Welcome! In celebration of Earth Day and book birthdays, we are channeling our creativity and writing a poem a day for seven days based on prompts from our books. Join us! There will be prizes!
A quick note. Thank you for the restacks. Restacking in SubStack helps to promote the featured authors, their platform, and their books. I invite you to request the featured authors’ books at your library and leave a positive review wherever you elevate books. This year, my one little word is discover. ❤️ I am thrilled that this little challenge has delivered a plethora of poet discoveries for me! Thanks for being here for the planet with poetry.
This SubStack and "restacking" are all new approaches to me. I even had to look up the meaning of ICYMI. I was reading it as "I see why am I". HA! Anyway, I am all about cheering others on and will do my best to learn how to navigate. Cheers!
Reading the comments here and see that "kenning" is not just a word! I so appreciate this challenge for all the learning it's bringing to my life. Thank you! Joyce, you inspired me to try one! And yesterday I tried writing a haiku! First time since High School! Life can't get any better than this!
Hello everyone! Thanks to the vet and your well wishes, the cat is on the mend. After reading so many beautiful Haiku poems, I felt inspired to finally write my first one, so here goes!
Irene, so lovely hear from you. Weathervaning! You have a gift for turning nouns into unexpected, wild verbs. I fear my poem today might fall into the category of “expected,” but it’s a work in progress!
Irene, thank you for the light-hearted poem and inspiration. My thoughts went in the opposite direction as I thought of all the animals lost over time and those who have fallen to our carelessness in nurturing this amazing Earth.
Thanks, Kathryn. I’m happy to report that the La Brea Tar Pits paleoecologists, paleontologists, and paleobotanists have unearthed evidence of climate change that gives us ways to consider how to go forward with the future of our planet in mind.
I'm loving reading everyone's poems and wish I had more time to comment on every single one. If I hearted your poem, I read it and enjoyed it. Thank you EVERYONE for making this challenge so rich, so full of imagination, creativity and heart.
Thank you Irene for the permission to be quirky. I love the sense of freedom that gives us all.
Solo beach walks are also fantastic! I think we all have a collection of "supposed to be(s)" that tug at our hearts. But...maybe instead of the "supposed to be(s)" but by letting some of them (mostly) go we make room for the unexpecteds!
I have a teenager home for Take your Child to Work Day, so I had a (mildly unwilling, but accepted the cost of earning a day off of school) partner in poetry this morning!
Irene, I love your poem, and am so looking forward to the class! Thank you for your post-you are an inspiration! This has been such a fun week! Thanks to Joyce, Cindy, and all the poets!
Mona, I always love reading your work, and I want more Alayna! She sounds like a character for a verse novel!! I especially love the comparison to fireworks. We all know this kid and wish we knew how to reach her. xo
Thank you, Irene, for your words of inspiration! I'm really enjoying this challenge (and it came at the perfect time for me. I've been allowing my to-do list to take over my life lately, but this challenge is giving me permission to play with my thoughts and words every morning, and I'm loving it! THANK YOU Joyce and Cindy for providing this wonderful space!) Here's today's poem:
Oh, I'm so excited to celebrate with all the poets today and for Irene's inspiration to wake up our poetry! I also signed up for the Inked Voices class next Monday.
I also want to thank everyone for the wonderful responses to my haiku post yesterday! You made my day brighter and more creative.
Indeed, time is fluid. LOVE your last line. While walking along the beach yesterday, I worked on a haiku. It was a kind of meditation. Thank you for your inspiration.
A quick note. Thank you for the restacks. Restacking in SubStack helps to promote the featured authors, their platform, and their books. I invite you to request the featured authors’ books at your library and leave a positive review wherever you elevate books. This year, my one little word is discover. ❤️ I am thrilled that this little challenge has delivered a plethora of poet discoveries for me! Thanks for being here for the planet with poetry.
This SubStack and "restacking" are all new approaches to me. I even had to look up the meaning of ICYMI. I was reading it as "I see why am I". HA! Anyway, I am all about cheering others on and will do my best to learn how to navigate. Cheers!
Learning… it’s the best.
Thank you, Irene for inspiring present and future fun.
Joyce, thank you for inviting me and for creating such a warm space for poets. Happy National Poetry Month!!
Irene, I totally agree with letting yourself get weird! It's something I want to work on once I have more time just to write for fun.
As for my poem for today, I wanted to write something a little more positive today, and this is what came to mind!
THE LEAP
I freeze on the brink of the future
and think,
"What if this goes wrong?"
I think of the pain, the shame,
the regret. And yet...
What if this goes right?
Don't think.
Don't think.
Don't think.
Just
LEAP.
Positive-leaning: A Kenning
Future-leaning
Fun-loving
Whisker-watching
Wonder-walking
Positive-positioning
Poem-empowering
Joyce, kennings are so fun! "Whisker-watching" stands out to me! I have a picture book coming from PRH that's ALL kennings. :)
Oh my! I will grab this as fast as it flies into bookstores.
I just learned a new word.
I must try a kenning. Delightful!
Need more wonder walking this week.
