This photo appeared on my Facebook feed from local artist and children’s book author Paul Schexnayder. Paul has an ironic sense of humor, especially in the everyday. His photo reflects that sense.
When I asked Paul if I could use this photo for a poem, he said, “I was hoping you’d ask? I almost asked you to write one!!!”
Please consider leaving your own small poem in the comments. Leave a comment for a few participants. Fun writing practice to wake up your creative self. No pressure. No judgement. Thanks for coming by.
A lonely lizard
Margaret Simon, draft
seeks shade in the arms of Mary.
She stoically abides.
Reflections on the Teche 
Saint or lizard,
stone or skin…
my ears are open
for your whispers.
–Laura Purdie Salas, draft, all rights reserved
Thanks, Margaret! Love Paul’s photo and your poem–“in the arms of Mary” just strikes me…
Your poem beautifully echoes Paul’s original comment (that I didn’t post because I didn’t want to influence writers). He wrote that the lizard tells Mary its secrets. I love your word choice of stone and skin.
Love! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Whispers is the perfect word for this photo and poem. Love it.
Ah, the juxtaposition…..a lizard seeking peace and a loving ear…..I didn’t see the lizard when I looked. I don’t read the intro because I just want to “commune” with the image……..see where it takes me.
Oh, I love this photo and the abiding Mary.
Tales of
her kindness
bearing her first born
in the company of animals
great and small
bring whispered praise
even today
Oh, I love this! “Tales of her kindness” bring me peace.
The abiding Mary…..how she treasures the children and the animals.
I pause
In the quiet shade
Of a divine spirit
Seeking solace
And peace.
Yes, prayers to me are important always and now, so much more. I love the idea of being sure to pause, and seek solace, Evelyn.
Love the photo, but I’m a bit jaded today.
green lizard
climbs the statue
of blessed mother Mary
scales a thermoplastic
trash receptacle
the outcome is the same
your jaded made me giggle a bit
Methinks you are not charmed by lizards. Ha!
Hi Diane! Feeling jaded? Can’t think why. 🙂
Ordinary Reflections in the Time Before Vaccine
Streaked in sadness
she pauses by the cradle
tender infant asleep,
coughs.
Janet Clare Fagal, draft
This made me verklempt, I pray you are not writing from experience.
Verklempt…..I know that feeling and I worry about our tiny ones so much. But blessedly not personally, but of late I have done some geneaology work and while I knew about the deaths of my mother’s two siblings, I got more details. Little Benjamin died at age 13 months (mumps maybe) while his mother (my grandmother) was in the hospital giving birth to the next child, Evelyn, called “Little Honey”. She died of measles at age 4. There were two older girls at home, then a third born when Little Honey was about 3, later ie 6 years or more, my mother arrived in 1926, and the youngest 7 years after that. So 5 surviving daughters (my aunts). As a child I never heard talk about their pain but I am sure it must have been horrible for my grandparents. We are blessed in so many ways and yet…… thanks, Diane.
I read your explanation before reading the poem. It captures the deep sadness of the sick infant.
We are so lucky to live in times with so much medical help. This pandemic mess requires patience and adjustment which is still hard and inconvenient. About your lovely poem, I love that even a lonely, lowly lizard would receive grace by being in Mary’s embrace. The idea of being stoic is maybe a help for our need to want to rush through life….the statute is riveting and the lizard a surprise.
You nicely capture a moment, Janet.
Chiseled somber soul
Seeks rest in shadow
Chartreuse friend
Seeks truce in
Narrow peering
Who’s the statue ?
Grateful to Creator of the two
This finite hardness batters
Exhale your long paused pose
Save the mother
Green lizard pauses,
Mary still as concrete,
contemplating
rough surfaces.
Contemplation of rough surfaces. It seems we are surrounded by so much of that right now. Did you notice that I wrote in a comment above that I had not noticed the lizard. I think it blended in with the ferns and their reflection! But i see it now and enjoyed your poem, Janice.
Nice, Janice, especially how you leave us room to decide who is contemplating–lizard, Mary, or reader.