The Kidlit Progressive Poem is moving along through The Land of Poetry. If you’d like to participate, please send me an email. Today’s line is being added by Ruth Hersey at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken Town.
I’ve been in New Orleans all weekend, Monday, and today hanging out with my daughters and their adorable children. Yesterday Aunt Kacky and I took the three kids to the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. My favorite experience is always the butterfly exhibit. There are so many different species of butterflies flying everywhere.
Finding time and space for writing doesn’t happen when I’m being Mamére, but that’s OK. I’ve had a wonderful weekend of snuggles and giggles.
Ethical ELA’s poetry prompt yesterday was from Wendy Everard on Forgiveness. I turned to William Carlos Williams’ This is Just to Say.
Have you ever had a person in your life who just knows how to punch your buttons? It annoys me that I can’t just turn around and let it wash over me. My whole body tenses, and I usually say something to distract from my obvious irritation.
This is Just to Say
I have seen
your weakness
and rolled into the muck
of ignoranceThe mirror of doubt
is revealing
so clear and criticalI should say something kind
but all I muster
is a lie.Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, I see you have included this year’s National Poetry Month poster, and I can’t wait to get back after spring break and see if mine is there. I love the line chosen for this year. Your poem you share today brings all the honesty in admitting that I too have mustered lies when I should have said something kind – – but preserving the peace is a thing, too, especially where others are involved. I think we might say we have bitten our tongues when needed. High five, friend!
I usually order the poster for my classroom. Weird not to do that this year. Thanks for your feedback on my poem. I carry around the guilt of having avoided conflict.
Forgiveness. I think God knew it would be hard for us to forgive. Maybe that’s why he included it in the Lord’s Prayer and made it conditional–we are forgiven as we forgive. Not like a lesson to study or a skill to learn that you do once and for all, but rather a way of living, new each time. I like your poem. Your last stanza is so true–it holds the contrast of knowing and doing that is part of forgiveness.
Your incredible images (as always) warm my heart, while you last lines, “I should say something kind but….” is a powerful statement for all humans as we struggle to forgive – sometimes the unforgivable!
Margaret, thanks for keeping us apprised of the progressive poem. It is fun to follow. Glad you made time to write even though you’ve been busy. The butterfly exhibit sounds amazing. I have always loved that quiet, joyful experience of spending time with butterflies. I did miss your forgiveness poem yesterday, so I’m glad I came back to read it here. “all I muster / is a lie” wow!
I loved yesterday’s prompt & your choice of Williams’ poem as a mentor is inspired. I like the way each stanza reveals a little more about not forgiving… or at least not really – which is ironic, really, since you are busy being Mamere & are able to forgive yourself easily for not having time to write when you are, in fact, still writing.
You caught me! I was stealing some time away. Thanks for reading.
I love your beautiful butterfly pics! That’s wonderful that you spent time with your grands and daughters. When our girls were young, we went to Butterfly World in Fort Lauderdale. It was amazing! They had just about every tropical butterfly and many others. Our favorite butterfly was a blue morpho-stunning! Our youngest daughter had a bright colored shirt on, and butterflies kept landing on her. Of course she was thrilled! They also had a section of many different kinds of bright hummingbirds. They also had the most beautiful tropical flowers, flowering shrubs, and flowering trees that I had ever seen. I highly recommend it.
I like how you chose part of Williams’ poem as your beginning and I love your honesty. These lines especially spoke to me:
rolled into the muck
of ignorance
revealing
so clear and critical (love the loud sounds of in clear & critical)
but all I muster
is a lie.
Margaret, your Mamere days are always full of joyful entertainment. I, too, love being with my little grands and that is why I missed time reading other’s blog posts. Thank you for your thoughts on forgiveness. The last stanza made me pause.