Saturday, April 7, 2018

Progressive Poem - Day Seven



It's Day 7 of the 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem! 




Happy April, Happy Poetry Month, and Happy, Happy Progressive Poem Time


         This is my seventh year of writing with these wonderful poets, writing our own collaborative poem for this annual challenge from poet and novelist Irene Latham. The idea of surprise is often something seen in poetry, but this added layer when one poet, day by day, adds her or his own words, heightens the suspense. I read the new line each morning, and often say to myself, "Oh my, there it goes down that rabbit hole! And, waiting before my own turn, "Oh wow, where in the world should I take us now?" It's a poetry explosion of a poem! And nervously, I'm reminded of those signs that read "good", "better", and "best". Which path will I believe I have followed?


          This year an innovative change has been made, coming from a post you can read HERE from Heidi Mordhorst with Irene Latham and Elizabeth Steinglass. Liz wrote the first line! This post gives more history of the Progressive Poem with this change: We writers are to describe our thoughts about this first line, hide it away, then return to it when it's our turn. Now it's time to share my early thoughts: It’s going to begin with growth in a garden, but meander into all kinds of growth. And how have my thoughts evolved as the poem itself has grown? Here are the lines so far:



1 - Nestled in her cozy bed, a seed stretched.
2 - Oh, what wonderful dreams she had had!
3 - Blooming in midnight moonlight, dancing with
4 - the pulse of a thousand stars, sweet Jasmine
5 - invented a game.
6 - “Moon?” she called across warm, honeyed air. 


          We are moving away from the 'growth' I had imagined, into a magical night of dreamy dancing, then "a game". After Michelle's line four, I began to think of a young girl, ready to grow up, inspired by the spring night, moonlit and full of stars, wondering about her own choices, when she would really feel like a person apart from family. Is she a star-wisher as Michelle wondered? But wait, perhaps she is Liz' tiny seed, and the poets thus far have managed a grand feat of personification and hope? Is the "game" from Jan more nature-driven? Does that seed at rest play with moonlight after a long day of exertion in the sun? Hmm. And with all those thoughts, I need to remember we're writing for children, thus here is where I took sweet Jasmine:

line 7 - “I’m sad you’re alone; come join Owl and me.”



Carry on, Janet Fagal at Live Your Poem



Here is the entire list:


April

4 Michelle at Today's Little Ditty
5 Jan at bookseedstudio
6 Irene at Live Your Poem
7 Linda at TeacherDance
8 Janet F. at Live Your Poem
11 Brenda at Friendly Fairy Tales
12 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink
13 Linda at A Word Edgewise
15 Donna at Mainely Write
16 Sarah at Sarah Grace Tuttle
18 Christie at Wondering and Wandering
19 Michelle at Michelle Kogan
20 Linda at Write Time
23 Amy at The Poem Farm
24 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
26 Renee at No Water River
27 Buffy at Buffy's Blog
28 Kat at Kat's Whiskers
29 April at Teaching Authors
30 Doraine at Dori Reads


31 comments:

  1. I love watching the poem unfold. It's a story, and those kind always entertain as they meander through. Where will this story go?

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    1. Being here at the beginning, I wonder too and it is exciting to imagine! Thanks, Margaret!

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  2. Good morning, Linda! I appreciated Jan's proposition of a game, to take us in a little different direction than dreamy dancing, and I appreciated Irene's suggestion of Moon as a playmate. Now I appreciate your inclusion of Owl, since two can play but three--three different "species" if you will--is much more fun. Now then--what game will they play? And is Jasmine the seed? Staying tuned....

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    1. Thanks, Heidi. I know what you mean, imagining what happens nest stays in all our minds. Time for lots of play?

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  3. Oh wow, I love the additional playmate? What game could these three play? Will we stay "rooted" or dive further into dreamland?? We'll know tomorrow. :) Thank you, dear Linda! xo

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    1. You're welcome, Irene. What pressure this poem already brings! Where will we wander next?

