Anmol is the host of dVerse today. Anmol says:
For this Tuesday’s prompt, I would like all of you to wander around for a bit — take an old familiar walk.
I chose to write an etheree form poem about a walk I’ve taken innumerable times over the years. Lake Michigan, and the winding paths one walks to get to her, evokes joy and peace like no other.
Sun
Dappled
Through the trees
Along the trails
Between the sand dunes
All ways lead to the lake
As the breeze jostles amongst
Living and dead, no exceptions,
And the giant’s distant shhhhhh gets loud
Pause and smile at dune top – every time.
Neck swivels slow, from far left to far right
Great expanse of water, no far shore —
Running down thru warm butter sand
Dip a hand in to gauge temp:
Ooh, so cold! But we swim.
Chilled, then simply numb.
Towel off, warm up.
Climb the dune,
Then walk
Home.
Here’s a video I took in February of Lake MI. This was short a walk from my car in the parking lot to the beach, just a few yards away, but it does show how vast the lake is and the dunes behind. This day had no wind, and the water was frozen quite aways out so there was an unusual quite. In warmer seasons, it’s rarely quiet.
Tao Talk 
such beauty ~ both the poem and video……….
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Thank you very much, Wendi :)
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you are so very welcome……….
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beautiful, like being there in person
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Thank you, Larry.
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Really enjoyed this walk — the form works wonderfully well with the theme. There is some gorgeous imagery here and I loved how you brought about some texture with that “warm butter sand”. A lovely read! :-)
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Thank you so much for your kind comments, Anmol. Glad you enjoyed reading about my walk through the dunes :)
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Oh my gosh, that was a beautiful read. “Running down through warm butter sand ”
Happy sigh <3
And thank you for the video reminder of SNOW. I've got 3 months to enjoy my city before we get our first fall. Ha ha!
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Sorry for the snow, Lael. I’ll get out there on a sunny day and post it, ok? Glad you liked the poem.
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:) I appreciate the snow! It’s good reminder to live fully now! <3
I would totally, gladly, 100% LOVE to see a sunny day video too though. It's such a pretty place <3
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The etheree is a good choice of form for this poem, Jade; the lines and words meander. I enjoyed this stroll to the lake, with the breeze jostling amongst living and dead, and I love the pause at the dune top, placed perfectly in the middle of the etheree, before the descent to the lake.
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:) Kim, thank you for all you saw in the poem and glad you enjoyed the stroll.
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The form and the stroll worked like gangbusters. You had me, as many others, with /running down through warm butter sand/. I’ve only been to the Great Lakes once; awesome to see a body of water larger than Puget Sound, which is considered to be an inland sea.
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Thank you, Glenn, for your kind words. Have heard the name Puget Sound and never knew what it was. Inland sea sounds very inviting.
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Very interesting.
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Thanks Jim
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I really enjoyed this one with its “Great expanse of water, no far shore — running down thru warm butter sand.” Wow! ❤️
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Sanaa, thank you, and glad you enjoyed reading :)
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The form works perfectly for this. I climbed the dune with you, and accelarated down the other side, and then the final word “home” is a perfect closure. I love it when a form fits so well.
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Thank you very much, Sarah :)
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Wonderful Jade. Thank you for taking me along. Loved the video. The land had a ominous sparseness. You vould feel the vold yo the bone. Great post.
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Rob, thank you for your perspective and thoughts. You’re perceptive in the sparseness, as there are less things than in regular soil that grow in sugar sand.
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A relaxing moment.
The etheree highlighted the build up and slowing down of action in the poem. ☺️
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Thank you for your feedback on the poem, Imelda, it is appreciated :)
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You’re welcome, Jade. :-)
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How really delightful and brave to swim in the cold :)
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Thanks, Kate. It’s something you get used to, living by Lake MI. It’s only cold when you first get in, then you get numb and used to it. It’s exhilirating!
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lol I’ve heard that but it has to be hot for me to go swimming :)
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The good news is all of the inland lakes get lukewarm in summer so there is something for everyone :)
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lol not sure I’d like lukewarm water, sounds more like a bath .. hot outside and reasonably cold water is fine by me :)
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Love mostly how you approached the sea, and the sounds it made
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Bjorn, the sound is the most peace-inducing part of all. Coming to the top of the dune and into the open to see the lake still affects me. Thank you for your eyes to see.
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An evocative, iconic write, Jade! :)
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Thank you, Frank, your comment is appreciated :)
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loved reading this, evokes the whole experience for me of every beach. Loved the video. Awesome lake.
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Glad you connected with it, Paul :)
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