See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life
Poetry Friday round-up is with Rebecca at Sloth Reads.
On Thursday morning, I got some shocking and scary news. My good friend who is battling cancer was air lifted to a larger, more equipped hospital. A message went out asking for prayers.
I recalled being air lifted almost 34 years ago when my then 4 month old daughter went into heart tachycardia. The medics placed me on the gurney and then laid her on top of me. As the helicopter beat through the air, my attention went to prayer. As I prayed begged, I remember feeling a physical presence with me, an actual laying on of hands, and my daughter’s heartbeat slowed. When we arrived at Oschner Hospital in New Orleans, the doctors there explained that her heart was responding to an infection in her body; it was not her heart. She had pneumonia. Now, she is the mother of a near 4 month old herself, so this memory is close.
Laura Purdie Salas posts an image and prompt ever Thursday for “15 words or less.” Her image Thursday was a rescue helicopter from the Coast Guard Monument in DC. This was my poem:
First Flight
Steady drumming beat
of my heart against hers
matching the rhythm
to helicopter rotors–
Life!
When we write together in my classroom, we often use quotes. Thursday morning I looked on my Wonder app and found this quote.
The Daily Wonder App
In my notebook I wrote a prayer poem:
Oh clouds!
You are so necessary for life, but
if you don’t mind, please
move aside.
Let sun’s light
shine on Amy.
Bring her out of darkness
into hope.Oh clouds!
We are helpless to move
you out of the way.
We send smoke signals,
wave wands, dance in a circle,
all to overcome your gloom.
Show us the sun today.
Show us the way to hope.–Margaret Simon
Amy is getting the care she needs, but if you are the praying type, it wouldn’t hurt to add her name to your list. Thanks!
Reflections on the Teche 
This is a beautful slice. Thank you for sharing these vulnerable feelings and moments. Prayers for you and your friend.
Both of these are raw and beautiful. Praying for Amy right now!
What a frightening experience for you and your daughter, Margaret… prayers for Amy. Oh clouds, indeed. xo
A connection between then, and now, with the same hopes and prayers for healing. May the clouds move and let the Son’s healing begin!
Beautiful Amy’s always in my heart and in my prayer
Oh gosh, prayers for Amy! Your lines, “We send smoke signals,
wave wands, dance in a circle,
all to overcome your gloom.”
perfectly capture the desperation (and begging) we do to pull aside those clouds. It’s comforting to know that the sun is there. Beautiful post today!
These are both beautiful and heartfelt poems. Love to both you and your friend.
I will, indeed, add Amy to my list. Your first poem ends with a forceful exclamation: an exhortation? a cry of relief? a prayer of thanksgiving? May “Life!” become the coda to your second, which reads, to me, like a prayer.
Love both of these. Adding Amy to my prayer list. Your words capture such emotion:
“Show us the sun today.
Show us the way to hope.”
Yes, I will pray for the way to hope for your friend and a friend of mine facing some scary health news.
Both of your poems are beautiful, Margaret. What a terrifying experience that helicopter trip must have been for you! I’m sorry to hear about your friend.You will both be in my prayers.
Oh, and wow, I am sorry for your friend, will send my prayers for her, Margaret. Your own early experience, thank goodness it went so well, sounds frightening, and unforgettable, your poem shouts it!
What powerful connections. May hope and prayer and poetry and strong medicine move the clouds away for your Amy.
Margaret, this post is filled with such emotion, such memory….such connection to the Almighty and the word of being in communication with the Almighty. This reminds me of one of my favorite lines, “and Mary kept these in her heart…”
Your prayer poem is lovely. I’m praying for Amy’s peace, comfort, and healing.
Your poems are just right — love laid bare.
Beautiful metaphors in the poems between Hope and the clouds Margaret! Sending thoughts for Amy and you and that hope will shine through.
Sending prayers and hope for Amy and you. What lovely poems and powerful memories you’ve shared here. Thanks for reminding me of how precious each moment is–and I love the quote about hope, too.