Summer Sublime

After so many months of stark, frozen nothingness, Alaska's North Slope explodes with life during the brief summer season. Those of us fortunate enough to work here are reminded how stunning Alaska is. We shall always protect her!

 

 

Summer… sublime

the weather, divine

all creatures draw a deep breath

 

Four months till it snows

the thought tickles our toes

we’ve earned a time out to rest

 

Caribou by the score

Geese, Ducks, and more

even Musk Ox, all in a line

 

A Brown Bear drops by

heeding lonesome Loon’s cry

this is such a magical time

 

The Great Snowy Owl

and King Eider, her pal

are everywhere, or so it would seem

 

With the ice finally gone

Swans whistle their song

as the Grayling migrate upstream

 

Oh I wish you could see

all that’s before me

so you would feel the awe of this place

 

Alaska’s my home

one of two I’ll have known

when at last I finish my race.

Author's Note

The photo is of a local fellow. He's a bit stand-offish in my opinion.

Reviews

[C. M. Miller]

Timeless. Renewal Thankfulness. Humbled. These are the the emotions that linger still as I write this review. What a responsibility and legacy we humans have to protect that which God gifted us with. Alaska is still so abstract to me, but this write easily focused my imagination and increased my longing to breath her crisp air, stomp my feet and spread my arms to welcome the majesty of her bountiful nature. (egads! I sound like a travel brochure! sorry)

I know plenty of people who merely "live" in their town or state, but clearly do not identify with their environment. Such is not the case here.

Envy is a sin I am told, but for this poem and time and place, a yoke I will carry for a time.

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

Very well written. Thank you for sharing a bit of the Alaskan summer. It sounds like a very nice place to live. Thank you for sharing. Debileah

[Emily B]

oh, what an amazing picture of the place you love. Thank you for taking me there.

[The Tao of Bri]

what a beautiful scene you illustrate here...sounds like my state of maine...surely not looking forward to the winter...seems like it was jsut here yesterday...you point out all that is right and good with the world...Nature!

[Gandré]

So vivid. searching, romantic with thankfulness, this is where the author is convincing, he loves the place where he lives, I was knocked sideways by the breathtaking ambition of the poem. "Alaska's my homeone of two I'll have knownwhen at last I finish my race." I keep it for I also had two homes.

[Fran Marie]

A lovely piece of writing filled with vivid imagery and so beautifully penned~

Fran Marie

[TL Boehm]

oh I love this. The ryhme scheme, the imagery....such bliss in this piece.

[J.P. Bristow]

I really enjoyed this and have to say that C.M. Miller gave a great review very thoughtful...insightful ....and leaves me at a loss for words ....so I will chime in with this being a wonderfully reflective work that seems both honest in its verse and conscious of the world within and in tune with the world that surrounds.

[bob, small b. aka invs]

we were fortunate enough to visit alaska quite a few years ago. it is a breathtaking and awe inspiring place. we even contemplated moving there. i envy those of you who wake every day to the mountains and the wildlife. thank you for the reminder of that wonderful place.

[K. Aurora]

Oh wow! This was a beautiful tribute to something precious.
I've never been there but always wanted to go for a visit some time.
I love summer's burst of new life and vibrancy. And you have painted that so perfectly!

Wonderful Write!

I think the picture is a musk ox isn't it?