Reflections on the Teche

Slice of Life: Waiting

June 17, 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.

Waiting
for rain to stop
for lightning to pass
for time to walk

Waiting
for hen to return
for eggs to incubate
for ducklings to hatch

Waiting
for minnows to squirm
for ripples to fade
for wings to fly

Waiting
for water to break
for labor to start
for birth of a new grandson

Waiting
for swelling to abate
for injury to heal
for movement to return

Waiting
for her body to give up
for heaven to open
for another angel

My mother has been living with Alzheimer’s. Now she is dying. My siblings and I have told her she can give up the fight. She received her last rights. It’s a waiting game now. Her 89th birthday is tomorrow.

The Longest Day is a fundraising event for the Alzheimer’s Association. I am once again raising funds in honor of Mom’s birthday. The link to donate is here.

http://act.alz.org/goto/Dotgibson

My sorority ADK has made beautiful purple beaded bracelets. If you donate, I will send you a bracelet. There is little I can do to change my mother’s condition, but I can help the charge for more research and help for others.

Waiting…

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, Alzheimer’s Association | 9 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Today I Will Praise

June 13, 2025 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Ruth at “There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town.”

Last night I had the privilege of presenting poetry alongside my co-author, Dr. Phebe Hayes. Phebe talked about the life of Emma Wakefield Paillet who was not only the first Black woman, but the first woman to get a medical degree in the state of Louisiana. Emma was an unsung hero until Phebe uncovered her story. Years of research have led to release of our book, Were You There? A Biography of Emma Wakefield Paillet.

Historical marker commemorating Dr. Emma Wakefield Paillet in downtown New Iberia, Louisiana.

What struck me and my husband as we discussed the presentation was how Emma’s life personalized the history of the time period. Her tragedies were the tragedies of Reconstruction and Jim Crow laws, oppression of women and especially women of color, lynching, disease, etc.

I read a few poems interspersed with Phebe’s talk. One of the poems I wrote for the book is a Praise poem after Angelo Geter, a modern spoken word poet. It’s a hard one to get through without my voice cracking because at this time my mother is at the end of her life. I’m emotional when it comes to mothering. Today, I dedicate this poem to her.

If you are interested in a signed copy, please send me an email. Our fellow Poetry Friday writer Linda Mitchell wrote the educational guide.

Posted in Books, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged Angelo Geter, Iberia African American Historical Society, Phebe Hayes, UL Press, Were you There? | 5 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Penguin

June 11, 2025 by margaretsmn

Penguin at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, LA.

On Saturday, I toured the Audubon Aquarium at the fast pace of a 5-year old. This penguin was right up against the glass as if it was posing.

I invite you to write a penguin poem. Join us in the comments and support other writers with your comments.

Today I decided to write a Zeno poem. It’s a mathematical form created by J. Patrick Lewis using the sequence 8, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1. Each one syllable line rhymes. When I decide to use this form, I start with the rhyming word. For this poem I wanted it to land on the word fly. I made a list of words that rhyme with fly (cry, spy, by, guy, high,…) Then I wrote the numbers down the left side of the page.

Next, compose a first sentence. You’d be surprised how many sentences are between 8-10 syllables.

Zenos are fun to write. Mine came out quite silly, but I feel like that’s the point.

Mr. Penguin invites you in—
the water is
fresh as
pie.
That fishy scent
by and
by.
Secret power
makes him
fly.

Posted in Photography, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged Audubon Aquarium, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, zeno poem | 2 Comments »

Slice of Life: Poem Porch Picnic

June 10, 2025 by margaretsmn

Blogging in this space has led to many friendships over the years. Over the weekend I noticed that one of my online blogger-teacher-poet friends was in New Orleans for a National Writing Project conference. I am in New Orleans babysitting my middle grandson Thomas, so I reached out to Kim Douillard, and we met for lunch. I promised Thomas a visit to the aquarium after lunch, so he was cooperative. Kim and I visited like old friends. Her husband Geoff was with her, and he made the comment, “For two people who have never met, you seem so comfortable.” That’s the magic of meeting face-to-face someone you have been writing with for years.

