This month, National Poetry Month, I am writing poems prompted by #Verselove at Ethical ELA. Today’s prompt was written by Dave Wooly. He asked us to write a short poem about being a traveller. He has a wonderful mentor poem about Scotland (my dream vacation) and his son. Read it and other responses here.
My sleep has been fitful this week as my body recovers from Covid. I’ve been trying hard during the waking times to think of pleasant, happy times to lull myself back to sleep. Dave’s prompt and the pen I was writing with helped me create this small poem this morning.
Make it Happy
In the early morning
when the sun has yet to rise,
my mind wanders to where
my body wishes to be–I kick off the blankets
pinning me in, kick out
to break freeto jump onto a zip line
over the rainforest of Costa Rica,
to sip the cool mountain air
of the North Pacific,
to rock on a boat, untethered,
drinking in the spray of Niagara Falls.Where ever you go,
Make it happy.*Margaret Simon, draft
The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Donna Smith today.
This week my collaborative book with historian Phebe Hayes was released, Were you There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet. We tell the story of the first African American woman to get a medical degree in the state of Louisiana. She was from my home town, New Iberia, LA. I wrote poems in Emma’s voice. This book has been in the works since 2018, a long labor of love. My friend and fellow Inkling, Linda Mitchell, wrote the educational guide. Were You There? is available through UL Press.
Reflections on the Teche 
So sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with COVID this week. Yuck. Even if you only have enough strength to walk around the block, definitely “make it happy!”
A beautiful sentiment, Margaret – Wherever you go, make it happy. Hope you are better soon.
I’ve been waking up feeling down lately about several things happening that I have no control over. Your poem “Make it Happy” has a message I really needed to read today. Congratulations on your new book!
Believe me, I need the message as much as anyone. I was so surprised it was on my pen!
[…] Reflections on the Teche, Margaret is also celebrating a book birthday – and sharing a poem prompted by #Verselove at […]
Congratulations on your book, Margaret – and nice job with the poem, so far! I can feel myself there. Hope you feel better!
Margaret, so sorry to hear you’ve been sick! Thanks for taking us, in our pajamas, to a few of your make-it-happy places. Your book deserves a lot of attention in these times of erasure of Black people’s contributions and experiences. You must be so proud!
A huge congratulations on the new book release Margaret! I’m sorry that you’ve had COVID. My husband has been sick for 12 days with just a cough. Finally, went to urgent care today. Not COVID though. At least he got some medications to ameliorate his symptoms. I did post today – at 1:55 pm CT (earlier than usual) but looking at Matt’s round up, I might have missed being listed. I guess I’m taking matters into my own hands and attaching links – I hope you don’t mind. I’ll just do a few people now and see if Matt updates the round-up. Hope you continue to feel better.
https://theapplesinmyorchard.com/2025/04/04/poetry-friday-is-day-four-of-national-poetry-month/
It even looks like a happy pen! I can’t wait to see your book. What a great way to remind us that we have the power to make something happy – – to choose happy.
Ugh! I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with Covid and hope you’re recovered by now. I love your pen and the ending lines of your poem: ” Where ever you go/make it happy”–words to live by, for sure! I’m thrilled for you about the publication of your book and can’t wait to receive my copy in the mail. Congratulations!!!
Ugh! Covid. I’m so sorry. You really didn’t need that. I’m just delighted that ‘Were You There’ is now out in the world. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy and see it in book form. Many congratulations on seeing this labor of love through. The project needed Emma’s resilience more than I ever could have realized–and you saw it through. Well done.
Your copy is in the mail!
I love that pen and what you did with it–the way the poem expands.
Happy book birthday! That sounds like a fascinating book and especially inviting to me that it is told with poetry. I’ve added it to my to-read list.
I’m sorry you’ve been so sick. Congratulations on the new book release! That’s so exciting!
Congratulations on the new book, Margaret!
I hope you feel much, much better very, very soon. I had Covid for the first time last November, and I can relate to these lines from your poem:
my mind wanders to where
my body wishes to be–
Yup. Get well! xo
I’m feeling much better. Time does its job of healing when we let it. Thanks.
Congratulations on your new book! Your poem and happiness concept were delightful. And, I hope your recovery from Covid is swift and complete. Happy Poetry Month!
Margaret, congratulations on your book release. I’ll look forward to reading it. Your poem is perfect for a sick day to imagine the trips you’ve been on to bring happiness! The details of trips on the zip line, the cool mountain, and Niagara Falls were breathtaking.