Poetry Friday posts with Laura Purdie Salas at Writing the World for Kids
While summer seems far away as I end my eighth week in school, my poetry swap gifts continue to come. Jone and Iphigene both contacted me by email to say their poetry gifts were late. I was late, too, so I didn’t mind. In fact, I love receiving a surprise in the mail…anytime. Iphigene’s gift included this beautiful painting of the bayou. She lives in the Philippines, so she had to use images from my blog to imagine this scene. She definitely captured the peacefulness.
Bayou Teche by Iphigene Daradar. Acrylic on paper.
This is what Iphigene said in her note to me about composing the poem:
“When I was conceptualizing the poem, I thought I’d write about the Teche, but as I read your recent blog posts, the idea of impossible, possible, and overcoming kept surfacing. In the end, I wrote a poem with those words in mind. The tone of the poem, too, is not my usual. It was influenced by the biopic of Emily Dickinson called A Quiet Passion.”
The Extent of Our Souls
By Iphigene (For Margaret)
There is an extent by which our soul stretches
One that is measured by words
Short phrases echoed through
In the silence of our mindsIn the loose utterance of
‘stupid’ and ‘can’t’
Mingled in laughter, our skin
Think as nothingOur souls call as truth
Like a seed planted
In perfect day, bears root
Bears bloom, each dayAnd so, our soul, fits itself
In the limits of our bodies
Brittle for the measure—
Impossible.However,
As those who know words
Who play with the scales of phrases
Our measures change with space
And rightly placed punctuationI’m possible.
Feel the impossible stretch
And the soul re-tells its truth
Stretching to ‘greatness’
And knowing it can.Bearing roots that bloom
Perennial in the hearts
Of those who try to stretch
Their souls to possibility
and its truth.
This week I was blessed by a gift from Jone MacCulloch. She takes beautiful photographs. She sent an amazing close-up of a dahlia and her poem printed on a plaque that stands. In addition to the photo-plaque, she sent a copy of her book Solace in Nature which is a collection of her photos and poems.
photo and poem by Jone MacCulloch
Here is a photo and poem from her book, Solace in Nature.
winged fighter pilots
dive bomb daily
over sweet nectar
by Jone MacCulloch
Reflections on the Teche 
Wow! What a way to savor summer. You are so fortunate to receive words from friends so thoughtful and creative.
“I’m possible.
Feel the impossible stretch
And the soul re-tells its truth
Stretching to ‘greatness’
And knowing it can.”
A thousand dewdrop thank yous to you for sharing.
What a gorgeous and sensitive poem by Iphigene, and her painting is beautiful. I love the interweaving wordplay with bearing and stretching the soul.
Jone’s bittersweet poem and beautiful hummingbird image evoke poignant thoughts about our contemporary times. Her dahlia dew dropped poem and image are lovely. Thanks for this rich post Margaret!
Gorgeous words, punctuating my morning with joy. I feel as if I’ve walked in a dew-wet field myself. Gorgeousness.
Love Iphegene’s painting and & poem – both are beautiful, calm, and comforting. And Jone’s work is equally beautiful.
Mmm-mm! I’m relaxed and feeling renewed! Lucky you getting such goodness from your mailbox.
Imogene’s thoughts are powerful:
Feel the impossible stretch
And the soul re-tells its truth
Stretching to ‘greatness’
Jone’s photos are perfectly clear and vibrant.
What special gifts you received, Margaret, to inspire you to create.
Being late made these gifts all the more wonderful, Margaret. Gorgeous images with equally gorgeous word images. How nice to begin autumn with thought-filled poetry just for you.
Wow! Gorgeous poetry and images. Such rich, sustaining treasures awaited you in your mailbox!
What a bonanza of beauty. We are all stretched and possible by our connections :>)
Such gorgeous art and words and poetry. What a treasure to find in your mailbox!
That’s what the swap is all about!
Iphigene’s poem reminded me of a quote I read last week: “Everything is possible. The impossible just takes longer.” (Dan Brown)
Well those were sure worth the wait, Margaret! And “Bearing roots that bloom/
Perennial in the hearts/Of those who try to stretch/Their souls to possibility and its truth.” Wow!
Thanks for sharing all these soul-enriching words and images. I’m especially struck by the hummingbird photo. What marvelous gifts you’ve received!
Gorgeous gifts of the heart!