Me and Kim Douillard of “Thinking Through My Lens” at a restaurant in New Orleans. Matching shirts were serendipitous.

Writing with others, even if it’s over screens, can be a powerful connector. If I read your words and you read mine, we get to know each other on a level that may be as deep as taking a long walk together.

Yesterday I dropped Thomas off at day camp and had some time to myself. I decided to take my notebook and current book of poetry, “The Stafford Challenge 2024-25 Anthology” to City Park for a Poem Picnic as suggested by Georgia Heard in her June newsletter. Today I am sharing the resulting poem. If you take a poem picnic, let me know. I’d love to read what you wrote.

Posted in Blogging, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, Georgia Heard, Kim Douillard | 4 Comments »

Poetry Friday: I Don’t Care

June 6, 2025 by margaretsmn

Buffy Silverman is hosting today’s Poetry Friday.

This first Friday in June is time for another Inklings challenge. I am sitting outside on my back deck hoping something will come to me soon. Heidi challenged us with this:

Watch a few videos from the WE DO NOT CARE CLUB on Instagram or other platform. https://www.instagram.com/justbeingmelani/?hl=en Read some comments. Die laughing (or crying).

Write a poem that lists or explains some things that you as a woman no longer care ‘bout for whatever reason. It does not have to be because of peri/menopause. Try to replicate Melani’s deadpan delivery, if that’s possible in a poem. TWIST: include something that you DO care about, that requires you to make space by jettisoning some of the other stuff.

Mary Lee used a conversational tone that I like, so I borrowed her format to write mine.

While we’re sitting here, let me explain

For starters, I don’t care to wear mascara anymore,
no more black goop that smears
every time I cry
which is a lot these days. I care too much sometimes
and my eyes show it.

Just so you know, I care about plants,
but I don’t care
to bend over in the heat
to pull out the weeds,
so you may not think I care
until the air cools
(which by the way the forecast looks
won’t be until October).
Deal with it.

Here’s the thing, I care about family first,
so I may not answer your call or text
if I’m with my mom, husband, kids,
or grandkids. It’s not that I don’t care
about you, I do.
I’ll get back to you
soon enough.

And while we’re on the subject,
you should know
that I care about the white cat at my feet
and the echo of a red cardinal
in the fruit tree. I want this beautiful space
I live in
to last longer.

Won’t you sit with me
and write your truth, too?

I would love to know if you accept the invitation to write to this prompt. Leave a comment, if you care (dare).

Be sure to check out Linda’s and Heidi’s “We Do Not Care Club” poems.

Posted in Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged Inklings challenge, poetry, We Don’t Care Club | 15 Comments »

Spiritual Thursday: Summering

June 5, 2025 by margaretsmn

Ramona is gathering Spiritual Journey: First Thursday posts at Pleasures from the Page.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” John 14:27

When Ramona suggested that we write about “summering” for our Spiritual Journey posts this month, I turned to two passages that bring me peace. Too often, I have a long “to do” list for summer that usually includes cleaning out closets and such dreaded chores. These kinds of chores are good for me but are not what I want to do. I’d rather have lunch with friends, go on long walks, and binge watch a show or two.

The poem “Wild Geese” from Mary Oliver reminds me that all I should do is love what I love and let the wild geese call to me. On these early June days, it’s not wild geese, but buzzing cicadas that call to me. The heat of midday sends me inside for a glass of La Croix with ice. I am settling into a routine and trying hard not to pressure myself to do more.

In May, I was inspired by Georgia Heard’s calendar of prompts for small poems. In June, her newsletter held an invitation to porch poems. You can sign up to receive Heart Beats on her website. Porch poem #3 asked “What happens in stillness?” Here is my poem response.

