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Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Camellia

Posted in nature, Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , , on January 14, 2026| 13 Comments »

It is a new year, and I’ve been contemplating whether or not to keep posting photos on Wednesday. I’ve skipped a few weeks and the world keeps going. In 2026, I’ve chosen sacred simplicity as my one little word(s). What can be more simple and sacred than this pure white camellia blossom.

One of the gifts of living in the Deep South is camellias. They are in full bloom this month. People are talking about it. Was it the big freeze last year that brought on the full blooms this year? Nature knows.

If you are feeling a little lacking in the inspiration department, stop by and write a small poem.

My poem draft comes from a word card I chose from Georgia Heard’s newsletter for January, “Quiet” and uses an anaphoric word “Today.” The last line turned melancholic as I have experienced some losses this week.

Today
the downy white camellia blooms
quietly in the winter yard.

Today
the cold spills inside
touching my toes.

Today
seeds are waiting.
My heart is still.
Every note from songbirds
scratch the surface
of morning dew.

And I miss you.

Margaret Simon, draft

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Slice of Life: Where I’m From

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged , , on December 23, 2025| 8 Comments »

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

This weekend was Ethical ELA’s Open Write. On Monday, Gayle Sands led us to use the ever-faithful Where I’m From form to write about holiday traditions. This prompt took me far back into my childhood neighborhood and our Christmas traditions.

I am from
the scent of Douglas fir
on a frosty morning,
Mom on piano playing
”Oh Holy Night”
while Uncle Stu sings
in perfect tenor tone.

I am from
hanging long wool socks
for Santa to fill
with oranges, chocolates, and candy canes.
I sat “Thank you” with a knowing nod to Mom.

I am from
an Advent wreath of purple and pink candles
we argued over whose turn it was to snuff,
watching the miraculous steam rise.

I am from
Aunt Alabel’s Charlotte Russe
on Christmas Eve, her cheerful voice
talking nonstop, whispered giggles
and stolen crescent rolls.

I am from
bright lights in our eyes
on Christmas morning. Mom held the light bar
while Dad rolled the movie camera. Our silent
Oohs and Aahs as the three of us explored
the land of toys. Chatty Cathy waited quietly on the couch.

I am from
rising at dawn,
Mannheim Steamroller on the record player,
comparing gifts with the neighbors,
all of us outside on new bikes,
roller skates, a bouncy basketball.
Middle America
on Beechcrest Drive.

My granddaughter Stella snuffs the Advent candle.

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This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Native American Mural

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , , on December 18, 2025| 6 Comments »

Denver Mural, photo by Mary Lee Hahn

Finding writing inspiration in the murals of Denver, this one took me two days to write, so I am posting on Thursday (rather than Wednesday) with a note about my process. I am experiencing some frustration with writing these days.

Yesterday when I looked at this image, I wrote “Her braid/ like a river/ binding her/ to the land.” I waited to see if something more would come to me.

Today I decided to play more with syllables and consider different articles (a river or a desert?) (binds her to her land or this land?)

I typed up the post and came back to it later. Sometimes the smallest of poems pose the hardest challenge.

Her braid, blue like sky,
like river in a desert
binds her to this land.

Margaret Simon, draft

If you find inspiration in this image, please write a small poem in the comments. Support other writers with your responses.

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This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Nature Calls

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Travel, Writing, tagged , , , , on December 10, 2025| 7 Comments »

Photo by Mary Lee Hahn

After NCTE, my Inkling friend Mary Lee also stayed in Denver as a tourist. She sent me some of her photos of murals. I chose this one today to pair with Georgia Heard’s prompt “Write about a sound in nature that calms you.”

In my Wordle attempts this morning, I used the word “flame.” The line of hot pink at the bottom of this mural reminds me of the burning of cane fields that happens this time of year.

When you write today, can you find a word to use in a new way, playing with metaphor?

Morning wakes
with the call of barred owls
hooting up
a flame of grass fire
filling this day
with sweet light.

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This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Denver Mural

Posted in Gratitude, Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Travel, Writing, tagged , , , on December 3, 2025| 5 Comments »

Last week in Denver I took pictures of murals. They were everywhere. Today for this photo I chose this beauty.

Georgia Heard offers a monthly prompt calendar. Today’s prompt is to write 5 small things you are grateful for. After a very full Thanksgiving weekend, I am enjoying the silence of this cold morning.

  1. Morning quiet
  2. Warm poodle on my lap
  3. Fog on the bayou
  4. Sleep
  5. Writing

In gratitude, I offer this small poem. Please consider writing your own small poem in the comments. Encourage other writers with your responses.

In her silent reverie,
she doesn’t notice
the squirrel on the ground
lifting a tiny petal
she dropped,
joining her in gratitude.

Margaret Simon, draft

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This Photo Wants to Be Grateful

Posted in Blogging, Photography, Poetry, Poetry Friday, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , , , , , on November 27, 2025| 19 Comments »

Crocheted tree wrap on the streets of Denver

I am happily home and cozy after being in Denver for a week of busy (NCTE) and, after Jeff came, walking. We clocked over 20,000 steps on Monday.

Today I am taking a day off before my family comes for Friday Thanksgiving. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the poetry community, so wonderfully kind and generous. Some of you I hugged and talked to at NCTE. Others of you stop by this blog and give support through comments. Reflections on the Teche (pronounced Tesh) is my happy place because of you, my readers.

