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 - Today With the Poetry Pals!

     It's Poetry Friday, and Denise Krebs is hosting HERE at her blog, Dare to Care.   She wrote last week that she's planning to join the Poetry Pals' end-of-month challenge, too. And, she has, showing us both the gratitude for rain in a drought-laden landscape and a raucous shout for LIBERTY! 

          Here's what they wrote: 

"Here’s the scoop: We’re taking advantage of the rich bounty of the Poetry Friday Universe and writing ____is A Word Poems, wordplay invented by poet Nikki Grimes and shared by Michelle Barnes. Here’s the roundup from our first foray in October 2021, which was a lot of fun. Our words will be ‘in conversation’ somehow."

 Thanks for hosting, Denise! 

  

          I imagine one may think it's trite to say I love the challenges words offer. I do crosswords and other puzzles, get my daily word from Wordsmith, and consistently wonder how anyone learning English can do it without pounding the walls while studying. Many words don't seem to follow consistent spelling rules, those homophones, like they're, their, and there. And, they constantly challenge with varied pronunciations, like "We live in a city." or "We're going to a  live concert." Those are called heteronyms. 

        For a mysterious reason, a word with two disparate meanings popped into my head, another challenge for those learning English. I found numerous ones, all termed homographs, but stuck with this one!  What a lot of fun to really concentrate on Nikki's, and the Poetry Sisters' challenge, a departure from our world today, at least for a while! Thanks all!

 

When A Word Clashes

 

Two words woke me last night, 

No single voice, though they own the same letters.

 

Stalk can be an action word,

creeping in, flaming with skullduggery.

“I’ll snatch a part of your life, following your path.

I’ll stalk a few steps behind; watch out!”

 

Stalk can be a farmer’s word,

with gentler tone, whispering, 

“Return to the corn with your grandfather,

Walk along as you both touch the leaves,

Feel the burst of life protected by this stalk.”

The tassel tickles my fingers,

and my grandfather picks me up to reach

the tiptop of the spire. He’s proud to show me

how good his stalks are growing, how good it will be

to slather their fruit with butter and bite in. 

 

Linda Baie © 

Poetry Friday - Something New Discovered

   It's Poetry Friday, and Jan Godown Annino is hosting HERE at Bookseed Studio. She's sharing a poetic basket filled with music, book recommendations, and special calls for poetry! Thanks for hosting, Jan! 

  

            Many of you know that I volunteer at a unique used bookstore. It's a non-profit run entirely by volunteers. I am the volunteer coordinator, and I am in charge of donations with one other person. The store, with the exception of a few new books purchased for one "new" shelf, has three floors of all, used, books. Each week, donations come in, often so many with our small storage available that we must close the donations until the next Friday. On Thursday afternoons, my crew, some older retirees and several teens, go through the books and organize them in various ways for shelving. It's hard work, but also amazing and wonderful to see what arrives in the boxes, mostly gems, but some junk that sadly includes books falling apart and smelly! In all, though, we manage to have hundreds of books in our inventory through the kindness of many.

          I've taken the Poetry Sisters' challenge this end of January. Here's what Tanita wrote last month! 

           "The Poetry Sisters met on Sunday to map out our writing prompts for the year. We have a plan and a prompt for January. Would you like to try this month's challenge? We will be writing a tanku, a poem that begins with a tanka, followed by a haiku written in response. A tanku can be any length, but each verse should be written in response to the one before. You can find an example at Rattle: Poetry. Are you with us? Good! Please share your poem on January 31st in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. We look forward to reading your poems!"

  Don't Call It Work

 

I’m at the bookstore

sorting out book donations,

keep curious eyes

for ephemera discards.

Imagination ignites.

 

Maui Boarding pass.

thank you letter to Emma.

Groceries to buy;

only one makes me smile –

something special for Sam.

Piled in a basket,

the guesses only maybes –

characters appear.

 

                     Linda Baie © 

 

        I've received more marvelous postcards, will thank everyone and share next week! The kindness shared keeps the dark away!

Poetry Friday - Poetry Pals Gather Us

   

       It's Poetry Friday, and Tanita S. Davis is hosting HERE at {fiction! instead of Lies}! It's time for a Poetry Sisters challenge, 

       Here's is the challenge I copied last month from Laura Purdie Salas: 

            If you’d like to write with us in November, here’s our mission: Pluck a line or a theme from Jane Hirshfield’s “Two Versions,” and let that inspire your poem. I don’t find an online version easily available, so I’ll give you the first two lines:

“In the first version I slept by a stream.
All night awake things traveled near.”

Be sure to share your poem on Friday, November 29th, and use #poetrypals if you share it on social.

Stream at Longcarne Farm -
geograph.org.uk - 3958015.jpg

      I wrote about my husband last time, too. November and December bring more memories of him. This year's end bring his birthday, other family celebrations, and the holidays, so full of the traditions and special times we created together. Here is the poem, dear Poetry sisters, from the prompt you gave us.

More of November

 

“In the first version, I slept by a stream.

