My drive to my schools changes with the seasons. In fall, the sugarcane is tall and takes my attention. In spring, these fields are fallow, and some become meadows of golden wildflowers. Horses roam. I wish I had taken a picture, but I’m usually on a strict time schedule.
Last week my student Chloe and I played with the triolet form, inspired by this Irene Latham poem, Triolet for Planting Day. It was a more challenging form than I thought it would be.
Triolet for Field and Breeze
When Field awakens to glimmering gold,
Margaret Simon, draft
Breeze gallops upon green waves.
An ember mare nuzzles her foal
when Field awakens to glimmering gold,
and readies itself for a front of cold,
with frolics over winter’s graves.
When field awakens to glimmering gold,
Breeze gallops upon green waves.
Spring Triolet
Spring colors over winter’s greed.
The rain fills all the holes.
Marshy areas buy blankets of reed.
And spring colors over winter’s greed.
Birds come home, now flight freed.
Out comes the little moles.
When spring covers winter’s greed,
The rain fills all the holes.
Chloe, 6th grade
Reflections on the Teche 
The repetition of “the rain fills all the holes” moves this poem in a subtle but powerful way. And, I’ve only recently realized the potential of writing alongside the published works of poets. Your writing and her writing made me wish that I could see this beautiful landscape.
I love reading about your own drive to work, Margaret & that repeating line “When Field awakens to glimmering gold” plus Chloe’s clever “Birds come home, now flight freed.” You must offer so much to students with poetry. Happy Friday!
I do love Chloe’s writing – and yours! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Wonderful poems, Margaret! Thank you for sharing your inspiration.
Margaret,
Nice job playing with the triolet form. I love the idea “when Field awakens to glimmering gold.” It always reminds me of Robert Frost’s “nature’s first green is gold.”
I love Chloe’s “spring colors over winter’s greed” – Such a nice image. You both are rocking the personification today.
Wow, Chloe is a powerful poem writer! I haven’t heard of this form before, I love the images in your poem of colour and movement and especially the ’ember mare’.
I love triolets–but find them difficult, too! That much repetition in such a short space puts heavy demands on the lines. Margaret, I love the brightness of your gold and ember, against the darkness of winter and graves. And the references to commerce and greed in Chloe’s poems–woohoo! winter’s greedy; marshes have to buy reedy blankets, and birds are flight freed (maybe not the same $ reference, but still brings up an association in my mind). Her poem makes me think of something I wrote in a poem on Thursday with my group: The world spins / on a pin made of beauty / and loss. Something about that balance sheet of the world. Probably why I’m seeing $ in Chloe’s poem. Thanks for sharing these!
Both of yours…BRILLIANT!
Oh I love “breeze gallops upon green waves.” Lovely!
these are beautiful triolets – I love that you and Chloe shared a poem together. Truly, this is walking with children.