This month’s Inkling challenge comes from Heidi Mordhorst: I’m looking out at my yard, my garden, and no matter what’s happening outside or in, THE PLANTS KEEP GROWING. They rarely give up. There are so many ways in which we’ve all (but especially as women, as educators) had to be persistent, despite our weariness. Write a poem (for kids or adults) about PERSISTENCE.
Heidi suggested a model poem by Tony Hoagland, Please Don’t. I borrowed a few lines and the word swobtoggle.
Dandelion Garden
Hello, dandelions
in the ditch,You pop forth
taller than I’ve ever seen,
reaching higher
for a taste of the sunbefore the storm comes
to swobtoggle*
your seeds away.You look at me
with a wispy wink
waiting for a child to hold
& blow.Persistent in your volunteer work
knowing
someday soon,
you will fly.*from Tony Hoagland, “Please Don’t”
Margaret Simon, draft
See what other Inklings did with this prompt.
Linda@A Word Edgewise
Heidi @my juicy little universe
Molly@Nix the Comfort Zone
Catherine@Reading to the Core
Mary Lee @ A(nother) Year of Reading
Reflections on the Teche 
ooooh! What a wonderful new word to me swobtogle. Thanks for that. And, waiting for a child to find and blow…isn’t that the dreamiest image. Lovely take on persistence. You put pretty and strength together well.
The plants make persistence look easy, don’t they? I love this poem of address, and I love how swobtoggle just tells you what it means in your gentle, energetic poem!
Delightful dandelion poem and mentor poem by Tony Hoagland, thanks for both Margaret, and a “wispy wink” wake-up and “swobtoggle” start to my day!
I agree, “swobtoggle” is such a great word. It fits so well in your poem as we interpret the precise meaning. Love it!
Love this poem of address to the dandelions! And you already know how much I love “volunteer work!!”
Love this, Margaret! I have a peaceful relationship with dandelions, live and let live. I have never thought about their goals, their wishes, their wanting a taste of the sun. I have new respect for them now.
I’m loving every bit, no surprise, as you read from my post about dandelions, Margaret. Hooray for them and for your poem. “Persistent in your volunteer work” is perfect! Happy weekend!
Lovely, Margaret! Plants are some of THE most persistent things I’ve ever seen, growing in unlikely places, always reaching toward the sun! Love that you chose a dandelion to feature the persistence.
Margaret, I love swobtoggle and I love the inherent optimism in your poem. I also really like “wispy wink”. Dandelions are the epitome of persistence, aren’t they!? Great response to the prompt!
Swobtoggle deserves a second appearance in a poem. I love “Wispy wink” describing the look of the flower when it full of seeds. They are persistent! Enjoy your summer!
Our dandelions have seemed bigger to me this year, too. I love the attention you give them in your poem, Margaret! You’ve included so many great images. I especially like “reaching higher/for a taste of the sun.”
This is lovely, Margaret! The wispy wink and the knowledge that it’ll fly–I extra love those two bits. :>)