Click over to Mary Lee’s site for more poetry.
Fran McVeigh gave me a magnet at NCTE: “Explore new possibilities.” I’m considering the word explore for my 2018 One Little Word, but for today, it inspired the title for a poem requested by Carol Varsalona for her #AutumnAblaze gallery. She saw my photograph on Facebook from a recent canoe voyage on the Bayou Teche (pronounced “tesh”). I loved the photo, too, and was resistant to writing about it. I want you to know this is still in draft, so you can leave soft critique in the comments.
Duperier Bridge on Bayou Teche, New Iberia, LA. photo by Margaret Simon
Explore New Possibilities
On the water,
the canoe turns
toward a horizon
I do not know.I paddle-pull
under a bridge,
listen to the rumble-
a passing carlike thunder from rolling clouds.
Under a bridge
where teenagers
huddle close and smoke,where wooden gates
direct water
as if one could
contain such a wild thing,a golden sunset
draws me toward
a new destination.–Margaret Simon
Mary Lee Hahn invites us to join #haikuforhealing. Inspired by the same photo, a haiku:
where road meets water
a bridge, a golden sunset
a new horizon.
–Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
As if one could contain such a wild thing, A great line!
I pondered that line and decided to leave it in, just because I liked it. It hints to the idea that this bayou swells well over its boundaries. Thanks.
Hi Margaret & appreciations for a paddling image & poem that is not the usual
pristine nature note. Like Linda my pulse quickened at water/wild thing imagery. It’s especially potent because of the Teche region’s reckoning with superstorms.
I like being drawn to a new destination…nice, Margaret. Thinking about your OLW, I see!
I like how this poem evokes the unknown possibilities of exploration–even in a place that might seem familiar. Sometimes a change of perspective (like being under the bride instead of driving over it) makes things seem new and unknown.
Yep, I too love the line “as if one could contain such a wild thing.” Lovely poem, Margaret.
I’m with Linda and Buffy, swooning over the ‘wild thing’ line. I like “paddle-pull” very much, too! Your photo is gorgeous.
I love it. I’ve been thinking about next year’s OLW, too. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I like all the same strong lines as others, and now for the “soft critique”–
this stanza?
a golden sunset
draws me toward
a new destination.
Cut it.
Let “as if one could contain such a wild thing” be the last line, which makes YOU, the paddle-puller, become the wild thing that cannot be contained, who follows the water (or sunset) to the unknown horizon. (and also avoids a squishy hallmarky ending to a really great, muscular poem). Great photo, too.
SEE you tonight…I got a webcam!
You are so spot on. I can’t tell you how many poems I’ve written in which the last stanza gets overly sappy. Thanks!
I like coming in late so I can learn from all the comments. Heidi is a master, isn’t she!
And I’ve come even later… I like all the sounds you are evoking in this poem–
“paddle-pull” “rumble,” “thunder”–lots of movement via these sounds. And a gorgeous image too, thanks!
in the dark underneath,
one can’t help
but look at the golden heights
There’s another haiku for your beautiful photo. I like your poem.
Love the spread of poetry inspiration.