Reflections on the Teche

SOLC26: Day 9: #TechePleinAir

March 9, 2026 by margaretsmn

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

Every year for the past twelve years, artists have come to town for the Teche Plein Air competition. In 2023, we hosted my cousin Andrew Liles, an architect from New Orleans. Andrew is back this year.

A Plein Air competition is one in which artists apply, are vetted by a judge, and spend time painting outside. All of the artwork has to be created within the time frame of the competition. The last time Andrew came, it was one of his first competitions. He only goes to ones within the state of Louisiana. Some of the artists here this week just spent a previous week in Florida. For some, this is what they do. Andrew has a day job. He is a professor of architecture at Tulane University.

On Saturday evening, the first day, Andrew and I were chatting about imposter syndrome. If you are involved in any kind of creative endeavor, imposter syndrome is real. As you read this, if you are a SOLC writer, you know what I mean. You never feel like you measure up. And standards are arbitrary. Likely, your own standard is higher than anyone else observing your work.

Right after this conversation, winners of the “quick draw” were announced. Andrew won second place. I screamed like a Price is Right winner.

The judge, Charlie Hunter from Vermont, said that Andrew made power lines look beautiful. He commented that he could see the artist’s hand in them. Who among you would notice power lines?

Andrew Liles and his second place painting of Church Alley, New Iberia Plein Air.

And the week has just begun. The final art show will be Friday night at the Sliman Theatre on Main Street. If you are in town, please stop by to see the incredible work of these amazing artists. Not an imposter among them.

On Sunday, Andrew painted from inside this old jail in Loreauville.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #techepleinair, Andrew Liles, Charlie Hunter, En Plein Air | 6 Comments »

SOLC26: Day 8: The Dawn Chorus

March 8, 2026 by margaretsmn

On my morning walk, I stopped to talk to a new-to-me neighbor. She’s lived in her house for a long time, but my route recently changed. I met her, but she already knows a good bit about me. (Small town)

We talked about my new board book (coming Tuesday), her new great granddaughter she wants a signed copy for, sound frequency healing, and gardens. She told me, “Did you know that the sound of the birds singing in the morning actually makes the plants open up and grow?”

As I continued my walk, I turned off my book on tape and turned on the Merlin app amazed by the number of birds around me. I spoke a poem into my notes app.

The Dawn Chorus

The songs of the birds wake my winter mind:
sparrow, wren,
small and mighty
in their announcement of spring.
A tickle of rain,
a wave from morning fleabane
Two turtles bobbing on a log
Stamens seem to say,
“Welcome! Welcome to this day!”

Margaret Simon, draft

Fleabane

Posted in Gratitude, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, birds, spring | 21 Comments »

SOLC26 Day 7: Gueydan

March 7, 2026 by margaretsmn

Yesterday for my teaching artist program I was sent to Gueydan, pronounced gay-dahn, 46 miles west of me in New Iberia. I was so excited to be doing my very first Chalk-a-bration workshop. I was also nervous because I would be working with little kids, K, 1, and 2.

The population of Gueydan is around 1,100. Everybody knows everybody. I was surprised to find that I did not see a black face. In one pre-k class, I counted 8 of the 14 children had blue eyes, and 2 of them were red heads. I didn’t ask the question, “Where are your black people?” But I was struck by it.

My husband conjectures that perhaps it’s a town where there was, historically, no slave labor. Today it is predominantly farmers who live there. Rice and crawfish are their major industries. It is also known as the Duck Capital. There’s an annual duck festival. (Louisiana towns each have a signature festival.)

My first group of kiddos were kindergarten. They were a trip! talkative, little focus, but absolutely adorable.

For the second group, second grade, I was better prepared, and they were more responsive. They actually knew about the seasons!

I read a poem from these three books, Firefly July, Poems for Every Season, and Ten-Second Rainshowers. We talked about words and senses. What do you see in spring?

The poem was a simple form:

Spring is ________
I see _________
I hear ________
I feel _________

Spring is __________
I taste __________
I smell _________
Spring is _________

Spring is beautiful
I hear birds chirping
I see butterflies
I feel happy

When I left the school, I went to the only real restaurant in town, Cafe Veiller. I was the only customer in the place, so I struck up a conversation with the owners. They told me a little bit about the town. They were friendly and happy people who plan to buy a house in the area. They said many of the people who live there are retired because the cost of living is so much lower than other areas.

I enjoyed my adventure to Gueydan, a friendly and happy place.

Rice mill on the Main Street in Gueydan, LA.

Posted in Chalk-a-bration, Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing | Tagged chalkabration, Gueydan, student poems, Teaching Artist | 14 Comments »

SOLC26: Day 6: Poetry Friday Becoming

March 6, 2026 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Karen Edmisten.

