Posts Tagged ‘Poetry’

Poetry Friday: Poetry Gifts

It is good to be back with the Poetry Friday community. I took the summer off to soak up time with my daughter before she moved to Birmingham, Alabama, for graduate school last weekend. We also had a friend of hers, an international student from her college, stay with us through the pandemic. He headed off to Texas for graduate school, too, and the house is very quiet this week.

I am grateful for Tabatha Yeatts for organizing the summer poetry swap. I have enjoyed seeing the swaps and taking part for the first time last summer. When I signed up for this summer, I had no idea how much I would need and appreciate the gifts of poetry. Thank  you, Tabatha, for giving me the commitment to write poetry for someone this summer. And thank you to Iphigene and Tabatha for your gifts of poetry.

It is amazing that both poetry gifts focused on birds–how did they know how much I have enjoyed watching and listening to the birds around our house, especially on the morning walks with my daughter. First, I received this wisdom from Tabatha:

And then Iphigene send more birds winging my way with her sketches and poem:

OnWhyBirdsMatter

Click the link above for more beautiful sketches that illustrate the poem.

A Yellow Vented Bulbul

A Large Billed Philippine  Crow

What birds have flown across your path this summer?

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Lauta hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Writing the World for Kids.She shares a playful poem about a puffer fish and offers warm encouragement to poets . Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.

Poetry Friday and NPM: Kittens

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Michelle Kogan at Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting and Writing. She wraps up our poem in style!

I made it–a poem published every day for April, otherwise known as National Poetry Month. Today’s poem comes from a surprise I found outside the back door this afternoon. When we moved into our new home last year, we learned that the house comes with a collection of barn cats. I’ve been slowly catching them and getting them to the vet, but my daughter and I were excited to see one of the cats growing larger and larger. We saw evidence that she gave birth, but no sign of any kittens. Then the second cat may have bee growing fatter, and the flatter, but it was hard to tell for sure. This kitty is the most skittish of them all. Then this afternoon, I saw this tucked between the heat pump and the side of the house. I’m trying to keep my distance since this mamma kitty deserted last year’s kittens. But aren’t they cute?

eyes still shut tight
new kittens in last year’s leaves
nestle together

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 29: Book Skinny (from the image angel in poemcrazy)
Day 28: Dream Refuge (from the center of the house in poemcrazy)
Day 27: Open Hearts (from open the window in poemcrazy and Jane Goodall)
Day 26: Recipe for a Hike (from Irene Latham’s interview with Marilyn Singer)
Day 25: Lessons from a Pond (again from I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 24: Geese haiku (from my pond)
Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Liz hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Elizabeth Steinglass. She offers a video with poems and activities from her book SOCCERVERSE. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.

NPM: A book skinny

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Fan Haley at lil bits and pieces.

I’m trying another prompt in poemcrazy today. This practice invites me to consider image angels–any object that I see and that might have a message for me. Since I am getting tired, my gaze didn’t wander far–to the low bookshelves that line the wall in front of me. Here is an attempt at a skinny.

A Book Skinny

on low shelves filled with stories
books
open
new
worlds
books
hold
old
friends
books
filled with stories on low shelves

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 28: Dream Refuge (from the center of the house in poemcrazy)
Day 27: Open Hearts (from open the window in poemcrazy and Jane Goodall)
Day 26: Recipe for a Hike (from Irene Latham’s interview with Marilyn Singer)
Day 25: Lessons from a Pond (again from I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 24: Geese haiku (from my pond)
Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

NPM: Dream Refuge

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Jessica Big over at Donna’ blog, Mainely Write.

I’m trying another prompt in poemcrazy today. This practice invites me to write about the center of my childhood home. Not the physical center, but my center. My first thought was my bedroom, but another place – not even inside the house — called to me instead. Many days that were even somewhat warm and sunny would find me in my favorite refuge and escape–the pine tree in the corner of the yard. As the weather warms up, I think I need to find another tree to climb.

Dream Refuge

I
climb branch
after branch
to the top of
the pine tree. Fingers
sticky with sap, I wedge
myself against the rough bark.
I sway with the whisper of wind
through green needles and enter my dreams.

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 27: Open Hearts (from open the window in poemcrazy and Jane Goodall)
Day 26: Recipe for a Hike (from Irene Latham’s interview with Marilyn Singer)
Day 25: Lessons from a Pond (again from I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 24: Geese haiku (from my pond)
Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

NPM: Open Hearts

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge.

One tradition we’ve started during this time of quarantine is Sunday night movie night. We grab a plate (or bowl) for supper and settle in on the couches to watch a movie together. Last night we watched the new documentary from National Geographic on Jane Goodall: The Hope. I’ve been a huge fan of hers since she spoke at my college almost 30 years ago Yes, I spend much of documentary saying things like, “Isn’t she amazing?” f you can catch the documentary, it is well worth your time.

One line from her in particular crept in and wouldn’t let go. When she met and worked with people that some would have considered “enemies,” she explained that you couldn’t convince people through confrontation. You had to reach their heart. That idea of reaching someone’s heart combined with a practice from poemcrazy that invited me to pay attention to areas of your life that need to find their voice. Here is what came out.

Open Hearts

Even before
we retreated
to our homes
to shelter in place,
we had withdrawn
to our entrenched
positions,
unwilling
to open our minds
or open our heart
to those people-
delorables or elites–
who refused
to see the light.
When we emerge
into a world
that won’t go
back to normal,
let us unclench
the fists we shake
and extend
an open hand
to our neighbors
and search for ways
to reach
each others’
hearts.

