Family Respite: Salmon and a Poetry Challenge

These past two weeks I've been in Portland, mostly helping my 88-year old parents.  In the midst of a heatwave that has kept temperatures above 90º for over a week, it has not been easy to keep my spirits up. I know I'm in a situation shared by many others my age, but sometimes that knowledge doesn't help. When I felt like I couldn't take anymore, the heat broke and Oregon's beauty gave me respite when I needed it most.

The other day while walking in my quiet Sellwood neighborhood in southeast Portland, I came across a small section of Chrystal Springs Creek. 

A part of the Johnson Creek Watershed, a sign called it a salmon resting place. The creek was once channeled through a culvert under an apartment building. The water flowed too quickly for the young salmon who needed to use this waterway. 



Restored in 2012 to its natural state, it is now a lovely piece of wilderness tucked in among houses and lawns.  This bit of natural hope lifted my spirits on a particularly difficult day.

This made my think of my poet comrade Tania Pryputniewicz, also dealing with family issues.  In her blog Feral Mom, Feral Writer, she sent me a poetry challenge while I was in Italy. Now we are trying to continue these challenges, hoping they will help us find our own resting place, to keep poetry flowing despite the day-to-day concerns that seem to bog down our lives.

So, Tania, here is your challenge: write a poem about a resting place.  When you give me yours, I'll respond in turn. 

"Old Cars" published in Allegro Poetry Magazine

I'm very excited that my poem "Old Cars" has been published in Allegro Poetry Magazine Issue 5. This online journal is based in the United Kingdom. What an honor to have my work in such an international forum. You have to love this about the internet!

To find my poem, scroll to the bottom of the screen. Mine is the last one before the contributors' biographies. Don't forget to read some of the other wonderful poems along the way.

Bologna

Bologna is well known for its arcades, which are an intergal part of the arcitecture here. According to my Footprint Guidebook, there 44 kilometers of arcades, not including modern arcades in rebuilt areas. Walking under them makes for a fascinating journey watching for the changing styles along the way. 

Arrivaderci Firenze

Today was our last day in Florence. We spent the morning at the Uffizi, which has some of my favorite art of all times. Maybe it was the crowds of tour groups tramping through that got to me, but I was peeved about people taking pictures of the paintings instead of actually looking at the art. Do we have to see the entire world through our iPhones and cameras? Of course, ironically, there I was taking photos with my phone of people taking photos.

Firenze Poem

 At Feral Mom, Feral Writer, my friend, Tania Pryputniewicz just wrote about a wonderful morning we spent together in Calistoga, and has challenged me to write a Z poem. Here in Florence it seems a lovely thing to do. Thank you, Tania. 

For Tania From Italy

Here z's 

are everywhere:

Firenze

scamorza

pizzeria

palazzo

zabaglione 

Piazza della Stazione

Via Panzini

San Lorenzo

Uffizi

Rizzo

They fly from my mouth,

zip through the air

like chimney swifts

circling the great dome

outside my window.

Violin music swirls up

from the piazza below.

Delizioso.

Sorrento and Naples

Today we made it to Naples. Rather a shock after being in this little seaside town for almost a week. The Archeological Museum was wonderful. Then back to Sorrento for more pasta - this time with langustines. 

Sorrento, Day 4

Lori and I meant to go to Naples today, but found we wanted to do nothing more than spend the morning in our blue tiled apartment drinking coffee. Soon after that decision, the promised storm hit. Rain pounded the roof and cobble stones and thunder thundered.  Now it has stopped, and I can hear the waiters from the restaurant across the (very narrow) street talking and laughing. In a little while we will go outside to eat lunch. We are happy.