Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.
Catherine Flynn, who blogs at Reading to the Core, recommended a book for writers, Rip the Page: Adventures in Creative Writing by Karen Benke. I bought the book. On page 31, one of my favorite poets, Naomi Shihab Nye, wrote a note to the writer. She writes, “Nothing is too small to notice.” So I take notice.
I notice the light,
how today
the first day of spring,
the light is brighterreflecting off the shiny Grumman canoe
propped against the satsuma tree,
reddening the shasta daisies
that just opened today
in time to say “Welcome spring.”This light
intensifies the green,
illuminates Spanish moss
that hangs like abandoned spider webs.This light ripples the bayou
in gentle wrinkles.
No rain in days,
so I water.The spray from the hose
rainbows–I remember…
how she loves rainbows.That’s how this light is:
full of itself, showing off,
making love with life.–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Reflections on the Teche 