and while we’re on the subject of hammocks
Poetry | Posted by Jannie on 20 March 2012 @ 12:45 PM 65 Comments
let’s remember
the creaking ones
all slats and wire
slung low under
grandmothers’ elms
near lily patches
where the owls
were weaving hats
from lilac leaves.
let’s remember
the summer nights
we hid in bushes,
boys against
girls, and vice
versa, kids
running wild
in the music
of yesterday
on missions
of growing up
and away to
planets we
still can’t believe
we’ve landed on
– offices and
supermarkets
and lines of
traffic that seem
to go on and on and on
(like this sentence)
until we remember…
every moment is
soaked with the scent
of daring possibility
and watercolored by
brush strokes from lilies
that laugh on the moon.
a poem for dVerse Poetry, Open Link Tuesday, whooohoooo.
lily patch photo credit to igardena.blogspot.com
On 20 March 2012 at 1:22 pm
AudreyHowitt (@AudreyHowitt) said,
You paint with lovely brush strokes the vibrancy of life in all its colors–Lovely write!
On 20 March 2012 at 1:28 pm
claudia said,
and lines of
traffic that seem
to go on and on and on
ooooohhhh yes…sounds so familiar…but…ah….what a comforting closure….
On 20 March 2012 at 1:30 pm
Daydreamertoo said,
Ahhh Yes… most times in the rush to survive the rat race, we forget we are supposed to actually ‘live’.
This is such a lovely reminder
On 20 March 2012 at 1:44 pm
Lynn said,
Hammocks, lilies and owls – all beautiful things. xo
On 20 March 2012 at 2:07 pm
skyraftwanderer said,
Oooo that’s a fun read. The last stanza is glorious and hammocks, well, we could do with more them. And now you made my think of the Simpsons.
This is just awesomeness.
On 20 March 2012 at 2:18 pm
Anna Montgomery said,
What a clever twist these planets that we can’t believe we’ve landed on! You’re so wickedly smart.
On 20 March 2012 at 2:40 pm
Jennifer Susannah Devore said,
Mmmm, springtime! Lillies and hammocks and grandmas and a touch of limoncello … sur la plage, bien-sur!
Salut, Miss Jannie of Texas
On 20 March 2012 at 2:44 pm
Pat Hatt said,
You almost had me in a tizzy with that traffic, hate those long lines haha, but you ended it on a much nicer note.
On 20 March 2012 at 2:54 pm
Daisy said,
What a lovely poem, Jannie. I love the images you used. I’d like to see an owl with a lilac leaves hat!
On 20 March 2012 at 2:58 pm
Jannie said,
Audrey Howitt, why thanks. I have these long lists of words, you see…
Claudia, yes I couldn’t lead you down the trafficked path and just leave you hanging in despair there.
DayDreamerToo — I put living at the top of my list always!! Why not!?!
Lynn! Do you have a hammock out on your back deck? I think you should! I hear installing them attracts owls and lilies!
SKYRAFTWANDERER!! Why, thanks. I love your enthusiasm, and always feel warm and fuzzy at reaching awesomeness!!
Anna! Currently I’m on the blog-hopping planet and I likes it a lot. Or I will be after I post this comment, that is.
Jennifer Susannah Devore! I just knew it was you speaking French to me before I saw your name in the comment. Salut, Cherie du L’ocean Pacifique.
Pat — seeing as I never ever want to be responsible for causing so much as one tizzy in you I am over here now going “whew!!” Saved by the brush-strokes and moon laughing!
Daisy — well, they’re super-cute those lilac-leaf hatted owls. Then they make skirts out of pitcher plants and shoes from mulch. SO CUTE!!
xoxoxo
xoxo
On 20 March 2012 at 3:07 pm
laurie kolp said,
Nothing like a hammock to bring us back to what’s important… the very moment we’re in.
On 20 March 2012 at 3:13 pm
Mark Windham said,
a great romp through the springs of childhood, when we could still roam without worry.
On 20 March 2012 at 3:36 pm
MaryD said,
A stargazer lily never fails to make me swoon just a drop.
