By Seamus Heaney
When you plunged
The light of Tuscany wavered
And swung through the pool
From top to bottom.
I loved your wet head and smashing crawl,
Your fine swimmer’s back and shoulders
Surfacing and surfacing again
This year and every year since.
I sat dry-throated on the warm stones.
You were beyond me.
The mellowed clarities, the grape-deep air
Thinned and disappointed.
Thank God for the slow loadening,
When I hold you now
We are close and deep
As the atmosphere on water.
My two hands are plumbed water.
You are my palpable, lithe
Otter of memory
In the pool of the moment,
Turning to swim on your back,
Each silent, thigh-shaking kick
Re-tilting the light,
Heaving the cool at your neck.
And suddenly you’re out,
Back again, intent as ever,
Heavy and frisky in your freshened pelt,
Printing the stones.
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I know a lot of people are suffering from excessive heat so I will try not to brag about how beautiful things have been here -- I mean, it was over 70 today which is hot by Seattle-area standards, and we needed all the fans on, but it was a beautiful afternoon to walk to the beach and with school out there were lots of people despite it being a weekday. We've also had more herons and eagles, now that the babies are more independent, and we still have gosling and duckling families in the wetlands.
The Orioles didn't have as good a day though they went to extra innings while my DS9 group was watching "Progress" (such a good Kira episode that we skipped generic Trek "Storyteller"). Afterward, we watched the first three episodes of Ironheart with Cheryl, which I enjoyed -- the girl power, the Chicago setting, the links to Iron Man, the social relevance -- and now we're watching the first episode of The OA which I've been meaning to watch for ages. Point Defiance Zoo otters:
