This week is all about celebrating Mary Lee, retiring from teaching after 37 years, after so many lives inspired and touched. Here’s to the days ahead, friend — the days of poetry on the page and on the river. Knowing that the ripple effects of all the good you’ve done will last forever.
This Beam of Light
for Mary Lee Hahn – Poet, Teacher, Flycaster, Friend
Laying the long line upon the water
with such quiet care
it might as well be a beam
of light, a bit of a poetry (just
a few words, just the right ones)
landing as if they’d always been there,
waiting to be plucked up
by a thousand children, hungry
for what’s right in front of them –
the whole world in a drop
of water, barely
making a ripple
on the surface,
but patiently
steadily
faithfully
dropping
way
down
deep.
(Art by Marcus Cline)
#MarvelousMaryLee
#PoemsforMaryLee
Poetry Friday is at Wondering and Wondering today — and you’ll find lots more love for Mary Lee there!
A beam of light indeed! Liz, this poem is gorgeous and so very exactly Mary Lee. Love!
Beautiful!!
Mmm-hmmm. Just right.
This seems to be a beautiful description of Mary Lee’s poetry and depth:
“the whole world in a drop
of water,”
Maybe a description of the depth of poetry itself.
Lovely tribute, Liz.
Gorgeous poem, LOVE!!! Such an ethereal beauty about it.
The whole world in a drop — way down deep, a little distilled wisdom. LOVELY.
This poem captures the quiet stillness and the depth of Mary Lee so perfectly!!!
I wish I could tell you a favorite line, Liz, but they are all favorites. This is so lovely, reads like one that needs to be read aloud!
A beam of light is just the right description, Liz. I love how your poem funnels down into the fishing rod graphic.
A delicately poised poem, Liz, from your beam of light to barely making a ripple. I feel that Mary Lee will know these moments.
“Way down deep.” Yes.
I do believe you’ve captured Mary Lee’s soul in this poem, Liz. It’s a beautiful, beautiful tribute.
Pure loveliness. 🙂
Thanks for making me cry! I love this so much. It also makes me laugh, because along with those lines laid down gently in the water, there have been plenty of hooks in the trees behind me and spaghetti-tangles of said line (with the corresponding blunders in classroom and life). But let’s just focus on the successes for today. 🙂 Thank you for this gift, and for teaching and inspiring me through your poems and books.