Sunday, April 19, 2015

Progressive Poem - Moving On

            The wonderful Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem, the creative idea of Irene Latham of Live Your Poem, began three years ago. It's both exciting and nerve-wracking to participate. Today it's my turn to add a line to the story filled already with adventure in the seemingly calm waters of a bayou. I must have written dozens of lines before I finally thought "done".  Here a young girl changes before our eyes, acquires a tail and adventures into the water, only to meet a lone fisherman. A connection of turquoise eyes has been noted, but yesterday Sheila left me to fill that fisherman's hands as the girl slips through them. I thought of the fish-quickness of a mermaid in the water, the trailing hair, smooth scales. Instead, I added a long-ago memory of the fisherman. . .




She lives without a net, walking along the alluvium of the delta.
Shoes swing over her shoulder, on her bare feet stick jeweled flecks of dark mica.

Hands faster than fish swing at the ends of bare brown arms. Her hair flows,
snows in wild wind as she digs in the indigo varnished handbag,

pulls out her grandmother's oval cuffed bracelet,
strokes the turquoise stones, and steps through the curved doorway.

Tripping on her tail she slips hair first down the slide... splash!
She glides past glossy water hyacinth to shimmer with a school of shad,

listens to the ibises roosting in the trees of the cypress swamp
an echo of Grandmother's words, still fresh in her windswept memory.

Born from the oyster, expect the pearl.  
Reach for the rainbow reflection on the smallest dewdrop.

The surface glistens, a shadow slips above her head, a paddle dips
she reaches, seizes. She’s electric energy and turquoise eyes.  

Lifted high, she gulps strange air - stares clearly into
Green pirogue, crawfish trap, startled fisherman

with turquoise eyes, twins of her own, riveted on her wrist–
She's swifter than a dolphin, slipping away, leaving him only a handful of


memories of his own grandmother’s counsel: Watch for her. You’ll have but one chance to

          Here's to the next step, Penny Klosterman!

2015 Kidlitosphere
Progressive Poem

1 Jone at Check it Out
5 Charles at Poetry Time Blog
7 Catherine at Catherine Johnson
8 Irene at Live Your Poem
9 Mary Lee at Poetrepository
10 Michelle at Today's Little Ditty
11 Kim at Flukeprints
12 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
13 Doraine at DoriReads
14 Renee at No Water River
17 Buffy at Buffy's Blog
18 Sheila at Sheila Renfro
19 Linda at Teacher Dance
21 Tara at A Teaching Life
23 Tamera at The Writer's Whimsy
26 Brian at Walk the Walk
27 Jan at Bookseedstudio
28 Amy at The Poem Farm
29 Donna at Mainely Write


Some of us are sharing on twitter with the hashtag #DigiPoetry, created by Margaret Simon, of Reflections on The Teche.You're welcome to join us. And be sure to find other Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.  



29 comments:

  1. Ooh, he has a wise grandmother, too! Nice line! Can't wait to see what's next.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth, there is a connection somewhere, at least to me.

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  2. So two grandmothers...or one? Land grandmothers or water? So many questions...
    Nice line!

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    1. You have the next to the end, Donna, wonder what will have happened by then? My thinking is similar to yours, but we'll have to wait and see, right? Thanks.

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  3. Love that your line brought the fisherman back, I was loathe to lose that twin set of turquoise eyes so quickly. It's delightful to watch the progression throughout the month.

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    1. I'm glad you like the possibilities, Ramona. We'll see what the next lines bring!

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  4. Oooh! you gave him a grandmother with wise words too! One chance to what?! I guess Penny will tell us.

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    1. My mind swirls with those connections, but what?

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  5. "Luka. I am your father." Haha! Okay, maybe it's just me, but I'm having visions of a family connection here. One chance... hope he doesn't blow it!

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    1. Hmm, Michelle, didn't know you were a Star Wars fan. It must be, but wonder if the full story will happen in only 11 lines? Thanks.

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  6. Yay--another wise grandmother. What was foretold??? Tune in tomorrow.....

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    1. I'll be up early for this next line from Penny. Perhaps it is the same grandmother?

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  7. I haven't seen the progressive poem since the first few lines. I love how it has progressed, and I love the connection of grandmothers and memories that connect in your last line.

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  8. Oh, I love it! He's been warned about our slippery mermaid-girl! Wonderful, Linda! Thank you. xo

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    1. You're welcome, Irene. It was fun to be in the middle, actually! Lots of 'what-ifs' to consider I guess.

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  9. Fun! One chance, huh??? I'm thinking! Thanks for a great setup, Linda. I'll do my best to add a fitting line.

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    1. I know you will, Penny. I'm happy you think it's a good send to you. I was nervous! Thanks!

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  10. This is fabulous! Can't wait to see what Penny does.

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    1. Thanks, Catherine, now we just have to wait till morning!

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  11. Linda,
    Do you know the book The Islander by Cynthia Rylant? This is sounding so much like that book. This poem could be made into a beautiful children's book. Who will take that on?

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    1. I don't know if I've read it or not. I've heard of it, but. . . I've been thinking about the story like that too-should be Irene! Thanks, Margaret.

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  12. The pictures in that children's book "to be" are already drifting through my mind. How clever you are Linda adding memories of the fisherman to this.

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    1. Thanks, Julieanne, this is quite a collaboration, isn't it?

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  13. I love the memories of the grandmother. Great direction.

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  14. Oh, the grandmother. He knows. This is it. I am excited! His looking at her wrist - that bracelet she just stroked. Soon we will know. And too, we will have the gift of a hundred possibilities...writing with friends. Beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Amy, I agree, lots of beautiful possibilities when many minds are working!

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  15. Oh, Linda! I'm playing catch-up (shocker) and getting to enjoy this nail-biting passage swiftly. Terrific line, and now I'm paddling over to see what Penny made of all this mystery...

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