“Children with sailboats at Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial in background, Washington, D.C.,” in the 1920s. Photographer unknown, part of the National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Unfortunately, these little boats would be swamped today, as Washington is in the grip of tropical storm Andrea.
Thunder blossoms gorgeously above our heads,
Great, hollow, bell-like flowers,
Rumbling in the wind,
Stretching clappers to strike our ears . . .
Full-lipped flowers
Bitten by the sun
Bleeding rain
Dripping rain like golden honey—
And the sweet earth flying from the thunder.— Jean Toomer, “Storm Ending“
enclos*ure 
Timeless. There is something about a black and white photograph that adds an element of ‘vintage’. I dabble in photography myself; studied the history of it in college before it was considered an academic subject; and worked as the expert assistant at a major auction house selling Fine Art photographs. I have spent a lot of time taking, thinking and handling photographs. Above all, black and white remains my favorite.
This one is a beauty. I wonder if it’s still allowed to float little sailboats in the Reflecting Pool?
I was wondering the same thing, if sailboats are still allowed to sail in the Reflecting Pool. I have my doubts that they are, but I hope that they are.