I was at a loss for what I should write about today. Early this morning I read Linda Mitchell’s post in which she revisits her one little word for 2020. Ah, there is an idea I can embrace. Embrace is my 2020 word.
What I can embrace and celebrate is this amazing month of poetry of presence prompted by my interview at Today’s Little Ditty (See the wrap-up today.) Poetry friends old and new embraced the idea of writing a poem of presence every day in May. The Twitterverse has been happily inspiring and connecting us in a special, ever-present way. (#poemsofpresence)
I can embrace my baby grandsons. My school year has finished up, and my daughter from New Orleans needed help with her baby while she works, now from my home. We occasionally get the cousins together. They are not old enough to really engage with each other, but we are trying to nurture their relationship.
What I cannot embrace is the news of the world. I will not embrace racism and am sickened by the ways that it continues to mar our world. That’s all I’m going to say…
Last week April Halprin Wayland posted a new form: In One Word. Click the link to read the directions and her mentor poems. Here’s a draft using Wordmaker words from Embrace. The words I used are be, embrace, arm, mere, bee, me.
Shelter at Home
This time came to be
Margaret Simon, draft
eerily easy
to embrace
with one arm,
a mere test
of my resolve
to stay here-present.
Like a bee
intent on nectar,
I tend this place
for you & me.
One more thing to embrace: the ingenuity of young people who create beauty out of a a field of dirt.
Reflections on the Teche 
Thank you for your challenge this month, and thank you for this post. I think you did a wonderful job with April’s new form. I love that embrace is hiding all those other perfect words.
How beautiful. It is a time to speak up and out…which is difficult for us that have steadfastly speak in the positive. There is so much correction need right now. We must do better in all areas starting with our brothers and sisters, neighbors, fellow citizens. I’m so glad you are embracing your grandbabies. Such joy as yours over them is contagious and I am grateful.
Such a lovely poem of shelter.
Here’s another thanks for your challenge this month. I sheltered in the presence of fellow poets all month long!
And I thank you, too, for this wonderful month shared together in the #PoemsofPresence, Margaret. I too wrote from April’s challenge, taking note of what’s important. I love that you used ’embrace’ & to hear that you have the grandson there with you! That is wonderful!
There are so many things to embrace, and so many to reject. Being present can be difficult, but we’re finding a way! Thank you for sharing this poem with us!
What a fun way to use your one little word. I saw that Linda used this same poem form, too. I have bookmarked it to try! I love sunflowers and that last line says it all, doesn’t it?
Margaret, there is so much love when you speak about your grandsons. it is so important to nurture their relationships in a mindful way. Your poem embraces a new call to action. May you enjoy your little one’s time at your home. Family is so important.
“I tend this place/for you & me.” <— That line, alone, speaks beautifully to the nurturer you are, Margaret. I've so enjoyed sharing mindful poetry with you this month. Thank you, also, for tending the #PoemsofPresence garden so actively and lovingly this month.
“Like a bee intent on nectar”… describes so well what we embrace as grandparents. Thank you… and best of luck with your houseful.
Yes–”Love thy neighbor,” simple yet so hard for so many. We have one short life, and for many cut even shorter, way too soon… Thank you Margaret, for your tender poem of “embrace,” and for planting a seed for poems of presence.
I thought about each word found in embrace and wonder about the connection to the words you used. It’s an interesting form and a good word to choose.
[…] It’s been popping up at different poet friend’s blogs since then, including Linda Baie, Margaret Simon, and probably more that I’ve missed. In this form you select a word and then find words within […]