Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday: More Summer Parks and Libraries

July 13, 2023 /
 
The Poetry Friday host this week is Linda at A Word Edgewise. Hop on over there for the roundup. 
 

More Summer Parks and Libraries

 
My husband and youngest child were away for 10 days for big canoeing trip out of the country, so I was able to sneak in more park and library trips. This is a longish post because of all of that free time I had. 
 

Fort Hunt

This is run by the NPS. I first learned about it because another student in my local history class told us about PO Box 1142, where German POWs were held during World War II.
 
 
 
 

Huntley Meadows

This is a park I go to frequently because it’s where I first started taking nature journaling classes. This summer, if I visit a park I’ve never been to before, I’m trying to take a different hike. I’ve done almost all of the trails at Huntley Meadows, so I decided to take a trail that was clearly a trail, but it slowly trickled away and I was in the middle of the forest with no bug spray and I was wearing shorts (I know, I know).
 
 
By some miracle, I didn’t end up with poison ivy or tick bites. I ended up finding my way out of the woods and into a neighborhood where I to walk the main road back to my car. Not my finest moment (and it was HOT). I wish I could say it was worth it because I got lots of great pictures. Reader, I did not. 
 
 
 

Sherwood Regional Library

I visited several libraries this week too. This is my stack of books from the Sherwood Regional Library. 
 

 

Burke Lake Park

This is also a park I’ve been to many times. Instead of trying to go on a different hike, I went on the trail and took all of the side trails. 
 
 
 

Burke Centre Library

 
This is the library I go to most often. I’m not sure how, but I’ve already completed the adult summer reading program, so I was able to pick up my coupon booklet and loads of holds. And because it was so much a part of my regular routine, I forgot to take a picture. 
 

Kings Park Library

 
I visited this library because they have a large selection of kids’ magazines. I studied some poems in these magazines from the last year or so.
 

 
 

Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve

 
This park is a National Park and another one I’d never been to. I loved seeing butterflies and dragonflies on this walk. It has great views of National Harbor and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. 
 
 
 

Martha Washington Library

I usually look at the adult and kids poetry section at each library. I found a few gems here. 

 

Lake Accotink

I’ve been to this park numerous times. The last time I went I took a class on iNaturalist. This time, I walked on a new bridge and found all kinds of cool fungi. 

 

Richard Byrd Library

Public libraries are truly amazing places. One a very hot day, it was a great cooling center for people to read and work. I got some poetry revising done here.

 
 

Long Branch Stream Park

 
I remembered visiting this neighborhood park last year after reading about it on All Trails. There were loads of damselflies last year and I revisited with the hope of seeing some again. One lady I met on the trail was curious what I was doing. I explained the difference between damselflies and dragonflies and she told me she had no idea–she thought they were all butterflies. I was a little shocked because usually I’m always learning from someone else out on the trails.
 
 
 

Hidden Pond

 
I’ve been trying to find slime molds all summer and I haven’t seen very many cool ones. But I found some cool ones at Hidden Pond.
 
 
 

Pohick Library

I used to teach clerihews to fourth graders. When I look back at them, they are great snapshots of pop culture. The book PRESIDENTIAL MISADVENTURES is a collection of clerihews. Super fun if you want to introduce this form to students. 

 

Hidden Oaks

 
I’ve been to this park before to take an acorn drawing class. On this walk in the woods, I found some cool fungi with slugs (maybe?) hidden inside.
 
 

Woodrow Wilson Library

 

Green Spring Gardens

 
I go to this park fairly frequently. A few weeks ago, the lotus buds were up but none were open. I happened to be close by, so I swung by to see the lotuses and dragonflies.
 
 
 
 
 

Library of Congress

I also took a trip to the Library of Congress to do research on a new book. Normally, I have my books delivered to the Adams Reading Room. However, there was one book that I could only access in the Jefferson building Main Reading Room. It’s beautiful and busy. There were loads of tourists cycling through, and I am easily distracted. So I looked through the book and headed back to the much more research-conducive Adams Reading Room.
 
 
One of the most amazing things about Capitol Hill (where the Library of Congress is located) is that there are miles of tunnels. I took the underground tunnels from the Adams Building to the Jefferson Building to the Madison Building (for lunch) and back to the Adams Building. According to my watch, I walked 1.5 miles in the tunnels. 
 
 
 

Haiku of the Week

 
 
spent blooms
purple among new pastels—
stalk sculptures
 
 
Photo Taken: June 10, 2023 at Huntley Meadows Park
Haiku Written: June 22, 2023
 

Haiku Moments Playlist

Poetry Printables Page

 
 
 

What I’m Reading

by Mary Oliver
 
 
 

What I’m Noticing

When I was in NYC for the SCBWI conference, I stopped at Murray’s Cheese at Grand Central. I bought some tiny jars of jam that were easy to fit into my luggage. I also knew they’d be perfect for windowsill art. These are a few clips of some wildflowers from my garden. 
 
Don’t worry—next week it won’t be as long. I won’t have as much park and library time on the schedule. 

