Last month I was writing a poem each day prompted by Ethical ELA. One of the prompts offered by Alexis Ennis invited us to write an ode to peace. This prompt landed on a Sunday when I had time to sit and sip on my back deck overlooking the bayou. In winter when I had to haul pots inside, I cursed my love of tropical flowers, but on this day, I was celebrating their quiet and bright emergence.
As I revised this poem, I asked AI to give it a title. I like the response, go figure, of “Waking in Red.”
Waking in Red
the corner of my heart
slowing for breaths
deep and longon the cypress
the cardinal busy
on branches by and byhere is the ruby-throated hummer
humming a second longerthere the glowing sun rising
to light this dayspace opens for red bat plant,
desert rose, and buckeyeskin warms
as I wake
with the power
of red.
Margaret Simon, draft
I am writing a poem a day in May using #poemsofpresence and #smallpoems. Many of them are inspired by flowers. I invite you to join me on Instagram.
If you live nearby, come by Books Along the Teche (our local indie bookstore) for our book signing. Books Along the Teche will take orders for signed books.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love your poem. What struck me was that you only used red twice in the poem. Yet, it’s clear that the poem is all about red. I also like the title.
So much red! The calla lily makes my heart throb! Those tropical flowers seem worth your care and effort.
“on branches by and by” is delicious. I’m finding AI fun to play with. There’s all kinds of questions I ask copilot in a day. Sometimes the answers are good…and sometimes not. Beautiful photos of the flowers!
“as I wake/ with the power/ of red.” Love that!
Gorgeous, Margaret–I feel like I’m right there in the red with you. Hope your signing goes well next weekend!
Ooh, red calla lilies! Power, indeed. And YAY for your book signing!! Congratulations, Margaret! xo
I love all your red details in this poem, and how they work together to create a sensory wonderland. Thank you for sharing your words with us!
Here in Wisconsin, we’ve been putting our seedlings in the garage at night. The forecast for this week looks like it might finally be safe to leave them outside. I love your specific images of flowers and birds and how they reinforce the concept of color.
Thanks for waking us with your treasure filled poem—lovely ode, and rewarding, warming red blooms! All the best with your 📕 signing!
Red is definitely a powerful color! Right now my garden is awash in purple (allium, iris, violets). Red comes later for us!
I’d love to see an ode to purple.
Margaret you made red mark the day with your photos in red and your poem with the lovely title. I will have to tryout AI for titles. That is clever. Congratulations on your new co-authored book. I hope you have a successful signing next weekend.
Enjoy the end of Mother’s Day.
Hi Margaret, I like how when I read your poem, “Waking in Red” I see in my mind’s eye a visual representation of what you see – beautiful images. Thanks for sharing this. And, congratulations on the book and signing.