Poetry Friday round-up is with Jan at BookSeedStudio
With the start of a new year, I am trying to write a poem a day, or, at the very least, some ramblings in my notebook. I’m staying away from social media until I write. But I do check my email. I receive a poem-a-day from Jane Yolen. (You can sign up here.)
Jane’s poem begins each stanza with “The lake sings… It sings of…” Every day the bayou reflects the tone of the season. This morning as I write, the wind has turned cold, so I hear the echo of the whipping wind through the trees and the wind chimes clinging. On Jan. 6th when I wrote this poem, the bayou was still and calm. The trees were reflected perfectly in the water. The sun was warming the surface of the water.
Bayou Reflections, Jan. 6, 2018. M. Simon
The bayou sings of shadows,
reflections of trees
bare and still.It sings of rising sun
warming a surface
of sky on water.It sings of herons,
owls, mockingbirds,
a hawk flying high above.But most of all,
the bayou
sings of peace.
–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Reflections on the Teche 
Love your singing bayou, Margaret, and the photo is a perfect accompaniment. I can feel the tension slip away as I read and enter your world. Thanks!
Beautiful. What I so love about FB and the poets from different areas is that each one of us has nature’s beauty around and our own ways of expressing our love for that beauty. Thank you for this lovely poem.
I am taken to a place of peace when I read this. The image of a singing bayou is just so very lovely. I cannot experience the bayou except through what you share. I am a very lucky friend.
I love this. So relaxing and peaceful. But I also love how you took the first line of Yolan’s poem and created your own. Now I’m trying to figure out what I would write about…
Is this photo outside your backdoor? I’m thinking it is. What a peaceful scene you can rest your eyes upon every day! It’s amazing how different our worlds are. I appreciate the chance you give us to experience peace from this unique perspective, Margaret. Your poem is beautiful just like the landscape outside your house!
I love that you see this bayou every day, Margaret, and now show us through your poem how it ‘sings’. Nice to hear of the motivation from Jane’s poem, too. It’s a new day every day!
I’ve gained a sense of peace just from drinking in this water gift, Margaret. And then gift of the poem… Brava! to you for honoring your talent daily whether with an entire poem or jottings or doodles or a single choice word. I’ll bet JY will be honored that you’ve modeled one of hers. Weekend peace to you.
What a beautiful scene, captured in your words. A much-needed moment of peace.
I love the last two lines of your poem:
“the bayou
sings of peace.”
To find such quiet in the world around us is a gift. Happy New Year.
Your poem and photo give me shivers! Just beautiful.
I hope the bayou continues to “sing of peace.” Beautiful photo Margaret, the image and your poem resonate with peace and calm, thank you for these treasures!
Oh, to have inspiration that gorgeous right outside my window!
Beautiful! I can breathe in its peace as I read your poem and gaze on the photo. Thank you for giving a glimpse of its beauty.
Yum. Gorgeous photo, and lilting, lulling words.
A gift to all who stumble in over here, Margaret – THANK YOU!
You make magic with a perfect mentor poem.
Such a beautiful snapshot of your special place. Thank you for transporting me out of snowy northern MS to a sunny spot! (And thanks for inspiring my OLW for this year.) xoxo