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Friday, August 22, 2025

Something Like Loyalty poem

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink for Roundup.

Happy news: I received my Alabama Master Naturalist certificate in the mail. Yay! It took me nearly two years to complete the program. The lectures and tests were the easy part; what slowed me down was the volunteer hours and the required field days, which were challenging to fit into my schedule! But I did it! And I learned so much along the way, like:

Alabama ranks 5th in the country for species biodiversity.  States 1-5 in order: California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Alabama!

Alabama is the Turtle Capitol of the World. (We have more turtle species in Alabama than any other place.)

I visited the historic iron ore mining shafts and labor-of-love native garden at Red Mountain Park, and I helped conduct water testing after salamander-searching in a stream atop Mt. Cheaha State Park.

I also added to my Must Go There (Alabama) list, so more on this soon!

MORE happy news: this weekend marks my annual pilgrimage to the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) to participate and perform with the Adult String Orchestra! Great folks, lots of learning, and making music, which is, more than anything, JOY.

Today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO is on the topic of loyalty, about which there is some debate. Is it a virtue? A sentiment? An action? Click here to learn what philosophers are discussing!

To learn more about this particular painting, click here. (I don't know if Picasso intended a beach scene, but that's where I went with it!)

Also: I could keep tinkering with these words and lines FOREVER! (I was revising as I was creating the graphic...will return to it when I have more time!) Thanks so much for reading.



Something Like Loyalty

sky & blue

eyes & ocean

salt & whisper

mouth & wet

dog & boy

- Irene Latham

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7 comments:

  1. TabathaAugust 22, 2025 at 7:40 AM

    Naturalist & cello. Congrats on becoming a Master Naturalist! Proud of you! That's quite an accomplishment. That's also great about the Adult String Orchestra! You are really a Renaissance woman. xo

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  2. Mrs. DavisAugust 22, 2025 at 12:28 PM

    Congrats. That is quite an accomplishment.

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  3. Alan j WrightAugust 22, 2025 at 8:09 PM

    Congratulations, Irene on your 'stickability.' It has been aptly rewarded and no doubt that feels good. Through in your musical moments and life is quite fabulous. As an ocean shoreline dweller there is much for me to reflect upon in your neat little poem.

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  4. Carol VarsalonaAugust 22, 2025 at 9:29 PM

    Irene, Congratulations! I can imagine how joyful you are after receiving your Master Naturalist certificate. It is amazing that you were able to study, have field days and volunteer time along with your musical and poetry lives. Thanks for sharing the Picasso artwork. it is a beauty. Your poem is well-thought out with an interesting title. Enjoy your musical performance with the Adult String Orchestra.

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  5. Rose CappelliAugust 23, 2025 at 6:58 AM

    Congratulations, Irene! I would love to listen to the music of all those strings! So interesting that you used the ampersand in your poem. It creates a different feel? tone? vibe? than the word. I'm also thinking about the words you chose to connect. Thank you for all of it!

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  6. Mary LeeAugust 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM

    Wow! Not just a master GARDENER, but a Master Naturalist. I'm inspired!! Plus, cello. Plus, that chain of loyalty that starts with sky and ocean and ends with boy and dog. Love!

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  7. Margaret SimonAugust 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM

    I don’t really know how you do all that you do, writing full time, cello and master naturalist! I still want to be you. On a neighborhood alert the other night someone posted, “small domestic turtle escaped.” I found it so funny because how can you tell the difference. I love how you play with word choice as well as the ampersand in your poem. “Dog & boy” is just right.

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