Daring possibility is the best possibility of all. ~Mary
On 20 March 2012 at 3:52 pm
ayala said,
Love this……..every moment is
soaked with the scent
of daring possibility
and watercolored by
the brush strokes of lilies
laughing with the moon…………..SWEET!!!!!
xoxo
On 20 March 2012 at 3:54 pm
Heaven (@asweetlust) said,
As I am always caught in the traffic jam, I can resonate with your words.
Lovely picture and I like the moment soaked in daring possibility ~
Happy spring day ~
On 20 March 2012 at 4:48 pm
brian miller said,
every moment soaked with possibility…i love that…and that you include some times that we def miss for our emotion of the moment…yeah traffic…smiles.
On 20 March 2012 at 4:57 pm
Gay said,
All the possibilities are in your words. Well writ!
On 20 March 2012 at 5:15 pm
Jannie said,
Hey, kids.
I’m out singing tonite.
See y’all later!
Xxoo
On 20 March 2012 at 5:29 pm
colleen said,
I do want to keep talking about hammocks and remember those Johnny on the Spot nights. I love the way you re-write the memory.
On 20 March 2012 at 8:00 pm
Steve E said,
Jannie, I was here in Naples FL, lying on the beach, and jumped into the ocean of your word-memories, got refreshed…and I LOVE it. Even the traffic! (With my scooter I anger the Peeps by riding right up to the front, between lines of waiting cars and trucks.
YOU are here to stay.
Sing pretty!
On 20 March 2012 at 8:29 pm
mrs mediocrity said,
i love everything about this… most especially the owls weaving hats.
i want to lie in a creaking hammock…
On 20 March 2012 at 8:34 pm
kaykuala said,
A lot of nostalgia here, a lot of memories of kids romping around without a care.
‘running wild
in the music
of yesterday’
And you brought us back to realities of urban life which we can never do without, the pesky jams, ubiquitous and lots of patience testing!
Great verse Jannie!
Hank
On 21 March 2012 at 12:37 am
Fred said,
Jannie, you really painted a wonderful scene here, both in image and metaphor. Great job. Thanks
On 21 March 2012 at 1:35 am
Hilary said,
Hi Jannie – hope you had a fun time out singing .. love the hammock poem – great words .. they really did resonate … it’s beautiful here today and warm outside – I had to go out earlier ie 6.30 am … love the thought of these words rocking around the atmosphere, lying under the scent of the lilies as they wash over.
Cheers for now – good luck with all things .. xoxoxoxox Hilree
On 21 March 2012 at 3:20 am
Ravenblack said,
Thanks for the reminder.
Sometimes it seems like the grown-up life is an endless sequence of routines. I think one has stopped imagining, just gave in. I’ll watch for those colors, or maybe try to put them in.
On 21 March 2012 at 5:08 am
Mary said,
Every moment soaked with the scent of possibility: Such a beautiful thought!
On 21 March 2012 at 5:42 am
brenda w said,
Beautiful write. the last stanza is a stunner.I love it.
On 21 March 2012 at 7:04 am
Dr. J said,
Lilies are so lovely!
It’s a great time of year to live in La Florida, “the flowery land”(and most anywhere else too)!
On 21 March 2012 at 8:11 am
PoppySilver said,
Amazing! I read this then went and grabbed a cuppa, then re-read lol Beautiful imagery and stunningly delivered…very moving! xoxo
On 21 March 2012 at 8:13 am
PoppySilver said,
Requested you on FB too
On 21 March 2012 at 8:17 am
Jannie said,
That’s it, Laurie! hard not to be In The Now in a hammock.
Mark, the Wise Ones say there are no worries in adulthood either.
Mary! I like your style. Dreams come true with daring.
Dearest Ayala, well I coulda stayed with darker themes, but why?! Let the light shine.
Heaven! Has spring found Canada too?! And I hope yo using in traffic today?
Brian! It’s all in the way we look at things, eh? It really is.
