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This Photo Wants to be a Poem: First Fig

July 24, 2024 by margaretsmn

First fig, by Margaret Simon

We were given a fig tree and planted it this spring. We are now harvesting figs! One at a time. My husband joked that we were having our first annual Simon Fig Festival. I served the single fig cut into 4 pieces for our dessert last night. A small, but successful harvest.

Ethical ELA is holding Open Write this week. The first prompt came from Denise Krebs. She reminded me of a form that Jane Yolen created called the septercet. Each stanza has seven syllables and there are 3 lines per stanza. I wrote a septercet about my first fig.

Do you see rain and complain?
Everything wet in your path–
Grass and mud slide to the street.

I watch this single fig-fruit
turn from green to peachy-red
making rain into sweet juice.

You can decide the mood here.
Rain or shine, weed or flower
Fig tree loves enough of both.

@Margaret Simon, draft

You can choose to write a septercet about your own favorite fruit of summer. Leave a small poem in the comments and write encouraging responses to other writers.

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments »

Slice of Life: The Most Important Thing about a New Puppy

July 23, 2024 by margaretsmn

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

This is the week of Open Write at Ethical ELA. I love these monthly exercises in writing poetry. They keep my notebook going as a working document, and it’s a wonderful, kind, and inspiring group to be a part of. Earlier in the week, Kim Johnson left me a comment stating she hoped I would write a puppy poem this week. Today’s prompt worked for a puppy poem.

You may be familiar with the children’s book The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. Gayle leads us through the prompt to discovery the essence of the thing we choose to write about. As I write this post, my new puppy Albert “Albear” is curled up on my lap after his vaccinations. I’m breathing in the puppy smell. He’s 5 months old. I’m not sure when that scent goes away, but for now, I’m loving it.

The important thing about a new puppy
is that he loves you
without conditions.
He will also jump on you
and joyfully chase a tennis ball.
Sometimes he poops on the floor,
but he’s “just a puppy.”
Always cute. Intoxicating smell.
Barks at new bowls, trash bins, and the noise
of the printer. Curiously nibbles
on weeds, follows butterflies, sniffs at kittens.
But the most important thing about a new puppy
is he loves you, no matter what.

Five month old Albert with his favorite tennis ball.

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , | 17 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Roundup and Gratitude

July 18, 2024 by margaretsmn

The Poetry Friday Roundup this week is here. Scroll down to enter your links into the inLinkz party.

My summer is quickly coming to an end. I will be returning to teaching on August 1st (yes, it gets earlier every year). Two weeks left, but as every teacher knows, you must start working on plans and classroom arrangement much earlier. So today I am here with a praise poem from my summer.

Today, I Praise
(after Angelo Geter)

Today I will praise
the sharp teeth of a puppy
how he nips without force
licking my hand
with scented puppy breath.

I swoon over
a Gulf fritillary in the garden
flitting zinnia to zinnia,
how her wild orange gown
opens to the light.

Today, I praise
fairy tale enchantment
a stage of costumed pretenders,
how they rise above us
sing and dance a trance of fantasy.

Praise summer rain.
Praise magic of evening’s glow.
Praise long shadows of draping oaks.
Praise songs we sing because we know all the words.

Praise words.
Praise songs.
Praise me.
Praise you.

Margaret Simon, draft

Gulf Fritillary on a zinnia blossom, photo by Shelli Helms.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!Click here to enter


Posted in Gratitude, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged , | 33 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Catching Raindrops

July 17, 2024 by margaretsmn

Garden child (photo by Margaret Simon)

This garden statue was a gift from a friend for my birthday last year (or the year before?) She is nestled in a space with succulents. This morning there was rain and I was drawn to how she seems to be catching raindrops with her upturned face. Maybe she can inspire a small poem in you today.

Angel
face upturned
glittered with raindrops
holding morning clouds with
Hope

Today I chose to use the elfchen form. The directions for this form:

Consider writing today. Leave a small poem in the comments. Respond to other writers with encouragement.

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments »

Poetry Friday: You Must Know

July 12, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge.

July came in with a poem from Grateful Living. A poem I know and love. One I’ve carried in my pocket often for Poem in your Pocket Day. It’s likely one that you know as well, Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye. In my notebook I wrote a riff on the line “You must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.”

You Must Know

Sorrow buries itself
in the marrow of your bones,
zaps your energy
so all you can do is stop, rest, breathe
slow and steady.

Then you emerge, shedding
a former skin
to feel Love
as the deepest thing,
how sorrow lights on a fence post
to show you
what is true.
All a part of you.

Margaret Simon, draft

Dragonfly by Julie Burchstead

Posted in Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments »

Spiritual Thursday: I Have a Voice

July 11, 2024 by margaretsmn

Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town is rounding up this month’s Spiritual Journey posts.

I have been singing all of my life. I can remember being in a church choir when I was a teenager. We performed “Godspell” which is still one of my favorite musicals. I was never up front as a soloist but confidently following the alto line. I’ve been in our church choir for 30+ years.

Recently I’ve felt a weakness in my voice. Sometimes nothing comes out or notes crack. I never know when it’s going to happen, but I wanted to conquer it. Get my voice back. I made a play list on my phone I titled “I Have a Voice.” It includes songs like “A Beautiful Noise” by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile and “Little Voice” by Sara Bareilles. I’ve been singing along for a year. My brother, who is a professional musician, told me I just needed to sing more often. He suggested, “Set a time of the day that you will sing, like on your way to school.”

In the spring, I received an email from our local community theater offering voice lessons for the summer. I thought, “why not?” Lanie, my voice teacher, is young and talented. I’ve watched her in the theater’s musicals and she has a voice. What I didn’t know when I started was whether or not she could teach. She can! We’ve worked together for four weeks. Most of all I have gained confidence. I still have instances when my voice catches, but now I know not to panic. I relax my throat and move on.

