Reflections on the Teche

#haikuforhope: Dancing

December 11, 2018 by margaretsmn

Stop the Clock

When it’s time to dance,
you offer your hand, lead
me to step back spin.

(c) Margaret Simon

Posted in Poetry | Tagged #haikuforhope, dancing, Stop the Clock | 3 Comments »

Sunday Stillness: #haikuforhope

December 9, 2018 by margaretsmn

You shine in glory
lighten my discontent
with the balm of love

(c) Margaret Simon
Christmas hymn found haiku

Posted in Poetry | Tagged #haikuforhope, advent, Christmas hymns, Spiritual poetry | Leave a Comment »

One of the poets I am following for this month of daily haiku is Mary Lee Hahn. She posted this poem today with a link to an article Are we really all made of stardust? Fascinated both by this physics and my new grandson, I offer this #haikuforhope.

Nothing but hope
heart of a heavenly star
born as a child
(c) Margaret Simon

Posted in Poetry | Tagged #haikuforhope | 5 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Lion of the Sky

December 6, 2018 by margaretsmn

Laura Purdie Salas is one the most clever poets I know. In 2014, she invented a new form of haiku, the riddle-ku, when she decided to write riddle+mask poems for National Poetry Month. In Spring of 2019, a new book of riddle-ku poems will be available, Lion of the Sky.

I received an advanced copy at NCTE. For reading with small children, the illustrations give pretty strong hints to the answer to the riddle, so I didn’t show my middle grade students the illustrations until they “gave up.” I was surprised both by the ones they guessed and the ones they missed. Nevertheless, they had a good time playing along.

Then, of course, we wrote our own riddle-kus. I copied lines from Laura’s book onto popsicle sticks and let the students select a stick and decide how to use the line in their own riddle-ku.

Laura shared her webpage for this book which includes a padlet for students to post their poems.

Sprite+Mentos=Explosion

(This title is a shout-out to another of Laura’s new books, Snowman-Cold=Puddle)

Exploding red hot
lava oozing out on top
Dangerous! Don’t touch!

by Chloe, 3rd grade

Endless Parched Sea

Wide, curvy, golden
I am a sea needing rain
Memories within

by Madison, 5th grade

I wrote a few, too. The one above with the picture of burning sugarcane fields, but my favorite is this one. Can you guess what it’s about?

On the waiting page,
I flow from your colored pen
Word patterns counted

In the comments, take a guess for each poem. Thanks!

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday | Tagged Laura Purdie Salas, riddle-ku | 14 Comments »

Spiritual Thursday: One Little Word Explore

December 6, 2018 by margaretsmn

Round up is with Irene at Live Your Poem.

On this first Thursday of December, the Spiritual Journey bloggers are reflecting on our 2018 one little word. Way back in January, I chose the word Explore. Like previous words, Presence and Open, this word helped me to be more present to the world around me. Exploration is important in the life of a writer. To me exploring has a connotation of adventure and daring. While I find much comfort in just being at home, when I am more open to adventure, I reach out and invite joy in.

My students and I enjoy exploring different ways to look at common objects. The above image was taken through a Private Eye jewelers loupe in the school garden. The Private Eye asks the viewer to use figurative language to describe what you see. It looks like… and it also looks like…

A rose in bloom
flowing tutu in the sun
a garden dancer

Following NCTE in Houston, my friend Dani traveled home with me for a few days before heading back to Montana. We explored Avery Island and the Tabasco plant, a sculpture garden in New Orleans, and an old cemetery. Dani was fascinated by the above ground crypts. Since NOLA is below sea level, bodies are buried above ground to avoid floating away. Exploring is more fun with a friend.

Explore was a good word for 2018, but as this year comes to a close, I’m thinking about next year’s one little word. I feel the need to turn more toward reaching out to others and making some kind of difference. Explore was a more self-serving word, one that led me to adventures and new places, but didn’t send me outward to others. I’m ready to look inward to how I can become more generous to others.

#haikuforhope

Hope fills my waiting heart
Gently cradled in wonder
Exploring my world

Posted in Spiritual Growth, Writing | Tagged #haikuforhope, spiritual journey | 5 Comments »

#HaikuforHope: Seeking

December 5, 2018 by margaretsmn

Our paths turn and turn
we seek the light of knowledge
a labyrinth of faith

(c) Margaret Simon
#haikuforhope

Posted in Writing | Tagged #haikuforhope, faith, labyrinth, Solomon House | 3 Comments »

#HaikuforHope: Slice of Life: No explanation given

December 4, 2018 by margaretsmn

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life .

