For the last Friday of the month, the Poetry Sisters offer a challenge. I wanted to give it a try. The form is Ovillejo, a Spanish form described here.
In Pádraig Ó Tuama’s Substack this week, he posted a poem from Rainer Maria Rilke that began with the line “God speaks to each of us as he makes us.” I love this idea of God, intimate and personal. To get started on the Ovillejo, I borrowed this line. As I worked with the syllable count and rhyme, it changed somewhat.
Belonging
After Rainer Maria Rilke
God speaks fondly to each of us,
makes each of us.Birds respond to God’s call with song—
You belong.Set the paddle deep into water,
my daughter.Stop messing with what doesn’t matter.
Sit with God and speak in silence.
God knows your peculiar cadence.Like each of us, you belong, my daughter.
Margaret Simon, draft
Our host, Marcie, asked us to post a favorite picture and poem of twilight to celebrate her new book. When I searched my blog history for a twilight poem, I found last year’s Kidlit Progressive Poem.
April Runs Over
Open an April window
let sunlight paint the air
stippling every dogwood
dappling daffodils with flair
Race to the garden
where woodpeckers drum
as hummingbirds thrum
in the blossoming Sweetgum
Sing as you set up the easels
dabble in the paints
echo the colors of lilac and phlox
commune without constraints
Breathe deeply the gifts of lilacs
rejoice in earth’s sweet offerings
feel renewed-give thanks at day’s end
remember long-ago springs
Bask in a royal spring meadow
romp like a golden-doodle pup!
startle the sleeping grasshoppers
delight in each flowering shrub…
Drinking in orange-blossom twilight
relax to the rhythm of stars dotting sky
as a passing Whip-poor-will gulps bugs
We follow a moonlit path that calls us
Grab your dripping brushes!
Our celestial canvas awaits
There we swirl, red, white, and blue
Behold what magic our montage creates!
Such marvelous palettes the earth bestows
When rain greens our hopes, watch them grow, watch them grow!
By the Poetry Friday community
Don’t forget to sign up for this year’s progressive poem. There are only a few days left.
In book news, today is my book launch party!
Reflections on the Teche 
I am in so much awe of this poem, Margaret. I love the form and I love the message. I’m going to watch for the book from Marcie. Your lines are pure gold. This is a message I needed in this line particularly: Stop messing with what doesn’t matter.
Yes, I need to stop messing with what doesn’t matter. That is the message I needed to hear this morning. Not my circus, not my monkeys as my husband and I remind each other when one of us is veering off course and getting annoyed with something that is not our mess to mess with. Thank you! Wood duck updates?
Thank you for sharing these mindful, calming poems. Much appreciated. And congratulations on your book launch, Margaret! It looks adorable and rooted in your love of the Bayou.
Congratulations on your book and book launch, Margaret. I’m excited for you! I cannot seem to get the hang of writing for “littles.” Your Ovillejo is lovely and true. So often we get caught up in things that just don’t matter. My mom used to say, “Let go, and let God.” I wish I was better at that, too.
It is hard to write for littles but the text for this book came easily. Meant to be, I guess. The whole experience gives me joy.
So happy for you, Margaret!
What a challenging poetry form! I love the addition of “fondly” …God speaks fondly is a line full of God’s love. And then “God knows your cadence”- it is a comfort to be known by God. This poem is so beautiful. We can sit with God in silence.
I love the twilight poem, too. My favorite lines the orange blossom twilight and rhythm of stars.
Yay for your book launch, Margaret! That Lake Lanier photo is lovely. And I’m fond of pretty much anything Rilke related. Thank you. xo
So much good poetry and good news in your post today. Comgrats on your book launch!!!
Words that resonated with me that I’m going to carry with me: birds, paddle, silence, cadence, belong.
Thank you for this meditation.
Also, I just signed up for the progressive poem. Such a lovely way to write in community. Thank you!
How personally you’ve filled in the outline of Padraig’s prompt. Belonging. It’s a beautiful poem – my favorite bit being the imagery of the canoe, and the poet and the Divine having an early morning on the water, paddling in perfect harmonious silence. What else can matter, in that moment? Not a thing.
Happy Book Launch Party! And thanks for the reminder of the progressive from last year – that really was a twilight song!
Thanks. I’m glad I was open to the form. It first seemed impossible.
This is such a beautiful, peaceful poem. Those dipping paddles… so lovely…
Thanks. Rilke is a wonderful muse.
“grab your dipping brush” yes! And you had me at the title!! Congratulations on your book!! That’s so fabulous!
New books are like long awaited children, aren’t they? Enjoy your launch!
How fun that the Progressive Poem fit the twilight celebration!
How serendipitous that last year’s progressive poem fit the twilight bill! And what a gorgeous picture of twilight on the lake.
Your ovillejo is lovely and I especially love this line: “God knows your peculiar cadence.”
Congratulations on the new book! I hope the launch party was fabulous!
Thanks, Karen. This was one of those magical poems for me. We catch them every once in a while.
Happy Book Birthday, Margaret!
What a beautiful poem for your daughter — for daughters!
I love the connections you’ve created, Margaret, both artistic and religious, deep and personal. Congratulations on your book launch and enjoy every minute of it!
Happy Book Launch, Margaret! Thanks for posting last year’s progressive poem. You are right, it fits so well with the twilight theme. Love that “orange-blossom twilight.”
Margaret, it was a delight to read the colorful progressive poem from last year and that sweet line with the twilight. Nice reminder for people to sign up who haven’t yet. Your ovillejo is one of my favorites from this weekend. I have thought of my daughters as I read it through a few times. It’s one I wish I would have written. Brava! Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing LY progressive poem. I had forgotten how well it turned out. It was my first year participating. Looking forward to this year. That twilight photo is gorgeous! I think I need to put your phrase up on my bulletin board- “Stop messing with what doesn’t matter. ” True, true, true.