Thursday, November 5, 2020

Poetry Friday - Trees Write

                Susan at Soul Blossom Living hosts us today. Thanks, Susan!

          As this tiny blossom above shows, there's always hope for goodness, right? I've been writing for myself and with Bridget's Magee's online poetry group and it's been wonderful to have someone who is "expecting" something from me and to "expect" a poem from someone else! Before it started, I had been messing around with etherees. Here is the definition I work from: "Similar to the Cinquain and the Rictameter, the Etheree is a ten-line form ascending in syllable count for ten unrhymed lines. It's attributed to an American poet, Etheree Taylor Armstrong of Arkansas. An Etheree should focus on one idea or subject."

           I wrote a double one and shared it at the end of September here!

       Now it is this week of November's beginning and I owe a new poem to another person, but first, I owe this one for this time in our country's life, for hope and well-being wishes to all of us.













  One

  leaf drops;

  a maple

  skids underneath

  a yellow aspen.

  Sweetgum’s orange joins in.

  Odd that a green leaf appears,

  lands the middle – spring memory

  refuses to be one left alone.  

  They create a wreath of us, together.  

       Linda Baie ©


30 comments:

michelle kogan said...

How lovely and relatable to our times too Linda! There's something about
fall leaves, and their colors that always catch my interest, just today I collected a few more and was thinking about writing a poem with them. I like the ease and flow of your poem, and especially "Sweetgum’s orange joins in." And yes I see your circular leafed wreath, and I like the transparency of your words over the images, perhaps their's hope for the country to reunite in the future…

Linda B said...

So fun, Michelle! I think I was writing you on your post as you were writing here! Yes, I keep picking up leaves, too, sometimes find ones from years' past tucked in books. I am hopeful for all of us to find ways to connect. Have a great weekend! And thanks!

Carol Varsalona said...

Linda, your etheree poem gives credit to nature's beauty and illustrates an essential point: "create a wreath of us, together." May you enjoy the weekend and let's hope that the country can become one and mend its divisions.

Irene Latham said...

Yay for green leaves amid the fall bounty! And "skids" is such a great word. Thank you, Linda. xo

Linda B said...

I'm hoping, too, Carol. We have work to be done! Thank you!

Linda B said...

You're welcome, Irene. This writing & observing has kept me going! Thank you, too!

Liz Steinglass said...

Oh this is so lovely! A wreathe of us! We need that.

jama said...

Just beautiful, Linda. Thank you, as always, for your optimism and heartening poems and posts!

Linda Mitchell said...

I've been fortunate to witness your love affair with trees for a while now. This is a nice addition to your collection. Another poem for your Tree collection.

Linda B said...

Thank you, Liz, Jama, & Linda! Yes, I love trees & pay a lot of attention to ones around me & others. This time, like many times this year, I am thinking of our politics, of course, & the road ahead trying to work together.

Carol Varsalona said...

And we shall work toward this goal.

Linda B said...

Absolutely!

Bridget Magee said...

I love being in a "a wreath of us" with you, Linda. And I love that you are sharing your words in our group. Your mastery of the etheree form keeps getting better and better. :)

Mary Lee said...

I love etherees! Both the challenge of writing them, but also their expansiveness -- starting small, and building to big truths. Like yours. Well done. Each leaf separate, but together a wreath. TOGETHER.

Fran Haley said...

That poignant little green leaf, living memory of spring, refusing to be one left alone...a vital message from the trees, to which we need to listen far more... I love this, Linda.

laurasalas said...

Linda, I adore that single green leaf and the way you compare it to a memory of spring. Love the wreath image, as well. Really beautiful!

Linda B said...

Thanks, Bridget, Mary Lee, Fran, & Laura. I like thinking of that wreath especially now, hoping we can all work to keep it intact when this messy election time ends! Whew! What a week!

Carol Labuzzetta said...

Truly, a beautiful poem! Celebrating the diversity that surrounds us all. Thank you for sharing! I love trees and leaves! Carol @ The Apples in my Orchard

Linda B said...

Thanks, I love them, too!

susanbruck.com said...

Thanks for giving a voice to the trees. You've captured both the essence of fall and the longing for healing in our country.

mbhmaine said...

What a beautiful poem of unity! Thank you!

Karen Edmisten said...

The occasional renegade green, elbowing its way in, refusing to be forgotten — love the imagery you conjured, Linda! And that photo. A lovely wreath! Thanks for this today. :)

Linda B said...

Thanks, Susan, Molly, & Karen. I have hope that we can all work together in these coming months/years! It isn't going to be easy, but worth the work!

Ruth said...

So good!

Linda B said...

Thanks, Ruth

Tabatha said...

A lovely ending, Linda, full of grace.

Carmela Martino said...

What a great image:
"a wreath of us, together."
Thank you, Linda!

Linda B said...

Thanks, Tabatha & Carmela. I guess after these days since I wrote, I mean it more than ever!

Janice Scully said...

What a week! More than ever we need the togetherness celebrated in your etheree. I'm glad you are enjoying your poetry group with Bridget.

Linda B said...

That week seemed like a year, right? Thanks, Janice, hoping, hoping!