This morning I am writing in a little house in Hattiesburg, MS with my friend and fellow Ethical ELA writer, Kim Johnson. We are here for the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival. Yesterday we presented together about the power of poetry to heal. We shared writing prompts from 90 Ways of Community and led a group of teacher-librarians to discover themselves as writers. The room was vibrating with their energy. We just don’t often take the time to write just for ourselves. It was a wonderful way to begin the 3 day festival.
Today’s prompt for #Verselove comes from Joanne Emery who shared a model poem from Joy Harjo, “Red Bird Love.” I used a striking line from Joy’s poem to write about my friend Mary’s butterfly garden.
Mary’s Invitation
In her garden, there’s
salvia, swamp milkweed, that
purple one
I forgot the name of: you
watch a swallowtail circle
tall parsley flowers, back
around to
orange pincushion pistils on a coneflower
for a taste of home.
Marcie Atkins has the line today for the Kidlit Progressive Poem.
Reflections on the Teche 
Lovely, thanks! 🦋
I came by to find out where the progressive poem is today, and I’m so glad I happened on this poem. I love butterfly gardens. Even though I have one in the front of my house, I can’t get enough of them, and your poem brought me right there. I love the mix of detail and “that / purple one / I forgot the name of .”
Love this, Margaret! So glad you are sharing your talents!