Reflections on the Teche

National Poetry Month Day 6: Where I Live

April 6, 2025 by margaretsmn

Today’s #VerseLove prompt is from Stacey Joy. She brought back once again the faithful form Where I’m From, originally from George Ella Lyon. Like Stacey, I’ve written many iterations of this poem over the years. A recent one that I actually liked, I posted here.

Today I used one of Stacey’s alternate suggestions to try, “I live” as a repeated phrase. Again, my results came out kind of corny. I always feel when I try to rhyme that it sounds corny and forced. I’m sharing anyway.

New Iberia, Louisiana April 6, 2025

I live where heat and humidity full bloom around noon.

I live under a canopy of cypress trees
with knees that will full stop a mower’s blade.

I live near bayou brown
watching for wood ducks
coming round.

I live with spiders, roaches, mosquitoes, and gnats.
I’ve learned to let-them-be or smash-them-flat.

I live among neighbors who know me,
who offer mint leaves for tea.

I live in a red state with hearts of blue.
What about you?

Margaret Simon, draft

The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Buffy today.

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Tagged #verselove, Bayou Teche, Ethical ELA, National Poetry Month, Where I'm From poem | 6 Comments »

National Poetry Month: Late Shadorma

April 5, 2025 by margaretsmn

I dropped the ball yesterday with my Inklings writing group. I had given the monthly challenge and forgot about it. Today I am trying to make up for it by combining the Ethical ELA prompt from Bryan Ripley Crandall to write about scars with the form. Shadorma poems have a syllable count of 3, 5, 3, 3, 7, 5.

Virus

weary soul
invisible scars
tenderly
heal in time
slowly becoming new skin
touched by cleansing light
Margaret Simon, draft

To see how the Inklings approached this challenge, here are their links:
Mary Lee Hahn
Heidi Mordhorst
Molly Hogan
Linda Mitchell

The Kidlit Progressive poem is with Denise Krebs today at Dare to Care.

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Tagged #verselove, Ethical ELA, Inklings challenge, National Poetry Month, shadorma | 4 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Make it Happy

April 4, 2025 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Matt at Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme.

This month, National Poetry Month, I am writing poems prompted by #Verselove at Ethical ELA. Today’s prompt was written by Dave Wooly. He asked us to write a short poem about being a traveller. He has a wonderful mentor poem about Scotland (my dream vacation) and his son. Read it and other responses here.

My sleep has been fitful this week as my body recovers from Covid. I’ve been trying hard during the waking times to think of pleasant, happy times to lull myself back to sleep. Dave’s prompt and the pen I was writing with helped me create this small poem this morning.

Make it Happy

In the early morning
when the sun has yet to rise,
my mind wanders to where
my body wishes to be–

I kick off the blankets
pinning me in, kick out
to break free

to jump onto a zip line
over the rainforest of Costa Rica,
to sip the cool mountain air
of the North Pacific,
to rock on a boat, untethered,
drinking in the spray of Niagara Falls.

Where ever you go,
Make it happy.*

Margaret Simon, draft

The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Donna Smith today.

This week my collaborative book with historian Phebe Hayes was released, Were you There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet. We tell the story of the first African American woman to get a medical degree in the state of Louisiana. She was from my home town, New Iberia, LA. I wrote poems in Emma’s voice. This book has been in the works since 2018, a long labor of love. My friend and fellow Inkling, Linda Mitchell, wrote the educational guide. Were You There? is available through UL Press.

Posted in Writing | 18 Comments »

Spiritual Thursday: Psalm of Lament

April 3, 2025 by margaretsmn

Ruth is gathering the first Thursday Spiritual Journey posts at her blog: There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town.

Ruth had a suggestion for this first Thursday that ties to the season of Lent: write a Psalm of Lament. I have been laid up with Covid all week. It’s not a severe case, but it’s lingering and frustrating me with headaches and a lack of energy. I got outside for a walk this morning, and that has helped my disposition greatly. On my walk, my priest (who happens to live in my neighborhood) stopped her car and asked, “Are you off of school today?”

We talked, and she advised me to lean into this quiet time. To let God work in God’s time. Of course, that is good advice, but it’s not what I wanted to hear when I just want to be over it already. I pulled out a copy of the New Zealand Prayer Book and started to read the Psalms.

As I read, I realized the psalmists were just regular people living their regular lives and wanting more, wishing for God to redeem them, make their suffering worthwhile. When we read these old texts, we feel ourselves in those moments of stress, worry, ill health, and mourning. It’s a universal experience, lament.

Like my cats mew waiting
for my footsteps, waiting for me to greet them,
so do I long for you, God.

My illness clouds my thoughts,
so I reach for your presence. I cry,
“Where now is my God?”

I wait in hope
as a desert rose thirsts for clean water.
I open my ears to hear

the roar of wind breaking branches
calling through tones
of a wind chime in the tree.

I am the one whose branches are broken
who sings a mournful tune.