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  4. Oh, this is fun! I love a good game...and I love the rhythm in this line. xx

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    1. Thanks, Amy, it is exciting to see how it moves on.

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  5. I like your line, Linda, both the comment to Moon and the introduction of Owl. This poem is becoming something dimensional and playful! Owl feels to me like a bridge between Moon and Jasmine, perhaps because he/she can fly. :)

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    1. Yes, each one has a certain attribute, and that flying might be helpful. Thanks, Kate.

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  6. Love that Owl has joined our evening of poetic fancy. Now I'm wondering and worrying. One more line and it's my turn.

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    1. Thanks, Ramona. If you're like me, so many "maybes"! Best wishes for Monday!

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  7. Oh what will Owl and Jasmine do next? Stay tuned and look on Irene's blog for line 8 tomorrow. Today I found myself sharing two poems, one by me and one by Mary Oliver at my dearest teacher-friend's memorial service, just recently scheduled. Looking at children and childlike wonder, and remembering their games and their willingness to care has been a nice diversion as I weigh what line 8 will become. I am reminded of poetry's power to nourish. Thank you for your line and your thoughtful explanation of your thinking, Linda. Stay tuned. Poetic hugs in advance to you, Ramona!
    Janet Clare F.

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    1. I'm sorry for this day for you saying goodbye to your friend, Janet, and glad that poetry, in a variety of ways, is holding you close. AND, I'm so looking forward to your line. Thanks for taking time to come by!

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  8. Beautiful. What a treat it is to see this poem unfold.

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  9. Linda, your initial response is interesting for it is springtime and we expect growth but now you introduced a storyline to ponder further. I think the introduction of owl makes for another friendly character to join the poem. Owl as a creature of the night can be scary but you created him into a friend who will join Jasmine as she has further conversations with the Moon. Let's see what Janet does.

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    1. Janet added more to this 'night time' scene, Carol. I wanted a friend and not necessarily a fantastic one, thus an owl, that nightly creature who "sometimes" is friendly. More fun to come! Thanks!

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  10. I've been fascinated watching this poem emerge and evolve. Did you agonize over what to write?

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    1. Of course! It's tense before, relief after, but still a lot of fun!

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  11. Linda that's wonderful she has a companion now!

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    1. Thank you! And now they're having a little fun with hide 'n seek!

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  12. Woot! Woot! And maybe Tu-whit, tu-woo, too, dearLinda.Your creative line saves the day (or night) with a wise animal character & a welcoming response to Irene's luminous Moon Friend. This stretches the poem in so many ways. Appreciations for taking the short end of the stick from the day before & running with it. I love where you brought us.

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  13. Linda - if this is inscrutable in part it's because "Appreciations for taking the short..." makes no sense. That day before line is the luminous Moon & honeyed- air that I love from Irene. Please forgive my confusion here. (Friday we lost our Comcast internet & it was only restored late Monday with a 2-hour service call. I used the time to prepare for a poetry event, rather than go out & seek internet elsewhere, but now I am feeling so, so behind, to catch up with this year's unfolding playful collaborative poem party...)

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    1. Dear Jan, I don't think you were 'inscrutable' at all, understood the "short end" words. Sorry for the Comcast debacle, hope all is well now. Thanks for coming by and liking my invitation to have owl join the poem!

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  14. Catching up after missing a few days and delighting in these lines. How lovely to "answer back" with a welcome, and a new character too. Will go see Whhhoooooo's next! :0)

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    1. Thanks, Robyn, the poem is moving on with delight!

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  15. An explosion of poetry--yes! And I love your instinct to make Jasmine so empathetic and inclusive:>) And now we have three characters! Is it bad that all I can see is the cover of IF YOU WERE THE MOON?

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    1. No, not bad at all. I'm sure you adore that the moon has entered our poem. I do, too, Laura. Thanks!

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  16. The cast of characters is growing! I love your new line. Thank you!

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    1. You're welcome, Sarah. Off to read your line today!

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