On Friday, Michelle Heindrich Barnes lovingly posted an interview with me over at Today’s Little Ditty. With her Reader’s Spotlights, she asks us to prompt a writing challenge. I wrote this challenge:
The practice of writing poetry is an exercise in mindfulness. To be open to the universe of words and to put them down on a page is nothing short of a miracle. Mary Oliver said, “There is no nothingness—With these little atoms that run around too little for us to see. But, put together, they make something. And that to me is a miracle. Where it came from, I don’t know. But it’s a miracle, and I think it’s enough to keep a person afloat.”
Write a mindful poem about the present moment.
To my pleasant surprise, Heidi Mordhorst and Mary Lee Hahn created a Twitter hashtag #PoemsofPresence to invite poets to write a small poem every day in May. The idea has gathered some following. Michelle created a graphic.
Please consider joining us on Twitter this month, writing a daily “in-the-moment” poem. https://twitter.com/hashtag/PoemsofPresence
The last of my monarch chrysalises emerged. Last week, I successfully released 7 new monarchs into the sky. My friend and neighbor, who is also a teacher and a photographer, asked to come over to photograph a release. Here’s one of her amazing photos.
Monarch Release
Fly, friend, fly!
Margaret Simon, draft
while I walk and walk
watching your wings
glow like the sunset.
Reflections on the Teche 
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have wings like a sunset?!!
It’s so exciting to see the momentum #PoemsofPresence is gaining on Twitter, Margaret. Here’s the direct link to the Today’s Little Ditty padlet, if folks would also like to post one or two (or even 3) poems there this month: https://padlet.com/TodaysLittleDitty/PoemsOfPresence
That was the greatest interview. Margaret. I love that Poems of Presence originated with you! I’ve yet to dive in (catching up on other life) but will so do soon. Your monarchs – so beautiful. Reading your verse, I can see them fluttering off in the sunset, almost becoming one with it.There’s something so heartening about it.
Thank you, Margaret. Beautiful and challenging post. I will try to write a poem and post it on Twitter and the Padlet (Thanks, Michelle)–at least a couple times this month. I agree, wouldn’t it be lovely to have wings like a sunset? Monarchs are a gift to the world, aren’t they. Little flying sunsets.
I love the way you put so much good into the world. Thank you for you poem of the moment. It was just what I needed to read today.