No matter where I am, whether on a cold winter walk home,
or a sultry stroll in a warmer country than mine,
the scent of wood smoke rising up from condo chimneys
or from tiny eating places tucked into jungle,
stir up buried images:
of me wrapped in my grandfather’s wool cardigan, on my way
to the Pacific Ocean every chance I get, to nestle in damp sand,
underneath a million shimmering stars as wood smoke rises
from a glowing fire on the beach, igniting the primal and
blurring the borders of here and there,
the sense of other, closer than I think, as time dissolves,
leaving my heart wide open.
Moments are really what counts. A short glance or feel of the wonderful, etched in our hearts forever.
Love Mom
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And I greedily inhale them all…thank you for your beautiful words, Mom!
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The peace of this is so necessary right now. Thank you for sharing.
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Oh, trE, your words are a joy to read…this is what I had hoped for…thank you for stopping by!
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You’re so very welcome! Thank you! I truly enjoyed it.
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I know what you mean by the smell of wood smoke. Some people in our neighbourhood have wood burners and the smell of them burning also does something to me. It evokes all sorts of feelings and memories.
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Your words make me smile…I was heading home on a very cold day in February and the smell of wood smoke was in the air and a poem was born! Thank you so much for stopping by…
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Glad you smiled.
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Beautiful poem . I know the smell of wood smoke, you are talking about. . Like you, my heart is wide open to life, living constantly in the moment, celebrating the beauty that surrounds us. Thank you Kim for your beautiful words.
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All we need is the sound of drumming! I recently heard some drumming down by Second Beach…the scent of wood smoke and the primal sound of drums, heavenly! Thank you (as always!) for your own beautiful words…
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“a glowing fire on the beach, igniting the primal.” I love that. Something our ancestors have done for tens of thousands of years. It surely blurs time and opens the heart. Beautiful, Kim.
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Thank you, Diana! I love your beautiful image of our ancestors having done this very thing for tens of thousands of years…
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Right on that spot, looking out over that ocean. Timeless.
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Yes! I can hardly wait for the drum circle to start drumming again, it’s a wonderful ritual to enjoy at sunset when the weather gets warmer…
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KIm, “the scent of wood smoke rising up from condo chimneys/or from tiny eating places tucked into jungle,/ stir up buried images” loved this imagery. Walking along with the worlds, holding up the meaning for better clarity, the warmth of “grandfather’s wool cardigan…: beautifully penned, with emotions.
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Your words are a gift, Amitav! This piece was two months in the crafting…one recent early morning, the cadence revealed itself to me and I felt brave enough to publish it!
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Some poems or writing have their own pace. They observe and express themselves with the rhythm of nature. This poem was an amazing read; as if walking through nature.
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Your words are a joy to read, I’m so glad you enjoyed your walk through nature, Amitav!
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a delightful tribute to your grandfather and I also love wood smoke, just had a wood barbecue for dinner …. you write well coz it’s from so deep in your heart!
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A wood barbecue for dinner, that sounds scrumptious! Thank you (always!) for your lovely support and kind words…
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I just love your open heart so it’s all pleasure for me I assure you 🙂
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These are truly precious memories Kimberlee, written so beautifully.
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Thank you, Brigid! Your kind words always make me smile…
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Absolutely gorgeous Kimberlee, I love the way the wood smoke is a thread between the now and then, and the in between. I love the image of being wrapped in your grandfather’s cardigan and the image of the fire on the beach.
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Your beautiful prose warms my heart…I love to weave threads throughout my work and I’m glad you enjoyed the unravelling!
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A beautiful write Kim, so many lovely memories wrapped in your grandfather’s wool cardigan alone 🙂💖 xxx
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Thank you (as always!), Xenia, for your very lovely comment…it was comforting to reach into our hall closet and grab it before heading out!
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Your words evoked such comfort in me. Beautiful imagery.
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Thank you, Robyn, your lovely words warm my heart!
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Every time I read your words I have a new perspective.. some people live moments and they are catalogued, as a place to be referred to but not often reflected upon. You live and absorb your memories, taking in each of the five senses, being ever present. Then you allow that moment to infiltrate your current moment, and articulate it in a way that we can enter that moment with you. Thank you for writing. You inspire me more than you know!
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Thank you so much, Mackenzie, for these beautiful words…a love of reading at an early age set the stage and taught me to absorb everything!
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This is so beautiful …a dream setting for me 🙂
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Your words warm my heart, I’m so glad you stopped by and enjoyed the read!
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Your description made me want to get to the beach right now. You are a bit further north but the PNW beaches are awe inspiring. I don’t think I’ve ever had a fire on the beach but it would probably be mystical.
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I’m waiting for the warmer days to arrive and hope I can spend more time at the beaches…I remember crossing the border into Washington to spend time on the wild beaches near Blaine…more good memories (we are so blessed here in the PNW!). Thank you for stopping by, I really appreciate it!
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This is a beautiful reminder that we should always cherish even the simplest memories we’ve had with our love ones…this poem too prods me to make more memories so that in time i would have so many with me wherever i go…
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Thank you, Mich, for your beautiful words! Writing seems to unearth these almost forgotten memories…cheers to creating more!
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This is a lovely perceiving that invites and welcomes all of my senses to join you. I can feel the sand between squirming toes, the scent of the both the fire and the salt air that it fills. Mostly my heart is touched by a memory place, sweet moments of gentle protection…long ago when the world seemed simpler to my tiny self. I catch myself as you’ve taken me passed your own place to another one of my own…and the salty sweet tears it brings. Thank you,your writing is always a joy to me 🌷
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Thank you so much for your beautiful words…your words do the same for me when I stop by!
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This was beautiful. It reminds me of feeling content.
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Your beautiful comment made me smile…thank you so much for stopping by, your words have warmed my heart.
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Lovely and a touching read. Can check my new poetry on the vision of the naked truth :perception and can post your feedback in comments section too.
http://passionsnetin.com/2019/05/03/perception-the-vision-of-naked-truth/
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Thank you for stopping by & leaving such a lovely comment! I hope to stop by soon to read your latest poem…
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How lovely this was! A journey to a place and into your soul.
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Thank you for this, your lovely prose warms my heart!
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♥️
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