Poetry Friday - Whispering

 

    It's Poetry Friday, and Patricia J. Franz is hosting HERE on her website, Reverie. She's sharing a tanka about her own walk in nature. It's lovely to be there along with her!

   The trees are saying goodbye this past week, in a windy fury, but many still remain. I raked a top layer, filled four bags for our leaf drop. The city has numerous sites where we can take the leaves, and they will be made into mulch that can be picked up in the spring. 

my old cottonwood - still hanging on to its leaves,
and still mostly green

part of my backyard, and the common space that gives me more leaves

         While I raked and bagged, I imagined the trees whispering. Timing has taken the sprinklers out of service, but we have stayed mild and so, so dry. When I've read books about the science of trees, like 

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World 

by Peter Wohlleben, 

they discuss how trees 'talk' to those near, sending moisture to those in need. So, I'm dreaming up the conversations—sometimes silly, or not-so-much—but it's great to be out with them.  

eavesdropping 

the trees' conversations,

better than the news

Linda Baie ©

Show Offs Can Be Wonderful!

    It's Poetry Friday, and Sarah Grace Tuttle is hosting HERE on her NEW website, with lots of exciting news! Be sure to drop by to see what she is sharing, then read the poetry of other poets they're sharing this week, too! It will give you a relaxing hour or two to enjoy their awesome creativity.        

    Thanks for hosting today, Sarah!

             It's special when one meets an interesting person, someone who differs from you, someone who shows you new perspectives, new ways of doing things, and new ideas for living. I'm alarmed at the judgmental attitudes occurring in our country, from those who believe we should all be the same! When I walked to my mailbox one day last week, this was my view, and I was inspired. 

                  Sing It Your Way!

               

Some see them and call out “Clown!”.

They see a standout, but mouths turn down.

Yet, I’m unable to summon wrath

For those who set a unique path,

not the ones who “go along”,

But those who choose to sing their song.

                            Linda Baie ©

A Taste of Dickens for our Times

Happy Autumn

         It’s a pleasure to be your host for Poetry Friday this week.  I’m always so excited to see what poetic gifts each of you offers.  Please add your links in the Inlinkz at the bottom of the post. 

        You may know that I volunteer at an all-volunteer-run used bookstore, and I have recently stepped down as the volunteer coordinator, but I'm still in charge of donations. We review them each Thursday, reject some, and shelve the others. We are grateful that they keep coming in, in large numbers, every week.

         Recently, an older set of nearly all the novels by Charles Dickens was donated. As I placed them in our classics section, I began to wonder if I could use the titles for a poem? This frustrating and actually frightening time in our country has taken up much of my time, and I am working to help the organizations that are fighting back, who are not accepting the changes being enacted. Thus, Dickens and my, perhaps nutty, imagination!

What I brought home!

What The Dickens?

If I could use The Pickwick Papers, being picky, 

I would write that these are Hard Times, 

though I continue to hold Great Expectations 

in spite of our recent world feeling like a Bleak House. 

This involves more than A Tale of Two Cities,

and it is not any of Dickens' Christmas Stories!       

Each morning I rise to face news of people 

appearing to live in the halcyon? days of Martin Chuzzlewit, 

some, or none claiming that man is Our Mutual Friend. 

He’s only The Haunted Man, filling us with something 

never To Be Read at Dusk, Time to check out

 The Mystery of Edwin Drood. You'll understand.

                                                                           Linda Baie ©

If you're wondering, these are Dickens' books I didn't use:  The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Old Curiosity Shop, Oliver Twist, Barnaby Rudge, Dombey and Son, David Copperfield, and Little Dorritt.

       

Leave your links! (Now ready!)

  

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Poetry Friday - Remember Summer Pleasures

    It's Poetry Friday, and Jama Rattigan is hosting HERE on her blog, Jama's Alphabet Soup and celebrating her 18th blogiversary! Congratulations, Jama, and thanks for hosting on this special day!

             

             Well, It's been a while since posting and I'm excited to be back, but most excited to read all your posts. I want to try to catch up a bit with everyone's lives and spectacular creativity, which I have so missed. 

           I didn't have the pleasure of a trip to the beach this year. I'm sad to miss the ocean, have been somewhere "on a beach" every summer for a lot of years. There was just too much going on for the family to get together for a week. When I saw this book at the library, it filled me up a little. Esther Freud has written the story of a family who lives at the beach in poetry, and it's about year-round pleasures, illustrated by Emma Chinnery, who shows the joys of every time of the year, even when there's snow on the sand!

        One lovely double-page spread!

                And our own kite-flying day. This time, it's my daughter who's flying!

The Weeks Behind and Ahead

   It's Poetry Friday, and Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske is hosting HERE on her blog, The Opposite of Indifference. She's sharing special words from Laura Purdie Salas, a call for what we all need! Be sure to get over there to read Laura's poem! Thanks for hosting, Tabatha! 

