Inklings Challenge from Catherine this month: “Write a mathematical poem, such as a fib, pi poem, nonet, etc.” I forgot all about it, so this poem is a bit of a LaMiPoFri* poem. I wanted to try a nonet. I remembered Janet and Sylvia’s advice to write about what you know. I’ve been tending monarch caterpillars in my kitchen for weeks. There have been some losses, but today I am happy to report 9 healthy looking chrysalises and another caterpillar in J formation. I still have 4 free roaming caterpillars on very little milkweed and butternut squash.
Our country once again is in the midst of severe cold storms that bring ice and snow. Here in South Louisiana we are expecting freezing temperatures in the wee hours of the morning. We will not get snow or ice, the meteorologist predicts. All of that came together in this draft of a nonet. I used Canva to make it look all pretty. Thanks for reading.
For other Inkling responses to the challenge:
Linda Mitchell
Molly Hogan
Catherine Flynn
Heidi Mordhorst
MaryLee Hahn
Reflections on the Teche 
You are a great caterpillar and butterfly mother! Your beautiful nonet relates to your spiritual heart theme from yesterday’s poem. How the love in your heart for monarch butterflies inspired you to save the caterpillars from the cold winter and has inspired you to write this poem. I love how in your poem you contrast the icicles and coldness to trust, life, warmth and heart. Your rhyme, consonance of /n/, assonance of /a/, and word choices make me feel wrapped with warmth, love and hope. I love your whole poem, but this line really stands out for me “hang in trust silk will hold”. Love your Canva graphic, too. Thank you for your inspiration and joy.
Wow! Nine new caterpillars. What a miracle–and great kitchen decor. Your nonet is crafted so well that I read it without the extra breaks of a counted syllable line. That’s pretty good. I do love that “trust silk” after “cold sinks.” Beautiful language too. Bravo!
Love, love, love! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I love the contrast between those cold icicles and the gold and green of the chrysalis. Yay for caterpillars thriving in stormy weather and for their protectors!
[…] Mordhorst @ My Juicy Little UniverseLinda Mitchell @ A Word EdgewiseMargaret Simon @ Reflections on the TecheMary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of ReadingMolly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort […]
New life, new poems spring forth even when freezing!
Your monarch tending skills are impressive, Margaret! So is your ability to turn your butterfly love into this wonderful nonet. I also love the contrast between the icicle and the chrysalis. I hope the storm isn’t too disruptive for you.
I’m so impressed with your caterpillar success, Margaret! The nonet was the perfect form, and I love the way it ends with “heart.”
I love your (seems like) butterfly farm, am always in awe at the magical transformation. Love the way you wound them into a life of trust.
Margaret, your monarch journey is a testament to your faith. I really like how you intertwined weather conditions into your poem. You carefully conceived a plan to be a watcher protector. Nine seems to be a magic number for your this week. Stay warm!
Whoa! Dueting nonets! This is so lovely– and you even made it rhyme. “wrap your body in gold and green chrysalis skin/hang in trust”…beautiful. Do butterflies have hearts? How can I not know that?
Ha! I had the same question. I started with the word heart because it was Linda’s prompt for Spiritual Thursday. I wrote and posted the poem, but the question bothered me, so I looked it up. Yes! Butterflies Do have Hearts!
Wait, what? You made a nonet RHYME? Wowser.
It happened right under my nose. I didn’t even notice until I got to transformation. I’m a poet and don’t even know it.
In this winter weather, I’m going to hang onto whatever gold and green I can! Lovely poem, and I can’t wait for spring!
Love hearing about your kitchen project. So interesting to take part in the Monarch life cycle, where” life will begin again.”
This is beautiful! I can only imagine what it’s like to share your winter kitchen with soon-to-be butterflies. What a wonderful metaphor for winter – a chrysalis to which we retreat as we wait for spring.
Thanks for sharing this and for being a part of the Poetry Friday party!