Today the Poetry Friday community is celebrating Mary Lee Hahn on the occasion of her retirement. Mary Lee is one of those behind the scenes worker bees. She keeps Poetry Friday going with periodic calls for hosting. She has served on multiple committees with the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE). I’ve learned over and over from Mary Lee’s quiet wisdom.
To find a way to honor her with a poem, I looked through the Ditty of the Month collections. I found an ars poetica poem by Mary Lee entitled “Peony Poem” in the 2017-2018 anthology. I borrowed her form to write this poem:
Another Peony
An idea
seedling, set
in soil, soggy and shifting
sprouting in a spring garden.A draft
wobbly, wilting
waits on new legs
hoping to learn to grow.A poem
Margaret Simon, after Mary Lee Hahn, draft
blooming, brilliant
shines like a rose on a stem
showing up on this special day.
Congratulations on your retirement, Mary Lee. “The trouble with poetry is that it encourages the writing of more poetry.” (Billy Collins) Just think how many poems you have spawned over the years, exponentially.
Reflections on the Teche 
Beautiful words, Margaret. (The peony blooming in our NCTE cluster. 🙃) I love the poem waiting on wobbly legs. And the Billy Collins thoughts.
Margaret, beautiful comparisons and a great tribute. I think my favorite is the second stanza “A draft
wobbly, wilting
waits on new legs
hoping to learn to grow.”
Lovely, poem, Margaret. I love comparing writing to gardening and nature – so many connections and parallels. I especially like:
“A draft
wobbly, wilting
waits on new legs
hoping to learn to grow.”
Just gorgeous! I love peonies… and Mary Lee’s “quiet wisdom.” Those are just-right words if I’ve ever heard ’em. Thank you, beautiful Margaret. xo
Oh, Margaret. I read Mary Lee’s Peony Poem just today, and now I get to read your poem. I love the idea of a draft
“wobbly, wilting
waits on new legs”
And your whole last stanza showing up on this special day. So beautiful, all of it.
Love the image you vividly painted of new, determined growth, from seedling to blooming poem for MaryLee—and it keenly captures the treasures of process, thanks Margaret!
Your Mary Lee inspired poem is bloomin’ beautiful, Margaret. And I like Billy Collin’s idea of ‘trouble with poetry’. 🙂
Yes! She has indeed inspired poetry exponentially. Here’s to more wobbly writing, maturing in the light of the sun.
Wonderful poem “after” Mary Lee’s, Margaret. I do love “shines like a rose on a stem/showing up on this special day.”
Hi Margaret: I love the “draft, wobbly and wilting”… it feels so perfect! Thanks for your wonderful poem!
Oh, that’s good…the process. Did you read Jama’s post yet? Mary Lee asked Jama about her process when they met. And, this poem is a perfect compliment to that. I can’t help it…I’m in love with that wobbly draft on new legs.
I love the gardening metaphor in your poem, Margaret, and know Mary Lee will, too. Hooray for the poems blooming everywhere today to celebrate Mary Lee!
Yes to the exponential inspiration! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
The wonder of the peony is exemplified in your poem paying tribute to the process of writing and to Mary Lee=>
“A poem/blooming, brilliant/shines
Awww, that second stanza! Love it.
Oh my goodness, we’re post pals this week, Margaret! I shared Mary Lee’s “Peony Poem” on TLD. 🙂 I know she will feel honored by your poem. It suits her beautifully… such a lovely gift. And, BTW, I agree with the others—your wobbly draft metaphor is perfection.
I am, indeed, honored by your poem! And I am awed by this: “Just think how many poems you have spawned over the years, exponentially.” I can count years and students and such, but to imagine all the poems they’ve written (crossing fingers that some still write poetry) and now adding in all the ones written in my honor…wowsers. Mind officially blown. That’s a legacy I can definitely be proud of. Thank you for your poem, kind words, and YOUR leadership/contributions to the education and PF communities. We are a village.