Slice of Life | Reflections on the Teche

Archive for the ‘Slice of Life’ Category

For the Birds: A Slice of Wild Bird rescue

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing, tagged For the Birds of Acadiana on June 23, 2026| 2 Comments »

Please check out my post on Substack.

https://substack.com/@margaretsimon416644/note/p-203234235?r=k9y83&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

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

Slice of Life: Pacific Northwest

Posted in being mamére, Slice of Life, Travel, Writing, tagged family vacation, Pacific Northwest on June 9, 2026| 5 Comments »

“I mean hate and love and fear and wanting to live and wanting to see your children live,” she said. “Those are the things that shape our consciousness, not the material goods, not whether the tables are made of oak or synthetic plastic … The thing isn’t important. It’s the human emotion — and that, I believe, doesn’t change.” Geraldine Brooks

For a week, I had the privilege of watching my children and their children live and love and play. My son-in-law loves the Pacific Northwest. He and my daughter have been vacationing there each year for 5 years. This year, we were invited to tag along. Then my middle daughter Katherine decided to come along with her son, Thomas. We were missing my youngest daughter’s family so much that we are talking about making next year’s trip a full family one.

Highlights include short hikes to waterfalls…

Tidal pools…

Watching eagles, fire pit, views of Olympic mountains…

Watercolor painting with Stella…

In the airport waiting for our flight home

Throwing rocks…

And playgrounds…

New squid-themed playground at the Waterfront, Seattle.

At the end of our trip, we stayed a few nights in Seattle and met up with my husband’s brother and his family which includes a new great niece.

I’m happy to be home to my dog, my bird feeders, flowers, walks with friends, but I will carry the love and life and memories with me.

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Slice of Life: Listening

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing, tagged found poem, identity on May 26, 2026| 12 Comments »

Liz invited me to lunch. She is a poet. My husband and I have met her and her husband on the dance floor. I was “tickled pink”, as my southern mother would say, that she asked me to lunch. We talked for hours. While the restaurant got quieter and quieter, we got louder. When she told me she was an Enneagram four, I jumped up and squealed! No wonder we have a connection.

Liz asked me a question, author to author, “What do you most identify yourself as?”

For a long time, I was a teacher. In retirement, I’ve become a teaching artist. In March, I released my first baby board book. But my answer to her question was “Poet!”

And it felt good to say it out loud.

Identity is a tricky thing. Of course, our vocation dictates our identity. I will never not be a teacher. Now that I have 5 grandchildren, I will forever be Mamére.

Claiming the title poet feels vulnerable. Am I worthy of this title?

What do you claim as your identity?

In church on Sunday, listening from the choir loft, I found a poem in the Psalm. May we all find the bravery to be who we are called to be.

A Poet Listens to the Psalm and Hears

You marched—
skies poured
gracious rain,
refreshed goodness.

Sing, mighty voice,
to holy places!

Blessed be!

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Slice of Life: Moncus Park Prairie

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Travel, Writing, tagged Ethical ELA, farmers' market, found poem, Lafayette Louisiana, Melissa Bonin, Moncus Park on May 19, 2026| 8 Comments »

On Saturday, I went to Moncus Park for the Lafayette Farmer’s Market to sell books. I definitely spent more money on food than I made in book sales, but the spring day was breezy and the park was full of people. A former neighbor stopped by, all grown up and married, hoping for a baby someday, so he bought a book.

A nearby booth had these exotic birds that were pets. They were bright and beautiful, but I don’t remember their breed. I was struck by how they perched and begged for petting.

On the way to my car which was parked a long way from the market, I noticed the new walking path my friend had told me about.

The developers of Moncus Park have been intentional about planting only native Louisiana plants. The reclaimed prairie was full of life.

Moncus Park Prairie, Lafayette, LA

On my walk I found a sign dedicated to a family that included a beautiful painting and poem by my friend, artist Melissa Bonin. I took a picture of it, then used the image and words in a found poem, prompted by Jessica Wiley and Erica Johnson on Ethical ELA.

Moncus Park Prairie
after Melissa Bonin

sugar harvest sky
lights speckles of goldenrod, cotton weed
tucked inside a worn pocket.
A dragonfly wraps its wispy-thin legs
atop black-eyed Susan’s eye.

Your place is on the gravel path
listening to red-winged blackbirds,
catching buttercup pollen
on the tip of your nose.

Stories smudged on rock
gather for the retelling,
soft laughter of prairie grass
speaking to the wind.

Margaret Simon, draft

Here are more Moncus Park photos:

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Slice of Life: Should you touch student work?

Posted in Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing, tagged creative teaching, watercolor painting on May 12, 2026| 7 Comments »

Should an instructor touch a student’s work? As a teacher, this can be an “it depends on the situation” question.

Last week I was with my grandson who is nearing the end of kindergarten. For homework, he had to write a sentence about the story he was reading. He knew what he wanted to write, but the line given was short, and he didn’t think it would fit. I debated. Could I write the sentence he dictated to me?

I decided not to. Obviously, he was not only supposed to practice comprehension, he also needed practice in writing. The option I came up with was to write the sentence he dictated on a notepad and let him copy it on the back of the paper since the line wasn’t long enough. This is what he did, but he completely filled the back of the paper (with no lines) and creatively elongated the tail of the letter p and the top of the letter h.

I have never been a kindergarten teacher, so I was keeping my fingers crossed that I did the right thing.

