Always on the lookout for a photo wanting to be a poem, I pay attention to photography on Instagram. James Edmunds often posts amazing photos from his travels with Susan. James and Susan live in my neighborhood and have been friends of ours for years. James has a wit comparable to his good friend, author Calvin Trillin. He posted this photo of a heron taken in Gulf State Park, Alabama on his most recent jaunt into nature with Susan. Not only did the picture attract my eye, but his clever wordplay caption made me chuckle.
I’ve been playing with metaphor dice lately, and thanks to Taylor Mali, now have a set of make-your-own dice. I rolled and got this metaphor. “Kindness is a blue poem.” Even when you make your own, they stretch the brain cells.
Kindness
Margaret Simon, draft
is a blue
poem
written for
the hero
who makes
me smile.
Now it’s your turn. You can use the metaphor dice roll or not. As always, support other writers with comments. I am considering making a Facebook group to expand our horizons a bit. Let me know your thoughts. If you don’t already, follow me on Facebook @MargaretGibsonSimon.
Reflections on the Teche 
Great photo, Margaret! I used your dice roll but made it my own, changing “poem” to “heron”
Kindness
is a blue
heron
who bypassed
the hatchlings
in search of
a juicy
minnow
I love this little nugget of time with the elegant blue heron.
Forgot to say I think a Facebook group might be a good idea. I use Facebook mostly for groups anyway.
Ah, that is kindness. I love that this serious fellow in the photo “bypassed the hatchlings” — Sweet, Ruth!
He does look like he is on a hunt!
Step boldly
On the shifting ground
Though sand may wash away.
The fickle wind and waves may shift,
The skies might turn to gray.
But step boldly,
Always forward,
And forge the hero’s way.
Susan! I’m so excited that you joined my blog! I love your poem with its declaration to step boldly and forge the hero’s way!
Susan,
Your hero heron is forging onward for sure, I like your poem of encouragement and having a determined attitude.
Hi Rose,
I think I have had issues on my phone trying to write while in the car. But I thought I had responded to your poem about a blue heron who kindly leaves those hatchlings waiting for a more “substantial” meal! I do wonder, though, if this ever happens, but hope it might. We surely need more kindness!
Oops! Rose, I see it at the bottom of the list here.
Stately
Great Blue Hero
strides about his domain.
Staring white eye misses nothing.
Heron.
(Took a few minutes to write this before Zooming with my eighth graders. Thanks for the refocus of my attention!)
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Lovely, Ruth! I like the format that reminds me of a bio poem. That final line “Heron” is powerful.
I’m so glad you had a bit of time to muse about the photo today. I love the form you chose. Just right for this great blue hero!
I love the way you put that photo into true words, Ruth. “strides about his domain” and “staring white eye” really shows what is happening in James’ photo.
I like how you zoomed (no pun intended!) in on that eye. They are quite captivating.
A perfect Cinquain, Ruth. Your hero heron strutting, planning, captivating. Do you see many on your walks?
I’m reading the Midnight Library right now, so that inspired my poem using the roll of the metaphor dice in the front of your roll, Margaret. 🙂
I like how you enter the poem, with “the hero who makes me smile.” That lined made me smile.
Hero runs into the present–
fully alive–knowing
the past is a wild masterpiece
and the future is his.
I love how you grabbed the other metaphor. The future is his!
I love that fully alive heron!
This is such an uplifting poem, Denise. The idea of the past being a masterpiece is actually quite comforting. And he does look like he is grasping for the future.
I love it, Rüth. And I love that you did it in some “stolen time.” Great reminder to find the time to do the things that make us grow.
Hi Denise,
Oh our past….thinking of it as a wild masterpiece A great metaphor to begin another poem, I think. I know Margaret brainstormed for words to put on her dice. I have not tried this but have plans to make word lists. I am hoping to use the Metaphor Dice I own with kids but due to Covid I have not managed yet. I feel that many of the words on the “grown-up” version of the dice are too advanced (conceptually) for elem kids and have talked to Taylor about this. So the cardboard ones have potential, but you need to find good words and experiment. SO, if you ever do use them and teach elem. I would love to hear what words you choose to use.
PS Denise,
Are you overseas, though? I am thinking maybe yes. But we still can try to figure something out!
I love your homemade metaphor dice! What a wonderful idea. I went with the dice and changed the order just a little.
Kindness is a
poem of blue
like ripples in water–
begins with me
and ends with you.
I love how you tied the image and the dice together. Heroes make me smile, too!
Leigh Anne,
You can find these Metaphor Dice (cardboard and easy-ish to assemble) at metaphordice.com. They are for sale (but maybe pricey? and more than you would want to start out),but if you send a note to Taylor, he may send you a few to try or I could do that for you. Find me on fb and if we are not friends, please friend me and then we can organize! I love how your made the metaphor come alive with the sea and its constancy. And in a small poem!
I struggled to get one today. Here’s one effort for now. Longer than a short poem should be. But I wanted to start somewhere!
Part Ballerina, Part Pterodactyl
Heron, posing as
a stately and serene sentinel,
lifts a delicate leg.
Strolls along
this lonely beach
like a sand dancer.
Then, without blinking,
inartfully lifts
skyward. Wings swooping
and flapping like wild bellows
above the land.
Escapes.
I love your poem and how your title tells the geological history as well as personifying the hero. Wonderful imagery.
I love it, Rüth. And I love that you did it in some “stolen time.” Great reminder to find the time to do the things that make us grow.
Ah, the ever hopeful desire that we can overcome greed and focus on kindness. Love your “hero” heron, Rose.