This is (finally) our last week of school. Yesterday was my last day with my student Kaia. I arranged for the lead volunteer of the school garden, Jennie, to meet us in the garden for a tour of the plants there. We picked ripe plump blackberries. Loud mockingbirds serenaded us (or maybe they were shouting, “Get out!”). So much wildlife right there in the playground.
The garden had been neglected for 14 months since Covid prevented volunteers from gathering as well as the after school garden club. Overgrown vines and a few hurricanes had damaged the pergola structure, so the school maintenance crew tore it down. Jennie explained there was a plan for a new structure that would be sturdier, but this new greenhouse-like building would take funding.
I perked up! This is something Kaia is really good at, using her voice for change. I suggested to her that she gather information and write a letter to the school board. She did and I sent it by email to our superintendent. By 3:30, she responded that she had talked it over with the superintendent of maintenance and the garden “outdoor classroom” would be ready for the fall. How cool is that!
Of course, while I was in the garden I took pictures. Today’s photo prompt is a nest we found tucked into a tree. The tree had large thorns, but I managed to get my arm in for a shot. No eggs, but maybe that was why Sir Mockingbird was so angry.
A nest can be
Margaret Simon (with nod to Laura Purdie Salas’s Can Be series)
a garden watcher,
songbird nurturer,
the pot at the end of a rainbow.
Please join me today in the “Secret Garden” and write a small poem response in the comments. Be sure to support other writers with your comments.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a happy story about The Secret Garden. You just never know what will happen when you just ask for something. Yay for Kaia!
I love the metaphors with the nest – especially the pot of gold. The nod to Laura is a perfect poem structure!
A leaf,
a twig,
a blade of grass,
nestled among thorns,
awaiting the arrival
of the mockingbird.
Love the anticipation you’ve built.
I like the gentleness of the leaf, twig and blade of grass with your singular words and all among the harsh thorns, but they along with others are able to create a welcoming home in spite of the thorns.
Love the details of the parts of the nest.
I notice the way the poem builds from a quick images to slightly longer phrases, like the building of a nest. I, too, toyed with the word “nestled” but ended up not using it. I love it here.
A fib:
I
thought
my nest
was hidden
and well protected.
Can I trust you’ll keep my secret?
Love this!
Yes, what a great perspective. I can hear Mr. Mockingbird imploring.
Love the fib form. Thanks for playing.
Ah, I love the last question!
Simple and well defined, Mary Lee.
The question you pose is the perfect ending to this fib.
Nature’s Gift
New life
nestled within an ivory case,
tucked inside twigs,
hidden within branches
Nature’s gift
Oh, I love that sweet description of an egg. Yes, indeed, nature’s gift.
A true gift of nature!
Life is, indeed, a gift – and I love the word “nestled”!
Yes, a gift. (Although we lost a nest with two baby birds last week due to wind and rain). 😦
Margaret, I loved the story you told here, and congrats on making it to the last week! I felt I was there with you seeing the garden after so many months, alive with life, the fruit of the vines, and even damage. I love the photo and your “Can Be” poem of what a nest can be–a place of hope and wishes. I was struck most with Kaia’s letter, so that inspired my own “Can Be” poem.
Kaia’s voice
A voice can be
a power displayer
a truth conveyer
a path lighter
a garden inviter
a hardship remover
a world improver
Your voice can be
Oh, my. Kaia would love this poem. I won’t be teaching her again, but I hope to text her mother to view this post.
I especially love this because I think Kaia has been in Margaret’s posts every now and then for the past two years. I feel as though she will use her voice for all of these things as she moves forward. I especially love “a garden inviter”.
This poem is lovely! Thank you for thinking of Kaia for your poem! She enjoyed reading it! 💛
Thank you so much! I’m glad she was able to read it. I love young people finding their voice; all the best to her.
Denise, how lovely that you turned your response into a tribute to what Kayla is and can be in the future.
What a beautiful tribute to Kaia and to all of our students who are learning to use their voices to improve the world!
Oh, I love that little treasure of a nest tucked deep inside the tree with thorns. If I were a bird, I want a home in a gated community too.
Yay for collaboration between you and Kaia and the powers-that-be. What empowerment for this young lady and a great benefit to the school.
A nest can be so many things…I like pot at the end of a rainbow, best!
These words grabbed me…and they are just about a poem!
arrival from Leigh Ann
tucked from Rose
inviter from Denise
secret from Mary Lee
I Wonder
How does a bird know
to twirl fiber strands
loops of straw
mud round and round
How does a bird know
to craft a bowl
so safe so snug
and sound and whole?
How do they know? Marvelous wonder.
The question that drives this poem really catches my attention – and your descriptions of the “crafting” of the nest are concrete and vivid. Thank you!
Your poem is a lovely compliment to the writers who responded, Linda. Your I wonder poem is a great response that can be replicated by students as they research ideas that spark their interest.
Linda, the beautiful words you chose to describe that little bowl the bird makes: safe, snug, sound and whole. It is a wonder and your poem really gets us thinking about that truth.
I often ponder this question too. My husband had a worn-out tarp over a jeep, and after a recent wind, we found strands of the tarp in the yard. Last week we had a nest blown out of a tree, and guess what was woven in the nest? Yes, those blue strands. How do they know?
I’m in love with those last four lines!
Oh Margaret, Kaia has such an incredible voice. I am sure you will miss her next year. I’m glad that you had this last day together, this last moment to make one more change. And I really enjoy your “can be” poem form. I may need to borrow that to use with my classes next year. (Though we still have three weeks left!)
Here’s my poem for this week:
“The Mockingbird Scolds”
While you worried and waited
We hid this nest
In the thorns
Certain that life would prevail
Love that title!
life would prevail….yes!
The last line is a great ending allowing a bit of wisdom to come forward.
Oh, a great message from the mockingbirds today–while humans worried, they continued to prepare and live as always, “certain that life would prevail” There is so much meaning here, Amanda.
I love the affirmation that “life would prevail” at the end. Nature even shows us not to worry!
tucked away
from the maddening crowd
a stronghold of love exists,
quietly,
a camera discovers an inspired home
mockingbirds squawk in resistance
As inquirers of life, we often seek the unknown to inspire us to wonder.
(Thank you, Margaret, for this opportunity to connect one of my loves, photography, to poetrylove.)
Carol, what a lovely observation. I love the phrase “inquirers of life” here. Yes, nature does inspire wonder.