GAY — is that YOU??!! yay, you’ve returned to “the fold.”
Welcome back. I like the possiblilites in words idea — SO TRUE!! And words can do so much.
Colleen! MY one and only Colleen. In Floyd! Yes, I remember all my cousins and me running wild on Gram’s big property in the sticks while our parents did their grown-up stuff. And that home-made hammock sure did exist. It was awesome!!
Steve E! Were you surfing blogs on the beach with your iPhone yesterday??!!
Scooter must be great on gas. yes, I AM always here even when I’m away. 
Mrs. Mediocrity. Gotta love those lilac leaf owl hats!
Kaykuala! Do you remember romping on gangs of kids on summer nights? I guess we do in every land, eh? I was almost going to write “running wild in the mustard of yesterday,” but it didn’t have quite the panaches of music.
Fred! Thank you. I hope you are rejevenated by a nice hammock respite?
HILARY!! I did, I did have a great time out singing. There were only 5 performers showed up so we each got to do 6 songs! Inspired me to get my next 6 performance-ready too, which is happening as I put the time in on them. Just need 12 for a full-hour show. Enjoy your warm day! Ours got chilly last night, welcomingly and only 21C expected today, but back up to 25 or so tomorrow. Summer’s coming.
Ravenblack!! Awesome. The colors are always here, we just need to open our eyes and hearts to them.
MARY! Hi. Yes, it’s true. Every moment is. we only have to tune in. Writing poems helps get back to that core truth.
Brenda w — thank you so much! It’s amazing what a few words can convey, eh/
Dr. J! I have been to your fair land a couple times. Beautiful. Spring seems to be springing EVERYwhere in blogs and life.
Ahhh, PoppySilver, I am much humbled by your enchantments. THANK YOU!! And I love your name. Love poppies. Love silver!
xooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoo
On 21 March 2012 at 12:16 pm
ed pilolla said,
you begin the poems so nostalgic, with fleeting memories that raise serious-type questions about what’s the value of this lifetime. but beginning with the planets line, which is full of possibilities, you slide seriousness away and raise laughter and lightheartedness from the earth as a way of saying this is what’s important. and i couldn’t agree more.
hope you had a great time singing. please send me another song when you have the chance: epilolla@yahoo.com.
thanks!
On 21 March 2012 at 12:19 pm
susan said,
What gorgeous flowers! We have had summer weather – it’s 85 today in Chicagoland! I have bloomin’ things all over the yard, including the flowering trees! Thoughts of a hammock indeed!
Hugs
SuZen
On 21 March 2012 at 12:46 pm
Linda said,
Very nice. I love the flow of the words and how they take you first one place then another. Lovely flowers, too!
On 21 March 2012 at 1:48 pm
Mark Butkus said,
where the owls
were weaving hats
from lilac leaves.
…those nine words in that order made this poem.
Cheers,
Mark Butkus
On 21 March 2012 at 3:48 pm
Jannie said,
Ed — it takes one to know one. I like the laughter and whimsy you imbue your poems with. And did I really just use the word imbue? Think it’s my first time ever. the world in a strawberry cupcake — talk about a good line. Yes, had a very fun time. Got to sing 6 songs. I think I still “owe” you the last mp3, lvoe will be the answer? I’m a bit behind on sending those attachments.
Susan! You live in Chicago? Holy cow. I thought you were in Michigan. at least in the summer. yes, can’t take credit for the stargazers, and the yellow ones. hope the blogger I cited doesn’t mind me posing them. If she ver does I hope she’ll let me know. She has a lovely blog! Bet your yard is looking gorgeous!!
LINDA!!!!! Yes, I took you from the garden path to traffic hams, but at least we ended up on the moon with lilies!!
Well hello, newcomer Mark! The rest of the poem sucked…..
glad the owls made it work for you. 
xooxox
On 21 March 2012 at 6:02 pm
Adan Lerma said,
so beautifully soft -
wild yes, but innocently wild! softly wild!
