Today I am juggling many hats. First, I am hosting the blog roundup for Poetry Friday. If you participate, the link up will be at the end of this post. 2. I have the next line for the annual Kidlit Progressive Poem (gentle hand-off from Donna who is wearing many hats of her own lately). 3. It’s the first Friday of the month which means a challenge from an Inkling (our writing group’s cute nickname).
The Kidlit Progressive Poem is the dream-child of Irene Latham. I am carrying the torch these days which means I round up all the volunteer writers and send them a reminder if they forget. Not a terrible job, really. So far, it all seems to come together in an amazing poem by the end of the month. You can follow the progression by clicking on the links on the side bar. Six days of April means six lines. I feel like I’m cheating because the line came to me immediately. Repetition is good in a poem and so are similes. Here is the poem with my line added in italics.
Suddenly everything fell into place
like raindrops hitting soil and sinking in.When morning first poked me, I’d wished it away
my mind in the mist, muddled, confused.Was this a dream, or reality, rousing my response?
The sun surged, urging me to join in its rising,Rising like a crystal ball reflecting on morning dew.
The Inkling challenge this month comes from Mary Lee Hahn. She decided to choose random words as a prompt for a poem. The words were knuckle, denial, turn, cautious.
Molly Hogan, fellow Inkling, and I are using a calendar grid for National Poetry Month. Here’s a copy of our calendar which you are welcome to use if you need ideas. I chose to write a Fib poem, a form that uses the Fibonacci Series for syllable counts: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. (I just realized I didn’t repeat the one syllable line. Fudge it. Too late to revise now.)
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Reflections on the Teche 
Thank you for wearing such an array of hats this week, Margaret! Oohhh… the Progressive Poem is starting off with such ethereal imagery, and yet it finds grounding, too, in the literal earth and sun. I look forward to seeing where it goes! (& miss contributing this year, but I’m still covered up in moving boxes!)
I’ve put out a little signpost to Jama’s events roundup and to your post here and hope to jump into Poetry Month for the last half, anyway. Happy Easter to you.
I hate it when life gets in the way of poetry, but if we didn’t have it, no words would exist. That’s one of the beautiful things about the progressive poem, how it slowly emerges and includes so many voices as one. I hope you will be settled soon.
“Knuckle-Tap-dance rhythm” – yes! Wise advice for all of us, especially when taking on big poetry challenges as you have done here. Such a cool calendar – I love that idea. Thank you for hosting with your hopeful, mysterious crystal ball and always-generosity. xo, a.
[…] on over to Margaret Simon’s blog Reflections on the Teche, for she’s hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Margaret! In addition to […]
Thanks for this cornucopia poetry post Margaret and for hosting! I really like the gutsiness in your Fib poem and it works so well with that image, perhaps you can add a “she” at the top, She/Turned… Hmm and I wonder if something will emerge from that crystal ball or from those reflections, you’ve offered many places to go from your line. Happy Easter to you and your family!
Great idea to add she!
[…] about Monsterville at her website. For more poetry, head on over to the Poetry Friday roundup at Reflections on the Teche with Margaret Simon, where she is hosting the 2023 Progressive […]
Oh how I wish I could take part in the Prog Poem – alas, I’m too busy these days. I love how it’s coming along, though, and your line allows pretty much ANYTHING to happen next! Thanks for hosting, by the way, and I enjoyed your “Fib” even it’s syllabically deficient. 😉
“It’s syllabically deficient”…had me singing to “it’s magically delicious!” Lol!
Thanks for this fabulous post to kick off Poetry Friday’s April roundups! I love your line, and your Fibonacci poem is a delight. Happy Poetry Friday (and month!) Margaret!
Love your adding additional description to the poem, a “punctuation” for his action to come, and I love the “denial into a knuckle” -just a wonderful image. You are a busy lady! Happy Easter, too! Thanks for hosting!
So much happening in your poetry zone, Margaret. Enjoy every moment of your busy month of poetic inspiration and delight. Keep progressing…
Thanks for hosting.
[…] be sure to visit my fellow Inkling, Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche, for this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup AND the next line in the Progressive Poem. Then check […]
Every one of these hats suits you, Margaret. Your “crystal ball” is a fun addition to the PP. And you know I love me a fib…I can hear that ‘knuckle-tap-dance’. Thank you for hosting. 🙂
[…] week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Margaret Simon, my NPM co-conspirator, who is sharing her response to our Inkling prompt and her contributed line […]
The Progressive Poem is shaping up beautifully. It’s such fun to follow along. I also love how you turned denial into a “knuckle”–that’s such a great image! Thanks for all your inspiration, for all that you do to foster poetry community, and for hosting this week.
