Happy May! In many ways, I’m sad that it’s May. I looked over the school calendars, and I have fewer than 10 days left with my students. May’s calendars are worse than December. They are full of “Fun Days”, field trips, and “Awards Day”… Where are the time-with-my-students days?
Of course, there are some wonderful days on the same calendar: Teacher Appreciation Week, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Sleep-in-it’s-summer days.
Today is Inklings Challenge of the Month Day. Linda Mitchell hit us with an interesting challenge to exchange poems and “Fiddle with, play with, tinker, tear-apart, be inspired or stumped by” the poem you were given. I chose to find a nestling ( à la Irene Latham). On this Canva design, you can see the poem Linda sent and my nestling.
Nestling “Star” by Margaret Simon
Links to other Inklings. Molly had my poem to fiddle with. I can’t wait to see what she did with it.
Molly Hogan
Heidi Mordhorst
Catherine Flynn
Mary Lee Hahn
Linda Mitchell
If you followed the Progressive Poem, you can find the poem as a whole at this link: 2024 Kidlit Progressive Poem: Border Crossing This year felt different, a higher stakes dramatic story evolved. Thanks to everyone who participated.
I will be participating in a poetry reading event on Saturday night. It’s been a while since I have read for an audience. Wish me luck.
Reflections on the Teche 
Dear Margaret, you’ll be GREAT! I love your star’s tiny wishes…beautiful fiddling and nestling. xo
I wish you luck, though you won’t need it. You’re a natural.
Linda gave us an amazing challenge, didn’t she? I love seeing your words shine out from within hers. That’s so much of what we do for each other all the time, isn’t it.
My heart is just bursting from the (Heidi said it first) MIRACLE of these collaborations.
Sweet nestling, Margaret! Have fun at your reading, and enjoy your last days with your students.
Your nestling is beautiful, Margaret. I hope you have a wonderful reading.
I count tiny wishes! What a lovely nestling! Thank you for sharing a link to the completed progressive poem. I had not had a chance to read the final version. Truly amazing how the story evolved. Good luck with your reading, Margaret! I know you will be wonderful!
I love the way your design shows your nestling sparkling in Linda’s poem! You will be a star at your reading.
I love the nestling you found, Margaret. I want to sit with “light pulled.” Enjoy your Festival of Words!
Breathing new life into tried and trusted words is a worthy pursuit, Margaret. You have risen to the challenge.
What a cool nestling. I love it. This nestling makes me think of embroidery thread pulled through a canvas…that first word pulled sets it up. I’m so fortunate to know you as a poet. Thank you!
Good luck at your reading. I love hearing you read. You have such a calm to your voice. I know everyone in listening reach will want to tap into that.
Best wishes for your reading, Margaret. I imagine you’ll be wonderful! I love that you found your poem of stars among the words from Linda. Stars twinkle everywhere!
Oh, Margaret, you are getting ready right now for your poetry reading event. All the best to you! Thinking of you, and I’m sure it will be empowering to read with so many others.
What a perfect idea for your poem. This is a sweet way to do a strikethrough poem. I loved reading Linda’s poem, and then it was so fun to pick out the sweet little message, including “I count tiny wishes.” Precious!
I’m always amazed by how much power can be held within a small poem. Your nestling is yet another example of that and was such a clever way to approach this challenge. Your presentation of the poem is gorgeous, too! Enjoy your reading!
“tiny wishes” shine through! 🙂
This is beautiful, Margaret! Thank you for the reminder to hold on to those “tiny wishes.” I’m sure your poetry reading was a great success!
How did the reading go? I wish I could have attended! The erasure poem is lovely!
What a light touch, what a gentle pulling from the longer poem you managed! It’s like a little *bing* magic wand of loveliness! I hope your reading was spectacular. I apologize for my poor reading of your Ig post–I didn’t see that you were reading from WERE YOU THERE. I had forgotten that this terrific work is to be published!!! Congrats all over again, Margaret!
Wow! Your school year is almost done! We still have 6 weeks left! Enjoy your last few days!