While I was running earlier this week, I was reminiscing about my summer and thinking how thoroughly I’d enjoyed it. The first several lines of this poem popped into my mind, and the rest soon followed. Once home, I jotted it all down and played around with it a bit. With roots in my summer fun and a nod to Eve Merriam’s inspiring poem How To Eat A Poem, here it is:
How to Eat A Summer
I gobbled up summer
like Eve Merriam
might eat a poem
taking greedy bites
so luscious juicy streams
escaped my lips
rolled down my chin
then fell in bright sticky drops
onto my outspread fingers
from which I licked up
every delicious bit
There was nothing left
to throw away
Molly Hogan (c) 2017
For this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, head on over to Jone Rush McCulloch’s blog, Check It Out. Don’t forget to bring your appetite!
Nix the comfort zone 
Sounds like your summer was something to savour!
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It was one for the books!
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I like your joyous, luscious stream! Your cool variant made me wonder how I ate this summer, and last summer, since both had a lot of challenges. I feel like they were maybe like eating an enormous ear of corn, where you just keep going, sort of like one foot in front of the other, only with chewing…:-)
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I love your “corny” thoughts, but I’m sorry you had so many challenges these past two summers. I do know how that feels! This summer was especially wonderful in contrast with last summer. Although I’m not sure which food last summer would have been, it definitely gave me indigestion!
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What a wonderful joy-filled poem. I miss my summer. It was just like this.
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Thanks, Margaret. I’m thinking a lot about what made my summer so fulfilling and which elements might survive a transplant to the busy school year. Here’s hoping we both create equally memorable falls!
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“Nothing left to throw away” is brilliant in this poem, and in life. Yay for that experience! Thank you for your poem.
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Sounds delicious! Savour every sticky, juicy, delicious moment!
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There are still a few days left to enjoy, and I’m determined to do so!
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Oh I love that ending. Summer is something to savor, and “from which I licked up/every delicious bit,” Molly. I’m glad your run ended in a wonderful poem!
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It’s amazing how much I think about writing while running, but it typically involves more bits and pieces. It surely was a treat to finish up a run with a poem in mind!
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This was great. it sounds like you had a wonderful summer!
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Thanks, Rebecca. Here’s hoping we all enjoy a wonderful fall as well.
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Mmm, what does summer taste like? Sweet tea on a cool morning, soft ice cream swirl, cotton candy clouds at sunrise?
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Your comments are so poetic, Brenda!
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You inspire me. 🙂
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So sweet and delicious, this is. I’m definitely gobbling up big bites now that I’m returning to work on Tuesday. Great job!
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Good luck with the start to your year. I have to be back on Wed. and Thurs. but students don’t come until after Labor Day.
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Yummy! I gobbled your poem right up, too!
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Yum–a delicious poem to end the summer with!
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Nice! Love that there’s nothing left to throw away. I feel the same way about the summer I’ve had. It’s been fabulous… even though most of it was spent at home (or maybe that’s why it was so great!).
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This summer I traveled much more than usual, but above all,
reconnected with friends and family. Delicious! I’m so glad your summer was one to savour as well!
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Molly, I love this! “I licked up/ every delicious bit!” So glad you had a wonderful summer. Wishing you a great school year as well!
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Sending those good wishes your way as well, Catherine!
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Sounds like a well spent summertime!
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Oh, this is fantastic! I love it. What a great poem to begin the school year….instead of that “what I did over summer break” report (which I doubt many do any more)
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Thanks, Linda! Hope you’re enjoying the start to your school year!
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Exactly the kind of summer I had, too. It was refreshing and rejuvenating!
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I’m so glad your summer was delightful as well. Mine was so wonderful that I’m having a tough time letting go of it!
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Can I ask a process question? When running do you carry your phone and do you record the lines as they pop into your head? Or stop to jot down a thought? Do you often forget something by time you get home?
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I don’t carry a phone so I tend to repeat lines that I like as I think of them, then add to that. Then repeat what I like. It’s probably not efficient at all, but it gets kind of rhythmic as I thud along and it definitely helps me not notice the hills! I try to jot things down as soon as I get home, but I definitely forget things sometimes. Usually if I can remember a couple of key lines, they trigger the rest. But not always.
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I enjoyed your delicious poem so much Molly that I want you to share it on my summer gallery. Are you interested in pairing this with a photo of summer in your area and sending it to me?
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Thanks, Carol! I’d love to do that. 🙂
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Great. I will look forward to receiving your image poem soon.
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I might have to write my own, yours is so delicious. Thank you for this mentor text.
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If you do, I’d love to read it. Here’s hoping for an equally tasty fall!
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I could gobble up this poem, Molly, it’s so satisfying! Hope your fall meets the high bar set by your summer. 🙂
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Thanks, Michelle. I have pumpkin-flavored thoughts already creeping in on these recently cool mornings! Hope you have a wonderful fall as well.
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Molly, you won a copy of Pet Crazy. Please email me your address. macrush53 (at) yahoo dot com
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Wow! That’s exciting! Thanks! I’ve e-mailed you my address and look forward to enjoying Pet Crazy.
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