Summer, having finally arrived, is moving along much too briskly!
We are midway through August already. Summer heat, blue skies, green leaves, the slow passage of fleecy clouds — all are rolling past. In another two weeks we will all be having September thoughts. So, having captured this summer image:
I want to share a favorite poem to accompany it. Yes, I’ve shared the poem before — but, centuries old, it holds up well. It takes only a moment to read — but a lifetime to live out, if we honor it:
The clouds above us join and separate.
The breeze in the courtyard leaves and returns.
Life is like that, so why not relax?
Who can stop us from celebrating?
Lu Yu
Hope today is a day of celebration for you!
Touch2Touch 
I put a jumper on today. Frightening. The poem is sorta like a long Haiku and beautiful for that.
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Yes, time — passage of — can be very frightening.
So can realizing that Americans and the English (as a friend quoted) are separated by a common language, i.e., we would put on a sweater or a pullover!
😉
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And I could don a jersey as well 🙂
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So you could —
Although if you were here, you’d be putting on a football (rugby? soccer?) shirt with your team number on it! Mostly that would refer to a football jersey.
😉
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So true, opening the champagne to go and sit on the deck and watch the clouds and enjoy life!
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You might put on “Feelin’ Groovy” by Simon & Garfunkel, and dedicate it to Mother Nature:
“Slow down, you move too fast — gonna make the moment last!”
😉
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My dear Judith, Just tried to leave comment to this simply wonderful post. Wonderful for me because it reflects my way of thinking/feeling/living at the moment. Feeling like the breeze ” leaving and return”! Which means that you’re always in my mind! And your image – just right! None of my comments went through, having problems again with wordpro….or whatsoever, cannot remember every pass word…..too old fashioned or…. However, hope that this mail will end up at your place. Thinking of you; warmest greetings, karin
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It did, it did, Karin!
So happy to hear from you!
Trusting that the summer is being kind and loving to you. Not a French phrase nor a German one, nor even an English line occurs to me, but this in Italian: dolce far niente!
I hope, along with all your other activities, you get to do some of the sweet nothing that is the greatest gift of summer. I can’t say I get a great deal, but this poem reminds me to snatch every moment that does come along, and to trust that —- when we are out of touch with those whom we hold in affection — we nevertheless remain connected.
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A lovely ending to the day. I have just watched the sun go down at half past six…the light is returning and our summer is just around the corner! Yah for long summer days – huge reason to celebrate!
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As ours wanes, then, yours is waxing! Thanks for reminding me, Gill. It helps to have someone else to rejoice for! Happy entrance of summer —
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I was thinking just that today. Summer is moving way to fast. This is a good reminder to rejoice in the days we’ve been given. Party hardy, Judith. 🙂
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What a nifty expression I never heard before! Will do my best, Gemma.
🙂
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here’s to celebrating!
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To life abundant, Susan!
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There’s something to be grateful for every day if we only look for it. Splendid poem and photo. See, there are two things right there!
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Thank you, Pauline.
And how are you? Don’t say you have bronchitis, that would NOT be up for gratitude!!!!
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I have bronchitis. I’m not particularly grateful for that but I’m glad it happened before vacation and not during!
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There’s always that. But I hope that the medicine is beginning to kick in, and you are feeling much much better!
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It’s a beautiful word. Have a wonderful day.
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And I wish you also a wonderful day, cocomino!
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Love summer clouds, the poem was new to me! Such true words to live by. This summer has been good to me. In many parts I could cite Carl Sandburg and his poem about fog.
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You mean the one about the fog creeping in on little MacDuff feet?
😉
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Yes … to say so much in twenty one words! 🙂
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Such lovely words to help us enjoy a little summer every day!
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They even work with the clouds of winter —
😉
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I’m going to pin that poem somewhere where I can see it everyday. Thank you!
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I’ve cherished them for a long time now — they hold up well!
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the poem goes very well with the image… thank you for sharing ☮
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The marriage of word and image is always a goal for me.
(Often unachievable, but we try.)
Thanks for the comment!
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What a beautiful poem! A perfect accompaniment to your summer clouds. off to celebrate life 🙂
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In what part of the world are you celebrating right now?
I think of you as a true citizen of the world, Madhu!
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At home at the moment. Off to Delhi, Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi in just over a week 🙂
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Oh, my!
Every single one of those names is one to conjure with!
My knowledge of India comes mostly from novels of many kinds. Some travelers’ memoirs. And cookbooks — I love food and cookbooks, and of course, Indian food.
I enjoyed the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, not as much for the fairy tale story but for the colors, the sights, the sounds, the speed. Amazing!
A friend of mine went once to India, THE event of her life, I think. She said she felt like for the first time she was breathing her own native air. No, she has no Indian connections — other than this intense bond of empathy. (Her trip was for 10 days to Calcutta, not as a tourist, but living among people.)
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That must have been amazing! We haven’t traveled around India much. Feel it is time to remedy that, before we run out of time and money 🙂
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