This week I met with two local poets, one a former student who is nearing 14, and the other a visiting musician from Argentina who is 26 (I think). We met at a local coffee shop to write poetry together. I brought a poem I received from the Poetry Foundation, To Our Land by Mahmoud Darwish.
To our land,
and it is the one near the word of god,
a ceiling of cloudsTo our land,
and it is the one far from the adjectives of nouns,
the map of absenceTo our land,
Mahmoud Darwish, read the rest of the poem here.
and it is the one tiny as a sesame seed,
a heavenly horizon … and a hidden chasm
We talked about what we noticed. The anaphora of To our Land became our prompt for writing “To Our _______”.
Our discussion was surprisingly sophisticated, so truly engaged in the words, the feelings, and how each of us responded differently. Fran said, “We must do this again next week.” A writing group was formed.
I said, “We need to have a name.”
Kaia looked up at the pecans surrounding us (we were in the Pie Bar of a pecan company.) “What about three pecans?”
To Our Poets
after Mahmoud DarwishTo our poets
speaking with their pens
pencils tearing the page.To our poets,
and he is the one grieving his land
a prize of war,
a jewel that glimmers for the far upon the far.To our poets,
and she praises the birds, the imagination
calling to us announcing our place
in a family of things.To our poets,
the ones who gives themselves permission
to be poets, folding pages of a notebook
that unfold their untold secrets.And for us
Margaret Simon, draft
who listen
and find fresh air to breathe.
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Reflections on the Teche 
Your poem is simply breathtaking!
Thanks. I was not confident about it because I had no feedback.
Three pecans walk into a pie bar and become poets! I love the image of that, and I love the community you are fostering. Wonderful, Margaret!
Fabulous! Your poem is poignant and beautiful– I hope you and your new poetry friends create many more wonders!
Such yearning in these words, Margaret! What a delight, your Three Pecans.
…these lines I love so well – they resonate beautifully.
the ones who gives themselves permission
to be poets, folding pages of a notebook
that unfold their untold secrets.
Here’s to you three pecans. May you feed each other rich sweetness – and the occasional praline, for good measure.
Margaret, you go, you three pecans! How special to be with Kaia in a writing group (and the other pecan too) Isn’t it magical that you can take that bit of inspirational anaphora and make another new creation. I like how you also kept two portions, a line and phrase, from his poem. My favorites lines are:
“folding pages of a notebook
that unfold their untold secrets.”
That’s what writing does “unfolds…untold secrets”
I love your poem and the idea of the Three Pecans writing poetry together in a coffee shop. What great fun and learning. I miss those times of writing with others. So much happens in the conversations. Please keep us posted on your gatherings.
Beautiful, Margaret! I love that you meet friends to write poetry together at a local coffee shop. The Pecans! What a lovely southern name – I have a Southern Pecan coffee that I like from Green Mountain. What fun you have!
What a gift of community and friendship and writing. I love every beat of this from the multi-generational gathering, poetry reading, writing and peacan pie. Anaphora…such fancy word for repetition…but so much the anchor in your poem. ‘To Our Poets,’ I’m raising my coffee cup.
Your time together sounds wonderful, Margaret, & then your poem, a paean to poets, one I hope you will send to be published. Everyone who writes will love it! I love “And for us
who listen”.
The name of your group is so fun: Three Pecans! These times of sharing can be so fulfilling, like a seed planted in rich earth. I love “pencils tearing the page” and I wish you that same passion as you continue to meet. Also, the image for this year’s progressive poem is gorgeous! Thanks for this post.
Love this, Margaret! A whole new writing community full of possibility.
Hooray for the Three Pecans. What a great way to connect over poetry.
Oh my goodness! The Three Pecans–what a gift to each of you, each bringing different experiences and wisdoms and perceptions! Your poem is stunning, Margaret. Here’s my favorite stanza:
“To our poets,
the ones who gives themselves permission
to be poets, folding pages of a notebook
that unfold their untold secrets.”
Hooray for unfolding what has been untold. ❤
Thanks for this moving poem Margaret, and the touching ending,
“And for us
who listen
and find fresh air to breathe.”
Appreciations for this ”fresh air”!
And what a lovely poetry meeting you had–write on “Three Pecans”!