Today is the first Poetry Friday of September and time for an Inklings challenge from Molly Hogan: Write a love note to something or someone or some place. Go big or go small! You might be inspired by José A. Alcántara’s Love Note to Silence. You can read it here.
Dear Silence,
We’ve had a budding relationship, the kind
that begins with a small bouquet of roses
at just the right time.
You come to me
in sacred spaces
of air and breath and love.
Today, your hand feels heavy.
What do you want to say to me?
Let’s just stay this way, cheek to cheek
feeling the softness of the moment.
Some might call you expectant
as the end of a grand symphony
seconds before the applause.
I welcome you with disquietude,
asking you to teach me
to accept this breath of calm.
Will you stay a little longer?
Margaret Simon, draft
I’ve just spent a glorious week in Scotland. I found sacred silence in the countryside, the wild winds, and in the castles and cathedrals. I’m too tired now after 24 hours of travel to write, but I will after I’ve had time to process it all. For now, leave your link below.
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Reflections on the Teche 
I’m so happy you made it home safely–what a trip! St. Margaret’s window is beautiful and all the more special as you share her name. I love how you have befriended silence. The heavier hand, the care between you is precious. Thanks for hosting even if you are a bit tired.
Can’t wait to hear more about Scotland. Glad you enjoyed your trip!
Thanks for sharing Alcantara’s poem and for your lovely love poem too. I feel calm and cleansed after reading both — much needed after this week of turmoil and craziness. Thanks for hosting us this week!
Welcome home, Margaret. :0) I loved seeing your picture of St. Margaret’s window online – you transported me right back to our wonderful visit there seven (!) years ago. Your poem resonates with me, and that last line is unexpected and perfect. Thanks for hosting – get some rest!
Ooh “The Silence of Scotland” would make for a great title, but I also love your sound of silence. I love thinking about the “seconds before the applause”–there’s so much anticipation in those moments, right? Thank you for hosting! I’m finally posting after a month of school beginning busyness.
Well done, Margaret…especially just off the plane. And, as others have said, thank you for Alcantara’s poem. Both of your poems remind me of THE QUIET BOOK by Deborah Underwood.
I’m in today with a post responding to our TeachingAuthors prompt: WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION. My best friend and I went on a writing retreat on an isolated farm.
My post won’t go live until 3:30am on Friday CST.
April Halprin Wayland
Oh, I cannot believe this Margaret! I cannot wait to hear about your trip! We are going to Scotland in October for 12 days! Your letter to silence is beautiful and tentatively welcoming. Thank you for sharing it – as it seems so personal. I will anxiously await your trip experiences! Thanks.
[…] you for hosting Margaret! Please visit Margaret’s blog, Reflections on the Tech, to read more poetry […]
The search for serenity in a noise filled world is a most worthy pursuit. As I grow older, the value I place on it increases. I like how you make an appeal to silence in your poem with the words, ‘… teach me to accept this breath of calm.’ I imagine reading this poem in hushed tones, Margaret. My one and only visit to Scotland took me to several quiet locations in the highlands- hope you were equally blessed. Thank you for hosting too.
[…] Simon has the Round Up today at Reflections on the Teche. After you read her love note to silence, visit my fellow Inklings to read their love […]
[…] and talented Margaret Simon is hosting the Roundup at Reflections on the Teche. Mosey on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere […]
I love the line “sacred spaces of air and breath and love” and how you engage with silence through questions that will probably only be answered in your heart. Thank you for the calm and for hosting today.
Welcome home, Margaret–looks like you had a lovely, centering, “silencing” time. Your poem is the perfect thing to read sitting in that glowing window!
Silence is a good friend of mine. So glad you got to meet in Scotland. And my ArtSpeak: PICASSO today is also about silence! And a frog. 🙂 Thanks so much for all, Margaret. xo
I like being softly “cheek to cheek,” such a gentle relationship with silence. Beautiful photo, Margaret! Thank you for hosting us xo
Your poem is so touching, Margaret. I spend time with silence at least a few minutes every day. The hard part for me is keeping my worries from spiraling. I’m working on trying to stay more present. I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip to Scotland.
Linda ~ I know that struggle to stay present! Our monkey minds are so clever…
Thank you for your beautiful poem and for hosting Margaret. What a magical trip that must have been. Up at Squam Lake this summer, I found “sitting with Silence cheek-to-cheek” was the best thing I did. Giving myself permission to watch the clouds morph into different images was a gift. Looking forward to being back with Poetry Friday now to be inspired by everyone.
Thank you for hosting, Margaret. I like José A. Alcántara’s Love Note to Silence and the way that you crafted your poem. The lines that resonated for me are: You come to me/in sacred spaces/of air and breath and love. It must have been wonderful to breathe in the countrysides’ sacred silence. Rest from your glorious time away.
I am trying so hard to learn how to ” teach me
to accept this breath of calm”. What a wonderful poem. so many great lines, “you come to me in sacred spaces” , “let’s just stay this way, cheek to cheek /feeling the softness of the moment.”
Great job today. I shall try to practice some silence this weekend.
[…] This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Margaret Simon at her blog, Reflections on the Teche. […]
Welcome back, Margaret! I can’t wait to hear more about your trip. Your poem is lovely and I’m especially drawn to your second stanza and how everything shifts a bit with the “heavy hand” that begins the next stanza. You’ve really captured a sense of a dynamic relationship between you and silence. Thanks so much for hosting this week!
Thank you for hosting this week, Margaret! Glad you had such a wonderful trip! I love the calming moments in your poem, especially resting “cheek to cheek/feeling the softness of the moment.” Lovely.
Such a poignant invitation:
” teach meto accept this breath of calm.”
So lovely, Margaret. Rest now! 🙂
What a savoring topic and gorgeous poem by both you and José A. Alcántara. Love this couplet of yours,
“Let’s just stay this way, cheek to cheek
feeling the softness of the moment.” feels like you caught some tender calm here… I look forward to reading more poetry from your recent Scotland trip . No post for me this week, just taking a peek in a few, thanks Margaret!