Stories and Songs
Stories, Essays, Poems, Memoirs, and Songs

The music of Memories       
Outdoors, out west, out of the ordinary

Mark Doherty

Mark is a poet, essayist, and songwriter who lives for nature and the outdoors.  He recently retired from 30 years as a full time high school English teacher.  ((You can contact Mark at [email protected]))

​NEW​  MARK'S BOOK LIST on SHEPHERD'S 
​ 

Walking Natural Pathways    Amazon, Unsolicited Press
Creativity, Teaching, and Natural Inspiration  Amazon, ​Unsolicited Press
​

​Interstices ​ Smashwords, Nook
The Jack Carment Tales:  A Delightful Four Novella Series
​The Howling of Holcomb Peak​ / The Light of Shimmering Cove /
The Gliding Through Nordic Fields / The Cascading of Mountain Poetry   Smashwords, Nook                             
YouTube Channel Mark Doherty                                              New Resource for Teachers at TPT

  • Blog
  • More Stories and Essays Mark has Published
  • Some Unique Sonnets

6/15/2020

Whirling Winds of Change, Summer Solstice 6-20-2020

4 Comments

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     Here we are, on the cusp of the new decade and on the verge of changes that are bigger than humanity.  It's now summer, or is it?  What does summer mean now?  Is it marked by the weather, the light, the sun moon and stars?  Or is summer delineated by what we, as a human culture, do during this time of year?  
       Well, on the 20th or thereabouts, I'll do what I've always done.  I'll find a little corner of the natural world and just sit there, listening and smelling and feeling and tasting and touching things wild and free.   And I'll send a prayer out on the breezes (or perhaps on the strong winds) that nature as we know it will always survive.
         Then I'll sing a few songs, write another poem or two about the mountains and rivers and lakes and seas and deserts, and move forward into this ever-changing world of ours.
          But I must remember always that my entire life is but a flicker of light on the wings of a bee in comparison to the grand scheme of things.  All of humanity actually is just a speck of dust compared to the size and scope of the natural world as we know it and the universe as a whole.
          When I consider this, gazing at the waning crescent of the moon as it moves in front of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and makes me feel small and shows me just how far away they all are-- when I consider this, I know that nature will survive, and all that has been lost at the hands of human impact will return, will flourish, will be as if mankind never walked the earth.  It just will take some time . . .
          Meanwhile I continue to recharge and to create as much beauty and balance as possible.  I also watch for those interstices where the calm, clear, cool mornings settle for an ephemeral moment and the lake turns to glass.  There you'll find me, gliding freely and silently across the water in a long, slender kayak being one with the world around.

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4 Comments
Taylor Palmatier
8/29/2021 06:36:10 pm

Reading towards the end of August as summer comes to and end makes me sad as we will not be able to enjoy the the feelings of that splendid season as mentioned in this short essay. Nevertheless, I love your material. Thank you for posting! :)

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Cameron N link
9/8/2021 04:39:52 am

This is a greatt blog

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Anthony Cheng
9/20/2021 07:45:21 am

Thank you for your reminder to experience the small moments in these times of turbulence and change.

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Tyler Liddiard
5/17/2023 02:02:47 pm

This post is a wonderful reminder of the everchanging environment around us and the power of nature. As we approach the summer solstice this year I appreciate the extra long sunlight hours, the warm air, and the blooming flowers. I enjoyed reading your post.

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    Mark Doherty is a writer/poet, storyteller, outdoorsman, and career English teacher.

    Links to audio recordings of Mark's lyrical poetry:

    Whitewater Eyes https://youtu.be/qd0rsmzC5fg  

    Moenkopi Memories https://youtu.be/c_Kq4FQYFKk

    Look for more coming soon!

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    Upcoming Publications:
    will come out in August, 2020 via  

    Current  Publications:

    Creative Nonfiction (Book Length)  
    Creativity, Teaching and Natural Inspiration   published by Unsolicited Press.

    Poetry Chapbook
    Walking Natural Pathways published by Unsolicited Press.
    http://www.unsolicitedpress.com/ (June, 2018)
    "Seasonal Sonnets"
    http://classicalpoets.org/category/poetry/  (March 20, 2018)

    CREATIVE NONFICTION (Short works)
    "The Singing Rainbow, An Unforgettable Event for a Working Folk Musician"
        
    http://www.dmd27.org/CLA.html  (18:2 August 2017)  and in
          River Poets Journal Vol 11 Issue 2  (2017)

    "Power Out One Night at the Outlaw Saloon"
        
    http://www.dmd27.org/CLA.html  (18:3 December 2017)

    ESSAYS (Academic)
    "The Adverb Surfaces in Poetic Prose and Intimates in Dramatic Dialogue" 
        
    http://www.dmd27.org/CLA.html  (18:2 August 2017)
    "The Evolving Storm of Science as Captured in English Verse" 

         http://www.dmd27.org/CLA.html  (18:3 December 2017)
    "The Power of Tides, The Impulses of Mankind, A Marxist and Cultural Materialist View of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness"
         Pennsylvania Literary Journal (Vol IX, Issue 2)  Summer 2017



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  • Blog
  • More Stories and Essays Mark has Published
  • Some Unique Sonnets