Poetry Friday round-up is with Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference
What a thrill to be a part of this amazing collection of poems from all over our great country! This honor was made possible by the connections I’ve made in Poetry Friday. Because Amy Ludwig VanDerwater knows me, when J. Patrick Lewis was looking for a Louisiana children’s poet, she connected us. The poem I wrote, “Louisiana Bayou Song” became the title poem of my first poetry book published by UL Press this summer.
I also know many of the poets included in the collection, and if you read more Poetry Friday posts, you will find them, too. Today, Buffy Silverman’s post includes 4 poems from the book. Last week, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater posted her poem “A Note from the Trail.”
Here’s Linda Kulp Trout’s poem about Helen Keller. And Mary Lee has two poems included. Robyn Hood Black shared her poem, “Mural Compass.” If I find more, I will add the links into this post.
My poem sits on a two page spread that includes an amazing heron photograph and a heart-wrenching Katrina poem by the anthologist J. Patrick Lewis. I feel I am sitting among my poet-heroes.
Louisiana Bayou Song
Sometimes on the bayou in Louisiana
a storm rolls in quickly–
Cypress trees
sway to the sound.Sometimes on a quiet day
when the sun is high and hot
a heron happens by–
The bayou slows to the beat of his wading.The song of the bayou
can be as fast and frenetic as a Zydeco two-step
or as soft and slow as a Cajun waltz–
The bayou sings a song to me.Margaret Simon (c)
Reflections on the Teche 
You said it perfectly–“sitting among my poet-heroes.” Me too! Was Louisiana Bayou Song the inspiration for your book? It’s such a lovely welcome (and the photo that’s paired with it is perfect!)
Let me just say I’m green with envy! Congratulations on being in this gorgeous collection. The photo that accompanies your heartsong poem is stunning!
Green with envy here as well! Congratulations to you and to the many others whose work is showcased in this anthology. Love that final stanza!
Lovely and quiet and just what I needed right now…the beat of a heron’s wading.
Love those final words: “The bayou sings a song to me.” Congrats on being included in this anthology. Our library doesn’t have it yet, but it should! Is that Spanish moss hanging from the trees?
Yes. Spanish moss is everywhere around here.
I do love your poem. Congratulations on being in this wonderful book, Margaret, but even more, how great that it is the poem that started your collection. You never know the ending to the path that one walks down. This was a marvelous ending.
Neat connection between this poem and your book! It’s been such an exciting year for you :-)!
Thrilled to be among so many of MY poet heroes!
I am always excited to see more of this book. It looks amazing. Congratulations on your poem and all that it led to.
Gorgeous spread Margaret, it captures both the movement and pause in your poem–I look forward to reading it in the book, congrats!