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Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

NPM26: Day 4: Lazarus

Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged , , , , on April 4, 2026| 2 Comments »

Lazarus

Gestures weave
strips of burial cloth
cross-hatching
of sounds
violent and soothing
like a balm
on the day of death.

Jesus wept.

Jesus weeps with me
in joy and sorrow,
frustration and calm.

Our cries do not
go unnoticed.
We tear off
the garment
binding us to darkness,
enter into the Easter
of light eternal.

Margaret Simon, draft

At Ethical ELA, Melissa Heaton prompted us to write an ekphrastic poem, a poem about art. I turned to my father’s illustration of Lazarus. This drawing was in his folder of bible study material. His usual style was pointillism. This drawing, to me, is striking with its wild gestures.

Yesterday, for Good Friday, I led a morning meditation. My friend Carolyn played her singing bowls while the lawn mowers roared outside. At first I was irritated by this invasion, but as I wrote, I found that the juxtaposition of sounds was the point.

Carolyn plays the singing bowls in the sanctuary.

The Progressive Poem is with Donna Smith at Mainely Write.

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National Poetry Month 2026: Spiritual Thursday: Maundy Thursday

Posted in Poetry, Progressive poem, Spiritual Growth, Writing, tagged , , , on April 2, 2026| 4 Comments »

Spiritual Journey is hosted today by Ruth Hersey at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town.

There is so much that is frightening and appalling about our world today. I’m sure it was that way when Jesus walked to Gethsemane, a hopeless time, a time of hatred and fear. Every year when we spend time between Palm Sunday and Easter, I am pulled into the despair.

Tonight I will sing. I am an alto voice in our small church choir. With a strong soprano by my side, I am singing a duet “By the Mark.” It’s been ringing in my ears all week.

Ruth asked us to write about service. When Jesus lowered himself to the ground to wash his disciples’ feet, he showed them and us how humbling yourselves can be a powerful expression of pure love. How can we love like Jesus did?

I fall short every day. Isn’t that the point? If I didn’t fall short, I would not need to repent or be open to change. Today I open my hands in prayer, open my hands to God’s children, and lift up my voice to make a gentle gift of love.

I am yours, Lord, even
when I’m tired. If the
world dips into darkness,
your light precedes
me and
I will follow.

Today’s line is with Cathy Stenquist at A Little Bit of This and That.

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National Poetry Month 2026 Day 1: Landscape

Posted in nature, Poetry, Writing, tagged , , , , on April 1, 2026| 5 Comments »

Today is the first day on National Poetry Month and already the communities I am tapped into have connected with a map. For the first day of our Kidlit Progressive Poem, Tabatha Yeats has offered a map and a line to get us started on our monthlong journey.

At Ethical ELA, Sarah Donovan offered a prompt “Landscape of our Lives.”

The poetry book sitting next to me is “Map to the Stars” by Adrian Matejka. I am sensing a theme emerging.

My poem today is in response to Sarah’s prompt.

Bayou-Side

Inside me there is a sycamore,
a tall pine, a draping grandmother oak.
I can draw a map from Purple Creek
to Bayou Teche.
I’ve spent a lifetime walking near water
watching for herons, turtles, and honeysuckle. 

When it’s time for me to leave this land,
place me in a boat without a motor.
Let me float for eternity. 

(Margaret Simon, draft)

Louisiana blue irises and a brood of ducks near Bayou Teche.

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SLOC26: Day 21: Mother Acrostic

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged , , on March 22, 2026| 4 Comments »

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

Saturday was the first day of March’s Open Write on Ethical ELA. Anna J. Small Roseboro is leading the prompts around women for National Women’s History Month.

I wrote an acrostic dedicated to my mother, Dot Gibson. I am coming to a place 8 months after her death where I can remember her before Alzheimer’s took her from me.

My mother Dot in the center feeling joy with my brother, left, and “Elvis.”

Dedicated to the church
Open hearted
Teacher

Giving smiles through the doorway
Inviting southern drawl
Best friend
Sympathetic listener
Optimistic
Never leaving me

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SLOC26: Day 18: This Photo Wants to be a Poem

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , , on March 18, 2026| 12 Comments »

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

Each Wednesday I post a photo that appeals to my poetic senses. I invite you to join me in writing a small poem, poem of presence, in the comments and support other writers with encouragement.

Today’s photo is by a local retired teacher photographer Lory Landry. We do not live in the Bluebonnet state of Texas; however, we have a neighbor who has successfully planted bluebonnets in a ditch near the road. I’m tempted every year to stop and romp through the flowers. It appears that Lory did just that and took her camera along. It takes a steady hand and skills to capture a busy bee.

Bluebonnets by Lory Landry

Starburst blooms bluest
blue, gathers spring energy
buzz-bee sips sweet dew

Margaret Simon, draft

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SOLC26: Day 12: Dancing with a Paintbrush

Posted in Creativity, Poetry, Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing, tagged , , on March 12, 2026| 12 Comments »

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

One of the workshops I developed for the teaching artist program is “Dancing with a Paintbrush.” One school in town, Pesson Elementary, booked me for four Tuesdays. This week the counselor told me that I would be working with the toughest class in the school. Since I’ve done the workshop multiple times now, I have a pretty good handle on the process. I decided to trust the flow even with these “tough” students.