You, O God, are my strength.
You save me from the destructive wind.
You hand me a cup of hot tea, a spoon of honey,
sweet taste of life.

Why do I mourn when I have such gifts?

Wait, you say, wait in hope.
Sit in stillness
for You are here
with me.

Margaret Simon, draft

The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Robyn Hood Black today.

Posted in Poetry, Spiritual Growth, Writing | Tagged Lament, Psalms, spiritual journey | 7 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Mural Art

April 2, 2025 by margaretsmn

Mural in process at The Southern Linen Company, New Iberia, Louisiana

I was running late for a lunch date with friends, but I had to stop. The artists, Hannah Gumbo and Terez Molitor, were hard at work painting this bright and cheerful mural. A little while later, they stopped for lunch at the same cafe. I was able to get their names and thank them for their tireless work on the mural. They both lit up. Creating this art brought them joy. And now it will bring joy to passers-by. Public art is for everyone!

Can you write a small poem inspired by this photo? Join us in the comments. After you write, be sure to stop back by to leave some comment love on other writers’ poems. Together we are creating art with words.

At Ethical ELA Verselove, Leilya inspires us to write a tricube poem. This form is 3 stanzas of 3 lines with 3 syllables each.

Mural Art

In spring, red
dances with
yellow light.

Buds become
butterfly,
bee feeders.

Painted walls
fill my heart
with delight.
Margaret Simon, draft

The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Tricia today.

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Progressive poem, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged Ethical ELA, National Poetry Month, New Iberia, tricube | 18 Comments »

National Poetry Month Day One: Dandelion Lines

April 1, 2025 by margaretsmn

You Can’t Have It All

but as light is to a star
you can have this dandelion–

Every flower is a good flower to see.

These domes of ghost stars
Astonish the grass–so much deliciousness.

Dazzle me, little sun-of-the-grass.
You can still summon the summer day
when you blew your wishes
to the wind.

(line sources: Barbara Ras, Robert MacFarlane, Amy Tan, Jean Nordhaus, Emily Dickinson, Aimee Nezhukumatathal)

Jennifer Jowett encouraged us to gather a list of lines from other poets, authors, to create a cento poem. My process began with the books I had on my coffee table. Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris was there because I used a model poem from the book for my students today. This is a gorgeously illustrated book of acrostic poems. There is one using the word Dandelion.

I was reminded of a prompt from Georgia Heard using Barbara Ras’s poem You Can’t Have it All.

I enjoyed this creative exercise of gathering beautiful lines and adding form and my own words to create something entirely new. That’s what the creative process is.

Today is the release of my new book that doesn’t feel new to me. I’ve been writing and editing this book since 2018. Finally, you can read it, too. My co-author Phebe Hayes did all of the historical research on Emma Wakefield Paillet, the first African American woman to get a medical degree in the state of Louisiana. I wrote poems in Emma’s voice. Linda Mitchell, fellow Inkling and librarian from Virginia, wrote the educational guide. I am proud of this important work to connect to our past and forge a new future for women, for people of color, and for poetry that speaks the truth.

Posted in Books, Poetry, Writing | Tagged #verselove, National Poetry Month, Were You There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet | 5 Comments »

Slice of Life Day 31: Endings and Beginnings

April 1, 2025 by margaretsmn

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

Today is the last day of March which means I have finished my 12th year of writing a slice of life for 31 days. It’s easy to think this is some great accomplishment. But who matters more to me are the bloggers I do this with. Through the Two Writing Teachers blog, we have connected over time and space and supported each other. I always end with the wish that I had read more and commented more. What a wonderful community of teacher-writers! Thank you!

I also want to express my pride over my students who stuck with the daily slicing challenge. Julian wrote “This is the final day for writing and I cannot believe I actually did it. Before I ever did this challenge I was having trouble with writing 1 SOL a week. I never would have thought I would be able to write one continuously for a month straight. But I did and I’m very proud of myself.” You can view their posts at Fanschool/ GT Allstars

Tomorrow begins another writing adventure: National Poetry Month. Many of my poet blogger friends are doing projects. I will be writing with Ethical ELA VerseLove as I have done since 2020. At Ethical ELA, there is another great community of teacher writers who support each other.

I coordinate a gathering of children’s poets to write the 2025 Kidlit Progressive Poem. Linda Mitchell has bravely agreed to start us off. You will find her post at A Word Edgewise. We have three slots left at the end of the month if you want to play along. Kidlit Progressive Poem 2025 Sign Up.

Tomorrow is a big day for me. Release day for Were You There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet that I co-authored with Phebe Hayes. I will be presenting this weekend at the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival at the Shadows on the Teche Visitors Center at 11:15 AM on Saturday. My co-author Phebe Hayes and I are excited to launch this important book about the history of New Iberia, LA. If you are local, please join us for this long awaited release.

