Moments in the Park
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Appreciation

The phrase Moments in the Park was originally used to describe short prose poems inspired by observations on walks through Horton Park and other outdoor spaces. Throughout 2016, I crafted Moments in the Park as a daily practice. I have continued to write Moments in the Park, just not as frequently as that first year.
Here you will find the prose poems as well as expansions telling the story of the inspiration, reflecting on a related theme, or digging deeper into learning about the subject.
I also hope that you will be inspired to create your own Moments in the Park, in words, images, sound, or whatever medium suits you. If you would like to share your creations, I would be happy to post them!
Share Your Moments

Moment: June 3, 2018, 7:45 a.m.

6/3/2018

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As though harboring a host of phantom squirrels, white pine branches bounce and quiver in a gusty wind.
Horton Park
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Moment: December 5, 2017, 6:15 a.m.

12/5/2017

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Blustery wind propels a puff of cloud across the moon. The cloud seems so delicate that the cold light of the moon burns it away, and it drifts off in wisps like smoke from a snuffed candle.
Horton Park

The graph of temperatures here from late last week through Tuesday morning would look remarkably like the first part of a rollercoaster. Last week was unseasonably warm, with high temperatures in the forties and even fifties. At 6:30 Monday morning it was already 50 degrees, and I eschewed even a fleece pullover for my bike ride into work. We crested the initial rise of the rollercoaster Monday afternoon, with a high approaching 60. Then we hurtled down the steep drop on the other side. By 6:30 Tuesday morning, the temperature was 16 degrees.

Unsurprisingly, the cold front brought a wave of precipitation that started as rain and changed to snow. The resulting icy, crusty conglomeration made for treacherous footing. Sculpted by the wind, it also made interesting stucco-like textures on the sidewalks. For much of our morning walk, I kept my eyes on the ground. But crossing Horton Park, I looked up and paused to watch a cloud blow across the nearly-full bright moon.
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Moment: November 21, 2017, 7:00 a.m.

11/23/2017

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A gusty wind breathes new life into fallen leaves. Reanimated, they rush and tumble down the sidewalk.
Hamline Ave.
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Moment: November 15, 2017, 6:30 a.m.

11/15/2017

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Caressed by a tender breeze,  white pines ripple with pleasure.
Horton Park
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Moment: October 4, 2017, 6:45 a.m.

10/7/2017

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Branches shiver and bounce, and the cold hand of winter presses on my chest as I walk into the wind.
Englewood Avenue
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Moment: September 4, 2017, 3:00 p.m.

9/4/2017

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Labor Day, the unofficial "end of summer" was a perfect, sun-drenched afternoon. So the girls and I grabbed a box of sidewalk chalk and headed over to the park.
Sun-splashed leaves sparkle like my six year-old’s silver glitter shoes, while wind whispers ripples through the grass, chasing my three year-old across the lawn.
Horton Park
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Moment Memory: March 16, 2016

3/16/2017

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Picture
Horton Park
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Moment: March 7, 5:15 p.m.

3/7/2017

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Blustery wind sends last year's leaves tumbling down the street, bouncing, whirling, dancing, giddy like children released from the last day of school.

Minnehaha Ave.
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Moments: February 9, 2017, 6:30 a.m.

2/9/2017

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A crystalline morning scrubbed clean by cold, like pioneers used to scrub pots with snow.
Icy wind carves awareness of every contour of my face.
Stars sparkle overhead, but the heat of their distant fires does not reach the treetops.  
Dawn rejoices, spreading a pristine cerulean glow across the sky.

Horton Park
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Moment: January 25, 2017, 6:00 a.m.

1/25/2017

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Wind curling around the corner of the hi-rise creates a phantom waterfall as it rushes through a stand of firs. A crashing roar flows through the branches, and foamy mist swirls across the ground.

Hamline Hi-Rise
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    Picture

    Tracy Kugler

    Finding nature's beauty close to home.

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