             

           In the news of the terrible, life-altering flooding this past week, in Texas first, then in New Mexico as well, I saw heartbreaking stories of losses that felt unimaginable. Yet, I also saw many stepping up to help, to support, to search, and to give what seemed needed at the time. Recently, I read the final book, created by Jerry Pinkney and completed by his son, Brian, after Jerry's passing. The book was written by Sascha Alper, and I thought of it as I watched those whom Mr. Rogers told us to look for, "the helpers." 

        Here is my review: 

         Everyone in our world has something to offer, perhaps a small thing, perhaps a large one, but in this extraordinarily poignant story, Sascha Alper tells us that what each one of us does matters. When Jerry Pinkney passed away, he left his sketches for this book, and his son, Brian, completed it. The illustrations swirl as readers see the action of a hummingbird carrying "The Littlest Drop", trying and not giving up to put out a fire. Other animals watched, amazed, knowing it would do no good, and told it that. The hummingbird replied, "I'm doing what I can." What happens next from others will bring a few tears, also a learning, that working together brings success that one might not imagine, until one begins to "do what one can". It's truly special, and perhaps even more needed in these demanding times. There are notes from Sascha Alper and Brian Pinkney at the back.

           Thoughts

May we tell the day backwards?

That time of fun,

Of loving hours when

Laughter reigned.

No memories shaken?

I hear dishes clinking at dinner,

Maybe a story told 

By old and young.

A few yawns noticed.  

Heading for bedtime,

 

If Wishes were horses,

You know the answer,

So we do what we can

To hug and bring relief,

Say thanks for those 

Who have one more day.

 

          Linda Baie (c) 

 

Poetry Friday - Taking The Leap

  It's Poetry Friday, and Mary Lee Hahn is hosting HERE on her blog, sharing her own shout-out on Independence Day. How can I NOT return after months away, except for the Progressive Poem, after reading Mary Lee's call for us to care for our country! 

             

        I know I've missed some of your news, both happy and sad, and I am sorry for that. I spent three-plus months in a lot of pain, managing only regular things needed, holding up for some crazy times when my body was not reacting in usual ways, my plumbing problems meant watching my entire backyard dug up, and my car hit and needing repairs. I kind of lived on Advil! 

       It was a time, until finally, finally, I saw a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with what is called PMR - a disease in 'mostly' older people that attacks the muscles. Whew! I haven't taken any medicine except vitamins, etc., for a long while. Now, Prednisone has been my saving grace. The pain is gone; I'm back to doing what I want to do, knowing that the hurt in the world still has been, is being, so much harder than I had. Still, I am grateful for the modern medicine world that has so helped me. 

      It feels like serendipity that you, Mary Lee, are our host today, because I am thankful for one more thing that buoyed my life during the hard days, a postcard sent last year, sitting to greet me every day as I walked into my workroom.

       

      Now, for all of you, too, take Mary Lee's words, and know that not only can we "do hard things", but we must, for our country, our families, for everyone who is in need!

You watch the news

can never look away, and must

do whatever is possible: write, call, donate, then shout

hard words at those who want our silence

things will change by our protests, our action

                  Linda Baie 

A Journey Near Its End: Welcome to Day 27 of the Progressive Poem

                                             

       Welcome to Progressive Poem 2025, Day 27! Hello everyone! I've loved being on this special journey with you, offering a respite from my challenges through visiting a garden full of wonders, and a mystery of what we find next.

        Irene Latham began the Progressive Poem and hosted it from 2012-2019. Those archives of the poem can be found HERE! Margaret Simon took over in 2020, and those archives are HERE!

        Here are the rules:

The poem passes from blog to blog.

Each poet/blogger adds a line.

The poem is for children.

       Each blogger copies the previous line exactly as written, unless permission from that poet has been given. They then add their own line, offering an introduction if they wish. 

        Here is the poem thus far, nearly the end of our adventure! I'm following Michele Kogan,  whose words inspired me to paint the sky! My line - at the end!

    Open an April window

    let sunlight paint the air

    stippling every dogwood

    dappling daffodils with flair

Race to the garden
where woodpeckers drum
as hummingbirds thrum
in the blossoming sweetgum

Sing as you set up the easels
dabble in the paints
echo the colors of lilac and phlox
commune without constraints

Breathe deeply the gifts of lilacs
rejoice in earth’s sweet offerings
feel renewed-give thanks at day’s end
remember long-ago springs

Bask in a royal spring meadow
romp like a golden-doodle pup!
startle the sleeping grasshoppers
delight in each flowering shrub…

    Drinking in orange-blossom twilight            

    relax to the rhythm of stars dotting sky         

    as a passing Whip-poor-will gulps bugs         

    I follow a moonlit path that calls us               

                                        

   Grab your dripping brushes! 

    Our celestial canvas awaits…

 There we swirl, red, white, and blue

     Now passing on to Pamela Ross!

And, here is the list of those who have written and who are about to write!  

