I’m in my second week of teaching, and it’s going pretty well, despite the weather which has been churned up by Tropical Storm Beta. Dreaming of travel, I took notice of Paula Bourque’s pictures from Maine. She’s taking day-adventures with her husband. This was her message on Sunday:
Mornings are filled with meaningful lessons. They show me that everything changes and moves on. If I can embrace that, I can be open to new wonders and stop wishing for what was, to always be. Life is change.
Paula Bourque, Facebook post
Sunday sermon over.
Paula is the author of Spark! Quick Writes to Kindle Hearts and Minds in Elementary Classrooms. We met at NCTE last year when I was the “chair” of her round table session. She presented ways to use images to prompt quick writes in the classroom. So here I am, full circle, using one of her photos as a prompt for a quick write.
Leave a small poem in the comments or jot one in your journal. If you share, please respond to other writers with encouraging words.
I would like to be remembered*
Margaret Simon, draft
as someone who softened things
like the still, blue surface
of a lake at dawn.
- words from a Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote, “I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.”
Reflections on the Teche 
Good Morning, Margaret. Oh, this teaching life is wonderful…but sucking up all my time and energy. After a day on screen, I am wiped out. I might try those “blue” glasses I’ve heard people talking about.
This photo is spectacular….it just takes my breath away. I love the first line of your poem. I guess I’m still caught up in the feelings of folks passing away. What a beautiful thought.
I was going through my journal this morning and saw Jone’s call for math storytelling poems for tomorrow. I thought I’d try a Fibonacci poem. The last two lines don’t quite fit in the format here…but you get the idea đ
Dark
then
new day
rising as
debutante called forth
presented as a woman readyto make world her own in partnership with soul-mate
Time, who has been patiently waiting for the chance to ask her to dance to violins
I love the last line, such a beautiful sensual image of dancing to violins. Makes me think of the wedding we have coming soon. I wish we could have the violins we had hoped for.
Linda, I love how your “dark/then/new day/rising as/debutante called forth” is a metaphor for RBG! Love the personification & rhyme “time…waiting…chance to ask her to dance to violins!” Powerful!
Linda, I meant to add in perfect before “metaphor.”
Margaret, I like Paula’s quick write about “Life is change” and love her photo. I love how you used the beginning of RGB’s quote in your quick write and incorporated the softness of the mist and your simile, “like the still blue surface/ of a lake at dawn.” From what I know of you on your blog, I feel your “remembered as a person who softens… definitely captures your spirit. Beautiful! Paula’s book seems great for children and adults. Thank you for Paula’s and your inspiration.
Here’s mine:
Through my lens
pinkish-orange sunrise
hovers above the lake
misty light
surrounds me
floating away my darkness
Gail Aldous draft 9/28/2020
Thanks for participating. The beauty of nature does âfloat away the darknessâ.
Margaret, I did not have time to write last week but as I was adding my slice, I looked back to find Paula’s gorgeous photo and your draft. I am adding both to my slice because it is another segment of my Embraceable Summer Gallery. This edition is full of slicer image poems.
I hope this is fine with you.