Join the Poetry Friday Round up at I think in Poems hosted by Betsy.
My handmade book of poems
One thing I enjoy about a long break is the time to be creative. I learned how to make a book recently and tried it out on Christmas Day using some paper my daughter gave me as a gift, covering mat-board, sewing pages together, and binding with colorful duct tape. Inside, I have glued copies of the poems I have written this winter break.
I challenged myself to write 10 poems over 2 weeks. I’m up to seven and have 3 more days. This challenge makes me look at life as a poet, finding poems everywhere. I wish I could live like this everyday, but most days the stresses of life get in the way.
Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I spent some time with my family in Mississippi. My sister took some pictures of the lake. I borrowed this one of two white egrets wading and wrote a poem to the image. I cannot seem to write a poem about nature without mentioning the Great Creator. I also grabbed some inspiration from this site, The Heron and Egret Society, that includes Mary Oliver poems about egrets. I borrowed the word scumbled and began, as Mary Oliver did, with the phrase, “Where the”
Photo by Beth Saxena
Egrets
Where the shoreline turns
hiding among the scumbled weeds,
two white egrets
take stealthy steps on stick-like legs.The wind passes them by.
The canopy of orange maple leaves
ignore this lightning flash of beauty.I observe them from a safe distance,
not sure if a prayer is waiting,
I release a breath: “Ah, me!”I can pay attention, say grace,
and praise you,
twin brush strokes of God.–Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
I just finished reading A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver, and your inspiration is clear! Love your “twin brush strokes of God.” I had twin brush strokes in one of my recent poems, too! Mine were clouds.
I must have been channeling Mary Lee and Mary Oliver!
I learned a new word, ‘scumbled’ from you, Margaret. I imagined something else, but now know what it is. Your poem is lovely, & I too like those ‘twin brush strokes’. When I was in Costa Rica we saw egrets in abundance so now when I see them, I am transported back to that trip. They are lovely. And, collecting your work over vacation in the homemade book is wonderful, a ‘gift’ to you!
Linda, I looked up scumbled and found it it an art term, even better. It still gets a red underline when I type it. So does ekphrasis, which is a lovely way to write poetry. Ah, Costa Rica, on my list.
We, on occasion, even see egrets up here in NH! I’ll remember your poem the next time I do!
What a creative break you are having. I bet it has given you immense satisfaction. Enjoy the last 3 days.
Margaret,
I’m fascinated by herons and egrets. I wish I lived somewhere where I could see them right now. Your poem took me there beside these two egrets taking, “stealthy steps on stick-like legs.” Loved the alliteration of that line.
Here’s another favorite:
“The canopy of orange maple leaves
ignore this lightning flash of beauty”.
Beautiful!
Cathy
Thanks for stopping by and for the tweet. One thing about living in the south is we see birds throughout the year. No snow, though. I am loving snow pictures, but I don’t know if I could tolerate it.
You captured me with this today. Not only do I love egrets (all waterfowl really) and Mary Oliver but now I love a new poem inspired and about both!
Thanks for hosting the round up today. It is so rich, this Poetry Friday world.
Love the connection to dear Mary Oliver – and those twin brushstrokes resonated with me, too.
Mary Oliver is my favorite poet; her connection with nature is so strong. I read Dog Songs and will give it to anyone who has a dog.
Ten poems in two weeks! That’s quite a challenge, and good for you for keeping up with it. I love going to other poets’ work and getting inspired (and even lifting a word or two to see where they take you – what a great word “scumbled” is!)
Scumbled is terrific–I thought you had invented it when I first read the poem. The online dictionary also gives a writerly example of scumbled:
2. To blur the outlines of: a writer who scumbled the line that divides history and fiction.
Good luck reaching your 10 poems!
Buffy, thanks for the extended definition. Somehow once you get going poems start popping up everywhere.
Your poems are so often like a deep breath of fresh air, Margaret. Your handmade book is aptly named as well.
Thanks, Michelle, that is high praise coming from such a refreshing poet.
What a fabulous project. And I love your words of explanation: “This challenge makes me look at life as a poet, finding poems everywhere.”
For me, paying attention and discovery have become more and more the reasons I write poetry. Such an outlook helps me live life to the full, enjoying the process as well as the final product. I hope you can carry your attitude into the workdays too.