Poetry | Reflections on the Teche

Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

Haiku-a-day #18

Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged #haikuforhealing, Enneagram, haiku-a-day on December 18, 2016| 1 Comment »

Through your example
kindness echoes through the trees
on wings of love

–Margaret Simon

#haikuforhealing

Read Full Post »

Haiku-a-day #17

Posted in Poetry, tagged #haikuforhealing, haiku-a-day on December 17, 2016| 2 Comments »

Read Full Post »

Poetry Friday:Haiku-a-day #16

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing, tagged #haikuforhealing, haiku-a-day on December 16, 2016| 13 Comments »

Poetry Friday is with Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference

Early morning dark
I, in silence with a pen,
catch haiku harmony.

–Margaret Simon

#haikuforhealing

Other December daily haiku writers:

Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe
Mary Lee Hahn at Poetrepository
Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
Buffy Silverman at Buffy’s Blog
Jone Rush MacCulloch at DeoWriter
Diane Mayr, posted on Thursdays at Random Noodling
Julie Johnson at Raising Readers and Writers
Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink
Carol Wilcox at Carol’s Corner
Julianne Harmatz tweeting @jarhartz
Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes at Today’s Little Ditty

Read Full Post »

Haiku-a-day #14

Posted in Poetry, tagged #haikuforhealing, haiku-a-day on December 14, 2016| 1 Comment »

Time to burrow down
be a seed, holding life tight
deep in the dark soil

–Margaret Simon

Read Full Post »

Slice of Christmas Tree

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, tagged #haikuforhealing, Christmas, Linda Baie, ornaments on December 13, 2016| 8 Comments »

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

Haiku #13

There, in twinkling lights
a Teddy Bear, nutcracker,
an angel watches.

The ornaments on the Christmas tree take me on a journey of memories. I am borrowing this idea from Linda Baie who wrote about her ornaments memories here.

I don’t know why, but I hesitate to unpack the ornaments each year. I don’t like doing it alone. So my daughter Maggie came over to help me, even though she now has a home of her own. I appreciated her help, but mostly I appreciated the impetus to get it done. In her words, “Let’s do this thing!” I turned on the Christmas CDs, and we dug in.

“Should we hang this one?” I asked. “The year you hated Santa Claus. Look at that face!”

Christmas ’88: Maggie 3.5 years, Katherine 8 months.

My husband, Jeff, has a special ornament we hang each year. His second grade teacher made it for him, sequins on a styrofoam ball, spelling out his name.

I never seem to remember where I packed my favorite ornament, the one my mother gave me from the National Cathedral when I only had two daughters. This is one of those breakable, precious ornaments that I wrap well and put away in its own box. But which bin did I put it in? After Maggie left and I was preparing to put the bins back into the closet, I gave it one more try, patiently opening and closing boxes, wrapping and unwrapping tissue paper. Then I found it. I hung it high on the tree, safe from little hands that we don’t really have around, and mischievous paws which are circling the tree as if it’s a new toy.

A more recent ornament was made by a local artist illustrating our church, The Church of the Epiphany. This ornament reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. I look forward to singing in the loft (which once held slaves before the Civil War) on Christmas Eve.

What ornaments do you treasure year to year? Happy Holidays!

Read Full Post »

Haiku-a-day #12

Posted in Photography, Poetry, tagged #haikuforhealing, Bayou Teche, haiku-a-day on December 12, 2016| 1 Comment »

Read Full Post »

Haiku-a-day #9

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, tagged #haikuforhealing, haiku-a-day on December 9, 2016| 19 Comments »

Poetry Friday is with Jone at Check it Out.

I am small. What difference can I make? Who knows or cares? When I get into this kind of self-talk, I am defeated before I even try. What good is this hate talk? Isn’t there enough of it in the world?

Then I read from other writers:

Trust your power. It’s all there. The moon has lit your path. You have the fire of ambition. You have a vast sea of emotions and ideas. You hold a magic wand and a symbolic sword––the means to write across the sky.

–Jane Kelley, Smack Dab in the Middle.

Recently I jumped into a writing assignment that I began to doubt I was ready for. I had a hard time when the editor kept pushing back. But isn’t that what makes it all worth it? At the same time, I questioned whether or not I was worthy. Each response sent me back to my poem, my idea, my self. Writing from the heart tugs at your perseverance. Do I dare let anyone see this part of me?

Then there is a community of writers, penning a poem a day, tweeting out poetry in response to our world. I am grateful for this push to put my voice out there. I am grateful to listen to their words, too.

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes at Today’s Little Ditty

If I missed someone, please let me know.

Join in with #haikuforhealing

Read Full Post »

Haiku-a-day #8

Posted in Poetry, tagged #haikuforhealing, Christmas, haiku-a-day on December 8, 2016| 3 Comments »

When you live near a bayou, sometimes your visitors are green.

Created with Word Swag

Read Full Post »

Haiku-a-day #7

Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged #haikuforhealing, haiku-a-day on December 7, 2016| 6 Comments »

The inspiration for today’s poem came in a blog post on Smack Dab in the Middle.

Writing advice that basically says Just.Do.It. That is my mantra for this daily challenge. I’m doing it. But in the process, I am discovering a voice. One that wants to be heard. Poetry does that to me. It’s like there is this other me hiding deep inside. She’s not sure how to express herself until she writes one word, then another, then a few more. That’s how it works. Sounds simple. Try it.

Read Full Post »

Hallmark Holiday: Haiku #6

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged #haikuforhealing, haiku-a-day on December 6, 2016| 15 Comments »

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

The news channels have been turned to the Hallmark channel. The living room smells of Douglas fir and burning wood. The front door welcomes visitors with poinsettias and a wreath.

It’s looking like Christmas. The days are short and darken early. This journey to winter solstice seems slow and cold. I want to make soup. I want to curl up with a warm blanket and drink hot tea. But this season also begs for things to get done. Shopping. Decorating. Writing Christmas cards. Wrapping… the list goes on…

Once a day I slow down. I open my notebook and pen a haiku or two. Poetry makes me stop and pay attention. Haiku-a-day for December. #haikuforhealing

Join me in taking a small moment to stop and listen. Join me in making Advent what it’s truly meant to be…a time of waiting.