Here we are again at another first Friday of the month. Since it’s Slice of Life Challenge month, this is a dual post. It was my turn to choose a challenge for my writing group, the Inklings. In my classroom, we are writing responses each day to a quote. I challenged my fellow Inklings to find a favorite quote and write a poem. Form was optional.
I am pulling a poem from the February project for Laura Shovan’s birthday. The prompt came from Ruth Lehrer who posted a video of Theo Janson’s Wind-Powered Sculptures. Fascinating. And the same day I saw a Madeleine L’Engle quote in my Instagram feed. I think there was also an influence of form from a poem-of-the-day, but I can’t remember which one. Muses, muses everywhere.
“Believing takes practice” Madeleine L’Engle
If believing takes practice
then wind plays
with swirling moss
hanging in the trees
practicing for inevitable storms
holding on for the ride to come.Tell yourself you believe
over & over again
like the Dutch artist who preserves
the beach by creating beach animals
walking believing
so when midnight comes
vacant empty of moon or stars,
you can reach out & touch
the heart of the lonely
and bring them back to love.©Margaret Simon
Other Inklings Poems:
Molly Hogan
Catherine Flynn
Heidi Mordhorst
Linda Mitchell
Mary Lee Hahn
There are still a few slots left for the KidLit Progressive Poem. If you’d like to participate, click here and leave me a comment.
Reflections on the Teche 