Cousin Audrey and Leo at Long Point on Lake Champlain
On the carousel at Shelburne Museum (he picked the same horse)
At Shelburne Farm next to the tractor
July 21, 2008
Birthday Villanelle
For Megan’s birthday book, I tried my hand a writing a villanelle. The first & third lines have to repeat in a very specific way. Famous examples of the villanelle are “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas and “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop. I’m sure my poem will be up there in Villanelle Lights sometime soon.
Megan Maxwell just turned forty?
I heard this news and had to yell,
“She doesn’t look a day past thirty!”
She is nimble and quite sporty.
She runs around like a gazelle.
Megan Maxwell just turned forty?
What can I do? I’ll make more tea.
She’s far too young for this death knell.
She doesn’t look a day past thirty!
She’s wrinkle-free, not one bit warty.
She’s well-preserved like the Book of Kells.
Megan Maxwell just turned forty?
Aging isn’t a topic dirty.
I only ask you, “What fresh hell?”
She doesn’t look a day past thirty!
I’ll send birthday wishes, very wordy,
And say, “You wear it very well.”
Megan Maxwell just turned forty?
She doesn’t look a day past thirty.
Happy Birthday Megan Maxwell!
It’s a sad day when the “baby” of your college class turn forty!
July 4, 2008
Leo went a-frogging
Thanks to Carolyn and Lily for taking us frogging at their pond. You can see that they like to jump away, but Lily had some expert advice (fill the bucket with enough water so they can’t jump out). Still, this one, held by Leo, eventually made an escape back to the pond.
