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Black & White Summer

Summer is all about color: flowers, grass, trees, blue sky, yellow sun, sparkling blue-green water. But it's also about feeling: freedom, kicked back, relaxed, wind in your hair, sea breeze on your face, sensory overload

So today I've prepared an Ode to Summer - Enjoy!

{click on photo to enlarge}


from: The Summer Day, by Mary Oliver

...I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass, how to be idle and blessed,
how to stroll through the fields
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you have taken to do
With your one wild and precious life?

(And while you're enjoying your summer day, or memories of one, are you thinking of a 100th post entry for next week? Details are in yesterday's post.)
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Comments

Dan Felstead said…
Sandy...a perfect subject for black and white. Nice photo and the words fit well...Love it!

Dan
July 8, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Pugelicious said…
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. One of my most precious childhood memories was sitting in the grass while my horse ate around me feeling the sun on my back :)
July 8, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Dagmar said…
Oh great words with even a greater photo. I'm in love with clouds and these are beautiful. Thanks for the wise words.

I might lay myself down in the grass soon (when it's dry again ;-) Hugs Dagmar
July 8, 2009 at 11:36 AM
georgia b. said…
i always love your black and whites! this one is no exception.
July 8, 2009 at 12:16 PM
georgia b. said…
and such profound words and thoughts and questions! you have me really thinking and inspired by this post!

off to read your challenge post. i'm intrigued.
July 8, 2009 at 12:18 PM
joyce said…
I love the picture...it looks great in b&w. As I think about it, summer for me is more about the smells & sounds than the colours. The poem is great too, its good to know how to pay attention!
July 8, 2009 at 1:59 PM
georgia b. said…
oh, i forgot to tell you that the font i used that you like is called Harrington.
July 8, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Sandy K. said…
Thank you all for your comments- it's been a lovely day. I have had the good fortune to watch a monarch caterpillar form his chrysalis - and now we document the unveiling! Living in the country is so exciting!

Thanks for the font name, Georgia.
July 8, 2009 at 7:40 PM
HightonRidley said…
Love the photo - well composed and a great sky with the right balance between sky and ground to "pull" the eye upwards and the viewer into a reflective mood.

I think I'd prefer it without the words superimposed. If it were hung, the words on a card next to it or written on the matte would be perfect, though.

All imho, of course!
July 8, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Char said…
beautiful pairing of words and photography.

i'm just trying to hang on to one day at a time
July 9, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Sandy K. said…
Highton-Ridley: Thank you for the suggestion about not putting the words on the image...I see what you mean. It work work for a greeting card, I think.

Char - I'm trying to live one day at a time intentionally, and not worry so much about what's coming down the road. It's not always easy:).
July 9, 2009 at 12:21 PM
kendalee said…
Beautiful clouds like these epitomise summer skies don't they? Love the poem too!
July 9, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Miss Red said…
the sky in the photo is stunning.
July 10, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Slices of Beauty... said…
So b&w beauty, and Emerson is my man!
Thanks for sharing.
July 13, 2009 at 10:41 AM
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