Welcome to our first day of “An Entertaining Summer”. As mentioned, we will drawn inspirations and ideas from the things that entertain us at our leisure. That means the Books, Music, Movies, Poems, Quotes, Words, Sights, Sounds and whatever else calls Summer to mind.
So to start off, we will offer the song “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts.
SUMMER BREEZE
See the curtains hangin’ in the window
In the evenin’ on a Friday night
Little light is shinin’ through the window
Lets me know everything’s alright
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
See the paper layin’ on the sidewalk
A little music from the house next door
So I walked on up to the doorstep
Through the screen and across the floor
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Sweet days of summer, the jasmine’s in bloom
July is dressed up and playing her tune
And I come home from a hard day’s work
And you’re waiting there, not a care in the world
See the smile awaitin’ in the kitchen
Food cookin’ in the plates for two
Feel the arms that reach out to hold me
In the evening when the day is through
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind
Songwriters
SCHMIDT, REGINE
Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
###
We ask you to listen to the song or read the lyrics and find something there to trigger your poetic processes. It could be a word, phrase or a line that you can use to inspire your poem. Failing that, a poem about the breeze or wind will do just as well!
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
Responses
Scent-sations
Alluring as scent
of jasmine
Salt/brine flavor
of ocean
Sensuous tickle
of evening breeze
Cool white lotion
on fevered skin
Making love in moonlight
under a summer sky–
warm memories to wear
through winter’s chill.
love it. esp. the last line!!
fun and romantic
Silky soft and romantic
Love the idea of wearing memories, Sara…such beautiful poetry.
Great imagery, “memories to wear” my favorite of the bunch, CH2!
Sensuous in every way! Wow!
Thanks you all for your lovely comments!
The text of this poem is “found and remixed” from the song lyrics “Summer Breeze”.
~
A July Smile
The curtains feel fine
playing a tune.
Days blowing through the screen,
and across the floor.
See July smile,
a little light shines.
Feel her arms,
my summer breeze.
For me, July usually sweats, so this piece gave me a different and alluring perspective. Love it.
I think we on,y saw the sun twice during June!
Like that Wyeth (?) painting of the translucent window curtain.
I love that painting, but then I adore Andrew Wyeth.
🙂 See my note, below, to Barbara.
That’s the one I used on my blog to accompany today’s poem — I had saved it a few days ago for “when I got the chance…” And how could I not use it for “summer breeze”!?
It’s a perfect image for this prompt!
Clever
Lovely found poem. You really do those so well.
Thank, Debi. 😀
I can feel that breeze, Misky…well done. 🙂
Thank you, Hannah!
Inspired and well written, Marilyn! I like this interpretation!
Thanks, Walt!
Such a delight, Misk.
Thank you, Marie. 🙂
This is romantic. I love the July smile!
Thank you, Sarah. 😀
THE JASMINE AND THE BEE
See how the high bush embraces the bee,
enfolding its loved one utterly
in petals of white and emergent scent
that hasten a mutual encirclement.
No bee of the bushes, no bird of the air
is whole unless being one of a pair,
for oneness is nothing; a twosome is all,
like Juliette-Romeo, Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Whilst watching the jasmine attracting a bee,
verses like this can happen, y’see.
Stellar writing, as always!
Love this especially the second verse.
Channeling a little Cole Porter – it’s de-lovely
Perfection. Love your title and opening stanza, William. Lovely indeed!
You make such things (wonderful Poems) happen, William!
Oh my goodness I just love this, from title to ending couplet!
William, no one rhymes with such beauty as you.
Sara, your piece is so spot on. Wonderful.
Thanks, W.
ARMS REACH OUT
Feel the arms that reach out,
they are searching for you.
Here when the day is through
and summer nights hold us close.
No distance can separate, no matter
how late into the evening we stand,
one woman, one man and a grand view
of this night for two.
Summer breeze soothing, smoothing,
from over the lake and making shadows
and silhouettes dance in the moonlight.
I feel fine as long as it shines!
© Walter J. Wojtanik – 2016
POETIC BLOOMINGS “An Entertaining Summer” – Day #1: Summer Breeze
funny thing Walt. I was writing a poem about a summer night made for two when I read your poem! Such serenity and emotion in this poem. I think I’ll jiggle mine a bit and see what else falls out;-)
Suggestion: If you’re writing a “summer night” poem, drag your feet a little until let’s say…tomorrow? Just a suggestion. 😉
thank-you:)
You are so welcome, Janet!
Great word painting
Thanks Connie! I love the medium!
“making shadows
and silhouettes dance in the moonlight” I can see that so clearly
Thanks, Debi! Glad I got my point across!
Love the dance of the closing stanza…beautiful poem, Walt.
Hey Hannah! Thanks for that! Words always dance! Glad to see you here!
*sigh* Soooooooooooo romantic …
I’m told it’s what I do best! 😉
Who let THAT cat out of the bag? 😉
That be you!
No kittin! 😀
You are indeed The King of Romance, CH!
TAKE THE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS
you pick the flower moments
in the garden of your life
then watch them disappear
inside the clasped hollow
of your hand
they’re gone!
they’re gone!
all those roses you hold
are dissipating in thin air
but their lingering fragrance
can be read
like the creased lines
that tell tomorrow
in the palms of your hands
every rose from time’s bouquet
fills your eyes with wonder
but you dwell too long
with questions:
misnaming the minutes
mistaking truth
for some dark chimera
mythalizing before you
they’re gone!
they’re gone!
as you pick some from the garden
as your fingers touch the stems
as you close your hand around them
they’re gone!
they’re gone!
they are minutes too soon fleeing
velvet-soft and thorny
bright and wilting
smelling of life and dying
flourishing, floundering,
frittering away
#
you had me with the first stanza. Wonderful!
Excellent
Such sadness in this warning
Your words mesmerize, Salvatore! You weave them so expertly!
I’m always fascinated by an unexpected take on a prompt. EXCELLENT.
Gorgeous writing, Sal, with a wonderful refrain.
Summer Day…or Poem
For all the expectations that I have from you
You always surprise me with new ways to
Showcase the old
And I know I will never tire of being on the lookout
For fresh arrangements of
Blue-purple-gold
The world is filled with kindred spirits
But the trick and the joy
Is discovering them
As long as I live I will never grow weary
Of summer days
Written in poem
Darling, come, lets pulls our green-grass chairs
Out to the wide-open
Ink-well fell
And wait to see what old, new arrangements
Transpire.
We never can tell
The bloom-bouquets we have picked then strewn
To the floor of time’s summer-day
Banquet hall
Makes one glad to be alive where June
Has a way of making winter
Worth it all
© Janet Martin
Lovely
Has a way of making winter worth it all… I’ll try to remember that this winter: )
I’m going to enjoy this July P.A.D. experience because of poems such as this, Janet!
Oh-so lovely! Especially (for me) the “darling, come” stanza.
Beautiful, Janet!
[…] Shared at Poetic Bloomings: AN ENTERTAINING SUMMER – DAY #1: SUMMER BREEZE […]
Summer Breeze
Last Sunday, while we washed dishes
and waited to watch Game of Thrones
a rock fell down the face of a Yukon mountain,
knocked tons of pine to the ground
with a thunder and whoosh. And we
were here in Tennessee, a hot night.
Flat from a steam-ironed, long summer day,
we were arguing like heat rash. Being peevish
and misunderstood turned sulky,
worn-down still, and silent. We were separate
as two windows side by side and in pain.
Then the wind chime on the porch made a sound.
Almost a plucked string. Or a mountain letting go.
this is stunning in its contrasts. superb.
Great imagery
Oh, wow…your closing is perfect.
Fantastic word sculpting… “Flat from a steam-ironed” “two windows side by side and in pain” and the wind chimes – love them.
My word (and all of yours)! This is superb, Barbara! I love the play within and the imagery blows me away! Like a plucked string, or…
Oh. My. Word. BARBARA!!! “Flat from a steam-ironed, long summer day,
we were arguing like heat rash.” Whoa … and your final line? WHOA …
I adore that contrasted ending, Barbara!
Here’s my poem, but you can see it with its accompanying image at my blog, here:
SUMMER LOVIN’
Summer breeze
blown in from the sea
rippling drapes
caressing
flesh pressed together in love’s
embrace. Summer breeze.
one needs a summer breeze after reading this.wink;-)
I agree:)
A lot in a few
Looks like its gonna be a long, hot summer, Paula! Nicely done!
Oh how lovely! And you know what? I misread as “fresh-pressed together,” which kind of works as well. Summer Lovin’, indeed!
Ooh, splash me with cold water!
Whipping through my hair,
the warm breeze turns cooler
as I chase the sun
into its star-lit bed.
Weary from driving,
a mission bell rings out
as I’m welcomed to
a desert oasis.
Thank God I smell jasmine!
Great sensory details
wonderful! I esp. like ‘star-lit bed’.
“as I chase the sun
into its star-lit bed.” Love that so much
Rob, you paint a scene! Hints of Jasmine and Hotel California!
Summer Breeze blowing quickly became a cool wind in my hair and I couldn’t get Hotel California out of my head. Funny how thoughts jump from one image to another so quickly. I love Summer Breeze, btw. Great song to kick this PAD off.
I’m glad I found the video of Seals and Crofts singing it. I loved their stuff!
ROB!! *wave wave wave* So wonderful reading you again. Luvin’ this piece.
Thanks, Marie. This is actually the first poem I’ve written in about a year. Hoping to make it through the whole PAD.
Wow. A year? Well, sure is good to see you! I hope you make it, too.
I love, ‘chase the sun into its star-lit bed.’
Summer Breeze Caregiver Version
With the Dynamic Duo tucked in bed,
we retreat to the sofa on the porch
and hold hands in the summer breeze.
As caregivers, we added an extra life stage.
When people our age our planning trips,
we dream of leaving the house alone together.
It reminds me of the dating years
when we’d watch for opportunities
to escape into the night.
and yet, still holding hands says a lot.
beautiful. some much reading between the lines captures the full tenderness of this poem
Oh, Connie … bless your heart(s). What a touching little piece that speaks volumes of who you are, and who you love. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Touching, truthful piece of life, Connie.
The Answer is Blowing in the Breeze
It was a hot August night in ‘72
Celebrating my eighteenth year of life
Wondering what I was going to do
For what would be the rest of my life
Pondering future dreams and plans
My tired brain needed some ease
So I turned on my favorite radio station
The DJ was playing Summer Breeze
I got lost in the hypnotic lyrics
Completely lost in this beautiful song
Something told me it would be all right
Something told me it wouldn’t be long
Before I’d find a love of my own
The one that God made just for me
Summer Breeze on that hot August night
I believe it was written just for me
© Earl Parsons
Those old songs bring back such bittersweet memories
It may have been written for you, Earl! Those songs all hold a different memory. They’ll all I listen to. Well written, my friend!
Our lives are often set to music, and you’ve captured it nicely here, Earl. 🙂
Some songs stay with you forever. Beautiful poem, Earl.
On hot days I wish
For a wisp of Summer Breeze
And a tall ice tea
Yes, that song does bring back memories. Great poem.
Absolutely!
Oh, yes …
Summer Breeze
See the paper lying on the sidewalk
blown hither and yon by the summer breeze
was me, free as a bird in a sky-blue sky.
When did she die to the sigh of the breeze?
When did her feet stop obeying her heart?
When did this unease send her to her knees?
Summer breeze sing for me, please, once again
let the wonder and magic be like it’d been
when I was young and oh so foolish, when
I thought love was the key to everything.
Before I grow old, let me know, the touch
of a sweet summer breeze, I long so much
for the innocence of a summer breeze.
Of a summer breeze.
Carries the song of summer longing, Debi…beautiful.
breath-taking hunger for moments much younger…I know what you mean!!
Desire and longing written into a wistful memory! You have a good one here, Debi!
Thanks Walt
*sigh* Oh the longings this sings of, and brings to my very heart …
My longing matches yours, Debi.
[…] AN ENTERTAINING SUMMER – DAY #1: SUMMER BREEZE…the song I picked was brought in on a summer breeze…hAN ENTERTAINING SUMMER – DAY #1: SUMMER BREEZE. […]
The song I picked was brought in on a summer breeze…hope you like it.
[…] Prompt: Summer Breeze […]
IN THE EVENING WHEN THE DAY IS THROUGH
Hear the crickets chirping across the field,
harmony to the cicada call. All is still
in the evening when the day is through.
You step out to the porch swing, bringing
a cup for you and one for me. A cup of tea
in the evening when the day is through,
steeped and steaming, it has me dreaming
of how mellow love is. It is the soft breath
in the evening when the day is through,
of a summer breeze, there is ease in her motion,
a notion that soft caresses will soothe each heart
in the evening when the day is through,
as it has from the start. Listening to night fall
not making a sound as it hits the ground,
in the evening when the day is through.
There is just me and you,
our teas and the summer breeze!
In the evening when the day is through.
© Walter J. Wojtanik – 2016
m-m-m! this has a wish-I-was-there feel to it! Love the impact of the repetition.
And yet another *sigh* as I close my eyes and envision the peaceful evening. Just my cup of tea. 🙂
I had a feeling…! Sigh all you want, I’ll write more!
Yes, please. 🙂
Another song in the making!
[…] POETIC BLOOMINGS July P.A.D. Day#1 – Summer Breeze […]
[…] POETIC BLOOMINGS “An Entertaining Summer” – Day #1: Summer Breeze […]
Here and Now
There are no angry winds
in the Pure Land
of the Present Moment,
merely soft breezes to caress
as we walk,
hand in hand
with all living beings,
living fully,
cultivating compassion,
gathering flowers
of mindfulness.
every time I think I’ve read my favorite to this prompt, along comes another! Great reading here today.
Agreed, JR. You have all taken up the gauntlet and presented such wonderful work! I am impressed, but not surprised!
“gathering flowers of mindfulness”
This speaks soft volumes. Pure land of the present moment, for certain! Love this, my friend.
Lovely, Daniel. Should be poster for the world.
Summer Breeze Melody (just couldn’t resist another:)
Summer breeze teases the tree-tops with sighs
It has forgotten yesterday’s good-byes
Here is a new day unraveling bliss
Life is too short to miss moments like this
Summer breeze eases high-noon from the clock
Soon dusk- blue shadows will darken the walk
Time is a whisper yet weighs us with need
Fear is like poison; let faith intercede
Summer breeze murmurs in jasmine and rose
Shimmers in curtains where pale moonlight glows
Humble, the poet, that reaches to snare
Pictures of moments fading to thin air
Summer breeze teases the tree-tops with sighs
Life is a circle of hello-goodbye
Moment to moment to memory, oh
Love makes the holding worth the letting go
© Janet Martin
Janet, your writing is always, ALWAYS has an elegant, flawless flow and uplifting feel. I must say that I just love the heart from which it flows.
🙂 if you have a star in your crown for every word of encouragement you have ever passed along it will take a whole legion of angels to lay at Jesus’ feet. thank-you, and hugs(())
Oh my goodness … even this compliment is poetically gorgeous and sooooooo you. Thank you, Janet. Hugs back!
Always a note of hope in your writing, Janet.
Lady, you keep writing them like that, and you can write as many as you want! A great sentiment!
Walt, you play a HUGE part in the inspiration here! thank-you.
Janet, this should be sung to a lilting tune and inspire many. You get better each year.
A SUMMER BREEZE, IT BRINGS THESE
Memories strung like a train of kites bobbing and waving from the past;
some loom large never to be forgotten, others need closer scrutiny
You and I carry basketsful too, and share them when we feel the urge
But especially when lilacs scent the air and vireos twitter down the sky
We sit on the deck sipping ice-cold drinks, drowsing in the sun, loving
being here – just glad at the fact of it, of us – reminiscing some, planning too
We watch the gentlest breeze take the brittle-branch willow and toss
its ancient limbs to whispering through the yard … it’s hard to beat, this life.
So much to envision and feel here. Excellent, talented lady!
Missed you, Sharon! I love the beginning of this beautiful poem.
A wonderful return to the garden, Sharon! Great images and gentility. I love this!
Thanks to you both, Marie Elena and Walt … I’ve been following along since you started back up, hoping to find a way back in … the July chapbook looks like it. Both of you are as prolific and talented as ever … it’s lovely just to come here and soak up the lyricism.
Well, we’re glad you’ve “come back around”. The reboot actually got Marie back in the swing as well. and I’m happy for both of those facts. Sara has been an excellent cohost as was her predecessor. I am glad to be getting the group back together, Sharon!
Summer Nights on Belmont
Sounds of fun
Blow in through my window.
Mistaking laughter for music,
My curtains dance on the breeze,
While my head has trouble staying on the pillow.
© Marie Elena Good 2016
‘mistaking laughter for music’ – how lovely this seems.
Thank you!
Purdy little vignette of a summer eve! That’s my Pard!
I’m going to try to write this chapbook with my childhood days in mind. We’ll see how far I get with it. 😉
I could nudge you if you need it! Always a great theme!
I won’t begrudge your nudge.
If this is any indication I can’t wait to see what transpires!
Thank you!
Easy Breezy Evening
The breeze pushed
and pulled the water
bubbling
in my fountain
doing a little
jitterbug together
while the cosmos
and zinnia swayed
in rhythm to the
chirping sparrows
Welcome back, Candy! Love you take on the summer breeze, short and sweet!
Thanks Walt. Glad I found you again.
Perfect little single summer moment. Nice!
Great to see you here, Candy! Wonderful imagery here.
Thanks 🙂
unfinished poem
flying off my desk:
summer breeze.
~ Nurit Israeli
These snippets of brilliance bring summer to life, Nurit! I look forward to the journey you present!
Even unfinished poems take on a charm when your write them, Nurit.
I love what you’re doing here…but not sure if I made a mistake in posting mine. I didn’t see a place to link. But here it is. https://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/nesting/
let me know if I should take it down!
BTW, I’m terrible at reading directions so if I missed them–sorry. ADH!
At the top of the page and just under the date, there is a black balloon with the number of comments. Click that for the comment page. Under the words Plant your poem or comment here! Is the comment box, Victoria. You can post your poems or post the link to it as you had above. Happy to see you here!
Thank you, Walt.
Summer is Here
Scents and sounds
riding the wind,
tickle my nose
and whisper in my ears…
Summer is here! Summer is here!
Bare toes
wiggle in the grass
and children’s
giggles dance
across the lawns…
Summer is here! Summer is here!
And I can’t wait
to let the windows fly open
and the breezes fly in
as I’m surrounded by green
and splashes of rainbows…
Summer is here! Summer is here!
I love how that final line repeated ties this piece together, Michelle! A great start to our latest P.A.D.
Thanks Walt! I’m playing catch up! 🙂
The prompts are always open, Michelle. You’ll be caught up in no time!
[…] PoeticBloomings Write of your feelings of the coming of the end of something or anticipation of something! The end is near… write about it! […]
Wind from inferno
Songbirds gasp as trees wither
Texas in July