Thursday, April 16, 2020

Progressive Poem Is Here!

          This is my eighth year participating in the annual Progressive Poem, a spark each day that ends in a Poetry Explosion created by thirty-one poets! Irene Latham at Live Your Poem started the tradition of writing a poem together during April way back in 2012.  The poem grows as it passes from poet to poet and each one adds another line. This year Margaret Simon at Reflections on The Teche graciously took over being the host for this delightful creation.
          Like other years, surprises happen. Perhaps someone changes the rhythm. Often, another poet creates a turning from the expected into a big surprise in the action. Our minds fall into a rabbit hole of creative thoughts as we near our turn. Now, this year Donna Smith at Mainely Write began the poem with a twist. She wrote two first lines for the next poet to choose between. It began and has continued to be a "Choose Your Own Adventure" poem.
          You can find a list of all poets participating in the Navigation Bar above.
         In the last three days, first Kat introduced a mystery, Margaret continued with action, then Leigh Anne, oh my, gave two choices as to what might be next. Here are the wonderful lines she wrote from which I was to choose: 

Option 1:  as a whitetail doe comes into view.
Option 2:  I slowly inhale so not to disturb

         Here is the poem thus far, the one I chose from Leigh Anne, and my own two lines to carry us into the final half of the month! Carry on, Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe

Progressive Poem

Sweet violets shimmy, daffodils sway
along the wiregrass path to the lake
I carry a rucksack of tasty cakes
and a banjo passed down from my gram.

I follow the tracks of deer and raccoon
and echo the call of a wandering loon.
A whispering breeze joins in our song
and night melts into a rose gold dawn

Deep into nature’s embrace, I fold.
Promise of spring helps shake the cold
hints of sun lightly dapple the trees
calling out the sleepy bees 

Leaf-litter crackles…I pause. Twig snaps.
gasp! Shudder! Breathe out. Relax... 
as a whitetail doe comes into view.


Option 1:  She shifts and spotted fawns debut.

Option 2:  Startled! Whoosh, flees our rendezvous.


18 comments:

  1. I was pulling for the doe. I've come face to face with a doe on a walk and I was mesmerized. Your line choices work to give us a glimpse of this beauty.

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    1. Thanks, it was fun to imagine what might happen, Margaret. Whew, now glad to pass it on!

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  2. I love watching the deer that graze in our yard (but not when they graze on the garden plants), so I'm glad you choose this one. Both of your choices for lines lead to interesting possibilities--and I've seen both happen in our yard.

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    1. My sister-in-law fought the deer eating up their garden, too, though they, too, loved watching them saunter from the woods. Now to guess which Heidi will choose & where she will lead us! Such fun! Thanks, Kay!

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  3. When we lived out in the country, my husband and I would love to sit and watch the deer. I am glad you chose this one! And I wonder which way Heidi will go!

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  4. My husband and I passed some deer grazing in the woods along our walking trail yesterday. They looked up when they heard Allan speak, but stayed, content to share the space. Glad you picked the doe. Wondering where this will go since I'm up on Monday.

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  5. I'm glad that the deer has returned. Will Heidi decide to have her stay?

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  6. Doh! A deer! Always exhilarating. Thank you very much, Linda, and I look forward to offering a devilishly difficult choice for Mary Lee!

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  7. Thanks all, happy you like the deer still here, and Heidi, oh, my, I am looking forward to tomorrow!

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  8. I knew you would pick our whitetail doe and I love the spotted fawns debut. I've had such fun catching up with the progressive poem this morning

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    1. Thanks, Ramona, I'm just now going to find the next line from Heidi. It's exciting!

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  9. Lovely, lovely. I too am glad you went with the doe. I saw lots in my time in America! (Not sure what kind, though.) And I have my preference for your lines, too!

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  10. I'm playing catch up, too! Either line is certainly believable - I've come upon many a lovely doe in my day. And, since I'm behind, I don't have to wait to find out! Thanks for your contribution, Linda, whichever line it is. :0)

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  11. Thank you, Robyn & Kat, it is a pleasure to be a part of this poem. This time, I love that we're out walking in nature!

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  12. Pick the fawn, Heidi!!! This is so much fun to follow. Thanks for sharing it today, Linda.

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  13. I also like the line with the fawn. This line reminds me of my encounter with a deer and a fawn while walking the trail in Virginia alone. Let's see what happens next.

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  14. Thanks, Laura, Mary Lee, & Carol. This is a wonderful thing to participate in each year. I'm glad you enjoyed the choices & Heidi did choose the fawns. Now, up to you, Mary Lee. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

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