I am participating in writing a haiku-a-day in the month of December. Follow the hashtag #haikuforhope on Twitter to read and join in.

I had news of a tragic death by suicide this weekend. A former student. A creative soul. An enthusiastic friend who loved without condition. Why? No one knows. Not even the ones who were closest to him.

I wish there were some way I could remain a person in my students’ lives, someone they could call whenever they needed someone to talk to without judgement. They enter my heart when they are so young, 8, 9, 10 year-olds who know so very little about what lies ahead, but they are full of curiosity and longing. I love them when I have them, then I have to let them go. They continue to grow and change and become grown-ups. I may find them again on social media, but there are no guarantees. I have to trust that the world will be kind.

I don’t think the world was kind to Walt. He never fit in, conforming was not a part of who he was or who he could be. He wanted so much more than the world could give him. I really don’t know what could have gone through his head to make him choose death instead of life. I need to let go again. I have to trust that he is where he needs to be now, in the arms of an angel in heaven who can love him forever.

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #haikuforhope, youth suicide | 13 Comments »

#HaikuforHope: Keep Paddling

December 3, 2018 by margaretsmn

Sunday afternoon was so gorgeous we had to stop and take a canoe trip down the bayou. The temperatures were in the 70’s which we won’t likely see again for a while as December begins to roll in on cooler waves. I really believe that the cypress trees are more beautiful this year with their bronze needles that still cling to the branches. We stopped by a neighbor’s house and chatted with her while a fat water snake slithered from a nearby bush. Yes, it freaked me out, and I became jumpy. Everything became a snake: branches, leaves, jumping fish, scurrying squirrels. But soon my heebie-jeebies subsided, and I enjoyed the scenery. With the still water, the reflections were picture perfect.

December on Bayou Teche by Margaret Simon

Dusk, hawks are hunting,
Scouting a slithering snake.
Keep paddle moving.

(c) Margaret Simon

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Tagged #haikuforhope, Bayou Teche | 3 Comments »

Sunday Stillness: #HaikuforHope

December 2, 2018 by margaretsmn

December morning by Margaret Simon

I am writing a haiku each day in December along with others in the kidlitosphere. This morning I woke up to this beautiful view with the morning light creating perfect reflections in the bayou water. It was calling for a poem. The words became something between a haiku (5,7,5 syllable count) and a tanka (5,7,5,7,7 syllables)

Sometimes light rises
so illuminating, bright,
all life pauses
to look at its reflection.

(c) Margaret Simon

Yesterday on my morning walk I gathered fall leaves. I don’t remember having such colorful leaves before, but maybe I just didn’t notice. Linda Baie wrote about pressing leaves between waxed paper with her grandchildren recently. She reminded me of this activity, so I pressed my leaf collection and taped it into my art journal. This is the completed page.

A leaf turns yellow
falls without making a sound–
Earth’s hush releases.

(c) Margaret Simon

If you would like to join in the challenge, use the hashtag #haikuforhope and follow @MaryLeeHahn and @flynn_catherine and @LBaie on Twitter.

Posted in Poetry | Tagged #haikuforhope | 5 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Mesmerizing Nature

November 30, 2018 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday round-up is with Carol at Carol’s Corner.

My mother-in-law just returned from a trip to Whidbey Island in Washington where she did some amazing bird watching with her second son’s family. I was most intrigued by her description of the western sandpiper’s murmuration. I’ve only seen murmurations on video. I’d love to see one is real life. Breathtaking!

Laura Purdie Salas posts an image on Thursday for a weekly poetry writing prompt, “15 words or less.” This week she had a picture of a sculpture in the Houston Convention Center that I probably passed by numerous times and didn’t take notice. The art piece looked like a flock of birds. My mind went to sandpiper murmurations. (My sister-in-law sent me this video. It’s mesmerizing.)

Dunlin sandpiper migration
high wind murmuration
frosty sunrise creation
bird watchers’ salvation

(c) Margaret Simon

If you read my poem on Laura’s site (we post them in the comments), you may notice a correction in the breed of bird from sandhill crane to dunlin sandpiper. I did some fact checking.

Mary Lee Hahn invited us to join her in a December haiku-a-day project. I’ve started early. When I returned from my morning walk, I took this picture of grandmother oak, but what I noticed was the color of the cypress tree behind her. I don’t usually see this color. Most of the time, the cypress trees quickly shed their needles. I wonder why they are holding on longer this fall.