Poetry Friday - Meeting The Moment

          

It's Poetry Friday, and Marcie Flinchum Atkins is hosting on her website here! 

         A couple of weeks ago Marcie asked that we share a photo and poem about twilight, to celebrate her new book coming soon, When Twilight Comes. My copy is coming from the library, Marcie! Congratulations. And, thanks for hosting!

Last week,  Tanita Davis was hosting and reminded us about her Poetry Pals challenge this final Friday. She described it like this: Here’s the scoop: we’re writing tight little bundles of poetry called Ovillejos! That’s exactly what the word means – a bundle of yarn. This Spanish form bundles together ten lines, made up of 3 rhyming couplets interspersed with three verrrry short lines, and a quatrain. The last line is a “redondilla,” a “little round” that collects all three of the short lines and casts off the poem, as it were. The Ovillejo plays with repetition in a way that will allow some cleverness and wordplay. I’m excited to dig into a new-to-me poetic form, first popularized sometime between the late fifteen hundreds by Miguel de Cervantes (he lived between 1547-1616 so it’s been a minute – may as well make it popular again) – and might even throw in a Spanish word or two, just to challenge myself. Are you in? Good! Take this week to craft your creation and share it March 27th in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. This form looks like fun, so we hope you’ll join us!

For Marcie, celebrating her new book! If you enlarge
the photo, you can see several stars peeking out!

     windows glow

     families have left their porches

      first stars stop hiding

                     Linda Baie ©

       

And, for the #poetrypals

             Maybe A Poema?

It’s intriguing, the sisters write,

And I will not put up a fight!

 

scribbling

 

I’ll search and work to find a way,

Even when it takes all day.

 

Poetry jam

 

Mi Ovillejos is complete–– 

A new poema sweet to meet. 

 

Love at first write.

 

When we all write as one,

This poem uncovers the mystery 

Of Poetry Pals’ writing history–– 

Scribbling a poetry jam--love at first write.

                        Linda Baie ©

Did you know it's the 30th anniversary of Poetry Month? Celebrate! Unfortunately, I am not planning to share every day. I'm finding I'm just too busy! But I will try hard to write sometimes and on Fridays, and visit your lovely posts! 

Poetry Friday - Seeding?

          It's Poetry Friday, and Tanita S. Davis is hosting on her website, Fiction, Instead of Lies!  Find it here! She says today that she and her Poetry Sisters will be sharing their work for their March challenge next week!  It's a new form they're writing, so be sure to read, note, and then try it, too!           

         In addition, Tanita is sharing some of the history of protest songs, including a new one, by Heidi Wilson, "Hold On". It's one to know, then sing! 

            Thanks for hosting, and for sharing this loving post, Tanita!

          Because it seems to be spring and nearing summer, yet it's only March (in the eighties this week), I've been thinking of seeds, yes the kind that go into the earth, but after some musing, I wonder if we could change some thoughts and ponder those seeds that are planted in people, young ones and older ones, too!

        And, did you know that right here in Colorado is the Ft. Knox of seed vaults? Here's an article from NPR about it! And, here's a later one on YouTube! I wonder if there is a Ft. Knox of seed vaults in our brains, keeping everything the same MO, no allowing for intervention and change? Or, could there be newly modified "seeds", known or unknown, sitting, waiting to be introduced? 

Here is my older granddaughter, age one! She'll be 17 in a few weeks!
What seeds have grown in her? 

I’m always Questioning

 

Is there safety in seeds?

Are they ingrown,

With an earthbound slide

That’s theirs alone?

My wistful wonder,

like human choice,

Would violets prefer

A rose’s voice?

             Linda Baie ©

 

Did you know that this Friday, March 20th is the International Day of Happiness? 

Grab some "happy" this week everyone! I imagine we all need it!

Poetry Friday - More Than A Lucky Penny!

                                                       SPECIAL NOTE! I work at the bookstore every Thursday afternoon, so I will not be here until about 7pm (mountain time). I hope all goes well, and will check the Inlinkz from time to time. 

           Welcome, welcome, to Poetry Friday, one week until spring, a Friday, the thirteenth! Are you prepared to face any superstitions? I remember one of my grandfathers, wise in many ways, was very attuned to his own. I know that if one finds a penny, it's good to keep it in your pocket for good luck. When I was young and there seemed to be lots of clover in our yards, my friends and I spent time looking for four-leafed clovers. And lately, the bookstore was painted and ladders were everywhere. Did I walk under any of them? NO! 

