by Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

Lounging Around

Photo by olia-danlevi from Pexels

Lounging Around

Stretched out on green grass,

finding pictures in the clouds

and four-leaf clovers.

Supine in the snow,

arms and legs stretching outward.

Sculpting snow angels.

Photo by Vlad from Pexels

Sprawling on the rug,

playing with a new puppy.

Wiggles and wet kisses.

Lounging on the beach…

eating ice cream, feeding gulls,

talking, holding hands.

Photo by tima-moroshi from Pexels

Sleeping warm in bed,

snuggled under the covers,

alarm set for six.

Lolling on the couch,

old movies, buttered popcorn.

Relaxation mode.

Photo by Cottonbro from Pexels

Soaking in the tub,

warm bubble bath, soft music.

Children fast asleep.

Bedded in a tent,

cricket songs and coyotes.

Camping with the kids.

Photo by patrick-hendry from Unsplash

Dozing in a hammock,

taking an overdue nap.

Smell of fresh-cut grass.

Loafing on the chaise,

watching grandchildren playing.

Iced tea with lemon.

Photo by Barbara Webb from Pexels

Copyright© 2021 by Cheryl Batavia

82 Comments

  3. So soothing and comforting… and your words are putting positives thoughts into my restful day… yep.. I’ll venture out and have a coffee and cake… and a walk in todays lovely sunshine, it’s a warm 30’C and just perfect…😀💚🌏🌞

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Narayan, I have worked extremely hard all my life. Now, in retirement, I find I am still pretty driven and not very good at “lounging around.”

      During the stressful time after the mob attacked our Capitol, I wrote this poem as an antidote to that stress. I tried to describe the ways people relax during the different stages of their lives. As you said, I enjoy nature and relax by walking and swimming.

      What do you do to relax? 🙂

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      1. This is so beautiful and heartfelt Cheryl, had i been there, i would have asked you to sit/relax a little more and made you a cup of ginger tea.

        The poem was beautiful for that matter, because it had taken me to my times when i had spent months walking along the Bengal Sea.

        Younger me had many ways to chill rather relax but slowly as school came into being, Parents getting retired, i mostly relax by either walking for an hour or so, meditating, reading is a favourite resting time. I wish to swim; its a personal wish to have a pool someday.

        Yes, mostly this. As you know my life is around teaching, writing, filming- they majorly keep me relaxed.

        Thank you so much.
        Nara x

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Nara, Thank you for taking the time to tell me about how you relax. I like ginger tea…very good and a good tonic for so many things. I plan to take a little walk in the sunshine today. When the pandemic is over, I will return to the beach.

      Enjoying your work is such an important component of happiness! Knowing that you are helping others and making the world a better place also contributes greatly to happiness! With the little I have learned about you, my guess is that you are a very happy man! 🙂

      I was very shaken by negative events here for the last four years. With the new administration, we seem to be moving in the right direction. Thank you for your empathy. ❤ Stay safe and be happy!

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      Reply

  13. I feel like starting from the childhood with lounging in grass and growing slowly and relaxing carelessly anywhere which feels cozy. I too need a puppy to snuggle and wet it with kisses. 😀
    Lovely poem.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. You are the first person to mention the age progression of the activities, Kritika. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. ❤ Hope you get a puppy sometime soon! I always enjoyed pets, but now we have allergies, so we watch animal videos. Means a lot to me that you liked the poem. Have a spectacular day! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thank you, David, for sharing your thoughts. ❤ You are very lucky to have your daughter near enough to share good times together. I am thankful for frequent emails and phone calls with my three children, who all live pretty far away. Let the good times roll! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you for such a kind comment. ❤ I am glad you enjoyed the poem and found it comforting. I wrote it as an antidote to the stress I was feeling over the insurrection in Washington., DC. It looks like we now are moving in the right direction! 🙂 Have a great day!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. My pleasure!
        We don’t necessarily have grass that needs to be mowed where I live so I don’t, but we have a field at school where it’s mowed regularly, it makes the morning air all the more refreshing.
        I agree! I’m good, hope you are too! ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  25. Thank you for recounting all these beautiful moments of relaxation Cheryl, in a beautiful relaxing poem. You have almost drawn a ” circle of life” here, of how one starts so carefree as a child, devoid of any responsibilities, free to indulge in relaxation whenever one wants to. The lying on back, watching clouds is so nostalgic, and I don’t think there is anyone amongst of who didn’t do that.
    As we grow up, our time slowly remains not only our time. And your poem shows how we wait till the others on our life are lounging (or asleep 🙂) before we can gift ourselves that private moment which is so well deserved even when one knits a family together, and the others are so dependent on you NOT lounging!
    And hopefully the circle comes round to the beginning when you can have some pleasurable time back for yourself, lounging on a couch, free to watch the grandchildren play while enjoying your favourite honey lemon tea. Afterall you dispensed your duties well, and are entitled to some private lounging time, unconditionally!
    Overall it made for very pleasant reading 💖, very soothing and relaxing in nostalgia of some relaxing moment which have gone past, some being lived at present (like waking up early on a Sunday morning to gift yourself some time, as I am doing right now 🙂), and waiting for the future moments yet to come in life.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful perspective, Deb. ❤ I like your idea of a "circle of life" of relaxation. You have expressed so well what it is like to have increasing responsibilities and decreasing opportunities for relaxation. Thank you for spending some of your quiet time responding to my post. It is deeply appreciated. Have a wonderful week ahead. ❤ ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. It’s time very well invested Cheryl 💖 I really learn so much from your writings, and was trying to save up the time for reading 🙂
        Hope things are all good on your side, and wish you a very happy week ahead too, filled with lots of happy longing time 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      1. I know a few people experiencing this problem. No, I did not have to follow you again today, but for some reason, your posts don’t register on my page.
        I am going manual 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  32. This poem is beautiful, it feels like you did this from different age perspectives and what its like to lounge around and relax throughout life. I have really enjoyed reading this and I love your ending about watching grandchildren playing as that must be such a pleasurable and give moments to treasure while calming down in life. I have seen it on the faces of my own children’s grandparents. Thank you

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