Poetry Friday - Smiles in Various Ways

             Kat Apel at her blog hosts us today. Thanks, Kat for the somewhat good news of the fires receiving a bit of rain. Hoping that Queensland receives some soon, too. Kat also shares a fun poem with her own picture of a couple of possums and a different look at school because it's time in her part of the world for everyone to start the new school year--happy and exciting times ahead!

Starting in November, I've been reading a poem a day from Ted Kooser's Winter Morning Walks.  I love Kooser's poetry, his style, the way he writes about life, his metaphors, his "seemingly" easy way of talking to us readers. Kooser wrote these poems as he was recovering from surgery for cancer in 1998. He sent them on postcards to his friend Jim Harrison. I cannot remember how I learned about this particular book, perhaps someone shared it, perhaps in browsing at my local Indie? But I've loved it and it makes me look harder when I go out walking, too. Here is a taste of Kooser's words:

         from Rainy and cold:     "The sky hangs thin and wet on its clothesline"
       from Clear and at the freezing point, about his old willow: "sweeping the rusty roof of        
                                                            the barn/with the pale blue lacework of her shadow."
        from Gusty and forty at dawn: "Sunlight like honey this morning."

                                                                                                                                                                          There is a small lake in a park near me, where I walk often. It's elevated enough that I have a great view of the mountains while walking by the lake. I could see even more if I could fly! 
           If I would send poems on a postcard, here is one I would send.

With a Mountain View and Water Birds, too

I look, I listen, I watch them land--
splash, bump, glide.
They ignore me because
they own the sky, the water,
and the land.
It's cold today but remain they do.
The squawking and talking
makes me lonesome,
wishing I might glide along
to listen to the gossip, gleaning
some warmth from the sun.
             Linda Baie ©

              As I wrote in my recent Poetry Friday post, postcards give smiles, thus here are two more smiles I've received.  Thank you, Kay McGriff and Robert Ertman for these special words and images to send me happily into the new year.

from Robert, who tells me this photo was taken at the 

Washington DC Botanical Gardens:

Winterberry--

among fifty shades of brown

from Kay McGriff

stacks of books, rivers
of words beckon adventure
through the new year 

NPM19 - Day 29 - My Broom

   I've strayed from the book sometimes but enjoyed parts that did inspire me to write in new ways. 

Tabatha Yeatts has created a link to poems teachers and librarians can print for poetry month, titled "Poetry in The Halls". I'm grateful to be one of the poets!

Jama Rattigan has a post HERE with many poets' goals for April.

The Progressive Poem schedule can be found on the right.

First, I want to thank Irene Latham and Jone MacCullough for my wonderful postcards. It is a pleasure to receive "real" mail and when it's a poem, even better. (Click to enlarge.)

 















        I have told some people and written at other times about my penchant for sweeping with a broom. When sad, when frustrated, when overwhelmed, I usually find a porch or patio to sweep clean. In my old home, if cold, I swept the garage. Now without a garage, I brave even bad weather, bundling up, and sweep away (when needed). Thus, my poem.

Lament

My broom is dead,

here lies its head.

It swept away

my dust-fraught days.

Frustration pushed

out with a whoosh.

The broom and me,

my therapy!

Another broom

will take up room,

but I’ll recall

this one did all.

Linda Baie ©

Special Poem From Laura-The Poetry Swap

Poetry Friday, already past the twelfth day of Christmas, moving into cold January.  You can warm yourselves with all things poetic at No Water River, hosted so beautifully by Renee LaTulippe who is celebrating her one year blogging anniversary.  Congratulations Renee, and thanks for hosting.  

           In this past month I moved, as so many of you know.  With the move and the holidays, I  have opened many, many boxes, some in order to survive daily life, and some gifts from various wonderful family and friends.  The very first box received at my new home was from Laura Shovan, of Author Amok, my poetry swap partner.  In it were the sweetest things: some to eat and a hand knit (mostly red-favorite color) pair of fingerless gloves/arm warmers.  They are beautiful, as is the postcard poem that also was included.  My particular card is #1 in a project Laura has started, leading up to her birthday.  I am honored that I received the #1 poem in what I imagine that could be a wonderful book.  In the link, Laura shared the poem, but I'm going to share it again, with photos of the card.  Poems are meant to be shared, often!