MaineNaturePoetry

Cabin Fever (aka... I hate these pink foam panels...)

Acrostic Poetry - February 1, 2009

(Unrhymed verse in which the letters of the topic are written vertically letter by letter, each of which is used to construct a phrase or a sentence that describes the topic.)

Cabin Fever:

Cabin fever in the dead of winter

Absolutely drives me crazy,

Because we have these pink,

Insulating foam panels to keep out the bitter cold.

Never does ice now form on our windows (which is good)

For they are completely blocked, but no sunshine can

Enter, ever…until the panels are taken down…when the outdoor temp. rises.

View the pond I cannot, nor can I see snowfall, and it is dark inside…

Ever dark, although with a Pepto Bismol pink glow when the sun shines.

Rejoice, I will, when the panels come down in March…

May 11, 2008 Mother's Day Poem

To Mom

From Mom I got my love of words,
My love of rhyming too.
My love of writing poetry,
My love of good haiku.

From Mom I got my love of food,
My love of cheese fondue.
My love of all things chocolate,
My love of vindaloo. (ack)

From Mom I got my love of trees,
My love of flowers too.
My love of digging in the dirt,
My love of meadow rue.

From Mom I got my love of woods,
My love of nature too.
My love of birds and moose and bats,
My love of morning dew.

But, best of all from Mom I got
A love to stand all time.
A mother’s love embraces me,
A mother’s love sublime.

Snowflakes: Acrostic Poetry

December 24, 2007 - Acrostic Poetry
(Unrhymed verse in which the letters of the topic are written vertically letter by letter, each of which is used to construct a phrase or a sentence that describes the topic.)

Snowflakes:

Snowflakes form, and

No two are alike with

Origami shapes, as

Whispers of crystals and

Flowers of ice fall from the sky.

Lightly floating

Aloft in the breeze,

Kaleidoscopes of sparkling,

Effervescent crystals

Soften the landscape of Earth.

On Being A Good Steward of Earth: Reflections

September 26, 2007 

I went kayaking on the pond yesterday afternoon to enjoy some of the first autumn colors. Unfortunately, my attention was continually diverted to all the trash that people (mostly fisherfolk) left behind after pursuing their avocation. I do pond cleanup every couple of months from ice-out to ice-in. If I didn’t do this regularly, the pond would be a disaster area (I remember the first trash pickup I did on the pond 7 years ago yielded about 30 pounds of trash.) So, being the only steward of the pond that I know of, I picked up trash for a few hours; bottles here, cans there, some fishing line with hook attached, lures with hooks, lures without hooks, bobbers, and more bobbers, bait containers, and food wrappers strewn hither and yon, from the shore’s edge to several feet underwater.

As I was paddling and searching for trash, I thought of Aristotle who wrote, “that which is common to the greatest number [of people] has the least care bestowed upon it.” How true it is…and this quote from a man who lived from 384 BC to 322 BC. It seems that Man has not evolved much in terms of caring for the Earth over all these years. And, as our population blossoms, more and more trash gets left behind. Oh, how I pray for social responsibility to take hold of the masses as the Earth heads toward massive over population. Each one of us must do our best to take care of our precious little piece of the planet. Hmmm…my students would tell you that we should all be interacting parts that act as a whole, a system of humanity that strives to save the only planet we will ever have the pleasure to live on and call home. If only this were so…

Live Lightly on the Earth (a work in progress): Reflections

September 16, 2007 

I felt as though I had returned home after a long absence. A gaping void was filled, a few tears flowed, and they are still flowing.

I was filled with a sense of belonging that I have not felt for many years. I also sensed the spirit of my father by my side, nodding approval to all he saw.

And, what he saw was that I was surrounded by people of like mind…environmentalists from all over New England…150 strong, gathering to try and make the world a better place to live in…to “Build Bridges: Creating Change for a Common Good”…

Parts of quotes as I scribbled rapidly during keynotes and workshops: Rachel Carson, “If a child is to keep an interest in nature, he must have an adult to share his excitement.” Tom Wessels, “No system can grow uncontrollably and remain sustainable.” “Cell phones have a much higher carbon footprint than laptop computers.” “We must become a community of less consumption or anxiety and depression take place / more computer time yields less reflective time with lots of input but experientially poor.” Alisa Gravitz, “Affirm and re-double your commitment to living lightly on Earth.” “Whenever a dollar leaves your hand, it has an impact.” “Buy intentionally / Buy Green / Buy Local.” Chesapeake Bay Foundation, “No Child Left Inside.”

Inspirational… values affirmations…humbling…eye-opening…dedication to a cause…dedication to a way of life…dedication to helping all living things…dedication to the creation of worldwide sustainability…making a difference locally and globally…happy feet…happy faces…dancing bodies…laughter…applause…appreciation…

Maine Environmental Education Association, New England Environmental Education Alliance, Audubon, Chewonki, Four Winds Nature Institute, Maine DEP, Ferry Beach Ecology School, Univ. New Hampshire Climate Change Research Center, Co-op America, Auburn land Lab, Center for Whole Communities, Maine Primitive Skills Schools, Hands-On Boat-Based Education & Science, White Pines Program, Audubon Expedition Institute, Kroka Expeditions of Vermont, Antioch University…to name a few of the presenting organizations at the conference. Powerhouses of environmentalism all in one great location at Camp Matoaka in Smithfield, Maine.