“where the owls
were weaving hats
from lilac leaves…”
thanks so much jannie
On 21 March 2012 at 7:58 pm
Thomma Lyn said,
Oooooh! This poem made me shiver with delight. Wise and wonderful, and so beautiful, with your gorgeous wordsmithery! I hope you’re having a lovely evening, beautiful Jannie — yes,
every moment is
soaked with the scent
of daring possibility
and watercolored by
brush strokes from lilies
laughing on the moon
Mmmmmmm… luscious. <3 xoxoxoxoxo
On 21 March 2012 at 9:55 pm
Dark Angel said,
Good Stuff!!!!
On 22 March 2012 at 12:32 am
SnaggleTooth said,
“…
let’s remember
the summer nights
we hid in bushes,
boys against
girls, and vice
versa, kids
running wild
in the music
of yesterday
…”
This totally had me remembering twilight games of “Kick the Can” with the neighborhood teen-agers when we normally would’ve been called in already-
We had a cloth hammock on a metal stand.
On 22 March 2012 at 1:01 am
SnaggleTooth said,
Oh, n the Lily pic is fantastic!
On 22 March 2012 at 5:07 am
Catherine said,
Those lilies look like spring to me ~ so pretty!
xo Catherine
On 22 March 2012 at 9:11 am
J.D. Meier said,
Hammocks always have a special place for me.
I think watching Fred Flintstone on his hammock made me jealous early on.
On 22 March 2012 at 11:32 am
Jannie said,
Hi and welcome to my blog, Adan! Softly wild I’d say is the story of my life.
Yes indeed. And innocent too, of course!!
Hi Dear Thomma Lyn. Enjoyed your latest write, too. Very much. My evening was punctuated by starshine and whipoorwill song. Hope yours was too.
Why, thank you lovely Dark Angel, whoever you are, someone who sings in the trees at night too I think.
Snaggle! A cloth hammock on a metal stand, sounds lovely. As does kick-the-can. I remembrer some very rousing games of that indeed, one summer at a campsite especially. Fun stuff!! Yah, great lilies, eh?
Catherine! Bet that snow melted overnight!! Did it? And lilies popping up today? Crocus for sure.
J.D. Meier!! Okay, I was thinking of you just last night and wondering how you are doing. What a cooincidence. Yes, I envied Fred Flintstone too. Just not the way he had to work so hard to propel his car.
xoxoxoxxo
On 22 March 2012 at 11:42 am
Sara said,
OH, WOW!!! First there is that picture. Crisp and clear. I can even see the lilies painted red lips and their yellow fingers, beckoning the bees from afar.
Then there’s the poem to read aloud. What fun to read! It flows like a waterfall with one line dropping to another!
Last is the last! These two verses:
every moment is
soaked with the scent
of daring possibility
and watercolored by
brush strokes from lilies
laughing on the moon.
This post goes into my all time favorites. It’s an A+++++++ winner:~)
On 22 March 2012 at 12:42 pm
Susie Clevenger said,
I remember porch swings and planets I dreamed about…love this that brought so many memories
On 22 March 2012 at 3:45 pm
Jannie said,
SARA!! My one and only Sara Healy who art by the beach in Florida… Funny, when I look at the lips and fingernail polish of lilies I think how Mom’s Tiger Lily dust stains. I’ll have to ask her how long that patch has been there, I think anywhere from 30 to 70 years. I’m serious! Well, glad to hear this poem made you dance a little heart jig!
I love you read these out loud!
SUSIE!! Ahhhh, porch swings — the stuff of movies and magic.
I just remmebered we had one of these….. (OFF to Google, Upload and Post…)
Actually ours was not exactly like that, but similar. I believe it was white. It was under Chestnut Tree as I recall. I’ll have to ask Mom about it. I believe I was very very young, like 5 or 6 when I was on it.
But back to The Now!!
And a blog hoppin’ I go until I have to give Kelly this laptop at 5:00.
xooxo
On 22 March 2012 at 4:48 pm
brian miller said,
i wish i was in a hammock right now…
smiles.