        On one Friday, the 13th a long time ago, I shared a poem of superstition if you'd like to read it! Find it here!

        I am not ignoring the terrible things happening in our world; they feel as if they're always on my mind. I'm rarely looking forward to the morning's news, but I don't look away, start there each morning, reluctant or not. And, I work to find one something I can do to help. From Ben Franklin, to have said "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I take my inspiration. 

          This, however, is not about 'knocking on wood' to make things better. Whether they are our enemies or allies, someone is missing loved ones. 

the rain

like teardrops falling

from one cloudy sky

filled with angels 

 

Linda Baie ©

          

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Poetry Friday - Longing?

          It's Poetry Friday, and Karen Edmisten is hosting on her website, The Blog With The Shockingly Clever Title!  Find it here! Perusing poetry by Arthur Sze, she's written a poem for us all, a way to live on this earth. There are choices! 

           Thanks for hosting, Karen!

            As I'm writing this on Thursday, when it's in the sixties, I'll share the longing that may come true, tomorrow! We've had the longest time since any snow, only a bit of rain on a few days, in the last forty days! We've hit the February record for third warmest, least snowy, second driest! Flowers are coming up and I saw a few flies buzzing around the other day. Ski resorts are hurting, skiers are mourning, as are all the places that depend on very good wintertimes in order to make a living, to keep ALL their employees!

            I know, there is a long list of things for us to worry about, and except for my own watering, and trying to make good choices for our environment, other bigger world crises are occurring, too, some of which I can do something about. Certainly, work to be informed, donate when possible, write whomever seems helpful, and volunteer to help those in need, all are on my list. 

the one snow we can actually call snow - Dec. 3rd

Today, right now, HURRAH! 

Winter of My Mind

for the books I read

the cold I know

the shout of children in the snow

dinners in the early dark

fire flaring in the hearth

the cozy home to which I go

the quiet hush of earth

that is the winter that I know

                                     Linda Baie ©

Love May Be STILL be in the Air

         It's Poetry Friday, and Susan Thomsen is hosting HERE on her website, Chicken Spaghetti! Susan shared a challenge last week on her post that you can read about here! And, so I wrote!

         I am excited to read what Susan and others have written, and this week, especially if they're responded to Susan's prompt! I haven't even read Susan's! 

I stop somewhere waiting for you

 

I believe that anywhere with you is grand.

The magic is that elsewhere is also true.

Whereas the stumper makes us continue to search

To discover if wherever will bring the magic 

Of everywhere for you?

                                Linda Baie ©

Wishing you all peace and love this weekend! ❤️

Poetry Friday - Love Is In the Air!

        It's Poetry Friday, and Robyn Hood Black is hosting HERE on her website,  Life on the Deckle Edge! She's sharing some new creations from her Etsy shop and some advice to remember when living your days!  

          I so loved that prompt that Molly Hogan gave her Inklings this last week. You can read her post here! Each poem shared was delightful! So, I thought I could write one for this Saturday, Valentine's Day. I tried a number of things, even a reverse one, for hate, and was then inspired one afternoon as I browsed up and down my grocery store's holiday aisle. (They still have winter holiday things up, too!) I fell in love! (One remains open to ideas everywhere, right?)

      For Valentine’s Day

Suppose we gifted stuffies

Like parents, sweetly, lovingly,

Leaving no one out.

 

Linda Baie ©

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Poetry Friday - Finding a Break

       It's Poetry Friday, and Molly Hogan is hosting HERE on her website,  Nix The Comfort Zone! She's sharing her own delightful poems after Wendell Berry's "Like Snow". You may want to try one, too! Be sure to visit to read them! 

         Thanks for hosting, Molly!

      It's been a week, full of little to celebrate, but I am trying to help where I can with the political storm filling our days. Best to all of you wherever you live, but especially Laura Purdie-Salas in Minneapolis. I saw your post about the protesting, and Randy and his group playing music for Alex Pretti. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Thank you and them for me! 

Warmed under the sun,

I watch crows hang out in my yard

Wheedling at each other 

To see where to peck

 

Linda Baie ©

Poetry Friday - Finding What's Needed

               It's Poetry Friday, and Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske is hosting HERE on her website,  The Opposite of Indifference!   

            Thanks for hosting, Tabatha, hoping you aren't snowed in, yet! 