I am learning so much - new authors and poets, new poetic forms and devices. Thank you SO MUCH to Joyce and Cindy!
Reading the comments here and see that "kenning" is not just a word! I so appreciate this challenge for all the learning it's bringing to my life. Thank you! Joyce, you inspired me to try one! And yesterday I tried writing a haiku! First time since High School! Life can't get any better than this!
Life is good.
LOVE your word "kenning"! And your view of future as leaning forward. Very positive.
Love it! Definitely need to play with kennings, too!
Oh, teaching me another new form, Joyce! Love this.
Thank you for this kenning poem. I can’t wait to try it:)
I love the message in your poem - if I could "Like" it more than once, I would. This would make a great poster!
Aw, thanks Sara!
YES! Love your energy. I've learned to appreciate the concept of daring to fail.
yes yes yes! True for so many moments in life... or even everytime you face a blank sheet of paper.
I love the idea of thinking about not thinking, Danielle!
I have to think myself into not thinking on a regular basis. 😅
Yes. Keep moving.
Danielle, your comment got removed by accident. I don't know how to get it back.
Stuck is one “those” words. But we don’t stay stuck when we soak up what others share.
Over here leaping with you!
Let's do it!
Love this positive leap into the future, Danielle.
Thank you Rose!
So powerful, Danielle. The repetition and push-pull between fear and possibility really lands. LEAP! 💖
Thank you, Steena!
Powerful words! Just do it! What if INDEED it does go as right as this poem!
Thank you Kathy!
Hello everyone! Thanks to the vet and your well wishes, the cat is on the mend. After reading so many beautiful Haiku poems, I felt inspired to finally write my first one, so here goes!
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Frozen ocean thaws
as water rises swiftly.
Swim, little fish. Swim.
The assonance resonates. Congrats! THE FUTURE IS NOW is lovely.
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I was unsure and worried!
I’m glad your cat is on the mend.
Love all the "w" sounds!
You can do this ! Keep going! Assonance isn't easy. Lovely! Swim, little fish!
Thank you so much for your support! I really appreciate it.
Wow!
LOVE your last line, Nicole. The urgency is so poignant. Glad your kitty is doing better.
Thank you so much, it's greatly appreciated.
I feel like we are all little fish sometimes
You understand and you're correct! 🤗
In this piece, water is incredibly powerful, making humans the little fish.
Irene, so lovely hear from you. Weathervaning! You have a gift for turning nouns into unexpected, wild verbs. I fear my poem today might fall into the category of “expected,” but it’s a work in progress!
.
Seasons Change
.
Spring blossoms.
Summer shines.
Fall fades.
Winter nips –
frozen.
.
Spring clings.
Summer blaze-rages.
Fall falters.
Winter drips…
future?
Such vivid choices—I can see it
This is very clever-love how the words "flip" as the seasons change in ways we didn't expect. Nice work!
Love that you show the two perspectives and how you used both words to end each stanza.
Oooh, Tracey, that ending is haunting! I love all the sounds in that last stanza. Brava!
Irene, thank you for the light-hearted poem and inspiration. My thoughts went in the opposite direction as I thought of all the animals lost over time and those who have fallen to our carelessness in nurturing this amazing Earth.
A cinquain:
Frozen
watching, melting
our future unfolded
hearts held pain and uncertainty
bitter
Thanks, Kathryn. I’m happy to report that the La Brea Tar Pits paleoecologists, paleontologists, and paleobotanists have unearthed evidence of climate change that gives us ways to consider how to go forward with the future of our planet in mind.
Goodness and love will prevail. That is an encouraging bit of news to brighten my day.
Your cinquain is contemplative, Kathryn. Thank you.
Thank you for your cinquain, Kathryn! That "bitter" is a knife at the end.
It is hard to watch, but we are poets for the planet, Kathryn! TY.
Thanks for the "whisker-twitch moment" this morning, Irene. Here's a tanka for yesterday's Earth Day:
Live in the present
in ways that nurture nature.
Be considerate
in caring for the planet.
Earth's future depends on it.
Rose, I’m on it!
Hello dear Rose! Such good advice! xo
We all need to be mindful - your poem is presently needed
I'm loving reading everyone's poems and wish I had more time to comment on every single one. If I hearted your poem, I read it and enjoyed it. Thank you EVERYONE for making this challenge so rich, so full of imagination, creativity and heart.
Thank you Irene for the permission to be quirky. I love the sense of freedom that gives us all.
My poem for today:
a west coast dweller,
I may own skates
but a frozen canal
or an icy lake
is only a dream
gliding,
sliding,
subsiding,
as I await
and maybe
relocate
in favour of
future winters
when I'll be adorned
in warm wool,
surrounded by
snowflakes.
by Cindy Mackey
Thanks for sharing a west coast perspective, Cindy!
Day 4 : Frozen Future
In the future
There were supposed to be daily beach walks
And noisy holidays with all our kids together
A flat in London
A beach shack in America.
Me writing and drawing
You tinkering
Everything making sense.
You might eat less meat
But probably not.
You might watch less football.
But probably not.
But….there would be daily beach walks.
And people would say. “So glad you two finally got together.”
