Have you ever had a form attach itself to you and beg you for a daily poem? I’ve hoped for a daily haiku to come to me for years now. I’ve tried it on, and some days it fits just fine, but I’ve recently felt a tug toward elfchen which is a similar form to a cinquain. Five lines. However, in an elfchen (elevenie, in English) there are more specific directions that stretch the form to a higher problem-solving level, a level of Flow for me, not too hard, not too easy.
On Tuesday, I wrote about beginning this new year with a practice of notebooking with my students. I shared an elfchen there.
Do you read The Marginalian? I highly recommend it as a weekly practice. Maria Popova sends a newsletter each Sunday, and it never fails to inspire me. This is a found elfchen from Jan. 7, 2024.
Attention
Margaret Simon, found in The Marginalian
high degree
be as prayer
gravity in acts of
Love
“Perhaps this spiritual dimension of love stems from a simple equivalence: At its core, love is the quality of attention we confer upon another; and as Simone Weil observed in her timeless meditation on the nature of grace, “attention, taken to its highest degree, is the same thing as prayer.” All of love’s gravity and all of its grace are found in our acts of attention.” Love and the Sacred–The Marginalian.
Have you started a new poetry practice? What commitment to writing have you made?
Reflections on the Teche 
Love reading your Friday poetry. I have committed to writing more but poetry seems to be out of my reach. When I try it just comes out like prose written in short lines. I do love reading The Marginalian. She does a wonderful job of gathering writers to reflect upon. Happy Friday!
Margaret, what a beautiful idea to equate attention with prayer and love. That makes so much sense! This year, my commitment is to try to finish more of what I start writing (in as much as anything ever feels finished). : )
I get it. How many ways can you edit and revise? Infinite. I remember hearing that Mary Oliver usually went through 40 drafts.
In the past few years I’ve found new ways to pray making it very personal for me. I also have tried paying attention more (a la Mary Oliver)), so all of this makes so much sense. Good luck with your daily Elfchens – I love them too.
I think the elfchen is a wonderful form for daily practice, it’s short and doable but also can convey deep feelings and abstract emotions like yours. Gravity/prayer and love is a profound connection.
I’m a Marginalian subscriber, too, Margaret. And your elfchen is a perfect response to Weil’s meditation!
I follow The Marginalian, too, Margaret, really feels often like a relaxing and inspiring break whenever it arrives. This idea of ‘attention’ & the way you crafted the elfchen, pulling ‘gravity’ into a serious thought is so beautifully real. I’m writing some in a daily notebook entry, all kinds of capturing. It, too, feels like a nice break in the day.
Yes, The Marginalian is wonderful—have followed for many years. Maria Popova always has something significant that touches and opens thoughts, memories, new poetry….
Yes. Yes, I have had a form call to me and stick…it’s kind of like a comfortable chair in a favorite place in the room. If I start with that comfy form, other poems can follow. It’s the spark to get going for me. And then, it turns into a habit. What a cool set of found words to use with elfchen. The imagery of the “high degree” and prayer is fascinating. I hope you keep going with this!
I’ve felt a tug to get back to cheritas. I loved spending last April with them! I wonder if I can blend Jane Hirschfield and cheritas…
Go for it. The elfchen plays in my head now.
Ooh, a found elfchen. Very cool, Margaret. The only change in poetry practice for me is choosing the word “art” for the year; I think it will help me focus.
I look forward to seeing where art takes you.
“Have you ever had a form attach itself to you and beg you for a daily poem?” This made me laugh! Love it. Yes, The Marginalian is so good, and I enjoyed your found Elfchen!
That’s lovely, Margaret. And it’s such a great feeling when a form calls to you, rather than having to chase it down! Have fun with them.