Last week I posted the beautiful poems I received in Tabatha’s summer poetry swap. This week I’m sharing the poems I sent to my swappees (or is that swapees?) I used a few of the 10 billion photos I’ve taken this summer for inspiration. It’s handy to have a talented daughter to send photos and poems to, and get back a nice design!
After being entertained by the zillions of dragonflies that zip around our dock, I wrote this poem for Irene:
The drama that I saw outside my kitchen window (and grabbed a stool to photograph) inspired this poem for Mary Lee. I thought about trying to free the poor damselfly, but decided not to interfere. Do you see the webs hidden in the title? I cannot take credit for that bit of cleverness…
I raised monarch caterpillars again this summer. I restrained myself from taking as many photographs as last summer (some of those are accompanying an article I wrote for the October issue of Ask Magazine–I am ridiculously excited about having my photographs published!) But I managed to see a few things I had missed before, including a caterpillar devouring its skin after molting. Don’t worry-that’s not pictured in the poem I wrote for Donna:
It’s pretty noisy around our house in the spring and summer. The spring peepers dominate the evening chorus, followed in the summer by American toads, green frogs, and bullfrogs (and the occasional chorus frog.) That noisy choir and this photograph of a calling bullfrog that I took at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary inspired my poem for Keri:
I hope you enjoyed visiting my swampy home. Want to know what else is going on in the Poetry Friday world? Cowgirl poet Penny has the roundup!
Late to this party, but I had to come see that spider…. lovely poems! And pictures.
I miss getting to talk shop in person this week!
Thanks Robyn–I know you love those hunting spiders! Yes, I miss our talks too-it was a treat to see you at Highlights!
Your photos are stunning, Buffy, and the poems fresh and interesting. Lucky ladies who have these to keep and display. So enjoyed this!
Thanks, Violet–glad you enjoyed my summer sights!
Oh I wish I could visit your swampy home, Buffy! These poems are such a gift. Thanks for sharing!
And thank you, Kiesha, for stopping by my virtual swamp!
Dear Buffy, your swampy home is full of wonders and magic, isn’t it? Thank you for sharing it with all of us. These words and photos are such treasure. xo
Thanks, Irene. And I was so happy that my dragon poem inspired your magnificent “Consider the Chrysalis!”
Wow, these are wonderful! I love using photos as inspiration, too, but you are a pro!
Thanks, Ruth. There is something about trying to capture an experience with both words and an image that spurs the creativity, isn’t there?
Absolutely gorgeous. I loved my visit with your photography and friends. Stunning photos and wonderful words bring those bugs to life.
Glad you stopped by to visit, Linda!
We, the swappees, were gifted with fabulous poetry paired with gorgeous photos! Truly treasures! Thanks again!!
Happy to do it, Mary Lee–I’m thankful that the swap got me writing this summer.
Your photographs are beautiful. The shots and framing are wonderful, but your poems to go with them are magnificent. Thank you for sharing these moments of nature.
Thank you, Joy. And thanks for reading them!
Really beautiful, both photos and words! I’m so glad you shared.
Thank you, Dori–I’m glad you stopped by to read!
Oh, I love that moment when the “concert” is done and the frogs slip into their muddy beds! Thanks for posting these, Buffy.
Thanks, Julie. The froggy one was my favorite of the bunch–it went on a few lines longer, and then I realized I could just stop with the muddy beds. (But really, I was tempted to show a little froggy sex, since that’s the point of all their loud-mouth bellowing! 🙂 )
I love them all, Buffy! You’ve always had a knack for nature poetry, but man oh man, I think you’re getting better and better. These are all so absorbing– it’s like poetry osmosis. The Weaver is positively stunning.
Thanks, Michelle–I had fun writing them, and I think finding words for my photos makes it easier to write.
Each poem, each photograph is a gift – not only to the swap recipients, but to us, your readers, Buffy. Thank you. I especially love poem/photos of the dragonflies. So good. =)
Thanks, Bridget–I’m glad you liked my dragonflies. I only had 947 photos to choose from!
What an amazing capturing of the drama surrounding you. It must be something to hear those frogs bellow and witness the webbed world. Congrats on getting your photos published. That is exciting!
It is exciting to me, Brenda. Not something I had thought about trying to do until I took lots of monarch photos last summer. It’s good to have something new to look forward to!
You are a genius with words and photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed each poem.
You’re making me blush, Penny. 🙂 Thanks, and thank you for hosting today!
These are all gorgeous, Buffy, as are your stunning photos (and kudos to your daughter for her design skills)! But I especially adore the dragonfly poem, and — shockingly — the spider poem. I always feel like your writing is effortless. Just beautiful.
Thanks, Renee….glad to help increase your spider love (or at least interest.) Effortless? Who was it who said writing is simple, you just open a vein and bleed? But thank you for the compliment.
What wonderful gifts your swappees received, Buffy, and congratulations on having some of the photos published. The ones here are amazing. I heard peepers for the first time a few years ago on a trip to the Poconos, loved hearing them, and your poem description of them.
Those peepers are almost deafening on a warm April night (I have to close the windows to sleep when the frogs get going.)
Thanks so much for sharing your poems, Buffy. They’re wonderful. The photographs are fantastic.
Thanks, Ann (I especially appreciate the photographic compliment from you!)
It’s hard to pick a favorite, Buffy, they are all engaging, however, The Weaver, is outstanding in its simplicity and honesty. Well done!
Thanks, Diane. Yep, sometimes keeping it simple is best (but often hard to remember when you’re writing!)