I did not do my own assignment. I kept putting it off with excuse after excuse. This month I posed what I thought would be a simple, easy challenge for my Inklings writing group, “Write a poem using the word becoming.”

I searched my notebook, my Google Docs, and no miracle there. I simply had not written to my own prompt. Last night I decided to take inspiration from fellow Inkling Linda Mitchell and write a haiku sonnet. (She had shared hers at our meeting last weekend.) Form does not always become a poem.

Is it cheating to use a repeating line? After playing with the title “Becoming Spring”, I wrote the title “Becoming Beautiful”. Almost daily, my youngest daughter sends new photos of my newest grandson. Yesterday she sent this one with the text, “Someone had a cute spurt today.” We all marvel at how this baby just gets more and more adorable.

Nevertheless, here is my down-to-the-wire draft of a haiku sonnet for this cutie.

Becoming Beautiful

You are born with it
in the deep blue of the sea
you glisten like gems

You are born with it
eventually you smile
at your mother’s stare

You are born with it
shine like the full blood moon
a friend to the sun

You are born with it
because that is who you are
someone’s true love

No need to apologize
Be beautiful as you are

Margaret Simon, for Sam, draft

Check out the brilliant ways Inklings responded to this prompt:

Mary Lee @ A(nother) Year of Reading
Linda @A Word Edgewise
Molly @Nix the Comfort Zone
Heidi @my juicy little universe
Catherine @ Reading to the Core

Posted in being mamére, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #beingmamére, haiku sonnet, Inklings challenge | 17 Comments »

SOLC26: Day 5: Spiritual Thursday Strength

March 5, 2026 by margaretsmn

Leigh Anne Eck is rounding up the Spiritual Thursday posts today. She has asked us to write about her One Little Word, Strength.

I think of my father during the season of Lent. He would always try to take something on rather than give something up. He felt that by practicing his faith more fully during Lent, he would grow in strength. He was a reader and a thoughtful theologian.

I have joined my church’s Wednesday evening service and study group. We are reading Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. Some people in the group are having a hard time getting used to her language which can be profanity, yet that is one of the things that attracts me to her. She has spunk!

For Lent, Nadia is promoting the hashtag #40daysofgoodshit. When I used it on a few posts, I certainly got the attention of my friends. I am not one to curse, but one of my favorite sayings is “shit happens” because it’s so true.

So I am leaning in to the idea of noticing good stuff this Lent. A gallery of good shit:

Kim Johnson is writing Cento poems during the March Slice of Life Challenge. Cento poems use lines from other poems. Here I am attempting to create a poem with lines from Accidental Saints.

You are Not “The Blessing”

Silence
felt holy and grave
I am defenseless
So there I was
Christ’s presence in the hungry being fed
No one gets to play Jesus
We experience Jesus
When did we ever feed you, Lord?
All we have is a promise that our needs are holy
His kingdom is here

(Cento of words and phrases from Accidental Saints chapter 5)

Posted in Slice of Life, Spiritual Growth, Writing | Tagged #40daysofgoodshit, Accidental Saints, cento, Nadia Bolz-Weber, spiritual journey | 11 Comments »

SOLC26 Day 4: This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Blue Ribbon

March 4, 2026 by margaretsmn

Weekly (almost every) on Wednesday I post a photo as a prompt for poems. I invite you to craft a small poem response and type it into the comments. Please encourage other writers with your comments. This space is meant to be a low stakes drafting space.

Somewhere on Instagram I saw a poetry prompt to begin each line with because. I decided to give it a try today.

Tie a Blue Ribbon Round the Branch

Because she was running and lost it in the wind.

Because his eyes are still blue

Because we are walking together in silence

Because rain is falling softly

Because the moon is full tonight

Because there is a war and someone is waiting at home

By Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged #smallpoems, Friendship Park, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 10 Comments »

SOLC Day 3: Let Us March

March 3, 2026 by margaretsmn

On Friday, I taught a writing workshop around my book Were You There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet. (Click the link to find out more about the book.) I had sent out a few feelers with people I knew to get gigs around Black History Month. I was excited and a little daunted to teach a senior AP class at Ascension High School. But the kids were great! They were engaged from the start and had limited experience with poetry.

The found poem form is a wonderful form to use with students new to poetry. They have the words in front of them. It takes some higher level thinking to synthesize the words into a new text, a poem.

We were using the text of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech at Selma at the conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965. Four of the students shared their poems with me.

Untitled
by Martha O.

Our divided masses began awakening,
began uniting

to meet this threat, to follow the roots

today the state of the American dream will be transformed

Let us march
Let us march
Let us march on in honor, in struggle
and in faith

Transform dark yesterdays into
bright tomorrows

As I Stood on a Stage

By Rorie W.

As I stood on a stage,
all I can see is people.
Blacks and whites,
some young, some old.
Some shoot me angry glares with snarling lips,
some look as if I hold their fate in my hands.

