These days not many exciting things come into the mailbox. One of the thrills of summer is the Summer Poetry Swap. Two of the final swaps (organized by dear Tabatha Yeatts) overlapped and arrived close to the same day. My kitchen counter was dappled with cards and stickers and sweet poems.
Carol sent a poem she wrote in two voices, the two of us in our vocations side by side, along with a set of her original photo cards. Little did she know I needed this dose of confidence to start my new school year.
Tabatha, our poem swap organizer, sent a poem she wrote about a friend who thinks about writing. I do admit to having days like these when the notebook stays closed.
POSTPONED
by Tabatha Yeatts
When will she write in the notebook,
I wonder, the blank one engraved
Nina’s Adventures on the front?
Once my plans come to fruition, she says,
after my dreams come true,
when the good times begin.
How many stories has she already told?
The pet goat who played with dogs,
the thief she wrestled, the song she wrote
and translated into fifty languages, the love story,
its tragic end. Don’t they deserve a space
on the pages? No, no, she says,
once the adventures start.
When I see her, she regales me
with her storm-tossed ride,
but her pen is in a drawer
and the words turn away
from the pages,
settle everywhere
but there.
Thanks to all of the poem swappers this summer. It’s a small way of spreading poetry love.
Another way to spread poetry love is to put our new book on your to-be-bought list. I am proud to be a part of Words that Mend: The Transformative Power of Writing Poetry for Teachers, Students, and Community Wellbeing. The book has been a labor of love. It will be released on Sept. 2nd and will be available for free as a download or for print cost only on Amazon. Hop over to Kim Johnson’s post to see her poetic expression of excitement.
Reflections on the Teche 