“Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. Read good books, have good sentences in your ears. Be by yourself as often as you can. Walk. Take the phone off the hook. Work regular hours.”
Jane Kenyon, Writer’s Almanac May 23, 2021
I’m keeping Jane Kenyon’s quote as a summer goal.
I read a prompt on Denise Krebs’ blog, Dare to Care, about taking a mentor text and writing its opposite. I think the prompt originated with Jericho Brown. I had saved a Jane Kenyon poem because I wanted to use it as a mentor text.
Inertia
by Jane Kenyon
My head was heavy, heavy;
so was the atmosphere.
I had to ask two times
before my hand would scratch my ear.
I thought I should be out
and doing! The grass, for one thing,
needed mowing.
Just then a centipede
reared from the spine
of my open dictionary. lt tried
the air with enterprising feelers,
then made its way along the gorge
between 202 and 203. The valley of the shadow
of death came to mind
inexorably.
Read the rest of the poem here.
I enjoyed playing this game, using a thesaurus to find antonyms. You should give it a try sometime.
Energy
Mirror Poem
My toes were light, light;
so was the earth.
I had to half question
why my finger scratched my nose.
I didn’t think I should be inside
and lazy! The sky, for one thing,
needed viewing.After a while, a mosquito
flew over the belly
of my open notebook. It tried
the air with indolent wings,
then made its way along the nibble
between scar and creativity. A Cricket
in Times Square came to mind
doubtfully.It must be easy for the right wing
to know what the left is doing.
and how, on such an afternoon,
when the earth is bright and attentive,
how does it end with feeling
orderly and lighthearted?Well, it had its fill of poetry.
Margaret Simon, after Jane Kenyon
I watched it pull its body
under the crease of the page, and appear
in a stain on my finger.
Reflections on the Teche 
You know I love your writing beside rendition of Kenyon’s poem. And, what a goal for the summer! “when the earth is bright and attentive” is such a great description of this part of the year…feels like summer but is technically still spring on the calendar.
Margaret, I need to follow Jane Kenyon’s advice for this summer. I seemed to struggle with my PF post this week-writing, crossing out, rethinking. Your Jane Kenyon-like poem flows beautifully with thoughtful reflection. Taking her poem and writing your own version seems so easy. Well done!
So much to love in your post Margaret, your Mirror poem—the wonderful and unique direction it took off in; Jane Kenyon’s quotes, “take chances in the clarity of emotion…” and so many good ideas in her first quote too, thanks!
Thank you for introducing me to a new poet, Margaret. I’m not familiar with Jane Kenyon’s work, but I will check it out! Your poem is lovely.
Those quotes are amazing by Jane Kenyon. Like Rose, I am hearing about her for the first time. I’m going to go do more research. So much good wisdom. “Tell the whole truth. Don’t be lazy, don’t be afraid. Close the critic out when you are drafting something new…”
I’m glad you tried that idea of the opposite poem. I thought too that it was a fun challenge.
Your poem sounds a lot like Kenyon’s because you kept the cadence and structure so well. It sounds beautiful to read aloud.
Jane Kenyon’s advice is spot on and a wonderful guide for unfettered summer days. I’m so glad you tried out the opposite poem idea. (I’m going to tuck that away!) I love the line: “The sky, for one thing,/needed viewing.” I’m hoping to tuck in a lot of sky viewing over the next few months! Great post!
Oh WOW! I love the Jane Kenyon poem. I really thought she was going to smoosh the centipede in the valley of the shadow of death. And I’m pretty sure she is a Buddhist and doesn’t believe in smooshing centipedes. I grinned with delight when I came to the end of your poem and that stain on your finger! (I’m assuming even Buddhists find no problem with smooshing mosquitoes – hope I’m right.) I wish mosquitoes would stick to drinking poetry and leave the blood alone. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
(Not sure if I am right about Jane Kenyon being a Buddhist. When I Google Jane Kenyon and Buddhist, I get a bunch of references to Jane Hirshfield. And I know she’s a Buddhist.)
Yes, I think it’s Jane Hirshfield that’s the Buddhist. Pretty sure Jane Kenyon was Christian. Here’s The Writer’s Almanac for her birthday this year. https://www.garrisonkeillor.com/radio/twa-the-writers-almanac-for-may-23-2021/
Such wonderful detail in Kenyon’s poem and good advice to not be lazy and to tell the truth when you write. Clever, your mentor poem, and it made me smile, too, finger scratching nose. I want to read more Jane Kenyon.
It’s a marvelous exercise here at the opening of summer, your own response with Kenyon’s a delight, Margaret. Striking out to do the opposite is rather inspiring and you showed that with the contrast of the centipede and the mosquito. Variations of thoughts seem to be with us recently; I love “The sky, for one thing,/needed viewing.”
What a fantastic mind-stretching, word-stretching, concept-stretching exercise, Margaret! Kenyon’s (and your) summer goals are ringing true here. Thanks.