I dreamed.
And there you were, cuddled close,

Warming me, keeping us safe 

From the world’s dangers.

Then, the second version took over.

My back chilled.

You were swept away, they said

Into a journey all alone, no goodbyes

That time, but this I know: 

Someday, I’ll find the right stream,

and we’ll lie down together, 

Like that first version!

            Linda Baie ©

Poetry Friday - Poetry Pals Challenge - "Looking"

    It's Poetry Friday, and Irene Latham is hosting HERE on her blog Live Your Poem.  She's sharing about a new anthology coming soon, a poignant poem about a youthful mistake, and a lovely Artspeak poem, also about youth! Thanks for hosting, Irene!

       Tanita Davis shared this last month: Here is the #PoetryPals challenge for next week, the last of September!

             Poetry Peeps! You’re invited to our challenge for the month of September! Here’s the scoop: We’re wandering through Wallace Stevens’ “13 Different Ways of Looking…” at something. Maybe it’s not 13 ways – maybe it’s only seven. Maybe it’s not a blackbird or anything alive, but something inanimate. Whatever happens, your way of looking will be different than mine, and I’m here for it. Are you in? Good! You have a month to craft your creation and share it on September 27th in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals.

             Be sure you find all the #PoetryPals to see what they have seen!   Tanita, Laura,  Mary Lee,  Liz, Sara, Tricia, and Kelly.  Thanks for the prompt!

13 Ways of Looking at Leaves

 

1)   The tiniest hint of green, now seen–

That’s my view of leaves in spring.

 

2)   Sunlight meals leads to unfurling;

trees, with moisture, bring more curling.

 

3)   Each one chooses shapes they need

to bring in sunlight for a leafy feed.

 

4)   Soon, leaves shade for kids in play,

and blankets spread for picnic days.

 

5)   While looking long, green pigment fades.

Leaves start their shift to fall parades.

 

6)   A blast of color signals change;

sleepy leaves must rearrange!

 

7)   Conserving water in colder climes,

so trees release the leaves on time.

 

8)   They swirl and twirl when breezes sigh,

a performance finale of goodbyes.

 

9)   Now they lie at feet below,

bringing the autumn crunch I know.

 

10) Goodbyes from trees already said;

time for raking into flower beds!

 

11) While elders meet their mulching fate,

winter comes; new buds await.

  

12) When springtime bursts, I spy leafy newborns.

The cycle’s recharged, no longer forlorn.

 

13) Again they unfurl, like children grow.

Hungry leaves munch sunshine. Hello! Hello!

 

 Linda Baie ©

Poetry Friday - Seasonal Happiness

       It's Poetry Friday, and Susan is hosting HERE on her blog, Chicken Spaghetti.  If you're thinking of having lunch anytime soon, I suggest that you run right over to Susan's post and have "Lunch with Laura". A certain poet named David Moody has prepared it! Thanks for hosting, Susan!

        I know, I know. Autumn does not officially start until September 22nd, yet here at home in Denver, night is arriving sooner. It's dark in the morning when I rise, and some leaves are changing. . . And, of course, schools have started! It's a lovely time to be outside, glorying in the late-summer blooms. The cosmos and the black-eyed susans, among others, fill gardens, aiming to have the last laugh!

       Here is my response to the challenge from the Poetry Sisters to join them in writing ekphrastic poems. Thanks to  Tanita, Laura,  Mary Lee,  Liz, Sara, Tricia, and Kelly. Make sure to stop by and read their posts! Find more poems from this prompt tagged with #PoetryPals. 

Trees start their whispers:

“Hey, leaves, okay to let go."

‘Til next year, Summer.”

Cicadas applaud.

 

Linda Baie ©

  

Poetry Friday - Wabi Sabi - My Broom

 

created by Linda Mitchell

It's Poetry Friday, and Tricia Stohr-Hunt is hosting HERE on her blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect. Thanks for hosting, Tricia! 

           I've read a book that discusses Wabi-Sabi and have that special picture book of the same name. If you don't know it, here's a picture. The way some discuss the concept seems like an un-definition, a feeling, a 'thing', that is impermanent, something that is not necessarily thought to be beautiful, yet has beauty. I am not an expert, but trying out the feeling this time for the challenge by the Poetry Sisters, here at the end of June! 

          This month, the Poetry Sisters have given us this challenge: In June, we’re writing poems about Wabi-Sabi, with Wabi-sabi as the title. In Andrew Juniper's book Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence, wabi sabi is defined this way. 

Wabi-sabi is an aesthetic that finds beauty in things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. Taken from the Japanese words wabi, which translates to less is more, and sabi, which means attentive melancholy, wabi-sabi refers to an awareness of the transient nature of earthly things and a corresponding pleasure in the things that bear the mark of this impermanence.

             In his book Wabi-Sabi Simple, Richard Powell described wabi-sabi as a philosophy that acknowledges a lifestyle that appreciates and accepts three simple truths: "Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect." Will you write with us? Good! You have a month to craft your creation and share it in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. We look forward to reading your poems!  

