Wednesday, March 5, 2025

A Day's Journey from Blueberry to Heron

 

 

Poetry can be like this—

blueberry stains on my fingers

from shoving them straight

from the bush to my mouth

—blackberries, too.

 

Seeing six rotting oranges

sitting underneath a tree—

hoping they smell good

to what crawls below.

 

The desert cottontail,

a perfect Russel Stover,

who froze still in the sun

when I stepped lightly by—

nothing but nose twitching.

 

A box full of free grapefruits

on the road

in front of the cottage house—

heavy, ripe, uneven.

 

The new puppy, dancing,

learning a leash, excited

to come to me—still unsure

which of us wanted to play more.

 

A Great Blue Heron

with long, delicate legs,

sleek and slow-hunting

at our green-gold pond.

 

I say our,

because it’s yours, too—

as is this journey-poem, for you to add

your own lovely thing to.

 

 

© 2025 Jennifer Wagner

 

 

“Look for a lovely thing and you will find it,

It is not far—

It never will be far.”

-Sara Teasdale


What's Going On?  Beauty

10 comments:


  1. "A perfect Russell Stover" Ha! :-)

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  2. I'll take that journey with you and add to it. I love how you ended this poem, that it belongs to the reader, too. Each of your chosen moments is unique and beautiful.

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  3. I adore every line and critter and fruit in this wonderful poem - especially the new puppy! I love this poem so much, and the invitation to the reader to add to the list of lovelies.

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  4. What a lovely poem. I enjoyed each stanza, but I loved the one about the puppy especially. And you have me thinking about what is beautiful poetry in my own life!

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  5. A delicious poem Jennifer. As a bird lover I simply can't take my eyes off that beautiful "...Great Blue Heron" and its activity.

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  6. What a lovely gift to bestow us - Jae

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  7. All the beauty and power of poetry right there, in your words, like taste, sight, sensation brand new, ready to be shared, ready to be added to. I love it.

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  8. I love every word in this poem, Jennifer. Wonderful images.

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  9. Love the journey you took me on. I would add, the beauty of a poem that stays with me long after I've read it.

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Thank you for your thoughts!