Reflections on the Teche

Poetry Friday: You are Here

August 2, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is gathered today by Laura Purdie Salas who has a new picture book **Line Leads the Way.** Visit her site for all the poetry goodness.

The first Friday of each month is reserved for the Inklings challenge. This month Catherine tuned us in to Ada Limon’s project You are Here. Her question is What would you write in response to the landscape around you?

Last month I participated in Ethical ELA’s Open Write. Mo Daley prompted us to write a type of found poem called “X Marks the Spot.” The idea was to take any text and draw an x across the page, then use the words to make a new poem.

I look forward to trying this prompt with my students soon. Having a bank of words to use in a poem can be just the push you need. “You are here” is often marked by an X. I used a poem found in the American Scholar magazine titled “The Bougainvillea Line” by Ange Mlinko.

This summer our landscape has been saturated by rain. This is better than drought, to be sure, and my garden has loved it. This poetry exercise stretched me to find a new place to land. The found words are in italics.

Summer Soaked in Rain

Driving the back roads which
pass by train tracks which carve ditches
of untended weeds, we breathe the familiar
lime-lit gravel there
swarming with wild volunteers.

Illuminated porches bark with fervor,
tomatoes once sweet, pock-marked
by bird beaks.

I think of my own garden
full and overgrown, untrained vine
of bougainvillea stretching underfoot
with poor allegiance
to the government of gardens
dissolving in rained-on glory.

Margaret Simon, draft

In my butterfly garden, Albert chases a Gulf fritillary. Photo by Margaret Simon

To see how other Inklings responded to this prompt, go to these links:

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 #youareherpoetry, Ada Limón, Ethical ELA, Inklings challenge | 14 Comments »

Spiritual Journey: Pause a While

August 1, 2024 by margaretsmn

Carol Varsalona is gathering Spiritual Journey posts. She chose the topic of Pause.

Pause. Be still. Take a break. Breathe.

I hear a mantra in Carol’s call for us to reflect on the word “Pause.” My summer has been a time for pause, a time to reflect and rest. Here I am on the first day of August awake before the sun. Teachers report back to school today. My pausing time is at an end.

So especially today, I want to remind myself that even though I will be in the classroom among the hubbub of school activities, bells, schedules, carpool, crazy, I can still make space for pause.

A pause can be small.
Stop to notice.
Breathe in a peaceful moment.
Look at a child.
Rest in their smile.
Pause is a peaceful word,
the sound of silence
in the midst of my day.
As I drive the country roads,
I can pause to notice the clouds,
how they drift without direction
or concern.

Soften your eyes. Notice where your body
feels pain or anxiety. Speak to it.
Honor the feeling, then release it.
You can do this, I tell myself.
You can be calm, open to what the day
offers. Rest in the knowledge that all
will be well. All will be well.

Posted in Gratitude, Spiritual Growth, Writing | Tagged pause, spiritual journey | 6 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Seneca Falls Bridge

July 31, 2024 by margaretsmn

Bridge in Seneca Falls, NY, photo by Molly Hogan

I have traveled this summer vicariously through my friend and fellow Inkling Molly Hogan. She recently went to Seneca Falls with her sisters. She shared her trip on her Facebook page here.

This photo appealed to me for many reasons, the play of metal to shadows, and my curiosity about the placement of bells. When I googled it, there is, of course, a story. The bridge was made famous by “It’s a Wonderful Life”. The bells are placed in honor of lost loved ones.

I started today by trying a triolet form. I came up with a long list of words rhyming with ringing. Thus a failed triolet became this offering.

Echoes of bells
ringing
send my heart
winging
memories of you
lingering
a shadow of love
clinging

Margaret Simon, draft

Write a small poem in the comments and kindly respond to others.

Posted in This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged Molly Hogan, Seneca Falls Bridge, small poems, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 13 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Summer Poem Swap

July 26, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Marcie Atkins at her blog.

I am always touched when someone from the Poetry Friday community takes the time to get to know me and send me a personalized poem. The Summer Poetry Swap is organized by Tabatha Yeatts. I received a package from Tricia Stohr Hunt with delightful surprises. She sent a postcard of Capitol Street in downtown Jackson, MS. from 1944. My father would have been 11 years old and living a block away.

The poem she wrote has a lovely repetition. She said in her note that the “people” in the poem are me.

Musings on Mississippi

I traveled through
Mississippi once
in a rented car, speeding
from Mobile to NOLA
in the dark
there were only twenty-four hours
of liberty

I was in the dark
about Mississippi
familiar only with
minutiae learned in elementary school
Capital: Jackson
Nickname: The Magnolia State
Abbreviation: MS
Fun Fact: birthplace of Elvis

Minutiae learned in elementary school
tell an incomplete story
I know the stereotypes
the ugly bits of history
but it’s the people
that interest me
their lives, their stories

People interest me
the ones with big hearts
who wear their love
loud and proud
love for the land
love for poetry and music
love for the beauty of the world
for this place called home
and every living thing

From Tricia Stohr-Hunt

Tricia personalized her gift even more with handmade items, a letter-block print of an excerpt from Naomi Shihab Nye’s “Valentine for Ernest Mann” and a lavender folded book including a window to her original print art. Her gift was overflowing with creativity and inspiration.

This week I wrote with Ethical ELA’s Open Write. On Wednesday, sadly the last day for this month, Mo Daley prompted us to write a dodoitsu poem, a Japanese limerick of 7, 7, 7, 5 syllable count. My poem was dedicated to this supportive online community. I am feeling the love.

A Community of Poets

Poems drift across this room
and hide within our voices.
Pressing forth among like minds–
Cheers to word choices.
Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged dodoitsu, Jackson MS, Summer Poetry Swap 2024, Tricia Stohr-Hunt | 9 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: First Fig

July 24, 2024 by margaretsmn

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 #poemsofpresence, septercet, small poems, summer poems | 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 #minigoldendoodle, Ethical ELA, The Important Book | 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 Poetry Friday Roundup, Praise poem | 33 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Catching Raindrops

July 17, 2024 by margaretsmn

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 elfchen poetry form, garden art, Poems of presence, small poems, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 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 free verse poem, grateful living, grief poem, kindness, Naomi Shihab Nye | 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.