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Sailing

8/15/2013

30 Comments

 
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Since August is quite the sweltering month in Florida, I’ve been finding myself day-dreaming about our sailing days on the Parker River in Newbury, MA, many years ago now, but still fresh in my mind - the cool ocean breezes full in my face.

I love to write poetry using forms. This poem is a mask poem, where the poet takes on the persona (wears the mask) of an inanimate object or animal. Enjoy!

Moored
By B.J. Lee

Do not keep me
tied at this mooring.
My rope strains
while green water whispers
against my hull.
Let’s be off to the deep places
where I can feel
the wind at my back,
the sun on my white face,
and I’ll give you

the ride of your life.

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30 Comments
Renee LaTulippe link
8/15/2013 11:41:42 pm

Nice one, BJ. I love "Let's be off to the deep places" -- something I'd like to do as I have very itchy feet. I watch the boats on the sea from the kitchen window and sigh.... :)

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 12:41:56 am

Thanks Renee! Yes, do let's be off to the deep places. I'd love a good sail right about now! I can see boats from my living room window and I'm soaking up the view because we won't have a water view from our new digs.

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Liana link
8/16/2013 05:05:01 am

Gorgeous poem with beautiful imagery, B.J.!

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 05:45:06 am

thank you, Liana! I appreciate that!

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Becky Shillington link
8/16/2013 07:10:36 am

This is beautiful, BJ! You really DO take on the persona of the sailboat. I love the photo, too!

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B.J. Lee link
8/16/2013 08:25:39 am

Thanks so much, Becky! I appreciate that.

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Margaret Simon link
8/16/2013 08:33:35 am

Love the green water whispering, the wind on your back. I want to sail away with you. The picture is so inviting.

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 08:40:39 am

Thank you, Margaret! Let's go!

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Ta link
8/16/2013 08:57:50 am

Oh to sail away with the wind at ones back and the sun to bask in! Lovely poem!

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 09:03:06 am

Thank you, Tara! Oh to be on the high seas once again!

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Penny Klostermann link
8/16/2013 09:04:10 am

Green waters at Blue Window...love it! Really beautiful :•)

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 09:16:26 am

Thanks so much for stopping by, Penny! And thanks for the lovely compliment!

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Irene Latham link
8/16/2013 09:13:14 am

What a great summer poem... while I don't really want to be the sailboat or even be on the sailboat, I do enjoy the view of sailboats. :)

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 09:18:06 am

Thank you, Irene! I can't blame you for not wanting to be the sailboat or even be on the sailboat. :) Sailing is not for everyone. And I enjoy the view of sailboats as well - very peaceful.

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jone link
8/16/2013 09:40:10 am

Lovely summer poem. Love the photos.

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 09:47:09 am

Thank you so much, Jone!

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Gisele link
8/16/2013 10:22:54 am

Very nice, B.J! I can almost smell the sea air....aaaah! :)

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 10:50:02 am

Thanks so much, Gisele! And thanks for stopping by!

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LInda Baie link
8/16/2013 12:43:42 pm

Just beautiful, BJ. I sailed in high school because a boyfriend had a boat, & I've sailed some larger sailboats with students. It was so exciting to have that wind. I love the voice of your poem. Sailboats do seem to have a life of their own!

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 11:12:50 pm

Thank you, Linda. Yes, the wind zipping the boat along is exhilarating! I think a boat moored is a sad thing. They always look lonely to me, just wanting to be off and doing what they do best. Thanks for stopping by!

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Mary Lee Hahn link
8/16/2013 11:00:13 pm

When I read this poem, it's a student speaking to me, her teacher!

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B.J. Lee
8/16/2013 11:15:16 pm

Thanks for stopping by, Mary Lee! Wow! That's an interesting take on this poem, but you know, I can totally see it. "give me freedom, right?" lol

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Lisa link
8/17/2013 05:04:31 am

Beautiful poem, B.J. Thanks for sharing. The title is perfect!

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B.j. Lee
8/17/2013 07:00:34 am

thanks so much, Lisa! I'm glad you liked the title too!

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Malcolm Deeley
8/17/2013 11:17:21 am

"Let's be off to the deep places"...what a beautiful, evocative line!

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B.J. Lee
8/18/2013 02:09:17 am

I'm glad you like it, Mal!

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Liz link
8/18/2013 09:10:05 am

There are so many evocative lines. The poem clearly speaks from the point of view of the boat but really expresses a feeling we all share--students, kids, and grown-ups.

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B.J. Lee
8/18/2013 12:41:43 pm

Thank you, Liz! I hadn't thought about it like that, but I think you're right - it does speak to that part of all of us that wants to be off to the deep places.

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Michelle Heidenrich Barnes link
8/19/2013 12:58:46 am

Well I certainly was right, when I guessed I would be seeing beautiful things from you! This poem is wonderful... I just love the yearning. I'm also delighted that you like working with forms, because that means I will be learning a lot from you. My form up till now has been flying by the seat of my pants! I am taking on the mask poem as this week's assignment.

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B.J. Lee
8/20/2013 11:13:54 pm

Thank you so much, Michelle! Forms are my favorite thing! LOL - I hope you can improve YOUR form! I'll be looking for your masked poem!

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    Author

    B. J. Lee is a children’s author and poet. Her picture book, There Was an Old Gator Who Swallowed a Moth, is launching with Pelican Publishing on February 15, 2019. She has poems in 25 poetry anthologies published by  Little, Brown, Wordsong, BloomsburyUK, National Geographic, Otter-Barry Books, Pomelo Books, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has worked with anthologists Lee Bennett Hopkins, J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt. She has written poems for such children’s magazines as Spider, Highlights and The School Magazine. Follow her on Twitter @bjlee_writer.

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