And once again the world shifts and changes moment by moment. Maybe it always has, but the speed seems to be in overdrive these days. I have one of my Lenten poems to share that seems to fit this week especially. Then I have a special guest.
LISTEN
Fear spreads
as rumors fly.
Competing voices
clamor for our eye.
In the middle
of these cries
listen closely
for God’s sighs.
Now for my special guest. I am heartbroken for my daughter (and all the other seniors) who did not plan to spend the end of their senior year adjusting to online classes and missing out on all the traditions that senior year brings. I am glad, though, to have her and one of her friends tucked safely into our home while a pandemic rages across the globe. Even though I can’t stop the virus from encroaching, I feel better having her close. And let me tell you how impressed am with these two young adults. Even though their plans have been shaken and thrown about, they have not complained. Instead they take each day as it comes and make the best of it. Living out in the country has many advantages (social distancing is quite easy), but fast Internet is not one of them. I an in awe at the resourcefulness they have shown to make things work. I am hopeful for our future with young adults like these.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to offer this biochemistry major much help with her school work, but this semester I’m back on as she is taking a creative writing course to fulfill a gen ed requirement. And my poet-mother heart beats a little faster when she often turns to poetry for her assignments. She shared this one with me, and I asked to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it
Yellow Blooms
“Aisle seven,” she said,
“Between the orchids and the
Carnations, if you’re not careful and you
Don’t look closely, you’ll miss it.
Every other one we had has died.” But now it’s
Far from dead, with new blossoms
Growing each day, and bringing new life into our
Home. At a passing glance, you might mistake it as
Idle, but closer inspection leads to a different conclusion.
Just beneath the tallest yellow bloom, so close they could be
Kissing, rests a bright red
Ladybug, the kind that could have
Moved into an Eric Carlson picture book,
Next to everyone’s favorite caterpillar,
Or maybe instead the flowers will join Georgia O’Keeffe’s next
Painting, waiting against the backdrop of a black and
Quiet night, yellow blossoms keeping watch while we
Rest, and dream of days filled with friends, laughter, and
Sunshine, days we hope will still return
To us, as our days fill with angst,
Unrest and worry, as news anchors tell us of the dismal turn in the
Value of the stock market, and the New York Times reminds us to
Worry about if we’ll even have an election this year, and that
Xenophobic people still surround us with their hate, but through it all, the
Yellow blossoms continue to thrive, expand, and grow with
Zest, they remind us all to persevere.
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Tabatha hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at The Opposite of Indifference. She offers a poem of acceptance for these days. Hurry over and check out all the poetry morsels offered up today.
Oh my… Very late to this party, but I’m so glad I didn’t miss it! I knew I’d find a gift on your blog, and I found two! The biochemistry major has a poet for a mum! #anditshows
Thanks, Kat. I’m one very proud mum over here!
Thanks for sharing your daughter’s poem, Kay. That zesty yellow travels through the lines. It’s the color of hope.
Thanks, Laura. That yellow is the color of hope
Oh my, your daughter’s poem is AMAZING and the words that we all need to read right now. The fact that it is an abecedarian is just icing on the cake. Yes, our young people are heroes. I love her last line: “they remind us all to persevere”. Thank you for sharing and be well. 🙂
Thanks, Bridget. She has enjoyed seeing the reactions–but is surprised people find it so hopeful.
Special, indeed! Thank you both for sharing your poems, and best wishes to these amazing seniors in this strange, surreal season (I didn’t catch the poem form at first, either – nicely done!)
Thanks, Robyn. I’m so glad my daughter agreed to share it. Best to you and yours through these days.
Two lovely poems today, Kay—both perfect for these anxiety-driven times! I didn’t even recognize your daughter’s poem as an abecedarian at first. (It flows so beautifully.) I have a senior in HS who is also sad about missing out. She has a wonderful guidance counselor, though, who assures them that they won’t be the “forgotten” class and they will, eventually, be recognized for their achievement. I sure hope so.
Thanks, Michelle. I didn’t catch it was an abecedarian either on my first reading of it. When I did, I was even more impressed with it. I hope your senior is able to to find moments to celebrate in this most unplanned ending to high school. I tell my two that one day kids will be coming to them to ask, “What was it like to live through this pandemic?” — much as I remember interviewing people who lived through the Great Depression or World War II in my history classes.
I am so grateful too for our young people. I have two sons. I love them so much. There is so much hope in your daughter’s poem, the yellow blossoms that remind us “all to persevere.”
Thanks, Janice. I am pretty impressed with this generation coming up. I hope you and yours are safe and well.
Oh, Kay that “listen for God’s sighs” is a beautiful ending to your poem, and hearing about your “guests” made me happy for you, although the reason is not a happy one. Good for your daughter and her friend for making lemonade out of their lemons. I wish them all the best celebrations as they end this year in very different ways than imagined. Finally, your daughter’s poem, a fabulous, back-at-you-world abecedarian, finding beauty no matter what. Thank her fo me, please.
Thanks, Linda. We are planning to celebrate their accomplishments here even though they will miss being with their friends. Hopefully they can make it back for the rescheduled graduation in September.
How marvelous and I see why you as a poet-mother are filled with pride and joy. Your bio-chemistry- major-daughter is ready to share her poetry love with all. Thanks for sharing her poem and your beautiful Lenten poem. It is easy to forget that we are in Lent right now, Kay. All the diocese churches are shutdown as is most of everything here in NY. Stay safe.
Thanks, Carol. I hope you and yours are staying safe and well. It has been a very strange Lent. Even though Indiana does not yet have the number of cases as NY, many things are shut down, including churches. We are looking for creative ways to reach out beyond our buidlings.
Thanks for sharing your daughter’s lovely poem — full of hope when we desperately need it. There is definitely something uplifting about yellow blossoms! And of course I swooned that it’s an abecedarian. 🙂
Thanks, Jama! Those blooms are full of hope, especially during these times.
Amazing abecedarian! I like the movement of the poem from the outside world, to a flower and ladybug close-up, back out again, and circling back to the blossoms.
Glad you all are together and well. My son is a senior also. Crazy time to graduate!
Thanks, Tabatha. I loved her poem and hoped others would enjoy it, too. Hang in there with your senior. It’s a tough, crazy tiime.
What a lovely, wonderful, hope-filled post. Your daughter’s poem is life affirming! Thank you for asking her to share and to her for sharing. I love those yellow blooms so much. And, I am thankful for people of faith that just live right now…live as neighbors as best they can in this time. I’m grateful for you.
Thanks, Linda. I’m even more grateful that I get to see those yellow blooms in my living room. She did bring back all her plants when she went back to grab things before they shut everyone out of campus buildings. I so appreciate your modeling of sharing sources on social media.