Last Swim of Summer (2014)                                      photograph by Maria L. Berg

A to Z Challenge

natural – The natural symbol alters the pitch of the note to which it is attached as well as any subsequent occurrence of the same note (identical line or space) in the same measure. A symbol placed by a note signifying that the note should be played unaltered as opposed to the sharp or flat of the note. This symbol is usually seen only where an accidental such as a sharp or flat is expected.

ninth – an interval consisting of an octave plus a second

Nocturne – A composition, usually a serenade, to be played at night in the open air. The name “nocturne” has been used by composers for piano and orchestral pieces that suggest some aspect of the night and are usually solemn and contemplative. The first nocturnes were written for piano by John Field in the early 19th-century.

NaPoWriMo

Prompt: “write a poem of over-the-top compliments. Pick a person, place, or thing you love, and praise it in the most effusive way you can.”

PAD Challenge

Prompt: The Last (Blank)

The poem

The Last Swim of Summer

Brisk and cool with a lingering chill
the last swim of summer, I cling to your thrill
all winter long and into the spring
until I can dive into the water again

You are the joy in the song of the bird I keep hearing
a packed house at my show when they are dancing and cheering
like the scent of night jasmine or orange blossoms by the window
a warm soft blanket and a brand new pillow

You are sequins and glitter, crystals and fringe
the seconds before a Stranger Things binge
like rays of sunshine breaking through clouds
and all of the words not said aloud

You are the smile on an old golden retriever
and that guy who said when he looked at me, he heard Dream Weaver
like an exotic delicious taste for the first time
and the rhythmic combination of a great rhyme

You are miso and vinegar on anything
reading aloud from the Lord of the Rings
like finally getting a record player that works
and spending the day playing in dirt

You are a brand new camera technique
and finding an answer that I seek
like heightened senses during foreign travel
or fixing stitches before they unravel

All of this my highest praise
as I wait, perhaps, only a matter of days
for the water to rise and the temperature too
to begin the swims of summer, the journey to you.

Post your favorite poem

It’s open link night at the dVerse Poets Pub, so head over and share a link to your favorite poem you wrote this week. I look forward to reading it.

Happy Reading and Writing!