Today’s photo is a crochet-wrapped tree. I’m using a free verse form today following a prompt from Joyce Sidman after her book Dear Acorn, Love, Oak: a compliment, a question, and a wish.

A Tree that Grows in Denver
Single crochet,
double crochet,
cluster-hills & valleys,
green, pink, purple
blooming round
a tree that juts from concrete.
Your colors give warmth
when times are tough.
Will you twirl with me?
I hope your dancing colors
fill the gloom with bright
like a vine that’s lost control
and only seeks the light.
(Margaret Simon, draft)

Poetry Friday will be gathered at Buffy Silverman’s blog.

If you are feeling the muse of this photo, leave a poem draft in the comments. Support other writers with your responses.

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This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Elusive Egret

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , , on November 19, 2025| 24 Comments »

Egret across the bayou, photo by Margaret Simon

Early morning is prime fishing time for egrets and herons on the bayou. It is rare that I can get a photo. I have to walk lightly and hope Albert doesn’t bark. This was a lucky shot.

I will be presenting at NCTE this week. In the roundtable presentation with Ethical ELA (3:30 on Friday, Rm. 108, 110), I will be discussing creating Zeno zines. A Zeno poem is one in which the syllable count is 8, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1. The challenge is each one syllable line rhymes.

This Photo is a place for first drafts. Please consider joining me and writing a poem draft in the comments. Support other writers with your comments.

Morning is bayou fishing time
flashy bright white
egret
shines
reminding me
how love
dines
on memory,
sacred signs.
(Margaret Simon, draft)

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Poetry Friday: Inklings Challenge

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing, tagged , on November 7, 2025| 23 Comments »

Poetry Friday is being gathered today by Laura Purdie Salas.

It’s the first Friday of the month and time for the Inklings Challenge. This month’s prompt is from Linda Mitchell who challenged us to respond to Ethical ELA’s September 2025 Open Write by Kelsey Bigelow: “What is the happiest thing you’ve ever tasted?”

This was a lucky break for me because I already had a draft written, so with my Inklings thoughtful comments, I revised and have a poem to offer today.

My husband was born and raised in Cajun country where they ask, “Who’s your mama? Are you catholic? And can you make a roux?”

I don’t have to learn to make a roux because when it comes time to make a gumbo, Jeff is the best! Just last weekend when the air finally turned cool enough, he made the first gumbo of the season. Around here, when the cold front comes in, the weather man announces, “It’s gumbo weather!”

For our family, Black Friday is the day for making turkey and sausage gumbo. This year we may skip the Thanksgiving and go straight to the gumbo. Making gumbo takes two days. On the first day, you make the stock and the next day combine the stock with the roux. It’s a slow process. It takes patience and dedication.

Black Friday Gumbo

The happiest thing I’ve ever tasted
is your gumbo,
A slow stew on Thanksgiving night
in a stock pot of left-over turkey bones, 
the trinity of bell pepper, onions, and celery.

Scented steam perfumes the kitchen.
Friday morning chill is heated by oil and flour
you stir for what seems like an hour
waiting for the brown of peanut butter.

Hunched and humming, listening to the game,
you stand taller
and hand me a spoon to taste.
Our love is certain in this simple touch

of lips to wooden spoon. 
That first sip tingles on the back of my throat
like our first kiss, longing and true.

Margaret Simon, draft

To see how other Inklings approached this prompt:

Mary Lee
Linda
Heidi
Catherine
Molly

Laurie Patterson, Getty Images

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Spiritual Thursday: Embracing Doubt

Posted in Poetry, Spiritual Growth, Writing, tagged , , , on November 6, 2025| 4 Comments »

Patricia Franz is gathering Spiritual Journey posts this week at her blog, Reverie.

When Patricia prompted us to write about doubt, a song started on repeat in my head. I sang the lyric, “drive the dark of doubt away” from “Ode to Joy.”

“Fill us with the light of day!”

If you know this hymn, I’ve now passed the earworm on to you. Sorry.

But as I contemplate doubt, I realize that it’s not dark. Without doubt, we wouldn’t have belief or clarity.

This first year of retirement has thrown a lot of doubt my way. What do I do now? Where is my purpose? What are my goals? Who am I if not a teacher?

All of these questions are necessary to get me to the next chapter of my life. They are normal and necessary.

I follow poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. She generously sends a poem each day. I used this poem to inspire my poem today.

Here I Pray

My doubt has fog in it,
steam that glows on the bayou,
and a sky above preparing for a new day.

There is Spanish moss here,
swaying in soft breeze
gathering space for doubt.

I meet myself in the mist,
question her purpose,
wonder where she will go now.

I am certain only of not knowing.
I am comfortable in this doubt
holding the gift of more time.

Margaret Simon, draft

Bayou Teche with fog glow, by Margaret Simon

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This Photo Wants to be a Poem:

Posted in nature, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged , , on November 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Down Da’ Bayou”

For now, the super moon’s hidden
in the daylight.
For now, our canoe
reaches for the sun.
For now, bayou waters
are chilled by the wind.

Even now, I feel your strength
in the rowing.
Even now, I believe our source
is love.
Even now, my choice is stay.

Margaret Simon, draft

I took this photo on a recent canoe paddle on Bayou Teche. We laughed at the new sign, but a silly poem didn’t come as I wrote. In my notebook, I had written the repeated line “for now” and “even now” and wanted to play around with it a bit.

I invite you to write what comes today. Please leave a small poem in the comments and encourage others with your comments.

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