Summer Pleasures

Hey...Happy July!  Summer is a great time to celebrate Poetry Friday. My summer duties are accomplished and I'm relaxing into a summer lull. Behold two summer pleasures:

In March of 2020 I wrote about elderberries, but since then we planted some bushes in our yard. This is their third year and the bushes are heavy with berries. We are very excited because it looks like we will have enough for elderberry jelly. Take a look:

Burgeoning elderberries

Here's my poem about elderberry jelly. (Reminder, elderberries must be cooked.)

Elderberry Jelly

Pick some plumpish elderberries

Deeply purple, almost black

Cook them in a jelly pot

Make a jellied berry snack

Squeeze the berry juice out slowly

Bubble liquid 'til it's thick

Pour the jellied juice in jars

Pop the top on quick

Taste the deep rich berry flavor

I think no jelly could excel it

Wear your berry purple smile

Who cares if grape outsells it?

© Karen Eastlund

Our hands will be purple when we make jelly... a good rich purple that speaks of earth and health and joy. Isn't that what summer's all about? When deep in berries, laugh and enjoy.  

And then I ran across this little poem that I had written and tucked away, long forgotten. We don't have hammock facilities now, and my grandkids are mostly grown, but I love the memory. Here's hoping it brings a smile to you also:

In My Hammock

Hammock like a giant sling
In its cradle siblings swing
Whispers, laughs or loud harangue
In summer's lull it's cool to hang.

- Karen Eastlund, 2017

My hilarious grandkids

Poetry Friday is hosted by Jan Godown Annino today. Find her post and the links to others in the Poetry Friday community HERE.  Jan imagines floating like a manatee for maximum relaxation and renewal.

Thanks for stopping in. I hope you find time and space to dig into nature, swing in a hammock, and just breathe and float.