Happy November! Wow, did that ever sneak up on me. The month of gratitude. The month of NCTE! (Yes, in California and I am presenting) The month before Christmas. Ah, 2022 is quickly slipping away.
Here we are with another Inkling challenge, and I, once again, put it off. Linda Mitchell challenged us to write a poem to one of the prompt words for Folktale Week. I didn’t even know there was such a thing. You can find it on Instagram: #folktaleweek, #folktaleweek2022.
I selected the word star.
Margaret Simon, draftHave you found the star in you?
The one that shines brightest in the dark.
Your star may feel far away
yet even dandelions have hidden wings.
Open your wings to the wind.Believe you can fly.
I signed up for a postcard exchange through Spark: art from writing, writing from art. I received a card from our own Jone MacCulloch. It’s an illustration that wants to be a poem. Perhaps a Folktale poem? Will you take the challenge?
Moon: copy of great grandfather’s Civil War letter
Pumpkin inspired by Yayoi Kusama
Check out what the other Inklings have written for this challenge:
Linda Mitchell
Molly Hogan
Catherine Flynn
Mary Lee Hahn
Heidi Mordhorst
Reflections on the Teche 
[…] hosting Poetry Friday this week. Thank you, Heidi!)Linda Mitchell @ A Word EdgewiseMargaret Simon @ Reflections on the TecheMary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of ReadingMolly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort […]
Love all the magical imagery in your post, especially the hidden dandelion wings, and thanks for sharing Jones postcard to you!
“Have you found the star in you?” – That question will be rumbling around in my head all day. I often think back to my many treks to NCTE come November. Have a wonderful time!
Such beautiful words of wisdom! Hooray for the hidden wings of dandelions — there’s hope for us all!
Wonderful, Margaret, especially that sly reference to dandelions. Love the intriguing prompt art and Jone’s spark, too.
The stars in ourselves, the stars in others…they’re sparkling this very instant. Thank you! xo
Margaret, Knowing that you work with TAG children or GT (whichever acronym you use in your school), I hope you shared your Star Poem with them. It jumped right to that population when I read, “Your star may feel far away
yet even dandelions have hidden wings.” Sometimes, I think, it’s hard for even these kids to fly! Thank you for sharing. Best wishes for a great presentation at NCTE.
What a fabulous title, Margaret, and I also think the line about dandelions is magical. Love this response to the prompt! (How can you write something so beautiful with such little turn around time!?!) Have fun presenting at NCTE.
Margaret, I agree with the others. Your line, even dandelions have hidden wings, offers such a beautiful image. Congratulations on presenting at NCTE. I miss the wonder of a convention weekend.
Lucky NCTE attendees! I know your own inner star will shine brightly, Margaret. Thanks for sharing your lovely poem, and Jone’s art, too – I think her wonderful old-letter-moon has (hidden?) wings there….
Thank you for sharing my work. I love the line about dandelions. I wish I had known about NCTE sooner as I would have tried to attend (on the west coast) Sigh. Have fun,.
What a wonderful question poem…have you found the star in you? I want to share this one with my students. Chef’s kiss for this one AND Jone’s collage. I love it!
Sorry I missed your link the first time around! “even dandelions have hidden wings”–and how a dandelion and its hidden wings are both stars of a kind. Beautiful hidden sparkles. I LOVE Jone’s collage. That word hex makes we want to get going right away!
Open your wings to the wind–gorgeous. Thank you, Margaret, for sharing this and also Jone’s lovely collage!
Thank you for sharing! I’m really enjoying reading these folktale poems. Yours is so sweet. 🙂
“Have you found the star in you?” hooked me. What a great question for children to respond to. These lines “dandelions have wings, open your wings to the wind, and believe you can fly” especially spoke to me. I love your poem! I love Jone’s collage, especially her flying moon. I walked last night watching the full moon; poetic phrases swirled in my mind. I like the painting of the sleeping cat and the eyes in the cut apple. Have fun at NCTE in CA! Your post was full of fun and inspiration. Thank you.