Poetry Friday round-up is with Carol today. Click to see more poetic goodness.
When you are standing in line for a book signing at ALA, you could meet your new best friend. This happened to me on Sunday. I was alone, not really paying much attention, when the woman standing next to me commented on my dress. This, of course, started a conversation. We were looking eye to eye and she could have been my sister from another mother. Her wheat-colored hair was tied in a bun on the top of her head. Her fair face was freckled like mine. And even her dress matched the very one she complimented me on.
I looked at her name tag, “Gienah.” She immediately pronounced it for me, “Gina,” and told me her father named her for a star. I said that sounds like a poem. The star is in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Gienah and I spent the next few hours together. Our list of signings matched, surprise, surprise. She fan-girls the same authors I do. We became each other’s photographer. We exchanged phone numbers and are still texting each other today. Making a new friend is so much fun.
Here’s the poem I wrote for her.
Her name is a star –Gienah–
eyes that sparkle with familiarity,
“Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
We must have been sisters once,
like the wings of the swan,
balanced and flying the night sky.Margaret Simon, (c) 2018
Bayou Song Blog Tour continues today at Ruth’s blog. She was inspired by my Ode to a Toad to write her own ode about the flamboyant tree. Check it out here.
Reflections on the Teche 
Making a new friend – what could be better? I love your poem and I’m so glad to get the opportunity to host your blog tour today! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
What a beautiful poem for a beautiful friend.
Margaret! What a treat! A new friend was special enough, but a poem! There are no words. Maybe one. Blessed.
Blessed is a just right word.
So sweet to write for her, Margaret. I love the thought of “two wings of the swan”!
It’s always amazing to me when the universe aligns and I meet someone that I know has always been supposed to be my friend. I love that you wrote a poem for her! I know she will love it too!
P.S. I forgot to say congratulations on your new book! Can’t wait to get my copy!
How special to write a poem for a new friend, Margaret. It is uncanny how similar you two appear to be. Kismet!
A serendipitous meeting how lovely, and a beautiful sensitive poem too–enjoy your new friendship!
What a great story! And your poem is lovely. It does sound like you “must have been sisters once.”
How lovely to celebrate the birth of a new friendship with a beautiful poem. I especially love “like the wings of the swan/ balanced and flying the night sky.” You’re really on a roll these days, Margaret!
What serendipity! Here’s to new friends and poetry as well!
Serendipity is right! Love your poem — beautiful ending!
I clicked over to this post, saw the photo, and thought, “This new friend actually LOOKS like Margaret!” Your mirror is a little more accurate than mine, I guess, because you saw it too. I love this idea for a poem and I think–if you were not busy with a few other things right now, that you could develop it *uite a bit further….”the wings of the swan,
balanced and flying the night sky.”
I’ve loved this story since you first told me about meeting her! Who knows..maybe I’ll have a similar experience @ ILA!