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30 Comments

  • Linda Mitchell

    July 14, 2023 at 7:20 AM

    Wow! You’ve been busy. What great park finds. I only recognize the names of a couple of them. And, wow to your book finds at libraries. Are these books going on your Sealey challenge pile? Or, are you enjoying them at the library and then moving on? So much peace and beauty. Soak it up…and I hope peaceful thoughts from this time can come to mind when school is busy, busy, busy.

  • PATRICIA J FRANZ

    July 14, 2023 at 9:35 AM

    MARCIE!!! The photos! You may have to share the info re your macro lens! Love “Hidden Pond” slime photo! Almsot looks photoshopped! I’m curious, too…How long do you spend at each library? And do you have to return the books to that library or does your county allow you to drop them anywhere?

    • Marcie Flinchum Atkins

      July 14, 2023 at 10:42 AM

      I have an OM Systems Macro Lens. It’s 90 mm. For time spent at the libraries–anywhere from 10 min. to 2 hours. Depends on my day. Somedays I just go into get some books. Some days, I bring some writing to do. My county allows us to drop off books at any branch.

  • Tracey J Kiff-Judson

    July 14, 2023 at 9:38 AM

    I love joining your adventure in both city and country! Thank you for the reminder about damselflies! I typically call them all dragonflies, which I know is wrong, but childhood habits die hard. : )

  • Tabatha

    July 14, 2023 at 10:30 AM

    So much to love here! Fungi, slime molds, lotus, hiking stories that end with no ticks. You really made the most of your time! The Library of Congress is phenomenal. I love that you used the tunnels to get around.

    • Marcie Flinchum Atkins

      July 14, 2023 at 10:44 AM

      Oh yes! Tunnels are the best for two reasons 1) keeps you out of the heat of DC–and you know how bad that can be, and 2) Keeps you from having to go through security at every single building. Go through security ONLY once.

  • Margaret Simon

    July 14, 2023 at 12:03 PM

    You’ve been busy. Research in the Library of Congress? Wow! And those lovely walks through nature. You must be channeling Mary Oliver through your reading and writing. Thanks for sharing.

    • Marcie Flinchum Atkins

      July 15, 2023 at 9:17 AM

      Yes! I live only about 15 miles from the LOC and I can easily take a commuter train from my neighborhood. It’s much easier for me in the summer when I’m off from work. But it does require prior planning to get the materials you want on the day you can research.

  • Rose Cappelli

    July 14, 2023 at 1:07 PM

    Such wonderful treasures, Marcie! I must admit I was a little worried when I saw all that poison ivy in the first photo. Inspiring photos!

  • Carol Varsalona

    July 14, 2023 at 1:41 PM

    Marcie, I am in love with this post and paused at almost every detail starting with the Netflix documentary. Nature trails hold many surprises and your photos share them all except the bugs and ticks. It was a good think that you found an exit but your experiences afford you much information to write and write and write. I want to hit the library trail so I will start in my neck of the woods and then get adventurous.

  • Joyce Ray

    July 15, 2023 at 10:36 AM

    Marcie, it’s wonderful to discover your blog and website. I knew you loved Mary Oliver just from the book photos. You’ve whetted my appetite for visiting more libraries. I do when I’m traveling, but now I want to do this closer to home. Your interest in fungi reminds me of Beatrix Potter, an amazing naturalist. I love your haiku and notice that this one falls at under 17 syllables, which is what I try to aim for. Thank you for this rich post.

  • bookseedstudio/jan

    July 15, 2023 at 1:46 PM

    The Haiku of the Week is exquisite & the photo is truly of a sculpture. Brava!
    I’ m going to tguess the out of country river trip was the rapids you can find in Costa Rico – I rafted thusly on the Rio Piquare. So many appreciations for taking us On Tour & offering many green possibilities. I
    But especially loved connecting with your nourishing LOC sojourn ~ it’s a far distance from Florida but still I’ve walked many steps back & forth in those tunnels & loved lingering in LOC galleries & 1x the Reading Rooms. Our gal interned at the LOC & the personal private tour her supervisor gave us made us feel like Royalty. It is my favorite National Treasure & I love behing reminded of this with your generous post.

  • Mary Lee Hahn

    July 15, 2023 at 4:04 PM

    Libraries and parks…what RICHES!!

    I thought of you this morning — put a bunch of books on reserve for Sealey!!

  • Diane Anderson (newtreemom)

    July 15, 2023 at 6:53 PM

    As your haiku shows, even spent blooms have beauty and deserve a poem. I enjoyed that photo and the lotus, especially. And I added several books to my TBR list (again). Thanks for all you share.

  • Jone MacCulloch

    July 15, 2023 at 10:23 PM

    What a fabulous week. I love the photos of slime mold and fungi. The field and path at Huntley Woods Meadows made me itchy. I am swooning that you were able to spend time reseaching in the Library of Congress.

    And here’s to the plants that are spent and give us beauty in a different way.

  • Michelle Kogan

    July 18, 2023 at 7:48 PM

    Wow Marcie, what a treat for all our senses, 🥰 love the damselflies, fritillary butterfly, and dragonfly, and all of the Mary Oliver books, I’ll have to reserve some from my library–I have her Blue Horses, and her writing book. Great haiku with your “stalk sculptures” thanks!