Welcome to This Photo Wants to be a Poem, a weekly poetry prompt modeled after Laura Purdie Salas’s 15 Words or Less. We invite you to write a small poem in the comments and write encouraging comments to other writers. No judgements here. Just playing with words.
Today’s photo comes from teacher/poet/photographer Molly Hogan. She lives in Maine and recently photographed the marsh. This photo with its sepia tones attracted me. The soothing sway of nature keeps me sane these days, and I am grateful for Molly and others who post such wonderful natural landscapes.
In this yellow light,
Margaret Simon, draft
an elegant ballet
of marsh grasses
shine.
Reflections on the Teche 
Gorgeous and quietly inviting image, thanks Margaret for sharing Molly’s inspiring image, and your sensitive
“ballet
of marsh grasses”
Here’s what came to mind…
sienna heartpods
waiting at summer’s end
for your wish…
This does seem like a place to make wishes.
Your haiku grabs my attention! Just beautiful! What a great idea to think of “heartpods.” Love “wish,” too.
“Heartpods” really caught my attention here – and I agree that this seems to be a place for wishes.
wish is the perfect ending
Love heartpods.
This image stopped me today. Thanks for the inspiration
in a quiet space
sepia tones dance
calling you to grace
Kathleen Mazurowski
I love the idea of a call to grace. So peaceful and serene.
I, too, am struck by the call to grace in your last line. Lovely.
It stopped me too. I physically relaxed looking at it. Call to grace…lovely.
I love the call to grace. Something we all need.
Kathy, my reply to your poem came out on the bottom of all the comments.
Thanks for sharing this photo today, Margaret. There’s so much magic in the marsh. I love your idea of a “ballet of marsh grasses.” My response is a bit longer today…
When dreams are born
perhaps they briefly lie
amongst this golden profusion,
learning from the slow unfurling
of fisted Queen Anne’s blossoms
into delicate lacery,
before they take flight.
The imagery of the unfurling Queen Anne’s blossoms – yes! There’s so much there – from fist to delicate lacery. Mmmm. And I’m noticing how many poems are about dreams & wishes. This image is evocative!
oooooh, delicate dacery…what pretty word play. There are elements in this photo I try to bring out in collage. The layers of light are stunning…just stunning. Well done!
Lovely image of dreams landing on and learning from the flower.
Molly, I replied to your poem, but I waited too long to post it and it went to the bottom.
What a beautiful image!
Meet me in the marsh
where dreams
dance with the wind.
Lovely Rose, let’s go…
There is something in this image that speaks of dreams & invitations, isn’t there?
Love your invitation to dream and dance.
Rose, your haiku is beautiful, inviting, and romantic! I love your it! It sounds like the beginning of a song.
This photo fills me with peace. Thank you for choosing it.
At the end of the long day
Let us go to the place where land becomes water
Where amidst the grasses
Lacy blossoms sing to the setting sun.
I really like the mythic tone set by “the place where land becomes water.” And, Oh, that final line is especially beautiful!
Love “sing to the setting sun. “
Amanda, I also felt peace viewing this photo. Your poem is a song! I love the personification of “lacy blossoms sing to the setting sun.”
What a gorgeous, sun-washed photo. I love it! The word marsh brought to mind that soft shhhh sound. Margaret, you are spot on with ballet imagery.
shhhh
says marsh
little ones
gone down
for nap
Queen Anne’s lace
flutters
grasses
hush
shhhh
The hush of a nap is longed for today as I watch Leo play and play. May just be a wish.
Linda, I kept trying to remember the sound the marsh grass made. I’m so glad you thought of “shhh!” I love your personification, plus you beginning and ending with “shhh.”
Queen Anne’s lace dances
in the golden morning–
sunrise at the marsh.
Those lovely flowers dancing in the golden light is perfect for this sweet haiku.
Buffy, I love the personification of “Queen Anne’s lace dances” at “sunrise!”
perfect!
Such beauty lies in the quiet of the marsh. Molly’s photo is alluring asking me to dream in quiet. Margaret, your poem got me thinking and then, each poem added a layer of balance and peace to the dance of the marsh. I am adding my thoughts to tonight’s blog post thanks to all of you.
Margaret, the photo was an invitation to me as well as it has been to everyone! I love the idea of your marsh grass performing “an elegant ballet!” I thought of my poem before I looked at yours or anyone else’s poem and it’s interesting to see the similarities between the poems.
Marsh grass waves
osprey whistles
Queen Anne’s lace
whispers my name
I bow, waltzing
in their auras.
Gail Aldous
Love all the wh sounds.
Thank you.
And the writer becomes part of this lovely scene with a bow and a waltz. Nice.
Thank you, Linda.
Wow, Molly, your imagery and idea of where dreams go to is beautiful! It’s uplifting, too! Thank you.
Kathy, beautiful haiku! Love your assonance of “space, dance, and grace!” Your poem stops me as the image did. I want to be in your poem.