Join the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge.
Open
My one little word
finds me;
open your eyes
to your own heart;
listen
to what she loves.
I painted a magnolia
in cadmium blue and crimson red.
Do you see the red and blue?
To make good art,
first you must see.
I saw the perfect magnolia
hanging in my neighbor’s tree,
the one ravaged by a hurricane,
yet today,this tree sings
its magnolia hymn to heaven.
Now I see, magnolia to magnolia,
critical eye turned off,
yes, beauty, art.
Make this art.
Who cares about appreciation,
glorification, success (whatever that means),
just create.
I see magnolia to magnolia–happiness.
This is all I need.
–Margaret Simon, written at Acadiana Wordlab May 17, 2014
Reflections on the Teche 