15 Comments
User's avatar
Julie Schmidt's avatar

"Please stay!" YES, stay true, stay real, stay authentic, stay... right... here. Loved these pics! Went so well with your words. 💜

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

Thank you Julie! I’m so grateful to the Substack community for letting me try new things like this. I really appreciate you reading and commenting. I hope you have an amazing week!

Expand full comment
Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Yes, please stay. I love you. Thank you for sharing your words, images, and heart. with heart, Prajna

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

Wow Prajna, thank you so much. You are such a kind and wonderful soul. Thank you for being here and commenting. I am so glad to know you. Love, dreary 🩶

Expand full comment
Prajna O'Hara's avatar

it’s mutual my new friend

💙🌹💙

Expand full comment
SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Thank you for creating and sharing this - your words and images as well as your inspirations. Many people are feeling the pull of the swamp right now. I am sorry you had a rough week, but I’m so glad you are here - writing and helping all of us stay on the path, out in the sun.

I’m also glad you included the video of that song. I’ve heard it 1 million times on TikTok, of course, but had never listened to the whole thing. Boy does it hit different.

Here’s to the things that draw us away from the swamp so we can dance under the open sky.

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

Thank you Jamie! I think it’s a love song but it’s always had a different connotation to me. Thank you for this beautiful comment, you always have the best way with words.

Expand full comment
rena's avatar

Remarkable... and loved your reading. The photos are extraordinary. Staying to gaze on them again 🌻

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

thank you Rena! You are always so incredibly kind. I hope you are having a terrific day. Thank you for commenting.

Expand full comment
Sarah Myles's avatar

Beautiful.

And that last image...just gorgeous.

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

Thank you so much, Sarah! I really appreciate you.

Expand full comment
Amanda Royal's avatar

dreary, omg, dreary, this is is so. friggin. excellent

I know you pulled this from the treasure chest

the rhythm, the word choices, the images, and, like Robin says below, you take us on a journey

and, yes, let's all hang on and stay, because things always change again. they always do

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

Wow. Thank you so much, Amanda. You made my night. 🥹 I have been wanting to write about monsters and creatures from the deep for a long time. I just love how you always bring hope and encouragement to the conversation. You are an incredible human and friend. Thank you

Expand full comment
Robin Blackburn McBride's avatar

I love, LOVE "the swirling decomp." Great, eerie combination of photos and stanzas. I felt like I was travelling through the swamp as I read this.

Expand full comment
Lyns McCracken's avatar

Thank you, Robin! That is so awesome to hear. You know I am just getting started on my poetry journey. And I know that they rarely have to rhyme but I found it to be a very fun intriguing puzzle to solve. I am sincerely hoping there are no rules to poetry but equally looking forward to learning them if there are. Can’t wait to read your book. 😍

Expand full comment