A little over a year ago, my grandson Leo, who was not quite 3 at the time, had a conversation with my daughter. He was sleepy and seemed to be recalling a dream about being bitten by a monster.
“He was sleeping,” recalled Leo.
“And he woke up and bit you?” Maggie inquired.
“Yeah, and it was bleedin’,” Leo said. Then he smiled and said, “You love bleedin?”
“Do I love bleedin’?” Maggie asked in a soothing voice.
“That’s rearry scary! And you might cry, too.”
The words “You love bleedin'” have remained since in our unofficial book of family lore.
Yesterday I had to go have a yearly blood test. Not my favorite thing, but I made it through, and the nurse was as nice as could be, but on the way to school, I thought about the Ethical ELA prompt. Stacey Joy had a wonderful post with links to beautiful words she encouraged us to try. I abandoned that part of the prompt and focused on creating a haiku sonnet in my notes app. Sometimes you just have to say what you want to say. And bleedin’ was on my brain.
Bleeding on the Page
I worry I can’t
do what other poets do
bleeding with deep love.I gave blood today
opening my elbow for
piercing, dark red flow.A tiny bruise dot
reminds me I’m human–
Blood tells a story.Hemmingway says write,
it’s easy, open your veins
Bleed the words that flow.So here I am sharing
Margaret Simon, #verselove 2023
my bloodsong with you.
Two Writing Teachers.
Reflections on the Teche 
I ind it fascinating that your mind retains Leo’s story and then it surfaced today as you give blood and reformated into this thought-provoking poem. Thanks for sharing both your process and your poem. So glad you decided: “Sometimes you just have to say what you want to say.”
Wow! Fascinating where you went after your blood test. Isn’t it fun how our littles and their words make their way into family lore?
These words – “…opening my elbow for
piercing, dark red flow…” are so evocative of the experience. I was not a bit surprised that your blood test led you to a bloodsong. Thanks for writing.
Oh, Margaret, I didn’t read your poem yesterday, and so I’m so glad it was here today. What a beautiful image, inspired by Leo. Wow! Your sweet poem of “bleeding with deep love” and “Bleed the words that flow” and “sharing my bloodsong with you.” Oh, my, gorgeous poem, and the haiku sonnet seems the perfect form for it.
Then maybe writing poetry IS lovin bleedin…
Glad you punted to blood! Wonderful poem!