I’ve been enjoying the optical illusions at our local pool as I watch my children’s swim lessons and then the change in light when we return for evening dips. The reflections, the beveled surfaces, I hope you enjoy this poem paired with fractured light paintings by Michele Poirer-Mozzone including the cover art, “Bloom.” Enjoy!
Rectangular Summer Living
Rectangular summer living,
chlorinated waves contained,
sapphire with white diamond trim,
unnatural blue snowballs
dripped on freckled skin.
Horse fly desires,
the footprints of friends,
both disappear fast from
scalding concrete deck
splashed with memories
in folding chairs, behind
bent paperbacks, below
umbrella brimmed hats,
swaddled in sun-dried towels.
Fingertips wrinkle,
golden raisins in a sunglass haze.
Floating plastic buoys
divide the unused lanes,
dunk and dive,
disinfected surfaces,
pointless games;
the lost and found of
a plastic ring.
We bob and celebrate;
summer is forgiving
below a cellulite
blue and white surface,
our rectangular summer living.
© 2022 | K.Hartless
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
The painting is beautiful!
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Yes, I agree. Her entire gallery is really fun. You should check it out. She’s very talented.
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As a swimmer, the imagery in this poem is amazing. I felt as though I was at my old school pool on a hot summer’s day 🏊♀️
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Thank you. I really appreciate your comments. I’m so glad I captured a bit of nostalgia in these images I’ve never been the most fantastic swimmer but i do enjoy the poolside view with my journal and pen. 😊
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I was hoping you were going to explain it to us, since I know how you love physics.
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Yes, I’d love to do that sometime next decade, or I’d you’re feeling inspired, please do.
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Refraction. Isn’t science wonderful?
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Beautiful verses here, coupled with some wonderful paintings! ❤ Thanks for sharing such a talented artist 🙂
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Hi Tom, I somehow missed this wonderful comment early. Thank you. I, too, was impressed by her ability to capture the rippling pool and the reflections. Thank you for swimming by. 💜
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love the paintings and the evocative descriptions you’ve written to accompany them 🙂
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Thank you, John. Back at it this afternoon. Water bugs my two.
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ps love the pun of the title 🙂
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Oh wonderful. I was thinking it might be too much. But too fun to pass on.
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never !
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As a solitary swimmer the imagery here is very soothing and serene
Glad your water bugs are having fun 😁❤️
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Thanks, Michele. They are in love with the water this summer and I am enjoying my reading poolside as the play. 💜
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Two birds with one stone! It’s very hot here so the pool is the ideal sanctuary ❤️
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The flow is magical, and reminds me of many a trip to the pool as a kiddo, and with the boys when they were little. Love it.
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Thank you, Jeff. I’m sorry I missed a whole string of comments, yours included. It’s fun to watch them gain their confidence as swimmers and the imaginative water games they create. It’s no substitute for being seaside, but well, yes. it is a nice, cool diversion.
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You’re welcome, K. Always. Ah, it’s okay, it happens to us all. I bet it is fun, and I’ll take water in any way, though, as you mention, the sea is best. Happy weekend, my friend.
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Fantastic poem packed with summer vibes and beautiful paintings!
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Thank you, Michele. I wrote the poem in pieces over the course of a few pool visits, but the artwork I found afterward. Amazing refractive imagery.
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You’re welcome! 😊
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This one takes me back to my childhood, always in the pool!
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😊 my kids are loving it. We have several to choose from and it’s yeah, all the rage this summer. Thank you
For connecting with my poem, Tiff.
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