Last Sunday I sang a solo of one of the songs on my playlist, “Little Things with Great Love” written by Audrey Assad. Her songs are poetic. They are not traditional, but they are thoughtful and deeply spiritual.

I was able to tell Lanie with a glimmer of tears in my eyes that I was proud of my performance. I don’t plan any kind of career in singing. I just want to “make a beautiful noise” and perhaps touch others with my voice. I think I accomplished that on Sunday.

Posted in Gratitude, Spiritual Growth, Writing | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Sidewalk Monk

July 10, 2024 by margaretsmn

Franciscan monk feeds the pigeons, Dubrovnik by Molly Hogan

My fellow Inkling (writing group) poet-teacher Molly Hogan went on a fabulous trip to Croatia, Slovenia, and Ireland. She blessed me and all her Facebook friends with lots of amazing photos. I was compelled by this photo. It takes me back to my favorite musical of all time, The Sound of Music. It also reminds me of a kind monk I knew growing up. He was my father’s best friend. His Benedictine name was Brother Anselm. He was witty and wise and an incredible organist.

My poem is a narrative free verse. I wanted to tell a story. I have fond memories of visiting Bill (Brother Anselm) at his monastery in St. Benedict, Louisiana.

Consider writing with me today. Leave a small poem in the comments. Remember this is a drafting space, so kindly write encouraging responses to other writers.

Brother Anselm

Walking into the woods
surrounding the Abbey,
Brother Anselm and I spoke freely.
Our walk was a prayer.

We talked of nothing in particular
as his brown robes swished and swayed,
a comforting blanket of humble access
to a stream of still water.

He reminded me that the holy
is not always quiet. Our voices
echoed among the tall pines,
laughter shaking the ground.

He told me that time was our friend.
Use it wisely and with intention.
Bless the forest with reverent presence
and God will grant you peace.

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments »

Slice of Life: New Puppy

July 9, 2024 by margaretsmn

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

Once you’ve had the perfect dog, it’s hard to decide to do it all again. We lost Charlie in September. He was 16 years old. He had been the best dog ever. And we’ve had our share. Charlie was a mix of schnauzer and poodle, a schnoodle. One thing we knew for sure is that we wanted a poodle mix.

We started looking at rescue sites, but my husband thought it best to get a puppy that you knew the history of. We found a breeder of miniature golden doodles within driving distance and set out two weeks ago on an adventure. The girl with the auburn fur was the one we thought we wanted, but, of course, our qualifications for a calm puppy were utmost. She was a wild child. We asked about other pups from the litter. When we held the little black male, we knew he was the one.

Finding a name was another matter altogether. We each had our own ideas. I made a list of P-names: Prince, Pippin, Paco, Pax, Puck, Pepper, Pablo. Nothing felt quite right. I posted a photo on Facebook with the message that we were still trying to name him. My friend Mary wrote “He’s got that Albert (Einstein) look. You could call him Al.” Then Susan responded, “if you’ll be my bodyguard…you can call me Al. Total Jeff Simon vibe.” It made me laugh like this new puppy has made me laugh. So we landed on Albert, but we are using the French pronunciation “Al-Bear”.

Albert is asleep on my lap as I write this post, exactly as he should be.

Albert looks out toward the bayou contemplating the buzzing of cicadas.

Of course, a new puppy has its moments of frustration. Potty training is at the top of that list right now. But this will come with time and consistency on our part. Today will be his first grooming. I wish I could bottle the puppy smell for you. There is nothing quite like it.

Albert with a pacifier chew toy he loves because it squeaks and bounces.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged , , | 9 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Blessing for Travel

July 5, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Jan at Bookseed Studio

July is a popular travel month. Heidi challenged the Inklings to write a postcard poem for this first Friday. “Write a short postcard poem with choice details of your vacation/holiday/getaway/escape location and activities. Conclude with “Wish you were here” or some variation!”

Unfortunately, we had to cancel a Europe trip due to my husband’s injury. I have been perusing social media and pondering the travel of my friends. This is not a healthy situation. I’m having bouts of travel envy.

A friend recommended John O’Donohue’s interview on the On Being podcast. O’Donohue died young in 2008. His interview with Krista Tippett was inspiring. I was especially attracted to his poem “Beannacht” found in his final book: To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings and used it as a mentor poem for my poem “Blessing for Travel”

Links to Inklings:

Linda @A Word Edgewise
Catherine @Reading to the Core
Molly @Nix the Comfort Zone
Mary Lee @Another Year of Reading
Heidi @my juicy little universe

Posted in Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Spiral Stair

July 3, 2024 by margaretsmn

My grandson Thomas “Tuffy” (age 4.5) is visiting. I took him to get ice cream at a shopping center near the bayou. There is a gazebo that has a bayou lookout up a small metal spiral staircase. I was worried about going up and coming down, but Tuffy and I did it. Tuffy did it over and over, coming carefully down by sitting on each stair.

Photo by Thomas

I had my phone out to take pictures. When I gave it to him, he knew exactly what to do. Some of the shots were selfies of his face in different expressions. But one of them missed his head altogether and became an intriguing photo of the spiral stair. This made me think of the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…) that mathematically makes a spiral. Today I am echoing Langston Hughes’ line “Life is no crystal stair.”

Life
can
be a
spiral stair
anchored gracefully
to solid ground–imagining
a future full of open sky, pathway to purpose.
Margaret Simon, draft

Please respond with your own small poem. You can use the Fib form if you choose. Leave encouraging comments to other writers.

Posted in This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments »

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