poetry born near water

I grew up in this town, my poetry was born between the hill and the river, it took its voice from the rain, and like the timber, it steeped itself in the forests.
 ~Pablo Neruda



i was born on the north shore
of an island, longer than it is wide
at one time i was embarrassed by this
now i am neither proud nor ashamed

a form of rebirth
learning to swim, diving in,
releasing-- my soul

climbing trees, i climbed so high
wishing to touch the sky- i fell
on my belly, not being able to cry

learned at age ten, some pains
cannot be expressed- when the wind
is naturally knocked out of you

i was born near water
and many trees who became
instant friends--a source

of joy and pain, like sun leaving
and swimming in the lake in the rain
singing underneath an upside down canoe

running at dusk in deerskin moccasins
without a clue to animal rights
only thinking of a strawberry shortcake

from the ice cream man ringing
leaving jump rope friends,
spilling some sweetness on the curb

to scratch and sniff
four decades later- musty feathers,
southwesterlies, wishing &
helping to fan this joy

Kate Lamberg
6/24/12