Three months ago I said, “Sure!” when my friend Stephanie asked me to participate in a poetry reading. I figured I had plenty of time. And here we are less than a week away. The poetry night is in conjunction with a Water/ Ways traveling Smithsonian exhibit. Stephanie, the assistant at the Bayou Teche Museum, wrote the grant and wanted to add arts into the presentations. I asked her, “Do you realize I write for children?”
The topic is water, so I plan to read from Bayou Song, a swimming poem from Rhymes and Rhythm, and two yet-to-be published poems from Swamp Song. There will be three poets laureate reading alongside me. I’m excited to meet the newest state poet laureate Mona Lisa Saloy. I’ve seen her present on Zoom, but this reading together will be in person.
Darrell Bourque is a mentor of mine. He was poet laureate in Louisiana from 2007-2011. And Jonathan Mayers is coming from Baton Rouge. He is the city’s poet laureate. Melissa and I have been friends since our writing group days in the 90’s. We will support each other as the two non-poets laureate.
In my classroom, the gratitude “Poet-Tree” is filling up with leaves of grateful poems. Yesterday a few teachers stopped by to tell me they were reading the poems and one even said she wanted to write her own and put it on our tree. Spreading poetry love!
by Katie 
by Jaden 
by Avalyn
Reflections on the Teche 
Love the Poet-tree poems, Margaret – and best wishes with the reading! Sounds like a wonderful opportunity.
[…] Margaret Simon is prepping for a poetry reading with some esteeemed company, and shares a few student poems from the Poet-Tree! […]
Sounds like a wonderful event, Margaret, and what an honor! Good luck!
Wow! The poetree is beautiful. I love seeing all the pretty leaves of poems on it. How fun to see students leading the way in this project. Enjoy your reading! I’m sure the audience will feel quite lucky to hear your poems read in your voice…even if you might be fan-girling the tiniest little bit over the poet laureates. Oh, wait…that’s me fan-girling. But, you know what I mean?
I love your poetree, Margaret, & it seems that lots of others do, too! Congratulations on your reading which is very exciting news! I’m sure you’ll be wonderful! Enjoy it all!
You are such a force for good in the poetry realms! You never cease to amazing. My poem on the Gratitude Poetree would be for YOU!
What a thrill to be reading with other such accomplished poets! Congratulations!
Hooray for you, and this stellar group of poetry readers. We are proud of you, Margaret! Congratulations and I hope you enjoy it immensely! The Poet Tree is looking so great! I love the poetry love spreading around your school.
Margaret, it is so exciting that you are on the billing with poet laureates. Your poems will shine. i wish I could be there. Will you share your poems and your feelings with us? Your students seem to enjoy this new activity you created for them. I sent positive thoughts on their writing.
I love your #gratitude Poet-Tree and your students’ poems are so sweet. Avalyn’s is making me hungry! Good luck with your poetry reading! I know you will be amazing, as always!
How exciting. I know that feeling, “I have plenty of time” and then time is up! Eek! I am anxious to hear how it went.
What an exciting reading you have coming up… Many Congratulations!!! Do fill us in on all. I love the heartfelt poems that are filling up your students Poet-Tree, thanks!