Posted in Blogging, Books, Progressive poem, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged 2025 Kidlit Progressive Poem, Fanschool, Were You There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet | 6 Comments »

Slice of Life Day 30: Birds and Flowers

March 30, 2025 by margaretsmn

Spring is my favorite time of year
When the sky is blue and clear.
Birds are singing all around.
Flowers growing from the ground.

This verse was the first poem I remember writing. I was waiting for my mother to pick me up from my piano lesson and I was twirling around the tree in Miss Joe’s front yard. Maybe I was 12?

The words echo in my head today as spring is here. A week ago the cypress trees were still brown. Today they are bursting with bright green needles.

My friend Mary, who is a master gardener, sends me a photo every other day of flowers blooming. The fields that haven’t been mown are sparkling with purple and yellow wildflowers.

When I take my morning walk, the birds fill the page on my Merlin app.

Spring is my favorite time of year.

Posted in nature, Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged first poem, flowers, spring | 7 Comments »

Slice of Life Day 29: After Billy Collins

March 29, 2025 by margaretsmn

On Fridays, I usually post a poem for my students to read and discuss. This week we looked at Billy Collins’s poem Today. This has been a favorite of mine for a long time. When I looked back on my blog, I found a poem I wrote after Today in 2011. (See the post here.) My students were shocked by this because none of them were even born at that time.

Today begins with a wonderful line for getting into a poem, “If ever there were a spring day so perfect,” As the poem continues with two lined stanzas, there is no end punctuation until the last line, “today is just that kind of day.” The whole poem is one sentence. I love how this works to make the poem sound more urgent and energized.

I invited my students to use these lines to create their own poems about a perfect day.

Spring 2025
after Billy Collins

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so full of bird song

that it made you want to join
with your own singing

and open your whole mouth
to the world of nature,

a day when dew drops cool grass,
and the garden roses popping

with red reflect the sun, so much light
that you feel like breathing,

releasing the grief you’ve held in
and cry real tears at the beauty

of it all, walk with light
pink and orange rising before

you, welcoming you with open arms
of rose and green and sky.

Today is that kind of day.

Margaret Simon, draft

As we head into spring, Avalyn and some other students are still dreaming about the amazing snow we had this winter. She asked if she could write about a winter day. “Of course, it’s your poem.”

If there were a winter day so perfect
so cold with icy air

Could I pretend to hunt ghosts
while drinking a warm cup of hot chocolate

Could I put on layers of clothes
and roll in the snow

Could I sit in my warm bed
watching TV and “being productive”

Could I play outside bands
performing plays

Could I read a book
my best days

Dreaming of presents can you imagine?
Well you can because today is that day.

Avalyn, 5th grade

Posted in Gifted Education, Poetry, Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing | Tagged Billy Collins, student poems, teaching poetry, Today | 6 Comments »

Slice of Life Day 28: Poetry Friday: Revision

March 28, 2025 by margaretsmn

If you are a blogger and would like to add a line during National Poetry Month to our Kidlit Progressive Poem, please make a comment or send me an email with a date choice and a link to your blog. Everyone is welcome to play!

The early morning school playground was covered in a sheet of fog. Avalyn and I went outside to write. This is something she often requests. There is an old oak with a picnic table in a just right spot for writing in our notebooks. I wrote about my surroundings, observations of the morning.

The fog hovers over the playground.
I hear echoes of a church bell chime.
Traffic moves beyond
carrying the day-workers.
Birds call to mates
as spring slowly wakes
sprouting on this weary morning.

Form can give us a container for our words. I looked up the triolet form. I labeled my paper with the number of lines and the rhyme scheme. The poem changed shape while still holding the mood.

Fog hovers on soft spring air,
tip-toes as a church bell chimes.
Work day traffic moves on everywhere.
Fog hovers on soft spring air.
Breeze tickles my face with hair.
Morning wakes right on time.
Fog hovers on soft spring air,
tip-toes as a church bell chimes.

(Margaret Simon, draft)

I used these two drafts to discuss revision with my students at the next school in the afternoon. I suggested they go back to a poem and revise it.

Max who is a humble poet will rarely share his poems out loud, so I asked his permission to share his revision here. He wrote it on Fanschool, and you can leave comments specifically for him there.

“Insects buzzing all around,

Bugs are feeding on the ground,

For there is no need for them to hurry,

So why should they need to worry?”

March 25th, 2025: I absolutely despise the quality of this poem. REVISE!

Insects hover in the air,

Gracefully, glide without care.

Spot a flower, beautifully white.

Harvesting energy, basking in the sunlight.

Insects, bugs, air and the ground.

Moving, flying, all around.

To hurry is not a worry, for them.

Unless by something, they’re found.

Then Scurry!

I would add something else, but this is just about it.
(Max, 6th grade)

How do you approach revision? Is it hard for you? I think students don’t usually like to revise. They like to write and move on to the next thing. Honestly until I read Max’s post, I thought the class didn’t think much of my little revision lesson. Modeling our own writing process with our students makes us vulnerable, but in the long run, shares how we all are in this together, writing side by side.