Today I have two drafts written with a roll of metaphor dice. I tend to roll them until I get something I think I can write about. “Truth is a glorified meadow” was a first roll and it stumped me. Before re-rolling, I asked my student Landon what he thought it meant. He said, “It’s like when you have the truth, you have a wide open field of possibility.” Such wisdom in a young 5th grader.
I also challenged myself to use the zeno form: syllable count 8,4,2,1,4,2,1,4,2,1 with each 1 syllable rhyming.
Truth is a glorified meadow
finding you in
a clear
field
open playground
without
shield
your forgiving
spirit
healed
–Margaret Simon (draft) 2019
For the next metaphor dice poem, I used magnetic poetry words to help guide the results.
Hope is a glorified dance
to delicate music–
a gorgeous goddess
whispering near,
misty gift here.
–Margaret Simon (draft) 2019
Misty morning oak
Reflections on the Teche 
Give Landon a high-five for me. Truth is my olw for 2019 and I need to spend some more time with it in my writing. Love your collaboration.
Yes, Landon’s words are quite lovely, Margaret. Your poems make me grateful for our world: “misty gift here.”
What a great explanation from Landon! I want to try a zeno now. This looks very tough–to add another constraint through form. But a useful exercise because you got a very powerful poem out of it!
That misty morning oak is fabulous and so is the misty gift from the goddess in your second poem. I’m so glad you asked Landon what he thought and then let those words guide you. I’m also impressed that you’re working your play into forms other than free verse. Yikes! I haven’t even thought to try that.
Wow Landon, good job! I will find a Zeno to write. I am using the metaphor cubes with students on Wednesday.