Posted in Gratitude, Poetry, Spiritual Growth | Tagged #poemsofpresence, Georgia Heard, Mary Oliver, nature poem, spiritual journey, stillness | 9 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Festival Umbrella

June 4, 2025 by margaretsmn

This is my 4 year old granddaughter Stella. This photo of her was taken at a local music festival in April. She certainly captures the festival vibe with her mismatched clothes, bare feet, and easy smile.

Today I chose a tricube form: 3 stanzas, 3 syllables each line. I don’t think the lines have to rhyme, but I wanted to give the poem a song-like feel. Please join me in writing. Leave a small poem in the comments and support other writers with your comments.

Festival Stella
Umbrella
together
with Stella

Little girl
and a twirl
fun unfurls

Hear the beat
of bare feet
toe-tap-greet

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged Festival International, tricube | 30 Comments »

Slice of Life: What the Tree Knows

June 3, 2025 by margaretsmn

Once again, Georgia Heard’s newsletter delivers a wealth of prompts for writing. On Sundays I tutor a young writer. She is such a delight. This week she was eating cherries from her own cherry tree. I knew we had to include this in her poem, so I turned to Georgia’s poem “What the Trees Know.”

When writing poetry from the heart, you must turn to what you know. Amoret knows cherry trees. As I wrote beside her, I wrote about cypress trees. What tree would you write about?

I am pleased to share Amoret’s poem today. Her writing fills me with poetic-teacher joy. She has few inhibitions about putting words to paper and was happy for me to share her poem.

What Does the Cherry Tree Know?

A cherry tree knows how
To dance in the wind freely
And joyfully. The cherry tree knows
How to drink from its
Roots. To us, how it drinks
May seem fast, but to the tree
It’s like a walk in the
Park. The cherry tree
Gets showered by a hose
Rarely, but mostly the
Rain. When we say “Oh no,
It’s a-raining!” cherries are
Showering and drinking.

By Amoret, 9 years old

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, Georgia Heard, wisdom poems | 4 Comments »

Poetry Friday: My Favorite Kind of Silence

May 30, 2025 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Karen Edmisten.

I am finishing up a week of babysitting for two of my grandchildren this week. One of them, June, I kept during the day because daycare was closed. The other, Thomas, I kept after his day camp because his mother had a work trip.

This morning when I was dropping Thomas off for the last time, we had a talk about missing people we love. He started the conversation with “I miss my dad,” which could be viewed as a manipulative ploy for attention, but I didn’t take the bait. I said how much I would be missing him when I go back home.

He said, “Do you miss Papére?”

“Of course, I do. I miss Papére and Albért when I’m here with you, but I miss you and June when I’m home.”

Loving means you’re always missing someone. A conversation with a 5 year old brought me to tears.

This month I have been writing a poem each day using Georgia Heard’s May calendar. The prompt for today was “your favorite kind of silence.” The shadorma form fit nicely with the syllable count of 3, 5, 3, 3, 7, 5.

My Favorite Kind of Silence

Silence comes
after summer rain
before birds
recall sun
after a sung lullaby
a sleepy child’s sigh

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in being mamére, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, Georgia Heard, shadorma | 11 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Ode to Gladiolas

May 28, 2025 by margaretsmn

May is a month for flowers. Last week sunflowers. Today, gladiolas. My friend Mary brought me a full bouquet with a variety of colors.

I am following Georgia Heard’s calendar and on Sunday, the topic was “what quiet sounds like.”

An ode is a poem of praise. I was also inspired by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater’s Ode to Seeds “Seedsong” from Poetry Friday.

Ode to Glads

Oh, the silence
in your lavender
touched by white
laced around a tall stalk.
It’s hard to believe
how you grow
perfectly perched
upon the soil,
now delighting
my kitchen table
with joyful obedience.
I love you.

Margaret Simon, draft

Please join me in writing a small poem of praise about May flowers. Leave your poem in the comments and support other writers with encouraging words.

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, Georgia Heard, poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 6 Comments »