i.
arousal
early morning sunshine dances
a minuet, chasing shadow
among branches of the ash.
we sip coffee and bliss,
listen to earth awakening
finch sings at the feeder while
from her perch above us mama
dove coos patiently, teaches us
to wait for something
fresh-born
wonder-full.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
ii.
repose
summertime living on a lazy river
or lolling by the lake
water laps the shore, breezes inspire
poets who listen to moss-covered boulders
telling stories of ages gone by
the gentle rocking of a rowboat
white paint curling on its hull
lulls agitated spirits
while sun warms the weary
Photo Credit: Bare Walls.com
iii.
tension
we walk along the river
above the overpass a ghost lingers
its gray shadow caressing the smooth
cheek of gold-splashed hills
a pedestrian crosses over
while cars rush overhead
waves breaking
on asphalt sand
a bashful red rose
refuses to open
because the tree is watching.
Photo Credit: C\colormekatie.com
iv.
climax
we celebrate with vibrant colors
stormy gray clouds then
fireworks falling
from the darkening sky
like rain
Photo Credit: treehugger.com
v.
denouement
a lone butterfly
flutters in the fading light
disappears into the dusk
a male oriole
lies lifeless
flaming sunset pauses.
Photo Credit: dsketopnexus.com
Linked to dVerse Open Link Night where poets join to share their work. Join us! Happy 4th of July! It’s hot here, 104 degrees F. at 10:50 AM!
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
[…] stones and painted river tones— a rowboat all alone Victoria Slotto’s beautiful poem: https://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/summer-heat Inspirations forest vapors and morning mist— too soon to leave for work my health […]
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Beautifully evocative of summer and its senses and peace. A perfectly lovely denoughment. Enjoyed this very, very much, Victoria.
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The progression of summer in every fragment of verse.
Always so well written, Victoria. Loved this ….
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I enjoy your progression in this series. It reads very much like a song for me. Each moment of summer and life,really, is exquisite.
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a bashful red rose
refuses to open
because the tree is watching.
Excellent.
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What a wonderful day, Victoria!
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After all that has been said I’m left with one word – wow!
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loved the gentleness of this… like a whisper… interesting form also
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Ha. Very charming, Victoria – I love the phases of the drama here, each realized both somehow by the hardly present humans and the landscape. k.
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For me, it was like studying a Rembrandt and listening to Sibelius! Craving for more. Blossoms popping of different shades and shapes with each verse~ Thoroughly beautiful !
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You captured summer heat, in more ways than one. Love the sensuality in this. Very beautiful.
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Gorgeous write, Victoria. It exemplifies summertime perfectly. Happy 4th of July to you and yours.
Pamela
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the suite pulses beautifully.
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Evocative, sensual, and a beautiful expression of sexuality and its psychological underpinnings.
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Sonorous; impeccable.
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Loved it! This was a beautiful poem. Loved the feel of each different section and how it broke up the mood. The imagery is fantastic, evocative, well done.
moss-brushed stones
and river tones—
a rowboat all alone
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Beautiful gems 🙂
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I thought the series of poems were very touching..I enjoyed part III the most..there is just something spiritual about walking along a river where a ghost would linger..
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Great offerings most apt! The ambience for different characters all in their usual playgrounds very well described. Wonderful take Victoria!
Hank
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Speechless …
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Just perfect. I can feel each setting. Sipping ‘coffee and bliss’…what could be better?
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I love this a description of a summer day.. and the part about being by the river and listening to boulders is stunning..
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so beautifully fulfilling to read and contemplate victoria
among “many” line, esp like,
“a bashful red rose
refuses to open
because the tree is watching.” –
but that’s misleading, to say, because it’s the whole of the movements that make that, and the other lines, work so calmly, so smoothly
thank you much victoria, enjoyed it much 🙂
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ps – and such a perfect selection of images to touch the lines 🙂
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What a poetic treat, and the pictures just go so well with the words. I particularly loved Denouement. A work of class indeed.
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wonderful, wonderful pieces, Victoria, my favorites being ‘repose’ and ‘denouement’. truly poetic, and a delight to read and re-read while a rainy summer night reigns here..
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lovely snapshots of each piece of a summer day or night or week. Just lovely. (and I agree, the bashful rose….what an image.)
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A really great connection between the photos and the words, although I think the poem stands on its own with outthe visuals. A lot of really nice stuff, bashful roses, pausing sunsets….
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beautiful, beautiful series!
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It does build from a lapping lull to a red splash. I was especially intrigued by the rose that would not open because the tree was watching.
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Oh, breathless! Lovely, Victoria.
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Wonderful vingettes put together. What a day!>KB
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dang. that last one…the butterfly and the oriole…evocative….really nice journey through each of these…i rather like the first one and the patience it takes…there is wisdom in that for sure…smiles….each of these is cool vic
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I love your series of poems here, Victoria. Enjoyed first of all the early morning coffee and watching the birds. I used to do more of that before computer. Sigh. I like fireworks falling like rain (and wish you a happy 4th).And then there is the butterfly in the fading light, which makes me wonder what butterflies do at night.
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very cool how you lead us through the different stages…life…love.. nature…intimacy…so much meaning in this… great images as well…my fav was..a bashful red rose
refuses to open
because the tree is watching…
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Beautiful. Evocative. Summer. You caught it all.
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very beautiful
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