          I'm unsure if it's okay to share a picture, too, but I have!

Wabi Sabi

My beloved broom

sweeps away

leaves blown onto the porch,

offers time 

      for thoughts of the day,

      the week,

      sometimes even a life.

It brings a sweet swish of a sound–

my background music.

 

Linda Baie ©

          Thank you, Poetry Sisters, it was satisfying to write about my broom. I am a sweeper at heart!

Poetry Friday - Body Parts - Unseen, but Felt

 

created by Linda Mitchell

It's Poetry Friday, and Janice Scully, is hosting HERE on her blog, Salt City Verse.  Her post today celebrate's Carol Labuzzetta's new poetry anthology and showcases some wonderful nature poems from it! In a bit of a chuckle, Janice also writes about patience and, yes, impatiens! Thanks for hosting us, Janice! 

The challenge here at the end of May from the #PoetrySisters: "In May we’re writing in the style of Lucille Clifton and are writing poem about body parts ala "Homage to My Hips." Are you in? Good! You have a month to craft your creation and share it on May 31st in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. We look forward to reading your poems!" 

       Whew, like Lucille Clifton! That's my first thought. But I read many poems by her and wondered what and where I could find my words. Then May happened. Here's what I have, no picture, only reflecting. I've had three friends pass away this May, full of sadness for their families and for me, too. I am grateful beyond measure to have known each one and had many joyful times with each, though it has been a bit overwhelming to know each one is gone and to find ways to think of the loss. I have written of what has been a special  "body part" during this month.

This Body Part, My Heart

 

Despair stays wrapped 

and stored away

at the bottom of my heart.

Sometimes it startles me

by mingling with joy and gratitude.

I know my life is more than 

a box of despair.

Yet it appears

because I care.

 

               Linda Baie ©

Poetry Friday - With the Poetry Pals

 It's Poetry Friday, and Tricia Stohr-Hunt is hosting HERE on her blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect. This time she and her other poetry sisters are writing pantoums. Here is her explanation:  "The pantoum is a Malaysian verse form comprised of a series of quatrains, with the second and fourth lines of each quatrain repeated as the first and third lines of the next. (I chose to rhyme though it is not required.) You can learn more about this form at The Philadelphia Writer's Workshop and Masterclass. And today, Tricia has written her pantoum to her sweet dog, a loving goodbye. Thanks for hosting, Tricia! 

Thanks for hosting, Tricia! 

            The Time is Here

 

Clocks have chimed; it’s really time

to wander into April’s spring,

to welcome every sprout from seed,

be glad for birds traveling in by wing.

 

To wander into April’s spring,

feeling sunny beams anew,

be glad for birds traveling in by wing

is always one thing I will do.

 

Feeling sunny beams anew,

walking down a path unknown

is always one thing I will do,

delighting in the things I’m shown.

 

Walking down a path unknown

when April asks what more can be,

delighting in the things I’m shown

                                    perchance becomes – a potpourri.

                                                                                                      Linda Baie ©

Happy Poetry Month! It's Almost here!

If you'd like to get the Poetry month poster, go here!

Poetry Friday - About Piñatas - Sort of

 

            It's Poetry Friday, and Susan Thomsen is hosting HERE on her blog, Chicken Spaghetti for Poetry Friday.  Susan also has taken the challenge described below and written about the "Passaic piñata"! Thanks for hosting, Susan!     

         It's already the end of January - wow! Time really does fly! Tanita Davis of those creative Poetry Sisters wrote this at the end of December for this month's challenge:

 Poetry Peeps! You’re invited to our challenge for the month of January! Here’s the scoop: We’re writing ekphastic poetry on… piñatas. No, really. Those hollow-hearted paper beasts we love to beat might not be something you think are poem-worthy – usually – but you’ve NEVER seen piñatas like these. Featured on PBS’s fabulous Craft In America series, we’re celebrating the humble piñata as elevated by Robert Benavidez. Check out his work. Are you game? Good! Whichever of his creative creatures and absolutely out-there works of art that you choose, you have a month to craft your creation and share it on January 26 in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals.

       At the risk of saying what others must also be saying, these Piñatas are fabulous, though I can't imagine taking out a long stick to break them open! Surely it's a no-no! You can find the page of all of them here!

Grateful

 

pinatas mostly hold sweets to eat

now imagine they’re doggy treats

                                 for dogs deserve our gratitude                                

for warmth when cold in solitude

as hiking partners through the night

they give protection from a fright

and comfort when we stroke their coat

soft, inviting, worry antidote

when you need a body stretch 

instead of playing games like fetch

the latest in the best of show

their downward dog shows how to go

 

Linda Baie ©

            Thanks, #PoetrySisters for giving us wonderful challenges. This was fun and the pinatas. as I wrote earlier, too, are wonderful! 

             Last, thanks to those whose postcards I've received already! I'm saving them up for a big post later. They are a light in January!  ~Linda