Little Lake Sunapee The Summer of ‘22 Gently cloaked by morning mist Wisps of white float upward To the warming sun They swirl, dancing on the surface Leaving shimmering ripples to move across the lake The mist bellows as surface water evaporates Into the cool autumn like air Nearly obscuring the distant shore. Little Sunapee is releasing some of the heat It courageously absorbed Over the course of the Summer of ‘22 The outcroppings of orange and red Flame amongst the tree lined shore Announcing the coming of fall The marinas are coming daily now To tow away the toys of summer People stop by to say, “See you next summer” As they journey south once again. But Little Sunapee remains The healing, baptismal waters Stalwartly fill the lake’s crater Teeming with life within, atop and beside. The snappers will dive deep With the fish who have survived the hunting efforts of The eagles, mergansers, loons And patient fishermen. The loons are still calling But they shall be departing soon For waters which will not freeze The Common Merganser babies continue to glide In their trio They, too, will be venturing to more swiftly flowing unfrozen waters. Three still alive I recall the day when one nearly Became lunch for resident eagle I watched breathlessly as the majestic bird Swooped down from his hunting perch High atop a pine on distant shore Common Merganser youth Floating peacefully in the boat launch all morning Though facing shore She somehow sensed Danger She flew mere inches above the water Likely, her maiden flight Making it to a protected area Safe from the hungry raptor! Life of Little Lake Sunapee The circle of life goes round As the lake offers life to all. The faces of the athletes Arriving to go on the lake With their instructors from NEHSA* Pure, unleashed joy Expressed so magnificently By the young man who had no words But his smile radiated into his eyes And his hands and arms reached out In unbridled happy movements Expressing the joy of his heart People, unable to move lower limbs, Lifted into kayaks To be cradled In the healing waters Of Little Sunapee The man with barely any use Of the left side of his body Propelling his kayak through the water With adaptive equipment Even with his head bent down His smile could be seen Then, as she helped him from the kayak His instructor offered him a swim The day, sweltering in oppressive 90’s The gentleman expressed doubt in his ability But trusted the generous guide Lifejacket intact He moved himself, floating atop the water Free, unencumbered No canes, no brace Freely moving In the healing waters Of Little Lake Sunapee The foursome arriving from VT Hassled, harried Snapping at each other They pushed through their edges And launched their kayaks Faces grim, angry even As they entered the waters Without seeing the welcome Two hours later, They emerged Faces transformed Laughing, joking Filled with the fresh air of nature Speaking of the loons, The wind, and the fun. Healed by the lake. The pregnant woman Carefully watching James and Charles As they delighted in paddling at water’s edge Never tiring of their play Returning another day With new baby sister Sleeping, snugly cocooned upon mom’s chest The boys entering with glee once again As new life comes to the welcoming waters Of the Little Lake Early summer adventures As Momma Merganser Tried to teach babies how to scale the wall and enter the lake How did they know after trying for half an hour, How did they know To enter the woods and walk around the little waterfall How did they know And what gave them the persistence to keep trying for so long Despite knowing there was an easier way? The haunting, compelling call of the loons Their beauty They call Little Sunapee one of their summer homes And such loved residents they are. The dogs, oh the dogs! Zoey, who danced circles of joy From car to water So excited every time she came To enter the magical waters The shepherd, Jada Gathering rocks Over and over Bigger and bigger Day after day Shamus Too cool to dance Making a beeline Needing to cool her fur covered body Going straight into the soothing waters Without so much as a “How do you do?” So many lives enriched So much life nourished Untold healing Happened at the waters of Little Lake Sunapee The Summer of ‘22 What an honor What a privilege it has been To stand witness To a tiny portion Of the life-giving waters Of this beautiful lake. May we all work To keep her healthy To grant her continued life As she continues ever to give life to all! Pat O’Connor *New England Healing Sports Association
Crumbs for the Journey 