Friday, December 17, 2021

Poem for Lydia

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Jone Rush MacCulloch for Roundup.

I'm out adventuring this week, but I did take some time to write a very last autumn poem for my ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS! (Two more "winter" poems, and I'll be wrapping up this celebrate-the-seasons year!)

A small note about today's poem: When I saw that the artist's subject was named Lydia, I had to smile. Years ago, a dear friend suggested that if my name wasn't Irene, it would be Claire... or Lydia. 

I picked Lydia! So it was fun to find this name on the piece of art...and to write the poem as if I was writing it to an alternate me. Thank you so much for reading!


For Lydia

when they said,
you cannot carry
autumn


you said,
watch me

when they said,
winter will
swallow you


your cheeks
turned still
as moonlight

when they said,
go home
and wait for spring


a leafstorm swirled
in your heart

and in each dark eye
a tiny bonfire
sparked—
               summer.

- Irene Latham




12 comments:

  1. Lydia is a mystery, indeed, with her moonlight cheeks and leafstorm heart. It's a lovely name, perfect as an alternate. :)

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  2. I really enjoyed the mystery of Lydia and this poem! That leafstorm 💕

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  3. You have that 'tiny bonfire summer spark', too, Lyd...uh, I mean, Irene. ;)

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  4. Another beautifully crafted gem. May I call you Lydia Irene from now on? :)

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  5. Irene, Lydia is a mysteriously beautiful name. Cheeks still as moonlight, WOW!
    I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

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  6. I had a sweet Lydia as a student. Your choice is just right, Irene, full of mysteries but also secrets of the seasons, too. Happy Solstice coming soon, then Merry Christmas. 'Tis the season for your lovely poem!

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  7. Love the strength and seasons Lydia encompasses, the leafstorm swirling in her heart.

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  8. I love that Lydia/Irene carries all the seasons inside her! And that spunk -- "watch me" -- YES!

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  9. ooooh, that rebel, Lydia! Such a poem of "I can." I love it.

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  10. The Lydia in you is mysterious and full of grit. "And in each dark eye, a bonfire sparked." My granddaughter should be named Lydia. Her dark eyes spark a bonfire.

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  11. Lovely bonfire burning with hearts desire there… thanks Irene!

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  12. Oh, yes, you are indeed a Lydia and your ode to the Other Lydia is gorgeous.

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Your thoughts?