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Sunday, April 9, 2017

Progressive Poem - Line # 9


      "Wanted:  a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket." - Charles Simic

             Forgive me. I don't remember if I found this from a poet's post on Friday, or found it and noted it for some special post. This is a special post and Simic's words ring out to me for this next line. It's the journey of Irene Latham's idea six years ago, the Progressive Poem where each day in April one poet adds a line. 

           Mary Lee Hahn has offered terrific background and analysis of what has been written these first eight lines. I have had ideas whirling for a few days and wonder about this child who in my eyes, even in only eight lines, is growing up. Just as all of us have discovered, self-awareness comes with experience, experimenting and with support for choices made. In these eight lines, there is a spurt of energy of self that appears first, a defiance announced to the world, then self-doubt, a question of change perhaps to meet new-found needs. How marvelous that the poets (like parents?) thus far have filled this child with spunk and sparkle, and yes, "fidget, friction, frazzle-dazzle, also fickle and freckles". Yet, there is one thing missing in my eyes, another "f", Mary Lee, a friend. I hope I've provided an opening for that next "fling". 

I’m fidget, friction, ragged edges—
I sprout stories that frazzle-dazzle,
stories of castles, of fires that crackle,
with dragonwords that smoke and sizzle.


But edges sometimes need sandpaper,
like swords need stone and clouds need vapour.
So I shimmy out of my spurs and armour
facing the day as my fickle, freckled self.


I thread the crowd, wear freedom in my smile



           Here are the April Poets. Best wishes Penny for the next line!  And thanks again, Irene for creating this poem collaboration!



3 Doraine at Dori Reads
4 Michelle at Today's Little Ditty
5 Diane at Random Noodling
6 Kat at Kat's Whiskers
7 Irene at Live Your Poem
8 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
9 Linda at TeacherDance
10 Penny at a penny and her jots
12 Janet F. at Live Your Poem
13 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
14 Jan at Bookseedstudio
15 Brenda at Friendly Fairy Tales
18 Buffy at Buffy's Blog
19 Pat at Writer on a Horse
20 BJ at Blue Window
21 Donna at Mainely Write
24 Amy at The Poem Farm
26 Renee at No Water River
28 Michelle at Michelle Kogan
29 Charles at Poetry Time
30 Laura Purdie Salas at Writing the World for Kids

22 comments:

  1. Great line, and I love the Charles Simic quote!

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  2. The Charles Simic poem is wonderful - and I love that it is woven into your line; thread the crowd. Beautiful. And busy!

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    1. Thanks, Kat, it all came together with that quote-serendipity!

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  3. Yes, a Friend...and Freedom! How fun to have another mentor's words echoing in our poem! Huzzah!

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    1. Thanks, Mary Lee, and now I'm excited to see what Penny will write! This child is quite intriguing!

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  4. I'd thought about this year's graphic and how it symbolizes thirty poets sewing words to create a one-of-a-kind poem-story—much like a quilt. So you including the Simic quote is perfect!
    And speaking of perfect...your line! Thanks for the possibilities, Linda :D

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    1. You're welcome, Penny. It is like a wonderful quilt, stitched together day by day. Best to you next!

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  5. With this in mind: "Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket." - Charles Simic, you created another layer on the tapestry, Linda. Wonderful poem evolving-my only regret is that I missed the call to participate.

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    1. Your support means much, too, Carol. Enjoy the weaving together!

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  6. Wonderful line, Linda, and the Simic quote is such a perfect match for this year's Progressive Poem logo! I love the unspoken connection you've made between a sword and a needle. Sure hope this child finds what or who they're is looking for!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle, clearly the searching is continuing, just as we do growing up, and really, all our lives.

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  7. Love how you connected the quote to the poem and your line is perfect.

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  8. You found the needle to thread a great line! Onward. I haven't started thinking yet because this poem is likely to take a new direction in 4 days.

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  9. Thank you. Jone, I was excited to find the quote, hence my words above that showed I'd already forgotten where I discovered it. And thanks, Margaret, I know what you mean, every day can be a turning! Enjoy the anticipation!

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  10. What a special line your've given us Linda, threading "the crowd, and also wearing "freedom in my smile," this character is definitely growing up. Maybe a young fellow from long ago who was fighting for freedom, as many of us and young people are today.

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    1. I have many ideas of what this child might be, but now I've sent that decision on to the next poets, whew! Thanks, Michelle.

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  11. --"thread the crowd"... that is brilliant, Linda! You've stitched in some setting and other potential characters and myriad possibilities for the lines to come - thank you for shining such warm light on this whole process, and for that perfect Charles Simic quote too.

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    1. Thanks, Robyn, they weren't the first words, but I did kept the flavor of what I wanted to say. It's going to be exciting to see what's next.

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  12. What a perfect quote. Thank you. I am tucking it into my notebook.
    And thank you, too, for this line. It is so strong and true. I wish this kid were real... xx

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    1. Simic's words touched me a lot, too, Amy. I'm glad you will "keep" it, and thanks for the comment on my line, too. Yes, I suspect we all have this kid in our imaginations now, wondering what will happen. It's a good start!

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  13. Love the line! I like the progression of F's, although I'm afraid I'll have to break ranks. :-)

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