August 7, 2024 by margaretsmn
This photo is a gate in my daughter’s yard. There is so much lush vegetation around that passing through feels like an adventure, a mystery. When the jasmine is in bloom, the scent itself will entice you to wonder. Join me today on a writing adventure. Leave a small poem in the comments and respond to others with encouraging words.
First day of school--
open the waiting gate
create your own path.
Margaret Simon, draft
Our address on the Bayou Teche
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April 1 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
April 2 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect
April 3 Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge
April 4 Donna Smith at Mainely Write
April 5 Denise at https://mrsdkrebs.edublogs.org/
April 6 Buffy at http://www.buffysilverman.com/blog
April 7 Jone at https://www.jonerushmacculloch.com/
April 8 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
April 9 Tabatha at https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/
April 10 Marcie at Marcie Flinchum Atkins
April 11 Rose at Imagine the Possibilities | Rose's Blog
April 12 Fran Haley at Lit Bits and Pieces
April 13 Cathy Stenquist
April 14 Janet Fagel at Mainly Write
April 15 Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink
April 16 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem Farm
April 17 Kim Johnson at Common Threads
April 18 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
April 19 Ramona at Pleasures from the Page
April 20 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading
April 21 Tanita at TanitasDavis.com
April 22 Patricia Franz
April 23 Ruth at There's No Such Thing as a Godforsaken Town
April 24 Linda Kulp Trout at http://lindakulptrout.blogspot.com
April 25 Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe
April 26 Michelle Kogan at: https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/
April 27 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
April 28 Pamela Ross at Words in Flight
April 29 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry
April 30 April Halprin Wayland at Teaching Authors
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, perfect way to approach a new school year. I hope it will be that way for students and teaches this year.
Garden gate
Surrounded by green
Beckons
Come in, come in
I love the repetition of “come in” in your last line. Yes, I think I will!
I’m a big fan of the word “beckons.”
I had never realized I was a fan of the word “beckons”, but like Margaret, I love it here. And the repetition of “Come in, come in” So welcoming.
I like how beckons has a line of it’s own, separate.
Diane, love your /g/ alliteration, repetition, and I agree with everyone else that your word “Beckons” sounds perfect here.
I also love the word, “beckons”, and the repeated “come in, come in” — an old-fashioned, cozy feel!
Your daughter’s gate is enchanting and full of wonder, thanks for opening a path for us with your poem… Wishing wonder your way as you enter through another school year! Thanks for your poem and the prompt!
diamond-window door
what treasure lies beyond—
curious wonder…
Michelle Kogan 2024, draft
The window in the door does call to treasure and wonder…
Interesting how your artist’s eye went to the window and its shape. Lovely!
I love how you focused on the window. You helped me see it.
Michelle, I love “curious wonder” here. I love the wonder in “what treasure lies beyond” It makes me want to go into the garden.
Michelle, ooh, I love the intrigue of “what treasure lies beyond-“. I like how you noticed the “diamond-window door” and I like the sounds the letters create. “Curious wonder” makes me think of my two ten-month-old crazy kittens that are sleeping side by side behind me.
I love the “diamond-window” door, which I was not seeing clearly enough beforehand.
Here’s to a new year filled with writing wonder, Margaret. Can’t wait to see what your students create!
Invitation
beyond the garden gate
awaits a world of wonder
please come in!
Lovely invitation!
“world of wonder” makes me want to accept your invitation.
Yes, Rose, I want to come into your garden. I especially love this line awaits a world of wonder. Great invitation.
Rose, I love the invitation, knowing someone, some wonder, awaits on the other side!
Rose, I like your title and the last line of your poem that offers a surprise.
Margaret, your gateway opening to a new school year is lovely. I like that it’s a “waiting gate.” I feel like this year’s election has become a hopeful gate into our future…
Opening to new opportunity
This gate of November leads to hope of
joy, promise, and laughing togetherness.
Yes to joy and promise this November!
Ah Denise, your first line “Opening to a new opportunity” hooked me right away. I like how you continued the sounds of /o/ and /p/ in the second line with “hope.” I love the hopefulness and positivity that your “gate of November leads to.”
“Gate of November”—wonderful phrase that intrigues me, Denise!
Denise, I like the thought pattern you chose. Yes, November’s election hopefully will bring joy for the future.
It is so intriguing to me that almost all of your photos have a strong connection for me. I am a nature photographer and I take a lot of photos of flowers and gardens and gates. I love old wooden gates. I guess it’s my affinity for The Secret Garden.
The old garden gate
makes a creaking sound at night
wonder who goes there
I love nature photography. This gate absolutely squeaks. Part of its charm.
I enjoyed everyone’s poems today. Seems like each person picked up a theme that the photo stirred in my heart, too.
Carol, I think I have your name correct, I also love taking photos of flowers, gardens, and pollinators. I love how you included a creaking sound in your poem. Creaking gates are a cool sound. We actually have a creaking cupboard that makes a scary sound. I love the intrigue and scary feeling of your last line, wonder who goes there.
A touch of mystery! Love it.
I love “who goes there” instead of “who goes through” or “who enters”!
The Gate
Lush green vines climb
across, up, and over the
gate, clementine clusters
of flowers droop their heads
as if they are sad. The blooms
are the same shade of
orange as my sister’s ribbon
in her auburn hair. She loves
flowers, she talks to them as
she talks to nature and they
communicate with her. I close
my eyes, I see the blooms
smiling at her, I hear them
whispering in the wind to her.
I must follow.
The gate creaked…
Gail Aldous draft
I love how the poem wrote itself with such an intriguing story, a sister to be followed to where? The mystery leaves us wondering and watching.
Thank you, Margaret. Great photo.
I was pulled into your poem from the beginning, Gail, and especially enjoyed considering the enjambments you created. I also like how the ending is more of a beginning into a new adventure.
Rose, thank you. It is like the ending is a new beginning. I hadn’t thought of that. I’m glad you noticed.
Gail, what a lovely and mysterious poem. I love how you saw that bloom. You draw our attention to it and into the story behind the opening gate.
Thank you, Denise. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Gail, I love how one line leads to the next, and the next to a turn in the story, the journey. And at the end, a gentle ‘demand’ to follow…
Thank you, Carol. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Margaret, sorry my response poem is so long. It just kept writing itself from the vision of it in my head after I looked at your mysterious and beautiful poem.
You wrote a great and meaningful poem. I especially love your last line “create your own path,” which is so important for kids to learn and never forget. Happy new school year! I am looking forward to when your share some of your students’ writing. Have fun and enjoy. Thank you for your poem, photo, post, and inspiration.
Margaret, I really like the sense that the gate is “waiting” to be opened, to start a new path for whomever enters, or all who enter!
Margaret, you chose a beautiful photo to open the school year. Your students should write a response to your poem. If so, I wonder what will be behind their gate. There is a magical moment awaiting them.
one door stands still
waiting for its opening
tiny hands oblige
©CVarsalona, 2024, quick write/draft
Carol, what a great idea. I love the effect your last line “tiny hands oblige” give the rest of your poem.