         I've been reading some short pieces by John Muir recently, and then a few days ago, I was looking through some of the poetry books I own to see if I could give up any of then to the bookstore where I work. Then, I came to a book titled Home, A Journey Through America, illustrated by Thomas Locker, edited by him and Candace Christiansen. It was published in 2000, and has a special introduction by Locker, who shares that his idea of home can be so many things, "For everyone, the place we call home becomes a part of our lives." My colleagues gifted me this book when I moved into Denver back in 2012, with very mixed emotions. The poems range from poets still writing like Jane Yolen, across our history to those well known in the past, like Abraham Lincoln, Willa Cather, Joseph Bruchac, and the poet I chose to share today, John Muir. And Thomas Locker illustrated each poem.

   I'm connecting to what I shared last week, a poem finding solace in the imagination when outside in nature, when many of you shared how much peace and joy came when you went outside! See what Muir wrote! Note: some online says this is not a true poem, but well-known lines by Muir. Still, Locker presents it as a poem. See what you think! 

        Hope you are doing okay if impacted by the storm coming across the US! I'll be watching the news. It was 11 degrees when I rose this morning with a light dusting of snow. We are not supposed to have any more, just cold! 

                   Climb the Mountains

                                        John Muir

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. 

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. 

The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, 

while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.

My Pleasure -

              It's Poetry Friday, and Jan Godown Annino is hosting HERE on her website,  Bookseedstudio!  She's hosting with a "Love Day 2026" post!

            Thanks bringing the love to us, Jan! 

        I'm sure most of you are watching the news, then shouting out and cringing at what it brings to us, nearly by the hour, and in reality, every day. I watch, or listen. I know I need to keep informed, to learn more ways to act! Yet, having a break is helpful. It's good to put other things on my mind. As some of you share, you go outside. Even around the block is helpful. When I visit the cemetery where my husband is, I talk with him, missing him, telling what's happening in my life, the one he left, the one where changes are happening, grandchildren growing up, and on. 

        On the edges surrounding this lovely place are wooded areas where I walk, looking and listening, feeling they are there just for me! The other day I heard a rustling, saw what I thought was a couple of birds hopping around. I could see movement, but little else showed in the shadows and tangles that the trees and downed limbs made. 

Nature’s tangles bring shelter.

Small creatures find homes.

People create stories

as imaginations roam.

                Linda Baie ©

Poetry Friday - What I Learned

             It's Poetry Friday, and Ruth is hosting HERE on her website,  There Is No Such Thing As A Godforsaken Town!  She's sharing a poem that seems as if it's for our Colorado wintry day, the first after multiple warm days, breaking records! It feels just right, so be sure to read her post!

            Thanks for hosting, Ruth!

The Pleiades 

             

      What I Learned Growing Up

Sometimes I would climb out a window

Onto the roof to watch the stars.

My grandfather taught me not to be afraid –

To look for goodness no matter when or where.

It waited to be found. 

 

Linda Baie © 

Say her name! Renée Nicole Macklin Good 

Pleiades Stock photos by Vecteezy

Poetry Friday - Be Bold!

 

Poetry Friday - For our new year - 2026

               It's Poetry Friday, and Catherine Flynn is hosting HERE on her website,  Reading to the Core!  She shares her poem that one can use as a guide for 2026, lovely to ponder as we start living the year! 

            Thanks for hosting, Catherine!

             I've been thinking about the impact one person can have on lives near and lives far, something that nudged me as I've had a lot of time recently with my grandchildren, Carter, who lives far away, but was here during the holidays, then Ingrid and Imogene who live near, and during "their" vacations, have helped me so much managing the bookstore's donations. It's been a busy time for everything, but donations continue to arrive, and my usual volunteers are busy with their own holidays and families. 

          Margaret Mead's words stay with me: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." Have the girls and I changed the world? No, yet I imagine they might later in their lives. However, they did change the bookstore's inventory, always needed. 

          Recently, I read a folk story about the robin. Perhaps you know it, but it is new to me. It appears to have some variations if you search for it.

 

         A Tale of Old

                      (to be so bold)

 

Praise this somber feathered friend 

winging home in dark of night.

 

A father and son shivered in their bedding,

fire’s embers weakening as they slept.

Robin noticed its light subsiding,

flew to see what could be kept.

Its fluttering wings returned fire to life, 

adding warmth to the strangers’ beds.

In the deed, it scorched its chest

earning its name, Robin Redbreast. 

                       Linda Baie ©

Stick Stock photos by Vecteezy