Today a song, a poem and photos of looking up, mostly into trees. It’s a good time for that.
Let’s start with the song. Originally it’s by X (the band) and I learned of it when Pearl Jam played it twice in a row live in Los Angeles, I believe, at least once with special guest Tim Robbins. Here it is, that occasion (audio only):
Next, here is my poem. This is my second year doing a poem a day in April for NaPoWriMo and let’s just say that I’m struggling and juggling a little.
Challenge 26: “Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that uses repetition. You can repeat a word, or phrase.”
It's looking up
It’s 33 years since the Chernobyl today.
Chose that night to roll on the grass.
Must not think bad thoughts.
There was fire in Rome in the night.
Trash was burning and the air was sick.
Must not think bad thoughts.
The trick is to go on, even when it appeals
to coil in the shower.
Must not think bad thoughts.
Nature does not ask questions,
nature understands. Stands under. Standstill.
Must not think bad thoughts.
Look up, look up to, look forward.
The second album is the most difficult.
Must not think bad thoughts.
- Thought bad.
- Think not!
- Must.
The gallery contains up-gazing images from Rome, then around my home in southern Tuscany, and then from Rome again in the same order as taken.
The first one is repeated from my April 1st post because Snow Melts Somewhere loved it so much. She and Amanda run Friendly Friday photo challenge and today is Amanda’s turn. She says Looking up is the theme this week.
The photos show the progression of our spring. Not looking up is a sin.
For Friendly Friday Photo Challenge hosted by Amanda from Something to Ponder About
and for Day 26 of NaPoWriMo
A lovely compilation for the three blog challenges, Manja. I am sorry to hear that Spring is a bit shy. The flowers seem so keen for it. I like the pink tree – especially in the photo with the white flowers. I wonder what it is called? Maybe a garden minded follower will answer.
Looking up is a great observation practice to do regularly. Pause and look up. I was peering at the small screen to see what it was in the orange house you were looking at. I thought at first it was the shape of the ?damaged render on the window upper left – it looks like a goose shape to me. And then I saw the cat! Definitely a “she” – Great photos for the Friendly Friday Photo Challenge. Thanks always for your consistent support!
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Thank you, Amanda. I had another look – and that shape could certainly be a goose. 😀
But why do you say sorry to hear that spring is shy? 😮 Which part seems shy to you? To me it looks quite exuberant. 🙂
Oh, and these photos were just for your challenge! The poem was for NaPoWriMo, as every day in April, but there was no third challenge. I think I’m the most tired from combining challenges. I prefer to keep things separated. Soon.
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Ok. I thought 30 poems and Napro….. thingsmijig were two different challenges. I also misreadthe word progression for regression ! That will teach me to try and read without my glasses. I do this far too often. My bad.
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😀 It happens. It’s National Poetry Writing Month =NaPoWriMo. Quite a mouthful, I agree.
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👍
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The Swedish and Polish bloggers had commented that Spring was a bit hesitant this year but the pink trees clearly show it is not.
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The photos are lovely, but I liked the poem, too. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Linda. I’m doing my best with this year’s poems but lack perspective on what it is that I’m doing. Welcome to my blog! 🙂
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I left this comment on your old blog:
I just discovered that you moved. I thought WordPress migrated followers to the new blog. My blog has reached capacity, but I don’t want to start a new one because of issues like this so I’ve been deleting content to add new photos.
Paying for an upgrade would increase storage, but it doesn’t make sense. WP allows you to have as many free blogs as you want with a 3GB capacity, but if you want to increase your storage on a single blog you have to pay?!
I tried linking to off-site storage (e.g. Flickr, or Picasa), but if the external site has technical difficulties it can wreak havoc with your blog. The pictures may vanish and have to be relinked manually.
I’m afraid to start a new blog and people won’t find me.
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Thank you, David. Yes, it took some time but I saw and confirmed both comments.
I was thinking similarly at first: I planned to delete some content to extend the life of my blogs but I prefer them to remain as they are as a testimony. I also believe that paying for increased storage goes contrary to free blogging, and agree that off-site storage is not how I like to do things. I’ve tried.
As for not finding us in our new blogs: I don’t think this is a worry. I’ve moved three times by now, this is my fourth blog, and I still have many followers of my first blog who are happily transitioning with me. If you notify them in advance and keep repeating your new blog URL, they will have a look and start following it sooner or later.
I’m glad you found my new blog too!
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A lovely post. Thank you. Grazie!
(Yes, probably a she…)
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Thank you so much, Equinoxio. 🙂
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Did I ever tell you Eddie Vedder is my dream man? 🤩 Love your poem and the photos are wowser!
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Thank youuu, Charlotte. 😀 Happy to share him with you! 😉
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Wow Manja, you nailed it with this song.
Love the different shapes of trees.
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Thank you, Bojana, I’m glad you like it too. Spoiled we are over here, with these trees.
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You are.
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Ahh that palm picture!! ❤ 🙂
(Over here, they say there is still residue in forest blackberries and mushrooms… from 33 years ago that is. I was living across the globe then so I have no personal memories of it all)
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Thanks, SMSW. Also – you were, how much, about eight? 🙂 That’s a long time after the event to have residue. 😮 I wasn’t aware of it.
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I guess, eight or so. We must’ve come to Finland just after it happened next door. Great timing, eh? 😉
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“Not looking up is a sin.” A great statement!
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Thanks, Maggie. 🙂 I certainly don’t understand people who are too busy walking to do so.
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Amazing what a wonderful zoom cameras pack these days, isn’t it?
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Oh, I. J., thank you but this is really nothing. I’ve seen what some other cameras can do. Mine is too short for our flamingos, for example. (Nikon point-and-shoot, 34x) But yes, they’ve come a long way. Sometimes I feel like a paparazzo.
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Yes, my latest is almost a 100X and some reviews called it a toy!
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Hehe, I see. Well, I’d be most happy with a toy like yours!
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Ooooohhhh the Rose Queen!
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So pretty! Even though I am not a fan of roses in my own garden, I enjoy looking at the gorgeous pink roses you have found.
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Thank you, Suvi. Rome gives good blossoms. 🙂
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Fabulous progress of spring there. Beautiful poem. 🙂
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Thank you, Amy! Spring is the best time here.
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Glorious photo of the palm tree and the pink blossoms!
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Thank you so much, Sabine! That one really turned out well. 🙂
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My two faves are the mix of blossoms in the featured photo, and also the one with the palm tree. You have a way of highlighting colour so well. It’s Spring, and every single one of these photos reminded me of that fact, and makes me happy.
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Yeahh, that was the intention, Crystal, to highlight spring. Thank you very much!
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Great use of repetition to capture an anxious inward debate. It reads like an incantation. “Must” must win in life too, I think. We cannot look always up and away.
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Thank you, Alana. This is one of the poems that I’ve almost completely forgotten to have written. I read it right now again as if it was for the first time, written by another. I liked some parts. 😀 Incantation, right… Life needs a good measure between looking up and away and thinking bad thoughts.
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