 

April 1 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
April 2 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect
April 3 Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge
April 4 Donna Smith at Mainely Write
April 5 Denise at https://mrsdkrebs.edublogs.org/
April 6 Buffy at http://www.buffysilverman.com/blog
April 7 Jone at https://www.jonerushmacculloch.com/
April 8 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
April 9 Tabatha at https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/
April 10 Marcie at Marcie Flinchum Atkins
April 11 Rose at Imagine the Possibilities | Rose’s Blog
April 12 Fran Haley at Lit Bits and Pieces
April 13 Cathy Stenquist
April 14 Janet Fagel at Mainly Write
April 15 Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink
April 16 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem Farm
April 17 Kim Johnson at Common Threads
April 18 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
April 19 Ramona at Pleasures from the Page
April 20 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading
April 21 Tanita at TanitasDavis.com
April 22 Patricia Franz 
April 23 Ruth at There’s No Such Thing as a Godforsaken Town
April 24 Linda Kulp Trout at http://lindakulptrout.blogspot.com
April 25 Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe
April 26 Michelle Kogan at: https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/
April 27 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
April 28 Pamela Ross at Words in Flight
April 29 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry
April 30 April Halprin Wayland at Teaching Authors

Poetry Friday - Bringing Hope IN

 It's Poetry Friday, and Marcie Flinchum Atkins is hosting HERE on her blog, sharing so much delight as she prepares for book launches! I wish I'd had time to write to the Poetry Pals end-of-month prompt, but I'm sure it will be fun to read what others have written.

             

            The nicest thing this month is that yesterday, I finally got Marcie's book from my library. I haven't started it yet, but will this weekend. It certainly sounds terrific! Congratulations, Marcie.

             I haven't posted since the end of February. It's been a month filled with challenges, and my days have not been what I've wished. I've had car repairs from a person running into the rear/right bumper. Plumbing problems started and having a bad plumber made them worse. I have a huge repair going on right now and I am hopeful that soon my home will be back to normal. In addition, I seem to have been hit with painful sprained muscles from shoulder to leg, and there doesn't seem to be an answer as to why. I'm starting PT soon! I know that many in our world have terrible things happening in their lives, much worse than I do, and I wish it weren't so, but these things in March have taken much of my time and energy. I've really missed reading and reviewing books and writing for myself and Poetry Friday. 

a little hope on the way in my garden

          I may not write every day in April, but I will try to do some days. Today, my best thoughts turn to Emily Dickinson, bringing me some hope, too!

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

        Wishing everyone a special Poetry Month!

Monday Reading! Books to Love and Inspire!

    

    Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow!    

     I hope everyone has had some spring weather. We have had a week of it in Denver, now snow is coming tomorrow! Have a great week however it "blows"! 

       Tina Cho, author, and Deb JJ Lee, graphic artist, create this graphic novel that feels almost unbelievable.  These fictional young ones, based on real lives, will take a chance to make a dangerous flight to find freedom. This is the story of quiet Yunho and brave Myunghee who bind together with others to flee North Korea, then cross several other countries where, if caught, will repatriate them back, where they'll spend their lives in prison. They are fighting through jungles, eating what can be found, fighting snakes and scaling steep rocky mountain trails, helping each other, and with those willing to risk their own lives to guide them from place to place (the Asian Underground Railroad), they survive. Dogged persistence to leave North Korea, a country that promises no hope of a good life, keeps them going. 

      There is an afterword about North Korean history, showing the lives of despair, with only two TV channels, controlled by the government, no internet, and most cannot afford technology anyway. It states that many would be surprised to know that South Koreans have electricity.  

        

         Bear and Bird always seem to have more adventures, and this time, with Jarvis' memorable stories shown in his delightful illustrations, it's about friendship, the challenges, and the celebrations. Mole has a part in some of the stories, too, bringing up some good ways to discuss how friendship works. These are loads of fun! 

        Out last fall, Carole Boston Weatherford gave us a wonderful rhyming celebration for all those young black boys, maybe girls, too, who need heroes like them in their lives. It was inspired by the photo by Pete Souza of young Jacob Philadelphia touching then-President Obama's hair! She's included sixteen heroes in their own life work, men like Lonnie Johnson (inventor of the Super Soaker), Usain "Lightning" Bolt (eight Olympic gold records), and John "Trane" Coltrane (jazz saxophonist and composer). There's a rhyme for each, then a brief paragraph with their pictures at the back, along with the picture referenced above and the full story about Jacob. Savanna Durr's illustrations seem to swirl around in color-filled illustrations of children with their heroes! "I fight for right like Kaepernick;/Black pride through and through."

          Out this January, Pat Zietlow Miller has written a must-read for all who remember this famous American and want to revisit his spectacular life of fighting for justice for his people. If you haven't read another book about the persistent John Lewis, this one will show his beginnings, when he so wanted more books, could not afford them, and could not get a library card! Miller shares this as his first protest. We should all remember there were many during his lifetime who tirelessly worked for what was right for all Black Americans. At twenty-three years old,  he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington! Jerry Jordan's paintings give the story authenticity to Lewis' powerful story, showing the many kinds of protests along with those who hated the work to gain the rights to eat in a restaurant, sit at the front of buses, vote, and more! I loved the double-page spread of an older Lewis, surrounded by the books he loved, and reading! There's an author's note and a timeline of his life that adds to the book's text. It will inspire more learning about his life. 

Now reading: Puppet, by David Almond, and Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King, an older book about Thurgood Marshall and his early cases for the NAACP.