Earlier this week, I witnessed a female monarch laying eggs in my milkweed. She was an unexpected, yet welcomed visitor. I watched while she flitted from leaf to leaf. I have gathered 10 of the leaves into a net habitat to wait and watch.
My writing partner Catherine Flynn wrote an etheree today on her site, Reading to the Core. Here is the definition of the form:
An etheree is a poem of ten lines in which each line contains one more syllable than the last. Beginning with one syllable and ending with ten, this unrhymed form is named for its creator, 20th century American poet Etheree Taylor Armstrong.
Inspired by Catherine’s Queen Anne’s Lace Etheree , I decided to write one about my monarch eggs.
Monarch Nursery
Pearl
Margaret Simon, 2020
on milkweed,
seed for monarch,
still and quiet August:
Promised ingredient
to Mother Earth’s recipe
for autumn migration glory.
Like watching the birth of a grandchild,
I’m mere observer of this miracle.
For my birthday last week, Catherine sent me this sweet golden shovel. I’ve met many kind people in the Poetry Friday community, and Catherine is one of the best. We’ve been in a writing group for five years. We meet by Zoom (even before the pandemic) every other week. I am blessed to have such a kind and loving writing partner. Thanks, Catherine. The feeling is mutual.
“…all that might be gained
from opening one’s heart wider.
Rebecca Mead, My Life in MiddlemarchHow fortunate am I that of all
Catherine Flynn
the people in the world that
I might
have met, I met you, a kindred spirit, destined to be
friends. So much to give, so much to be gained
by writing together, learning from
you, opening
my eyes to new vistas, so different from ones
I know, reaching my heart,
helping it grow wider.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a beautiful, beautiful photo and poem combination. That line, “seed for monarch” is so beautiful after the word pearl. And, I love how you are in conversation with Catherine. Poetry Friday seems to bring me back to myself reading posts like these…during the week of work it was a lot of not knowing how to do things! Thanks for the respite.
I saw your video with the butterfly laying eggs, so exciting! And now you get to wait & watch with a poem to start & maybe one to write about events to come! Catherine’s poem is a loving gift to you, not much nicer as a gift!
What fun to be in a writing group with Catherine. Like Linda, I saw the video on IG of the monarch laying eggs. I love the ways you share the natural world with us. “I’m mere observer of this miracle,” is definitely my favorite line. What a gift to observe births – grandchildren and butterflies.
Margaret, I like your poem and especially these lines:
Promised ingredient
to Mother Earth’s recipe
for autumn migration glory.
What a lovely transition from summer to fall.
Catherine’s poem to you is such a creative gift.
Lastly, I enjoyed your golden shovel. They are so much fun to read.
Aren’t etherees fun to write? I love your opening “pearl/on milkweed.” There are so many miracles in the world to observe. Thank you for sharing this one with us!
I love how, as expressed in your etheree, we are all observers of incredible mysteries. How fortunate that you have such a wonderful writing partner. Five years is a long time to write together.
I also love the opening “pearl/on milkweed”–you set us up to expect something precious indeed and then delivered! The poem from Catherine is wonderful–what a thoughtful, heartfelt gift!
Love the conceit of a milkweed pearl…very nice, Margaret! I need to try an etheree one of these days. And what a thoughtful golden shovel from Catherine!
“Monarch Momma” hooked me and your whole post kept reeling me in! In your etheree poem, great form, each line gets better and better. I think my favorite line is, “for Autumn migration glory.” I’m happy for you that you have the monarch life cycle in your garden! Hi exciting that you watched eggs being laid! In my garden I’ve been snapping photos of fat and skinny monarch caterpillars. I’m also happy for you and Catherine being writing partners. Catherine’s golden shovel poem is a beautiful gift to treasure. I loved her etheree, also.