Maybe it was the threats of “no dance for you” or maybe it was the nature of poetry, art, and music, but these kids were amazing!

I added a new song to the selection, “Vivaldi-Spring” by Black Violin. This is a rocked-out version of the classical piece. I enjoyed watching the kids’ reactions. They literally started dancing in their chairs. But they stayed quiet, honoring the “sacred space” for painting.

One of my favorite things in the whole world is the sound of a classroom of students writing.

5th graders writing poems about their paintings

The teachers themselves were amazed at the engagement of their students. I wanted to shout, “See what the arts can do for your students!”

One of the teachers understood. She painted with them and wrote her own poem. She shyly shared her own writing. She told me, “I used to write poetry all the time.” I hope she will be inspired to keep writing, and keep writing with her students.

Triangles

As pointed
as the lines
as truthful
as the sky
as creative
as squares
as promising
as circles
more than truths less
than lies
they’re everywhere
but in your mind, tell
a truth not
a lie like
the circles
in the sky.
(student poem)

Tuff Primary Colors
As the colors went up
More came down
As the color made a
Primary color they formed a tower
Of power
More dots, more movement
More of everything
Like an alliance
To form a masterpiece
(student poem)

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SOLC26: Day 8: The Dawn Chorus

Posted in Gratitude, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged , , on March 8, 2026| 21 Comments »

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

On my morning walk, I stopped to talk to a new-to-me neighbor. She’s lived in her house for a long time, but my route recently changed. I met her, but she already knows a good bit about me. (Small town)

We talked about my new board book (coming Tuesday), her new great granddaughter she wants a signed copy for, sound frequency healing, and gardens. She told me, “Did you know that the sound of the birds singing in the morning actually makes the plants open up and grow?”

As I continued my walk, I turned off my book on tape and turned on the Merlin app amazed by the number of birds around me. I spoke a poem into my notes app.

The Dawn Chorus

The songs of the birds wake my winter mind:
sparrow, wren,
small and mighty
in their announcement of spring.
A tickle of rain,
a wave from morning fleabane
Two turtles bobbing on a log
Stamens seem to say,
“Welcome! Welcome to this day!”

Margaret Simon, draft

Fleabane

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SOLC26 Day 4: This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Blue Ribbon

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , on March 4, 2026| 10 Comments »

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

Weekly (almost every) on Wednesday I post a photo as a prompt for poems. I invite you to craft a small poem response and type it into the comments. Please encourage other writers with your comments. This space is meant to be a low stakes drafting space.

Somewhere on Instagram I saw a poetry prompt to begin each line with because. I decided to give it a try today.

Friendship Park, Ridgeland, MS

Tie a Blue Ribbon Round the Branch

Because she was running and lost it in the wind.

Because his eyes are still blue

Because we are walking together in silence

Because rain is falling softly

Because the moon is full tonight

Because there is a war and someone is waiting at home

By Margaret Simon, draft

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Poetry Friday: A Dark Night

Posted in being mamére, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing, tagged , on February 20, 2026| 13 Comments »

Poetry Friday is hosting today by Susan at Chicken Spaghetti.

Susan Thomsen posted a prompt from David Lehman to use the last line of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself as a first line to a new poem. I have my grandchildren spending the night, and we read a silly scary story called The Dark Night. I went back to a New Year’s prompt from Pádraig Ó Tuama for a pantoum about the night.

The Dark Night
I stop somewhere waiting for you.
Footsteps clonking on wooden stairs—
Womblike whoosh of your sound machine,
Your shadow shape shifts in the low light.

Footsteps tender on wooden stairs.
Owl “who-cooks-for-you” wakes;
its shadow shape shifts in this low light.
Time stands still.

Owl hoots who-cooks-for-you
as I breathe your scent before you’re here.
Time stands still.
Will my love be good enough?

I breathe your sleeping scent.
Womblike whooshes from your sound machine.
Will my loving arms be enough?
I stop somewhere waiting for you.

(Free stock image)

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This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Oil Spill Quilt

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Travel, Writing, tagged , , , on February 18, 2026| 2 Comments »

This weekend we visited the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, Mississippi. There was a special show entitled “Art Evolved: Intertwined.” The exhibit featured the “convergence of quilting and basketry—two ancient, tactile traditions reimagined through contemporary fiber arts.”

This quilt was titled “Oil Spill”. My friend commented, “How can something so cheerful and vibrant be about an oil spill.”

“Oil Spill” by Michelle Lipson, quilt included in “Art Evolved: Intertwined” exhibit at Lauren Rogers Gallery of Art.

My eyes focused on the center panel with the yellow and purple “road”.

A Drop of Oil

forms a perfect circle
on the sidewalk of her yellow-brick road—
jazz spills out on the streets of New Orleans.
Don’t forget your dancing shoes.
Step lightly over the mess
in the streets.
Margaret Simon, draft

While I didn’t attend Mardi Gras this year, my social media is full of the images of others reveling. It is a fun time, but not without its share of mess.

Please join me in writing a draft of a small poem and share it in the comments. Support other writers with your comments. Thanks for being here.

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