Back this past summer I wrote a snippet of verse (that you can read about here) in response to grief. At the time, I was too close to the loss to write more, but those few lines kept coming back whispering they had more to share. Here is what they have grown into.

Saying Goodbye

Our hearts will one day mend,
and our cries will all be heard
‘cause the grave is not the end
nor death the final word.

Now those we’ve loved and lost
will rise again one day.
On this our hope’s embossed
each and every time we pray.

When the archangel thunders
and God’s golden trumpet blasts,
there will be no more blunders
as we reunite at last.

Within an eternal scope
we will live in joy and hope.

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Jone Rush MacCulloch hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Deo Writer. She is spreading the word about GREAT MORNING–a poetry collection I’m looking forward to reading. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today. 

A couple of weeks ago Irene Latham issued an invitation to share octopus themed poetry and art to celebrate the debut of Love, Agnes – a picture book about a great Pacific octopus named Agnes who writes and receives post cards. It releases October 1 from Millbrook Press/Lerner.  Thea Baker provides the lovely illustrations.

Since I have admired poetry that is based on scientific or historical research (but have been a bit too intimidated to try writing myself), I took a deep breath and decided why not? I didn’t know much about octopuses (8 legs–or are they arms–with tentacles, squirt ink, shy creatures), but I did learn a lot about these fascinating creatures. I think I’ll pass on keeping one as a pet, though. Not only are they excellent escape artists, but they are also venomous–some (like the blue-ringed octopus) capable of killing multiple humans within minutes. Yikes!

Here’s my octopus poem:

Can’t Catch Me!

Ollie ollie oxen free –
I bet you’ll never catch me.

I can change how I am seen
by matching colors in my scene.

Ollie ollie oxen free –
Bet you cannot find me.

I can squirt a cloud of ink –
then jet off before you blink.

Ollie ollie oxen free –
Now you’ll never see me.

I can even shed an arm
to escape much further harm.

Ollie ollie oxen free –
You just thought you caught me.

I can grow a new arm now.
There’s no need to have a cow !

Ollie ollie oxen free –
That’s a trick you seldom see.

If by chance you grab me tight,
watch out for my deadly bite.

Ollie ollie oxen free –
you mustn’t ever catch me.

I can even build a den
with the rocks I lift again.

Ollie ollie oxen free –
I bet you’ll never catch me.

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Erin hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at  The Water’s Edge. She shares a “Where I’m From” poem. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today. 

When I was looking for my “Where I’m From” poem to share a few weeks ago, I came across this poem I had written in a workshop with Ralph Fletcher. (You can read about the lesson here.) Here it is:

Those Were the Days

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Amy Ludwig VanDerwater hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at The Poem Farm. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today. 

A few weeks ago Mary Lee Hahn shared a blitz poem. (Click here to read more about the form.) At the time I was writing about listening to jazz at Preservation Hall, and I thought the freewheeling nature of this form complemented the subject of jazz. I started a blitz poem using music and jazz terms with the help of several online jazz dictionaries. I kept working on it over the past few weeks. I’m not sure how well it all hangs together, but it was fun to try!

RIFF on PLAY

Play a lick
play a riff
riff some notes
riff a line
line of music
line of melody
melody to follow
melody to harmonize
harmonize some chords
harmonize the changes
changes from the top
changes on tap
tap your feet
tap a beat
beat a drum
beat in time
time to jive
time to jam
jam session
jam with cats
cats in the pocket
cats on the front line
line up some gigs
line up a tune
tune your horns
tune that bass
bass line pedal
bass like walking
walking bass
walking on
on the chart
on the double
double up
double time feel
feel your chops
feel it blow
blow your horn
blow your top
top of the line
top it off
off line
off key
key changes
key signs
signs of the times
signs to play
play it again
play by ear
ear
again

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Carol Varsalona hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Beyond Literacy Link. She gives a sneak peak of #The Art of Summering Global Gallery. Check out the gorgeous art and words for inspiration to create your own!.  Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.