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 26: Recipe for a Hike (from Irene Latham’s interview with Marilyn Singer)
Day 25: Lessons from a Pond (again from I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 24: Geese haiku (from my pond)
Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

NPM: Recipe for a Hike

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Dani Burtsfield at Doing the Work That Matters.

I found today’s inspiration from Irene Latham at Live Your Poem. On Friday, she shared an interview with Marilyn Singer about her new book, Follow the Recipe: Poems about Imagination, Celebration, and Cake (Dial, 2020). Not only does this book look delightful, but Irene also invited us to write our own recipe poems. She did, too!).

Recipe for a Hike

With step after step
in sturdy boots

follow a winding trail
over rocks and roots.

Explore ferns and flowers
and chattering birds.

Listen closely to a
song without words.

Wander beneath
the towering trees

and lift your face
to feel the breeze

as you drink deep
from nature’s peace.

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 25: Lessons from a Pond (again from I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 24: Geese haiku (from my pond)
Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

NPM: Lessons from a Pond

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Amy at The Poem Farm.

I’ve gone back to a previous prompt in poemcrazy. I also wrote  from this prompt on Day 18 with “Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond.” My conversation with the pond outside our windows had more to teach me. This poem is getting closer, but I suspect I may come back to it again.

Lessons from a Pond

When some one throws
a stone into your life,
let the ripples spread.
Don’t hang on to the distortions
that reflect reality
like a fun house mirror.
Let them ripple
across the surface
and trust that smooth
waters will come again.

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 24: Geese haiku (from my pond)
Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

NPM and Poetry Friday: geese haiku

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Christine Wyman at Wondering and Wandering.

I can tell it’s getting toward the end of the month–will I make it with a poem every day? I’m almost there. I turned to my pond for today’s inspiration with some of its frequent visitors. This haiku is just tickling around the edges of a poem idea that isn’t quite gelling yet. That may mean there will be lots of poems (at least drafts) before I’m done with the idea.

geese land on the pond
spreading ripples behind them
smooth waters return

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 23: Blueberries (from skin spinoff in poemcrazy)
Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Christine hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Wondering and Wondering. She has a new line (or two) for the Progressive Poem and another poem inspired by a quote  from Thoreau’s journals. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.

NPM: Blueberries

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town.

I’m back with another exercise from poemcrazy–to pick a word and just write whatever comes to mind. I opted to choose a color this time: blue, which led me to blueberries and a zeno.

Blueberries

when summer sun bakes sticky days
blueberries grow
plump and
sweet
tempting me to
pick and
eat
nature’s perfect
juicy
treat

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 22: Promise (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

NPM: Promise

Welcome to April and National Poetry Month. I plan to write a new poem every day for the month of April. For much of the month I hope to explore prompts in poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, but I make no promises not to find inspiration in other places. If you want to join in even more poetry fun and shenanigans check out the 2020 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup hosted by Jama over at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. And for the first time (for me) I am taking part in the Progressive Poem organized by Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. Check out the daily progress with the list of contributors on the right (scroll down). .You can find today’s line from Julieanne Harmatz at To Read, To Write, To Be.

For National Poetry Month, Michelle Heidenrich Barnes has offered an in-depth look at My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry and Speaking Your Truth by Patrice Vecchione. Each week she is sharing a challenge from the third section of the book. This week’s challenge is to write a poem that describes the future.

I don’t see clearly very far into the future other that to think it will be different from what came before, but I do see glimmers of hope that we can build a better future together. Today as I worked and sat outside, the new leaves on the trees captured my attention. They were that perfect shade of “Nature’s first green is gold” that Robert Frost captured in “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” (Thank you Johnny and Ponyboy for imprinting that poem in my heart.)

Promise

After winter scrubs
the branches bare,
newly unfolded leaves
gleam golden green
against an azure sky
and flutter
with the promise
of summer’s
lush abundance.

After these trials
scrub bare our lives,
what new hopes
might flutter
within our hearts
with the promise
of community?

If you want to see the rest of National Poetry Month poems, here they are:

Day 21: Found Haiku
Day 20: Ball of Yarn (from bring me magic in poemcrazy)
Day 19: Liminal (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 18: Where I’m From: A Poem from a Pond (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject and I dress myself with rain in poemcrazy)
Day 17: Transformation (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 16: Follow My Nose (from poems and the body in poemcrazy)
Day 15: A Story Lost (DMC from Today’s Little Ditty)
Day 14: Water’s Smooch (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 13: Hope (from lying to tell the truth in poemcrazy and Emily Dickinson)
Day 12: My Sign (from my daily walk)
Day 11: Stitches (from from my grandmother in poemcrazy)
Day 10: These Hands (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)
Day 9: I’m From (from where do you come from in  poemcrazy)
Day 8: Peaceful Porch (from Plum Nelly poemcrazy)
Day 7: I Am (from full moon me in poemcrazy)
Day 6: Progressive Poem
Day 5: Small Celebrations (from on a night picnic in poemcrazy)
Day 4: A Water Limerick (from Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject)
Day 3: our real names (from our real names in poemcrazy)
Day 2: Star Burst (from naming wild hippo in poemcrazy)
Day 1: Pandemic (DMC from Today’s Little Diitty)

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