Poetry Friday round-up is here today!
photo by Margaret Gibson Simon enhanced on Picmonkey
Revisiting Presence, my 2016 One Little Word, makes me think of poetry. Poetry is about presence. We capture a moment, a thought, an image in a single verse and sit with it in the presence of the poem.
This month’s Ditty challenge on Michelle’s blog, Today’s Little Ditty, is a persona poem, suggested by Laura Shovan.
A persona poem makes the poet (then the reader) see the world through the eyes of another person. Today, I am a featured poet on Penny Parker Klostermann’s blog. She has a series “A Great Nephew and a Great Aunt” in which she shares a poem after her nephew’s art. She also invites other poets to participate. I volunteered to write a poem from my nephew’s drum riff.
My nephew Jack, 11 years old, has been playing drums all his life. He owns his own drum set and is taking private lessons. He selected percussion as his instrument for band next year in middle school.
Jack and I, along with my sister Beth, had a Google hangout. I asked Jack to create his own drum riff, and I would write a poem to go with it. When Beth sent me the video, I was inspired to write a poem in Jack’s persona. I am sharing the poem here, but please click over to Penny’s blog to see the video of Jack on the drums.
The beat
starts in my toes,
startles my legs,
up-down
up-down!
My fingers feel the groove
until the tingling,
spine-riveting jolt,
budda-bump-bum
budda-bump-bump-bum,
is more than I can stand.
I must
I must
beat the drum!
by Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Jack’s first drum set
I am hosting the Poetry Friday round-up today. Please leave your link by clicking the button below.
Reflections on the Teche 
Thanks for hosting today, Margaret! Love your thoughts on poetry and “presence.” I look forward to visiting Penny’s great series and seeing/hearing how Jack has furthered his passion since this adorable pic.
[Terrific opening lines – a beat that startles!] :0)
I LOVE it, Margaret! Can’t wait to see the video on Penny’s blog, but even without it, I’m energized by the rhythm in your poem. That photo is also pure awesomeness.
[…] Poetry Friday and Hello Weekend, I see you hiding there! Thanks to Margaret at Reflections at the Teche for hosting this week down on Louisiana’s Bayou […]
I love the energy and music in your poem, Margaret. Makes me want to drum, too. I’m in this week with a persona poem inspired by Laura Shovan’s challenge on TLD. It’s called Colonize, and I also have a shout-out about Laura’s new book. Thanks for hosting and Happy Poetry Friday!!
Ooh, I like that startling beat! And I remember a little Jack at my house… now 16 year old Eric. Still drumming! I hope Jack has fun drumming in middle school. How lucky he is to collaborate with his aunt… and vice versa! Thank you for hosting Margaret, and for your presence in my life. xo
That first drum set image of musician Jack is so cool. He has a groovy aunt.
And I can feel the budda beat from your poem.
Appreciations for the alert on Penny’s series – I look forward to it.
I think you’ve captured the spirit of a drummer perfectly, Margaret! My son is also a drummer. All through school his hands and feet couldn’t resist tapping rhythms “… I must / I must / beat the drum!”
And thanks so much for hosting this week!
After your poem, I look forward to the video! Drumming is such an intense activity. It gets into your whole body. Very primal. And fun!
Enjoyed the poem and the pic of young Jack. Looking forward to seeing the video.
Thanks for hosting this week (my link goes live at 6 a.m. Friday morning)!
[…] Poetry Friday is hosted by Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche […]
I’m so thrilled to have you and Jack on my blog, Margaret. Your collaboration is perfection!
Love the pic of Jack and the persona poem. Cat wait for the video. Thanks for hosting today.
Oops, Can’t wait. Who knows, maybe the cat is waiting too!
This reminds me so of my brother, a drummer from his earliest years. Love the poem & the photo of your nephew. I’m looking forward to Penny’s post, too. Thanks also for hosting!
Some great rhythm, Margaret – I can totally picture a young boy (or girl!) banging away on their drums! Thanks for hosting, and I look forward to seeing the video of Jack! (My link doesn’t go live til just after midnight, by the way)
Margaret, thank you for hosting Poetry Friday and for the wonderful, rocking to the beat persona poem. I look forward to seeing the video too. The line in the begining of the blog, “We capture a moment, a thought, an image in a single verse and sit with it in the presence of the poem,” is such a reflective thought. Enjoy your weekend. (Can you please send me the directions on how to get the link up on my post for June 10th when I host Poetry Friday? Thanks.)
[…] the way, for more poetry, head over to Reflections on the Teche, where Margaret (who is literally in two places at once) is hosting Poetry Friday […]
Wonderful poem, and thanks for hosting!
Margaret, what a wonderful collaboration between you and your nephew! I love the budda-bump-bum of your poem and the way the beat inhabits the drummer. Thanks for sharing and also for hosting this week.
[…] guess what? Margaret is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Reflections on the Teche. If you’d like to know more about Poetry Friday, click HERE for an explanation by Renee […]
[…] Simon is hosting the Roundup at Reflections on the Teche. Swim over and check out the full menu of poetic goodness being shared in the blogosphere this […]
Thanks for hosting! My post fits with your meditation on presence!
Thanks for hosting, Michelle. I will look forward to viewing that video – although it will be hard pressed to top that photo. Priceless.
I love the last four lines of your poem, especially. Perfect.
[…] Fantin-Latour [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsPlease be sure to visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for the Poetry Friday […]
I am the mom of a drummer…and this makes me smile. That first set! He must be tickled that you wrote to his beat. Thank you for sharing this with us and for hosting today, Margaret. Happy Poetry Friday! x
Love it, and love the photo of the first drum set. 🙂 Thanks for hosting, Margaret!
I love your nephew’s clever drum set and the irresistible movement of the poem that celebrates his joy. Thank you for hosting!
Oh, what fun! I love the energy and rhythm of your poem, Margaret. And, thanks for hosting today!
Thank you for hosting us, Margaret! Your collaboration is charming, as is the photo. 🙂
Thanks for hosting, Margaret! The energy and enthusiasm in your poem are contagious!