Each week I invite writers to join me in a quick write about a photograph. This is the first week of the Slice of Life Challenge, so if you are a slicer, I want to extend this inspiration/invitation to you, too. If this is something you’d like to do weekly, subscribe to my blog.
Here’s how it works. Use the image to inspire a small poem. Leave your poem in the comments. Respond to other writers with positive feedback. That’s it. Easy peasy. No pressure. We are just exercising our writing muscle. When I write this post, I participate in the same way. I never write a poem ahead of time. My poem is quick and drafty.
I took this week’s photo Saturday night as we were leaving a lovely outdoor dinner with friends. It was close to 10 PM, and I was struck by how much light the moon gave off.
On a clear night
Margaret Simon, draft
you can see all the way
to the moon,
God’s streetlight.
Reflections on the Teche 
Moon glows
Calm comfort
Encircles me
It does feel like God’s streetlight. I love seeing it on clear nights.
Diane, It’s so fun to see you here! Welcome! The moon glow is a calm comfort. Isn’t it magical how you can capture a moment with words?
Lovely circular image you created Diane!
Diane, I love this! I was thinking along the same wave length as you, but I’m too tired to get it right as you have done. Great poem! I love your alliteration in “Calm comfort” and the connection of “Encircles me” like the moon is hugging you, giving comfort! Also, I hear your final /c/ in encircle connecting back to your /c/s in your second line.
http://drferreri.blogspot.com/2021/03/thispicturewantstobeapoem.html
I took this picture yesterday and it inspired my blog post today; yet, as you note, it really is a poem in a picture…the hope for spring…and gardens!
Synchronicity at its finest! I love how you are talking with your garden. I hope it’s listening. I’m ready for spring!
Love this; love poetry! I’m no good at it tho’ I try, but this poem immediately makes me think of Archibald Macleish’s “Ars Poetica”:
Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,
Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind—
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs.
I want to take your comment and delete “I’m no good at it.” Poetry is for everybody and you have captured such great imagery with “twig by twig the night-entangled trees.” Keep on writing poems.
That poem is from Archibald MacLeish. I know great poetry when I read it…
Of course, now I see. But still you should try it. This is a safe place.
Beautiful metaphor in your poem Margaret, and enchanting image! Loved your image from last week too—but fell short on time… Thanks!
branches of life
awaiting buds
illuminate by
moon’s light…
Illuminate is one of my favorite words.
Thanks Margaret!
Ooh, Michelle, these images are beautiful and meaningful to what we all need. Your “branches of life” hooked me. The rest of the poem was line and sinker; I’m caught.
The light from below
cannot outshine
the spotlight above…
spreading forth
an encompassing glow
for all to absorb,
and smile
What a great idea you have to share a picture and invite a poem!
The light from above cannot outshine the spotlight above— an idea that is itself metaphor. Thanks for joining in.
Beautiful! I love your whole poem. These lines especially resonate for me
“the spotlight above” and “an encompassing glow”.
Beautiful picture, Margaret!
The moon
is Earth’s nightlight,
casting a golden glow
on nature’s gifts.
I love how we all saw the moon’s light as a different metaphor but it all links back to the connection to nature.
Earth’s nightlight. Yes!
I love the idea of the moon as Earth’s nightlight. 🙂
Rose, beautiful images! I love your metaphor, “The moon is Earth’s nightlight.” Nice alliteration. Yes, to “nature’s gifts.”
Great shot!
The flashlight moon beams
through bare winter branches
etching an image of their own
I love the idea that the moon etches its own image. Thanks for joining.
Love thinking about the moon as a flashlight, a streetlight, and a nightlight.
Ooh, I can see your beautiful images! I also love your “flashlight moon beams” “etching an image.”
On a Winter’s Night
Steadfast branches
reach, grasp
encircle…
capturing the moon,
basking in her
light
(I figured out why I could not subscribe before…found the verification in my overflowing spam box.)
I’m so glad you figured that out. Happy to have your words here, their own light.
Beautiful!
I love the assonance here – steadfast, grasp, basking – really brings the poem together!
Buffy, beautiful images! I love how you personify “reach, grasp, encircle, capturing, and basking.” I want to bask in the moon’s light, also.
Buffy, use of the words steadfast, encircle, capture and basking set the stage for a beautiful image.
Brilliant phrase- “this photo wants to be a poem!” I love your idea to exercise poetry writing muscles this way. The more I write, the more often I write a piece as both prose and poem, trying to figure out which it should be.
In the cold of winter
in the dark of night
the long limbs stretch and reach
for light
(I can’t believe I actually got to a “This Photo Wants to be a Poem” on the right day. Lately I’ve been a few days behind every week!)
Love that gentle rhyme. Glad you came by!
Beautiful, Amanda! I love how your repetition, rhyme, and personification make your poem come alive.
Your words compliment the photo, Amanda.
I love this! Here we go (reminds me of when I saw the “Christmas Star” right after I had finished We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly, so…)
We dream of space –
A lovely, lilting place.
Full of glow and glimmer –
A taste
of mystery.
Holly, so glad you are here! Love the alliteration of lovely lifting and glow and glimmer. And that we can have a taste of mystery. Thanks for participating!
Holly, I love how your memories made connections to the photo, then to your beautiful poem. I second what Margaret said. Your poetry elements and words bring me relaxation, excitement, and then, I think anticipation.
Space – A lovely, lilting place: great opening, Holly.
Margaret, it’s been a delight to read all the beautiful poems your amazing photo and words inspired. I love your metaphor and how one “can see all the way” to it “on a clear night.” Tonight I needed to decompress to the moon. Thank you for this opportunity.
Moon,
in your glow
I am free.
Moon,
your ring
mesmerizes me.
Gail Aldous 3/3/21
Mesmerize is such a good word.
Thank you. I love using that word.
Lacework of branches
Framing the shimmering
Wisdom of the moon.
Beautiful haiku. I love your use of lacework of branches framing.
lacework of branches is the right set of words to open a discussion on the design of this photo.
What a beautiful photo…and more so because of the company it was taken with. Sigh. Friends and dinner. I long for warmer spring nights just for this….even a coffee would be great.
Come, moon
sway to our music
groove to our beat
lift hands high
twirling with
joy of
tonight’s life
My Spiritual Thursday post is ‘in the spirit of Miss Dickinson.’ Have a great Thursday.
I love how you made the moon a part of the party.
Linda, I was in Virginia last week witnessing the amazing full moon with my granddaughters and I felt its joy. Your poem is a celebration of that moment.
Great images and fun! I love how you invite and personify the moon.
oooops! I forgot to paste my link into the last comment. Sorry about that.
https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/
Margaret, your image poem captures such reverence and hope in God who illuminates our way.
Wrap Yourself in Nature’s Illumination
winter moon
gazing down
illuminates
pathways to peace
©CV, 2021, draft
gazing down…It is like the moon is watching.
Thanks for commenting, Margaret. While in VA last week, we entertained my granddaughters on the patio at night. (My daughter is very cautious about COVID spread). When it got really cold I covered Sierra in a blanket for warmth while we played and watched the full moon. This photo reminded me of the night.
Beautiful image, Carol. I love how you personify the moon and how it “illuminates pathways to peace.”