As I look out into the mass,
I am filled with emotions plenty.
Fear and anger, but most importantly hope.

I hope for the day of unity, the day of peace
so, when I stand on the stage,
I don’t see only Black, only white,

All I can see is people.

The Right to Vote
By Luke H.

They revised the doctrine of white supremacy
laws of the South made it a crime to come together as equals.
That’s what happened when the South threatened to unite.
We are on the move now.
Ghettos?
Let us march!
Social and economic depression?
Let us marchLet!
Ballot boxes?
Let us march!
Until brotherhood becomes more than a meaningless word.
Let us march!

Let Us March
by Cameron A.

I want to tell the city of Selma
We are on the move now
Let us continue our triumphant march
to the realization of the American dream.

Let us march on segregated housing.
Let us march on poverty.
Let us march on ballot boxes.

We are still in for a season of suffering
in many counties of Alabama,
many areas of Mississippi,
many areas of Louisiana.

We must come to see that the end we seek
is a society at peace with itself.

That will be the day of man as man.

Please leave a comment to encourage these students.

Gator mascot greeted me at the entrance to the school. Yikes!

Posted in Teaching, Writing | Tagged Ascension Episcopal School, Dr. Martin Luther King, found poetry, student poems | 7 Comments »

SOLC Day 2: The Batture

March 2, 2026 by margaretsmn

Granddaughter Stella (right) chats with friend Holland.

On Saturday, my daughter organized a celebration of her birthday to be at The Batture. I had not heard of this place and, frankly, have had a hard time remembering the name. Have you ever heard the term?

My research turned up this description: “Batture refers to the alluvial land between the low-tide of the Mississippi and the levee. The word “batture” comes from the French word “to beat,” referring to the land “beaten” by the river. It is a land formed by accretion; as the mighty Mississippi moves on her way to the Gulf of Mexico, she leaves behind deposits of land which, over time, form the batture. Heavy flooding can cause the batture to increase significantly in a matter of a few years. Maps from the 19th century show that the batture doubled in size in less than a hundred years.” (The Law Library of Louisiana)

This space which makes up a 10-acre tract of land has been claimed and cleaned up for a park. It’s amazing, really. Clean! There were people working constantly to clean up after messy guests. (Our grandchildren)

Open space for active children to fly kites, toss balls, play soccer, dig in sand, a natural playground.

Food Trucks! We ate a yummy burger and Brussels sprouts from Bub’s. Grant, my son-in-law, stood in line for more than an hour to get the very last tray of crawfish.

The entrance to the Batture in New Orleans, LA.

Industrial, modern design along with a small petting zoo, fresh gardens, and colorful Adirondack chairs.

“Front porch of the Mississippi”

I think my daughter chose it because she could have grown-up time talking with her friends while her children played and ate their first snoballs of the season. My favorite part was Sammy snuggles. He’s my youngest grandson (7 months) who still loves to be held.

My niece, Taylor, gets some Sammy snuggles.

What new places are you ready to explore this spring?

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged family, New Orleans, The Batture Park | 12 Comments »

Slice of Life Challenge Day One (SOLC: 1) Crochet Butterflies

March 1, 2026 by margaretsmn

Get ready, readers, today is the first day of March which means for the next two months I will be posting daily. In March for the Slice of Life Challenge hosted by the Two Writing Teachers and in April for National Poetry Month.

In the early days of February I was babysitting my grandson in New Orleans. I went on a walk around their neighborhood and found a cute Little Free Library. In the box, there was a small clear ziplock holding a crocheted butterfly.

I crochet and have a crochet group I attend at the local Methodist Church. I brought this along to see if anyone could figure out how it was made. We discussed it. Then I realized that YouTube would be my best bet for finding the pattern. https://youtu.be/0roMpWheBec?si=oHX52nLBuufWV7GL

I made one using some left over rainbow yarn.

Isn’t it adorable? I decided all my grandchildren will be getting butterflies in their Easter baskets.

Do you have a hobby that is soothing and fun to share with others?

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged crochet, hobby, Little Free Library, SOLC2026 | 12 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Open Write

February 26, 2026 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is here today! Please scroll to inLinkz to post your link.

In addition to Poetry Friday, one of my favorite places to hang out is Ethical ELA during the monthly Open Write. This month we were hosted by Stacey Joy and Seana Hurd Wright.

I am sharing three poems I wrote in response to their prompts.

I Believe in Morning

reflections
bayou glows
heron hunts

chickadee
dee-dee-dees
feeder swings

doodle curls
on my lap
All is well

“Let us open and open without knowing how” Billy Merrell from “Moth” ( found in Dictionary for a Better World)

Like the butterfly in spring, Let
your heart know the us
of the universe: We open
the screen door and
swallowtail flies to the open
skies without
anyone holding on or even knowing
where it was going, just how.