the loons off in the
distance
still, quiet, nothing better
to do
conjuring those moments
a blending of experience
sitting enjoying the
stillness
drinking in the wonder, the
magic,
the breeze a taste of summer;
azure sky above me
not a cloud in sight
by the side of a lake,
abiding,
in New England, my home
--------------------------
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v4
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v3
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v2
March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake
written in response to a question
on Realistic Poetry
“Many poets believe poetry is an escape.
If your poetry could take you anywhere to temporarily
escape,
where would it be and why?”
======
edited August
21, 2015
Breaking Camp
– v7
(editing
version 3)
edited July
18, 2015
Breaking Camp
– v6
(editing
version 5)
edited April
21, 2015
The Skin of
the Lake – v7
(editing
original)
edited April
21, 2015
Breaking Camp
– v5
(editing
original again)
edited April 19, 2015
The Skin of the Lake – v6
(editing original again)
edited April
17, 2015
The Skin of
the Lake – v5
(editing
version 4)
edited April 16,
2015
Flowing North –
v4
(editing version
3)
edited April
16, 2015
the spell of
the night – v3
(editing
version 2)
edited April 16,
2015
Under the Stars –
v3
(editing version
2)
edited April 16,
2015
The Ledges – v5
(editing version
4)
edited April 15,
2015
Breaking Camp –
v4
(editing version
3)
Edited May 4,
2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v4
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v3”
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v2”
July 28, 2010
“The Skin of
the Lake”
-----
edited April 16,
2015
The Ledges – v5
(editing version
4)
edited May 2,
2013
“the spell of
the night – v2”
new poem,
February 23, 2013
“the spell of
the night”
&
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v3”
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v2”
July 28, 2010
“The Skin of
the Lake”
&
Edited May 4,
2013
“Under the Stars
– v2”
July 19, 2007
21:28
“Under the Stars”
&
edited April 14,
2014
“Breaking Camp –
v3”
(editing original
again)
Edited May 4,
2013
“Breaking Camp –
v2”
November 23, 2006
18:00
“Breaking Camp”
&
edited December
7, 2014
Free Time – v3
edited May 28,
2014
Free Time – v2
posted May 24,
2004
Free Time
saved March 26,
2004
&
Edited November
2, 2013
“The Ledges – v4”
Edited May 4,
2013
“The Ledges – v3”
Edited September
20, 2012
“The Ledges – v2”
editing the
original again
inspired by
reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry
reading,
at the Suncook
Senior Center
September 10,
2012
“The Ledges”
Written July 14,
2000.
It is based on a
single night in the summer of 1977 when I was part of a group from Claremont's
Stevens High School that canoed the Allagash in northern Maine.
Allagash
Wilderness Waterway
&
It was the third
and final major canoe trip I went on (Saco River in 1975 starting in Fryeburg,
ME, Allagash in 1976-July-ish when it was warmer and slower). This trip was
earlier, in May, when the water ran faster and the time was spent moving down
river with the flow of the river. Nights were a lot cooler and the food was a
lot different. Many of us had bad hypothermia the first night because it was a
cold rain and none of us had unpacked our bags to pull out the foul weather
gear. I remember well having to strip off all of my cold wet clothes and
sharing a sleeping bag with another camper. The night written about here
started innocently enough. We arrived at this particular campsite on Eagle Lake
(or Churchill Lake) earlier than normal, because of the river's current. We all
set up each tent and set the dinner fire going. I think it was fried bologna.
We all turned in early. We were tired. The moon rose before 11. There were ants
and black flies everywhere. One of the campers had to sit by the fire at each
campsite to ward off the black flies. Anyway, one by one we all realized we
weren't going to sleep any more that night. Before am, we were all pacing
around, uneasy. The leaders all agreed to put out for the next camp. We weren't
in any rush at am though. This was the way I felt about this night. After we
put in mid morning at the next site, I remember the wonderful brook trout we
caught and I can still taste it, twenty-three years later. I think these times,
when I was moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, when I was canoeing the
Saco and then the Allagash were some of the happiest of my high school days. On
the 1976 trip, from Massachusetts, I found the canoe paddle I wrote about in
the poem "Wind" I always talked about going back to the Allagash; but
I have never gone back. It wasn't until 22 years later that I finally got my
canoe again.
All of my
poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact
me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,660+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
creation,
Faith, God, hearing, Maine, memories, Nature, night, Poetry Where You Live,
Raymond A. Foss, river, senses, sound, water, Writing Poetry, poem, poetry, lake, summer,
#Canoe #cold
#creation #eyes #Faith #God #hearing
#imagination #memories #Nature #night #river #senses #sight #sound #water
#Writing #Poetry #ME #poem #summer #coffee #lake
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