It’s Friday, and I had a week off, the first few days as part of an expected Mardi Gras break (no Mardi Gras activities, though) and the last few due to the winter storm that blew through the south (It’s still only 28 degrees.) Our plumbing system is not prepared to handle freezes. Nevertheless, these days of lazing in PJs next to a warm fire without much to do have been luxurious and allowed me some writing time.
On Wednesday evening, I joined Laura Purdie Salas’s first Write Alone, Together session. She started us off with an image and a roll of metaphor dice. The image came from a National Geographic article here. (Fair warning, it’s a rabbit hole you may fall into.) The metaphors were 1. Home is a well-worn zoo, and 2. Your body is a bootleg blessing. Rather than use these metaphors as complete thoughts, I split them up to create a poem. The photo prompt made me think of a piano that we gave away to a local school. Here is the draft I wrote in my journal:
Arctic Dreaming
Margaret Simon, draft
This home–
well-worn,
frosted with shards
of stains, a zoo
of strays–
holds a corner space
where the piano once was,
now empty,
inviting something new
or old (an antique desk chair, perhaps).
You choose the thing
to fill the space,
with a blessing
and a dream.
Reflections on the Teche 
“You choose the thing” is so inviting…bringing me, the reader, right into this beautiful, lived-in place. It shows the generosity of the poet.
I love where this prompt and images took your poem—“a zoo/of strays—” the images are marvelous especially the walrus! Thanks for the info on Laura’s Write Alone, Together sessions, I hope she’ll offer another evening one!
Beautiful poem, Margaret. I love how you let the image and metaphors take you to your own special place. And thanks for the info on Laura’s sessions. I’m going to try to attend on Monday.
So intriguing to think of this corner space ready and waiting. I wonder how you’ve filled the space!
How cool that you joined Laura’s “Write Alone, Together” session! I also love the line “you choose the thing” and the invitation of that empty corner. (By the way, I peeked at the photos and was blown away–wow!)
I missed this, Margaret. What a lovely poem from our time alone, together :>) (Were you the person who wrote 3 poems? Someone did!) I adore the phrase “zoo of strays.” I love so much about this poem, but that phrase in particular resonates with me.