[…] lovely and talented Margaret Simon is hosting the Roundup at Reflections on the Teche. Be sure to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being shared around the blogosphere this […]
Great new line for the Progressive Poem! I love the repetition of “rising.” So hopeful.
Who cares about one missing syllable? Words get silent letters, so I say your poem gets a silent word! Because, WOW! You took those wonky words and made them DANCE!!
[…] fitting that Margaret has the roundup today at Reflections on the Teche. There you can find lots of poetry goodness as well as the next line in this year’s […]
Another great image added to the progressive poem, Margaret. I like how you managed to use all of the suggested words into a short poem. Thank you for hosting, and for providing the inspiration for my post today.
So many hats, Margaret, and you wear then all so well! Thanks for all. Love your and Molly’s calendar approach to NPM. Yay! xo
Nobody wears hats like you, Margaret! I hope the crystal ball of the sun shows our main being character a direction for the day. I think rain is on the horizon (like here–after three glorious warm sunny days we have chill and clouds for Easter weekend). It’s genius what you did with Turning Cautious Denial into something lively!
Thank you for hosting today, Margaret, AND for organizing the progressive poem, AND for coming up with a great a line! I love your response to Mary Lee’s challenge. Here’s to raising our voices!
Thanks Margaret for juggling so many balls and still hosting this week. I’d never heard of a Fib poem, and I enjoy structured poems so I must give this a try now!
Thanks for hosting, and for the line! Wishing you a blessed Easter weekend!
Oh, goodness, you are juggling a lot! (Isn’t it fun when it’s poetry?) Thank you for all you’re doing! I love the fib, especially that last line!
Thank you for hosting and for this summary of NPM. I enjoyed your poem, how you found meaning in those very different words, and your new line!
(Fingers crossed X) I’m trying again on a new day to add my comment, and tell you how much I admire ALL that you’re doing. The art, the poems – wow! Thanks so much for hosting.
Margaret, thank you for rounding up today. The Progressive Poem is very cool; I look forward to seeing where it goes. “Tap-dance rhythm of your own voice” in the Fib is something that will stay with me. It’s so encouraging.
Margaret, what a sweet Fib poem you wrote. I love the word Knuckle. It is a busy day for you.
“Like a crystal ball reflecting on morning dew” is a lovely image. And now the character is out of bed and starting an adventure.
Thanks for hosting today.
Fun to see your Fib and PP line! Looks like you’re going to have a very busy and productive NPM! Thanks so much for hosting this week.
Thank you for hosting Margaret, especially when you have so much going on. I love the line you added to the progressive poem. I’ve been reading, taking the lines in, and trying not to think too far ahead of my own turn to contribute. Have a wonderful, restful holiday.
Margaret, you are an inspiration in poetry & in organization!
Appreciations for taking on so many chapeaus, including hosting the Friday posts & on such a family busy weekend.
I like your Own Voice strength call & also the crystal coloration of your line for the 2023 KidLit Progressive Poem, which is drenched in the feeling of outdoors to echo this season.
I miss adding a line but posted today at Bookseedstudio with my April Poetry Month 2023 Week One notes from. I forgot to put my name or the blog name on your Mr. Linky, but the red splashed artwork is eye-catching.
More thanks to busy YOU!
Wow, so many hats and worn so well! I love how your line of the progressive poem draws back to the morning raindrop imagery in lines 2 and 3. And the idea of the crystal ball suggests that whatever suddenly happened will impact the future. AND the repetition across line break is very effective. That line wears many hats as well.
There’s so much happening here today! I adore your Fib and can’t wait to see where the next poet takes the line you’ve added to the progressive poem
Thanks so much for hosting.
That crystal ball rising sun it quite the image! Love it! Goes with the raindrops, too!
I love where the Progressive Poem is heading – and yes, I agree, adding the repetition of “rising” gives your line added emotion, mystery even. And you did a beautiful job on your Fib/word prompts. It feels like it fits the image – the change of mind and flip of the dress 🙂
I’ve missed following the progressive poem so far this month, so I’m glad you shared all the lines. I love your response and I’m glad that you had a line rise so quickly! Always a blessing, especially give your multiple challenges for this poetry month.
Your fib poem makes me think of Terje’s dancing daughter.
Poem on, my friend!
As always, I find many treats as I stop here: Progressive Poem, Inkling Challenge, a NPM calendar, and beautiful words. I appreciate your calendar. I’m trying to get back in the habit of poetry so I’ve decided I need to post a poem each day. I’m sure I’ll be back to check out this calendar as I get stuck.
Thanks for hosting!
Happy Easter, Margaret! So many delicious things here. I love seeing how the Progressive Poem is going, and your Fib is lovely. I remember when the Poetry Sisters did skinnys, and I messed up the form. Ha! Such a simple one, too. And yet…I loved my poem. Thanks for hosting and sharing this week :>)