Each day this month I have written a poem. I know that this sounds impossible. It certainly feels impossible to me. I joined a group of like-minded poets arranged by Laura Shovan to celebrate her February birthday with poetry. Writing in a community can feel impossible. How can I meet the standards? Who am I to believe I am a poet?
But I did it, every day. This makes me believe that impossible things are possible. I have hope that we can exist in a world where poetry brings solace, hope, and community. Today, Heidi Mordhorst posted a similar art piece to compare our group to a circle of stars. I went to the linked page and found The Eclipse. There are different perspectives from each person in our galaxy. Some may see a circle, some see the dots of paint, and some focus on the dark center. However you view art, poetry, or time is yours alone. You get to decide.
But as Heidi so wisely said, “Some days, our circle was a parachute, lifting or sinking, catching or launching you. Some days our circle was the deepest well or mirrorest puddle, and maybe there was a day when our circle was a black hole of obligation, until the next day when you caught sight of a certain name, a certain voice, and our space became a sequin of possibility again.”
Tomorrow I will begin another writing journey, the annual Slice of Life Challenge from Two Writing Teachers. Today it feels impossible to write a blog post every day in March. If you read my blog, you are always welcome to swipe left and delete it. But I hope you’ll stick with me, cheer me on, and remind me that impossible means “I’m possible.”
Learning to write can seem impossible to a 6 year old. As I watch my grandson develop his reading, writing, and drawing skills, I am amazed at the capacity of our brains to learn. Here is a poem I wrote this month beginning with the space we make between words.
What space are you giving to yourself? How are you doing impossible things?
Reflections on the Teche 
Such a cosmically beautiful poem sparkling from within reminding us to remember the often forgotten parts that give us breath and move us forward, thanks Margaret it’s been a celestial journey…
The space between isn’t empty it holds its breath for you to move forward… what a great idea to plant with little writers as you show them that little trick of using their finger to put a space between words. Teachers share so many little moments with students that really have the potential to be big moments…
I have really enjoyed watching my grandson learn to write. His teacher is a product of writing camps I led years ago.
Congratulations on writing a poem a day in February. That’s quite an accomplishment! I love the line in your poem “the space between isn’t empty it holds it breath for you to move forward.” And I love the way your poem starts with something so tangible like showing your grandson how to make spaces and moves to a larger idea and message. It reminds me of something Billy Collins might write.
High praise, Rose. Thanks. I found myself doing that a lot this month, starting with an image right in front of of me, and moving it to a more universal message. Sometimes I feel like my endings become sappy.
“Step lightly on betweens…” I love this phrase, Margaret. I have always been fascinated with transitions, find them exquisitely beautiful, emotionally and psychologically, and as a clinical social worker, spent many workshops encouraging people to welcome them. I recall, often, Norman Lear’s beautiful description now years ago about moving from “over” to “next”, with a hammock in between. The interview then asked, “What is in the ‘between’?” Mr. Lear responded, “Life”. (with apologies for possibly misquoting, but this is the gist). I love the idea and feeling of grace being invited into that in-between space.
Margaret, I read your poem before and after I read the introduction to what the space between words was referring to. I liked it both ways. What a beautiful poem that teaches the importance of space between words and the grace a young writer needs to accomplish it. I like “Step lightly on betweens” I also think the ideas in your poem are as big as the space in the photo you chose. Congratulations on meeting your February challenge, and now on to the March challenge. You are possible! Be still and make it happen.
“the space between isn’t empty/it holds its breath for you to move forward.” That’s a great way to summarize our poetry-writing community this month.
“the space between isn’t empty/it holds its breath for you to move forward” is a great way to summarize our poetry-writing community this month. Congrats on writing every day–I surprised myself by almost doing the same.
“the space between isn’t empty/it holds its breath for you to move forward” is a great way to summarize our poetry-writing community this month. Congrats on writing every day–I surprised myself by almost doing the same.
Margaret, this was the perfect poem to pair with planet viewing! We just went out and searched the skies, but with cloud cover, we could only see Jupiter. We will try again later to search for the planets – and the betweens!
You go, Margaret! Congrats on writing everyday in Feb! You can do it in March too! I know how you feel –I joined the Stafford Challenge and have written a poem everyday since Jan 1. I don’t think about the string of days; I think about the joy I’m getting just focusing on the words. And now, I will focus on the space between, too. Beautiful poem!
Congratulations for finishing Laura’s birthday month & now on to TWT. You rock, Margaret! And the poem is such a heartfelt sharing of what and how you teach, this time, your grandson and that “space. . . moving us forward”. Wonderful!
Margaret, yay, for you writing every day in February and yay for your grandson’s, (Thomas? I think is the older one and Leo is younger. Leo is Junebug’s brother. I hope that’s right.) writing. And how wonderful to have a group of people to wrote with every day. I love all your thoughts on the spaces between words. Teaching a young child that the space between his isn’t empty, it holds its breath so you can move forward is clever and seems like a great idea to tell a beginner writer because it would make the space seem personal and special to them.
I love ”step lightly on betweens / recognize they protect you, guide you as you feel movement. I don’t know why but this makes me think of walking in my garden, when I have to step lightly between flowers so the flowers growing between will still grow. Maybe the older flower’s root guides the movement of the root of the newer flower. I’ll have to think on that more. I think “make space for grace/to be there, too.” is a perfect ending here.
You CAN write a blog post every day. Just think of all the thoughts that run through your mind every day; you can write about any of them. Or you can look at paintings as you did here, photos, drawings, or write about what you see on your morning walk…have fun.
PS I know, you can write a couple times about your adorable puppy’s activities or what is he thinking?
Thanks for the cheering on! I could not expect you to remember the order of my grandchildren. Leo is 6, Thomas, 5, Stella, 4 ( Leo’s sister), and June, 2. June is expecting a brother in July.
Making space…so important, and I love the way this poem celebrates that. Life is full of both celebrations and challenging health things right now, and I’m not doing a good job of making space for anything. Thank you for the reminder to “step lightly on betweens.” (Also, email me if you want to set up a time for a zoom chat!)
I love these words of yours, “This makes me believe that impossible things are possible.” This is so true. I wrote every day…not every writing turned into to poetry. But, I feel like a million bucks after this month of writing. Laura’s gift each year is such a treasure. I look forward to reading slices. I’m up to my elbows in other kinds of writing–but I will be a reader! Carry on!
Congratulations on completing the poetry challenge. I’ve tried it a few times, but I start asking myself the same questions you wrote about. I usually talk myself out of it and give up. Your poems always amaze me. They are so beautifully written. Your grandson will love reading this poem when he is older and treasure it. xo
I loved writing daily in community with the Laura Shovan crew…and now with the Slicers! Connection is essential!