From Lynda’s Journal ~ My old house lingers
A Poem
~ My old house lingers ~
From lynda’s Journal
by
Lynda McKinney Lambert
The Poem
My Old House Lingers
My old house lingers on a ridge
above a cavernous stone quarry
cut into a cove by the rushing waters
of ancient Connoquenessing Creek.
This fifty-mile-long waterway
is a classic western Pennsylvania
stream that flows in a serpentine path.
Rushing water meanders, turns, twists and dips
as it races to join the wide expanse
of the Beaver River heading south towards Pittsburgh.
My black suede boots trundle slowly
through crisp russet withered leaves
blown down by cold winds.
Broken branches snap,
shift, snare and tangle
round my happy-go-lucky legs.
The deer path widens between
rows of tall leafless watchers
guarding shady pathway.
I listen to “The Connie” in all seasons,
day and night. We have lived side-by-side
for over five decades. My children and grandchildren
wade in the shallow waters and climb the rocky shore.
We gather empty clam shells
that raccoons discarded during their night
of dining at the creed’s edges.
As I look up into the clear
aquamarine light this morning
a familiar black crow
clutches the highest oak tree branch.
It yells out resounding warnings
with sharp staccato notes.
I holler back to this pitch-black crow
“I will be bringing the sunflower seeds soon.
Give me a few minutes.
I’ll be right back with your breakfast.”
*
Poem written November 21, 2022.
©Lynda McKinney Lambert, 2022. All rights reserved.
*
The Backstory
Charles Portolano, my friend and editor of The Avocet publications challenged me to write a poem based on a message I sent him as an e-mail.
His challenge stayed on the front burner of my thoughts for that entire day, and night. This morning, as I walked the dogs and did the morning chores outside, I kept thinking about his challenge to write about my home and the surrounding creek and woods. This poem is the result of my thoughtful musings for the rest of the entire day.
I sent it back to him when I finished writing it.
This poem was published on December 3, 2022.
I received this message via e-mail from Editor, Charles Portolano:
Hello, good morning. We pray you are doing well.
Your wonderful poem will appear in this weekend’s issue of The Weekly Avocet – #522.
Thank you for sharing this work with all of us.
Please share with all those you know who love Nature poetry.
A special to the editorial Portolano family, Charles, Vivian, and Valerie for publishing this poem! I am pleased to share my thoughts about living in western Pennsylvania, via this poem.
*
Published
The Weekly Avocet – #522, December 3, 2022.
Thank you for sharing this work with all of us.
Please share with all those you know who love Nature poetry.
Read more in my NEW BOOK!
BREAKING NEWS
this book is currently in production at Perkins Library, for distribution through the library and through NLS (BARD).
COMING SOON
MY NEW book is a thoughtful and joyous collection of my poetry, stories, memoirs, photography, and reflections from 1985 – 2021.
Songs for the Pilgrimage
©Lynda McKinney Lambert, 2022. All rights reserved.
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