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
Noticing is everything. The biggest habit we need to break is not paying attention. Be present.
Just right love song for Spring.
This is beautiful, Margaret. It’s full of so many phrases that take me right into your yard.
Still waiting for a touch of Spring in Ohio….thank you for sharing your slant with us.
I can feel the peacefulness from your writing. Lovely.
You have beautifully captured spring! I wish you could send a slant of light my way. We have had a dreary start to our spring break.
This ode to light positively shimmers, Margaret. I especially love the movement —light bouncing from canoe to tree to daisies, rippling and wrinkling the bayou, spraying rainbows. That lusty closing stanza is the perfect ending.
Red Shasta daisies and the rainbow memory intrigues me. Beautiful, Margaret.
I recently took a pic of one of my bookshelves with the morning light streaming in. I’m trying to sketch it, not easy, but I loved the light. Your poem celebrates those extraordinary glimpses of beauty that light makes: “This light ripples the bayou in gentle wrinkles.” Lovely, Margaret!
[…] sparks and idea in another and so on. The chain is really never ending. This morning, my friend Margaret Simon was inspired by Naomi Shihab Nye’s statement that “nothing is to small to notice.” She […]
Your lovely poem and pictures encourage all of us to follow your lead, and that of Naomi Shihab Nye, to pause to take in the moment and draw all that light and color into ourselves. Thank you for such an exquisite sharing today.
You have taken Naomi Shihab Nye’s words and brought it to life with this poem. So many specific words add to the visualization of this world.
I love that my post inspired you, which in turn inspired me! Your entire poem is gorgeous, Margaret, but I especially love that last stanza. Light, “full of itself, showing off, / making love with life.” Sigh.
“Nothing is too small to notice.” Such wise and true words for us writers. You wrote a beautiful poem, Margaret. Thank you!
Love that last verse!
Beautiful words Margaret. And now I need to go check out the book. Thank you!
I’m with Tara, that last verse is devine…..Light does make love to life. Gorgeious.