On 22 March 2012 at 5:16 pm
lisleman said,
“lilies laughing on the moon” Oh I like that. It is fun and looney. Everyone knows you can’t grow lilies in that cheese.
On 22 March 2012 at 9:25 pm
Yousei Hime said,
It was definitely a hammock day here most of the day.
Thanks for the visit and talk of rain and devil’s wives.
On 22 March 2012 at 9:41 pm
Talon said,
“every moment is
soaked with the scent
of daring possibility” – that is the way to live a life! Loved it, Jannie! And I hope you don’t mind, but I had to sneak a sniff of those lilies – what a glorious shot!
On 22 March 2012 at 10:38 pm
Liara Covert said,
Every moment is perfect, on or off the hammock…
On 23 March 2012 at 4:45 am
EKSwitaj said,
Gorgeous colors and sounds in this poem!
On 23 March 2012 at 6:26 am
Jannie said,
Brian — TG for the hammmocks in our minds and hearts!
Lisleman — Jannie is busted on that one!!
And thanks for popping by.
Yousei! A hammock day sounds great. You guys are going into winter now?
Talon! Don’t mind you sniffing those lilies AT ALL! I kinda “swiped” them anyway from that lady’s gorgeous blog.
Liara! Yes, you taught me everything I know about The Moment, and I thank you!!
EKS! Thanks a big bunch. Great to be getting to know you via dVerse.
ooxoxoox
On 23 March 2012 at 9:43 am
Leslie said,
Now there’s a beautiful song in the making Jannie
Hi how are you???
biggest of hugs
I have missed being about to see people
Have missed you
hope all is well and that spring has sprung at the Funsters
On 23 March 2012 at 9:44 am
Alice Audrey said,
Wait, that’s all one sentence? If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have noticed.
On 23 March 2012 at 7:59 pm
G-Man said,
Janitra…
That was Fabulous!
Thanks for stopping in to see your old friend.
Have a Kick Ass Week-End
On 23 March 2012 at 8:21 pm
blackswanpoetry said,
every moment is
soaked with the scent
of daring possibility
That is a great line….. Nice job
On 24 March 2012 at 11:16 am
Jannie said,
Dear Leslie, what a treat to see you back again! I’ve missed you too. A song? Hmmn, maybe a hammock shall make its way into one yes. Or at least moon lilacs.
Ahhhhh, I should hhave been quiet about it then, Alice Audrey!!
Next time I shall.
Gee G-Man!! Always my pleasure to read and comment on your 55s!! I always will, perchance to post occasionally.
BlackSwan Poet… everyone seems to like that line, indeed. I think I’ll come up with more like that! And keep thinking in that vein, which I do believe in.
xooxxo
On 28 March 2012 at 10:31 am
Leslie said,
Hi sweet Jannie
I wrote these lyrics today and thought of you
I shed a Tear
On 28 March 2012 at 10:33 am
Jannie said,
Ahhhh, Leslie, my beautiful sweet faerie-child songwriting friend, I am heading to those lyrics of yours as soon as I hit Post on this.
oxoxoxo
On 29 March 2012 at 2:45 pm
Liara Covert said,
With additional ‘water-coloured brush strokes,’ we can extend the road into th sky and transform this world into something beyond the eyes. Always love your creative genius. Thanks for sharing such uplifting visions.
On 30 March 2012 at 9:40 am
Jannie said,
Wonderful, Liara. Ooooo, “genius” . ME?
YOU are the genius.
Now, what shall my next poem be about. An accordion player at the barber shop? An anonymous knight in a grocery castle? A bored sailor who loses his favorite bathrobe in an especially fierce squall? Limitless possibilities!!!
xoxoxooxoxo
On 8 April 2012 at 7:58 am
sheila said,
Wow, you seem to have a ton of inspiration these days! Nice post, beautiful. And I love that one of the Colorado house too!
On 8 April 2012 at 10:20 am
Jannie said,
Hey Sweet Sheila, well I do have a mind that likes to go traveling…
Yeah, nice house, eh? Meet me there tomorrow for coffee?
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox