Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, tagged butterfly, Cathy Mills, ekphrasis, poetry on March 11, 2013| 11 Comments »
Slice of Life Challenge Day 11
Inner Faces by Cathy Mills
Inner Faces
If only I could see you in double,
inside and out,
transformed
like the wings of a butterfly
opening, welcoming,
letting me in.If only you could know my desire
to be your only mother,
the one who loves you most,
maybe you would honor me
with your presence
and let me in.If only our lives were connected
by a strong abdomen
we could share more than a name,
a recognition of two faces
mirrored and aware,
letting me in.
Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Spiritual Growth, tagged art, Cathy Mills, ekphrasis, poetry on February 19, 2013| 6 Comments »
Join the Tuesday Slice of Life
On Sunday, I went to an art opening at A&E Gallery. In this show, I knew some of the artists, and I took the time to talk to them about their work and their process. My simple question, “Tell me about your art,” usually leads to a long, fascinating story. I learn a great deal about the artist and what drives their work.
This piece drew my attention. I’ve known the artist, Cathy Mills, for many years. We were Writing Project teachers together, but we had fallen out of touch. When she told me about this piece, she talked about how it had started out as a tree and then became these heavenly women. After others stepped away, she said, “Can I tell you what is really going on in this piece? I lost my son a year ago.” She proceeded to tell me how the painting was healing to her. She feels at peace now. She knows her son is at peace. Teary-eyed, I asked if I could photograph the picture and write a poem about it. I sent her the poem by email, and she approved its publication here hoping it may help someone else who is struggling with grief.
Art by Cathy Mills
The Story
The flames ignite in her spine
growing to yellow gold. She can feel
her bones, every sinew, every nerve hot,
like her pulse, raging and fierce.She remembers the call at 2 AM.
She hears the nurse’s voice,
“We have your son here.”
She knew he was gone.With all the time she had, every arrest,
every hospital stay, every cry,
nothing could have saved him
from the fire. Now, peace risesin blue angels from the roots
of her mothering. These women announce
Joy, pronounce Glory.
Tell her that he is well.
All will be well.
Posted in Poetry Friday, tagged haiku, poetry, swamp on February 15, 2013| 11 Comments »
I.
Fog lingers with mist–
highway disappears from view:
keep the low lights on.
II.
Black and white spots graze
in fertile flat fields green–
cow-friends meeting.
III.
One road to same sky–
winter trees sleep in bare branches
showing their true selves.
IV.
Turn on a new playlist–
sun illuminates sprouting
swamp grass wildflowers.
Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Follow me on Twitter at @MargaretGSimon
Linda at Teacher Dance is hosting Poetry Friday.
Posted in Poetry, Teaching, tagged dogs, idioms, poetry on February 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
When my students write, I write. When we were playing with idioms the other day, I wrote this poem about my dog Charlie, who in all other respects is the perfect dog. For an interview with me and Charlie, go to Coffee with a Canine.
Charlie when he’s calm.
Calm Before the Storm
In the middle of the night
when all the doors are locked,
the lights are off, the scent
of dinner lingers in the air,
we sleep soundly, softly snoring.
Before the first lightning flashes,
before the sound of rolling thunder,
and well before the alarm clock rings,
Charlie whimpers, then cries,
and suddenly, an all out frightening bark
wakens the whole house.
Sure as the groundhog predicts
the coming of spring, lightning strikes,
the rain falls, thunder booms.
The storm is here.
Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, tagged Christmas cards, John Gibson, poetry, Salzburg Austria on January 29, 2013| 6 Comments »
John Gibson, artist
My parents went on a trip to Austria in March of 2004. On the train from Salzburg to Innsbruck, they took a photograph of this scene. My father did this pointillist drawing for his first in a series of Christmas cards. It proved to be one of the hardest to write about. The experience for them was magical, but when I think of this area of the world “Sound of Music” comes to mind. “The hills are alive…” and escaping Nazis. This scene is unblemished, yet the history scarred. Here is my attempt to capture this dichotomy.
Outside Salzburg
May we all find peace, joy, and hope in Christ’s love.From the train, snow-covered hills beckon
outside Salzburg. The whistle echoes.
Trees stand tall and barren.
Weary travelers stare in wonder.Somewhere in the distance,
a child is torn from his mother’s arms,
a beggar reaches out with empty hands,
Somewhere, a woman grieves for her lost lover.But here– on the road to Innsbruck–
a church glistens on the smooth,
unblemished snow, calling out
Let
there
be
peace.
