The Dear Old Camp I Know

a little heart hymn

give me clean hands clean
words clean thoughts. open my eyes—
green cabins, green trees
white clouds white candles white birch
blue jacket blue lake blue skies

—dotty seiter

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Notes about poem and art:
• “a little” is a Takodah tanka to wrap up camp for this summer, holding words from the morning prayer recited every day at camp and holding the colors and simplicities of Takodah that I have tucked in my heart at all times.
• The first two photos above show summer 2026’s living work in progress at the stage where Caroline had received three paper tiles at camp and displayed them on the cabin wall beside her bed, a fourth was in the mail room at camp, a fifth was in the hands of the USPS somewhere between my home and Takodah, and the remaining three sat in eager readiness at my home awaiting their turn to travel. All nine tiles have now made it safely to Virginia where Caroline has them displayed on the wall in her room at home (third photo). Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here!



14 responses to “The Dear Old Camp I Know”

  1. What a beautiful ode to your camp…. The colors could be the basis of a palette for a new painting. Maybe an additional flower color to perk it all up.

    Bravo to Caroline for displaying your work!

    Today I have to log in!

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    1. Carol, thanks for appreciating my little ode to camp. And thanks for the nudge to perhaps use the colors as the basis of a palette for a new painting!

      Caroline has last year’s camp mail paintings from me on the wall to one side of her corkboard, this years paintings on the opposite side : )

      WHAT is the deal w/ sign-in nonsense?!! Have you asked AI for elucidation? In any case, thank you for making the effort. Much appreciated.

      Like

  2. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ !

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  3. and so grow ❤️  😉

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  4. Joyful Puttering Avatar
    Joyful Puttering

    There’s nothing quite like a camp song…or prayer in this case. What a special place to hold into your heart. And I LOVE seeing some of the tiles on Caroline’s cabin wall…and all finally all together in her room at home.

    A heartfelt journey from start to finish!

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    1. MaryAnn, thank you! Indeed, this summer’s watercolor paper tiles turned out to be a heartfelt and happy journey from start to finish. Thank you for seeing my little heart hymn for the little heart prayer it is. My maternal grandfather’s cousin ran Takodah for its first 50 years so, for my family, it’s the only camp there is! I first attended a summer session when I was nine : )

      Liked by 1 person

  5. what a great joy to see where the living work in progress landed! Love the poem, love the peek into camp life and for the gift of your blog sharing all of this with all of us. Love. xoxoxoxo

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    1. Thanks, Lola! I’ve really enjoyed the way my creative practice has unfolded thus far this summer, and I’m most happy to have had you along to enjoy the ride!

      xoxoxo

      Like

  6. 👏🎉👏🎉👏🎉👏🎉👏🎉

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  7. Thanks for cheering and celebrating, Sheila!

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  8. The love for art is handed from grandmother to granddaughter!

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    1. Simone, thank you for this sweet comment! I love sharing my art with Caroline in this way ❤️

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    1. Jane!!! CAMP!!!!! omg, so great to hear from you ❤️

      Indeed, the flags!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

      How ARE you?

      Like

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My Story

In 2014, I grab an unexpected opportunity to paint.

To make art.

I get hooked.

In 2015 I start a blog—a diary of my creative practice.

I post my paintings and their stories. The good, the bad, the ugly.

In 2025 I begin writing poetry and include a poem and painting in each post.

My compass points: shake hands with fear, be playful, get messy, trust my gut.

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