Recently I have been taking a watercolor class. The instructor is an artist. His teaching method is demonstration. So on both the first and second lessons, he came to my side and painted on my painting to demonstrate a technique. I felt defeated. I had a taste of what Thomas might be feeling when his teacher writes on his paper. The art piece I left with was not mine to claim. Was the art teacher wrong?

I talked with my daughter about this, and she suggested that I ask him to demonstrate on a scratch paper. But still, yesterday he did it again. This time, he asked permission. What was I going to do? I did want to see how he would darken the tree and how he would draw a piece of grass, but again, I have a work of art that is not truly mine. I refuse to sign these pieces.

One of them I cut up into a collage. Another I’ve tucked away. It’s hard for me to totally throw them in the trash. Do I just need to relax and be a good student?

What do you think?

Here is the only painting from the class that I did all on my own. I decided to sign it.

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Slice of Life: Think You Notes

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing, tagged #beingmamére, #KidlitProgressivePoem2026, haiku, think you notes on April 21, 2026| 7 Comments »

My grandson Leo is in first grade. Wait? What? Time flies, doesn’t it? He is a little sponge absorbing all of the learning. He doesn’t even realize how fast he is developing his verbal skills, but as a teacher and proud grandmother, I am keenly aware.

His mother has always been good about thank you notes. She’s passing that on to her children. He wrote me a thank you note for his Easter gift, but he wrote it on the envelope and put another envelope inside it for me to write back.

His misspelling of thank you to “think you” charmed my husband to say, “You should write him a think you note.”

Who knows if our correspondence will continue, but I wrote him a note about what I was thinking about. (I should have taken a photo.) And enclosed a self-addressed envelope.

I am writing poetry this month with Ethical ELA. Today’s prompt from Sharon Roy inspired us to write haiku about reading. I am reading Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. It’s my book companion when I can’t sleep, so I found this haiku.

Through my sleeplessness
gravity of rivers flow
hidden life below.

The Progressive Poem is with Irene Latham, originator of the idea, at Live Your Poem.

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Slice of Life: Literary Life on the Bayou

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing, tagged Books along the Teche Literary Festival, downtown New Iberia, New Iberia travel, Rick Bragg on April 14, 2026| 18 Comments »

“I hate writing. I love having written.” Rick Bragg said to an attentive audience in downtown New Iberia. How does he know how it feels every time I open my blog space to write a Slice of Life? Even the most accomplished writers struggle with a blank page.

This past weekend was the 10th annual literary festival in our small town. And it was a full on fun party. I have been meeting once monthly with the implementation team and have marveled at the organizational skills and seeming calm of our volunteers.

On Friday night the skies opened up and poured on the outdoor evening dinner, but there were umbrellas and good food, so no one’s spirits were dampened.

On Saturday morning, we danced at the Beignets and Beats Breakfast.

I sold books.

We danced again. Exhausted we brought home the prize for “Smooth Moves” from the small dance competition.

For a small town, New Iberia is mighty! The 10th annual Books along the Teche Literary Festival was a success. Y’all come next year!

Follow the Progressive Poem. Links in the sidebar.
Today’s line is with Jone MacCulloch.

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Slice of Life Tuesday: NPM26: Forgiveness

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged apology poem, Audubon Aquarium, Ethical ELA on April 7, 2026| 9 Comments »

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 ignorance

The mirror of doubt
is revealing
so clear and critical

I should say something kind
but all I muster
is a lie.

Margaret Simon, draft

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SOLC26: Day 31: Slicing with You

Posted in Blogging, Gratitude, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged community, gratitude, Slice of Life Challenge on March 31, 2026| 9 Comments »

First and foremost, thank you, dear readers, for taking this daily journey with me. Thirty-one days seems daunting and impossible on March 1st, yet, now that I am writing on day 31, I’m wishing for more. More writing, more reading, more connecting.

Ultimately what I write for is connection. I see you. You see me. Life is meant to be lived in connection with others. The Two Writing Teachers community are my people. This is my 13th year of the challenge. I always feel I receive more than I give. That is as it should be.

In many ways, social media has become toxic, giving us that dose of envy that we neither need nor ask for. It hasn’t happened here. This writing community supports and encourages, holds you up and celebrates your unique voice as well as a common voice.

I plan to continue daily posts throughout April for National Poetry Month. (There are still a few days left on the Progressive Poem schedule.) Again, thanks for reading and commenting and being with me. Whew! We did it!

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SOLC26: Day 30: Crawfish Time

Posted in Books, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged crawfish boil, Louisiana traditions, What’s That Sound? Birds of the Bayou on March 30, 2026| 10 Comments »

It’s crawfish time here in the Deep South swamp. My son-in-law pulled out the boiling pot, bought huge sacks of live crawfish, and invited family and friends for the feast.

If you’ve never had crawfish, you need to put it onto your bucket list of experiences. Crawfish are called “mud bugs” because they create their nesting places in mounds of mud. They are shellfish, so there’s that. Bottom dwellers. I don’t let that bother me while I’m peeling, dipping, and eating.

My grandson Leo created habitats with his friends for their new pets. I think they even named them. I hope he didn’t sleep with them, but it’s harmless fun and a cultural part of being raised in south Louisiana.

Stella holds a crawfish. “I’m not scared!”

Crawfish boils are a tradition around the Easter season. While we are not Catholic, many families in this area are. Catholics don’t eat meat on Fridays in Lent. Many seafood places advertise “Lenten special: All you can eat!” My husband laughs at this because it’s not much of a sacrifice to eat crawfish and drink beer.

I was pleasantly surprised when my illustrator, Drew Beech, added a spread to my board book that showed the family at a crawfish boil.