The Kidlit Progressive Poem originated from an idea that Irene Latham had to celebrate National Poetry Month in 2012, to bring a community of writers together as they collaborated on a poem. I began coordinating the effort in 2020. Each writer who volunteers creates a new line of the poem.
The poem has passed to me today. Patricia Franz started it off in the form of couplets. I’ve structured it into quatrains to see how it rides. The poem will take shape as it moves along toward 30 lines.
Thinking about this character who dreams of peace and lullabies of hope, he/she begins a journey across a border. Is this a literal border or figurative one? Irene set the character in motion with action. She also gave me a good word to rhyme; however, rhyme isn’t a rule in this ongoing pattern. I hand off this adventure to Marcie Atkins. The full schedule is on the sidebar. Stay along for the ride.
cradled in stars, our planet sleeps,
clinging to tender dreams of peace
sister moon watches from afar,
singing lunar lullabies of hope.almost dawn, I walk with others,
keeping close, my little brother.
hand in hand, we carry courage
escaping closer to the border.My feet are lightning;
My heart is thunder.
Our pace draws us closer
to a new land of wonder.
Thanks for inviting us to ponder wonder, for in it perhaps there’s hope. I like your gathering the couplets into quatrains too!
I agree with Michelle, you’ve imbued hope into the voice, Margaret. Considering the hard journey that we read of in newspapers, I am hopeful for them, too. The quatrains read well, great idea.
It’s always fascinating to watch this poem unfold. I also like how you’ve grouped the couplets into quatrains.
I like the structure, too. I’m wondering what lies ahead.
I like the structure, too. I’m wondering what lies ahead.
I agree about trying the quatrains, I like the effect and also the hope and wonder. Yes to making this have a possible figurative border though time till tell as the poem grows. That is always the fun part, seeing the community build a poem. Thank you for your words, Margaret.
Margaret, I also agree that quatrains work well. This poem is unfolding so beautifully. It brings me back to early days of teaching elementary-aged children. One little boy spoke of his travels from his war-torn land to America. Hope opens the flight to a new world.
Thank you, Margaret!
I also like the shape of the poem in quatrains–and hooray for the focus on hope. Because what else could motivate the journey?
Thank you for carrying our characters forward with hope and determination.
Ahh…forward in wonder! Perfect!
Margaret, lovely. We sense the danger, the intense emotions in the thunder and lightning from before, yet the continued sense of hope with the wonder of the new place.
Great idea with the quatrains. Margaret, I love how your lines of a new place of wonder and hope juxtapose Irene’s lines of intensity and the lines before that about protecting a brother escaping and crossing a possible dangerous border, but with courage. Courage, wonder, and hope, a marvelous poem.
Wonder is an important component of both adventure and ordeal. I like the addition of the word pace. Off to see what’s next!
Ahhh… these lines roll right from Irene’s, and you added a pinch of rhyme. Thanks for the wonder, Margaret!
Oh my goodnes. Margaret, this needs to be a picture book! It is so beautifully vivid and lyrical.
Loving the poem this year, even if I’m a bit late to the gathering. The quatrains are perfect and your lines are spot on full of wonder as our travelers edge ever closer.
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[…] 4 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the LifeApril 5 Irene at Live Your PoemApril 6 Margaret at Reflections on the TecheApril 7 Marcie AtkinsApril 8 Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a God Forsaken TownApril 9 Karen […]
[…] 4 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the LifeApril 5 Irene at Live Your PoemApril 6 Margaret at Reflections on the TecheApril 7 Marcie AtkinsApril 8 Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a God Forsaken TownApril 9 Karen […]