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Posted in Poetry Friday, tagged blues, Christmas cards, John Gibson, poetry on January 4, 2013| 10 Comments »
Artwork by John Gibson, 2011
When I was growing up, I would watch my father draw. He loves to draw trees. And somehow, he sees more about trees than I see. I think an artist must see more than we see. He makes the trees come alive on the page.
As I work on my poetry project about my father’s art, I remember growing up in Mississippi on the banks of Purple Creek, playing in the woods, building forts and pretending to live in the wild frontier like Laura Ingalls Wilder. I remember hiking with a friend and choosing “our” own tree.
So I was thinking all these things, trees in art, growing up in Mississippi, and working on the craft of poetry when I came across a blues poem by Etheridge Knight that inspired a rhythm in me.
A Poem for Myself
I was born in Mississippi;
I walked barefooted thru the mud.
Born black in Mississippi,
walked barefoot through the mud…
This is my favorite poem that I have written so far. Sometimes you work on a poem over and over, and sometimes they just come. This one came, and I am grateful to my Creator for giving it to me.
Dance of the Trees
—Look at trees, think of God who comes to bring love.
I watch you watching trees.
I watch you watching those trees
outside your window in the loft.
If you could walk on the roof,
If you could walk out on that roof and touch them,
You could feel their hearts beating,
their hearts beating out the rhythm of the wind.
I watch you drawing the trees.
I watch you drawing those trees
in perfect chiaroscuro, shading just so
Just so they come alive and dance.
The trees dance in the moonlight
when you draw them.
When you draw them, God’s hand moves.
God’s hand is moving.
Matt is hosting Poetry Friday today.
Posted in Poetry Friday, tagged Christmas cards, John Gibson, poetry on December 28, 2012| 4 Comments »
Carol is hosting Poetry Friday today. Check it out.
Art work by John Gibson, 2006
Last week on Poetry Friday, Laura Purdi Salas wrote a triolet about icicles. Her poem inspired me to try the triolet form. I am working on writing poems to my father’s Christmas cards. Here is a triolet for his 2006 card. The epigraph is his greeting inside the card.
Listen
Listen for the music of angels
Songs of heaven come to you
in mourning tunes of doves.
An angel plays her trumpet; true
Songs of heaven come to you.
From towers, hear a cathedral tune
echo like a hymn one loves.
Songs of heaven come to you
in mourning tunes of doves.—Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, tagged Christmas, John Gibson, poetry on December 25, 2012| 9 Comments »
As usual, I am up early on Christmas morning. I woke up with the storm and now I am listening to the rain and cuddling with Charlie, my schnoodle who is afraid of storms. Soon the hustle and bustle of opening gifts and eating dinner with family will interrupt this silence. We need both, silence and noise.
Last night at the Christmas Eve service, we had quiet prayer and joyous hymns. I love singing at Christmas time because I know all the words and all the alto parts. Having all three girls home makes the house loud and busy. I love this, too.
But the quiet is where I find God. This early morning Christmas, I pray for the families of Sandy Hook victims. May they find peace. I remember those who are absent from our own family. And I pray that this day will fill our hearts with enough love to block out all the evil in this world.
I have given myself a writing challenge this season. My father has been creating a Christmas card each year for the last 9 years. I have the collection on display. I am attempting to write a poem for each one. Inside each card, he wrote a biblical message. I use this message as an epigraph.
John Gibson, 2008
Out of Egypt
“Out of Egypt I have called my Son.”Out of
the cool dark night
in the midst
of old tales,
myths of Egypt,
land of Kings,
I hear His voice–
a whisper–Go.
Take my Son,
Embrace hope.
Go.–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Read other Slice of Life writers at The Two Writing Teachers
Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, tagged Christmas, John Gibson, Mary, poetry on December 21, 2012| 4 Comments »
Heidi is hosting today.
Artwork by John Gibson, 2012
The light
circles
like a ripple in calm water.
Brighter
than morning sun,
this evening star beams
Illuminating
dust particles to dance
around his little head.
He nurses,
content and strong,
pulling my heart.
-Margaret Simon, all rights reserved.
Posted in Slice of Life, Teaching, tagged names, poetry, Sandy Hook on December 18, 2012| 8 Comments »
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April 14 Janet Fagel at Mainly Write
April 15 Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink
April 16 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem Farm
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April 19 Ramona at Pleasures from the Page
April 20 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading
April 21 Tanita at TanitasDavis.com
April 22 Patricia Franz
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April 24 Linda Kulp Trout at http://lindakulptrout.blogspot.com
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April 26 Michelle Kogan at: https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/
April 27 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
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April 29 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry
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