When Carol asked us to write about nurturing our summer souls for Spiritual Journey Thursday, my first idea was to take the theme and create an acrostic poem. But I found that structure too constraining. Then I tried to collect my ideas into prose, but that wasn't right either. It didn't take long for me to decide that a list poem was the perfect vehicle for my summer musings on how to savor summer and nurture our souls.
Savor Summer
Sip lemonade
Rock on the porch
Sit in the shade
Cheer the children in the neighborhood parade
Throw candy for the marchers
Salute Old Glory
Chat with the neighbors
Cool off with a popsicle
Rescue ice cream from the spoon & return it to the cone
Indulge in a shaved ice
Build a sandcastle
Bury my feet in the sand
Swim in the ocean or the lake or a pool
Hike in the woods
Picnic with friends
Play at the park
Swing until my toes touch the sky
Vacation with family in my hometown
Saunter the library stacks (when it opens)
Read outside, read inside, read on the road, read at home
Attend outdoor theater
Collect shells or rocks or pine cones or memories
Embrace the new (food, flavor, trail, experience)
Listen to the birds
Celebrate fireflies
Revel in the flowers
Water my garden barefoot
Talk to my tomatoes
Stop at roadside stands
Buy the berries and the melons and the peaches
Showcase summer in my best dishes
Gaze at the night sky
Take my quiet time outside
Ponder God's word
Listen for His voice
Feel His love
Embrace the miracle of today
Journal the wonder
Nurture my soul