In the future.
When it’s less complicated.
No longer frozen in the friend zone.
Wow! I'm so struck by the "supposed to be[s]". Tugs at my heart. I relate to beach walks; mine are with myself.
Solo beach walks are also fantastic! I think we all have a collection of "supposed to be(s)" that tug at our hearts. But...maybe instead of the "supposed to be(s)" but by letting some of them (mostly) go we make room for the unexpecteds!
frozen in the friend zone...ouch! This speaks so clearly to expectations and hope and disappointment. Very relatable! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Reading it back it feels a little like a Nancy Meyers inspired movie in one short poem! A romcom of a poem. LOL
Wake up the world with your poetry! What a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing.
Here is my waking-up poem:
Polar caps collapse.
Climate change, rearrange.
Melting frozen tundra
What treasures are down under?
What will the future uncover?
Treasured Earth’s future is ever-evolving.
Love the assonance and consonance throughout!
Oh, I really love the mystery (which I choose to read as HOPE and BRILLIANCE) at the end. Thank you!
I'm enjoying the internal rhyme!
Irene, I’m looking forward to your Inked Voices course. I can tell I will be checking out your website often. Thank you!
Here’s my untitled poem for the day.
Rocks are our crystal balls.
Fossils, time machines.
Unlock secrets of the past
For keys to the future.
LOVE this! I'm going to memorize this for when I walk on the beach. Rocks know a lot more than we give them credit for.
Love these well-chosen metaphors!
Gail, I will see you there. :)
Gail, so nice to meet you here! I love the magical comparisons here -- crystal balls and time machines. Fresh!
Thanks for the tip Irene! This week has help reignite my poetry writing and I look forward to exploring yours.
My first attempt at today's poem is not quirky, perhaps my mood will be different later.
Here's my first attempt at an etheree.
Another Earth Day
By Sara Dykstra
I
often
feel helpless.
Year after year
a call for action -
Save the Planet they cry.
Frozen progress at the top,
grass roots efforts keep marching on.
When lawmakers won't put the earth first
what will the future bring for our children?
We will be tenacious and make the impact for our kids.
Sara, your words will surely resonate with many. It's hard sometimes, isn't it? But together we are powerful, as this stream of poetry will attest!
Very, very thoughtful. Grassroot rise, Sara! You've inspired me to try an etheree!
I have a teenager home for Take your Child to Work Day, so I had a (mildly unwilling, but accepted the cost of earning a day off of school) partner in poetry this morning!
Fight for the Future
By Lauri C. Meyers
The future is melting,
and I sit here frozen,
trapped on a path
I wouldn’t have chosen.
But when we join hands,
my senses come back.
By acting together,
we’ll get back on track.
LOVE this, Lauri. So true. Community and caring will get us there.
Lauri, you had me at the first line...and then the second. Wonderful!
Irene, I love your poem, and am so looking forward to the class! Thank you for your post-you are an inspiration! This has been such a fun week! Thanks to Joyce, Cindy, and all the poets!
Alayne
She's frozen in our mind.
Always in trouble, in fights, in tears.
We let the teachers handle her.
She was like fireworks,
and we didn't want to get burned.
On the spring talent show stage,
she sang about swirling storms.
By the time she raised her arms
and belted out, "Let it go,"
we all had tears in our eyes:
Alayne wasn't a beast,
she was a singing angel!
When the song ended,
we stood and clapped,
and went into our future.
See you there, Mona!
Joyce, just found out I have a conflict with Irene’s class on Monday but will catch the replay! I will miss seeing you live!
We will meet someday. It's in the cards.
Mona, I always love reading your work, and I want more Alayna! She sounds like a character for a verse novel!! I especially love the comparison to fireworks. We all know this kid and wish we knew how to reach her. xo
Irene, your kind words and encouragement mean so much! Thank you! xo
Mona, you have a gift for bringing your poem students right into our hearts.
Annette, that is such a lovely compliment that I will treasure. Thank you!xo
Thank you, Irene, for your words of inspiration! I'm really enjoying this challenge (and it came at the perfect time for me. I've been allowing my to-do list to take over my life lately, but this challenge is giving me permission to play with my thoughts and words every morning, and I'm loving it! THANK YOU Joyce and Cindy for providing this wonderful space!) Here's today's poem:
The Choice
By Rebecca Gardyn Levington
I have to make a choice now.
As usual, I’m frozen.
No matter what, I’m certain I’ll
regret the choice I’ve chosen.
It’s how it always happens:
Two options. Both okay.
I weigh the pros and cons, but then
emotions lead the way.
You’ve GOT to do it THIS way,
but what if you did THAT?
The voices loudly bicker in
an unproductive chat.
Choices swirl inside me.
Round and round and round.
The indecision swallows me.
It feels like I may drown.
But no, I must remember
to breathe and say: “I’m strong!
Yes, I have two choices, but
that doesn’t mean one’s wrong."
And so, I’ll trust my instincts.
Deep down, I think I know
whatever choice I make will lead me
where I’m meant to go.
“Should” needs to be banned instead of books.
This poem resonates with me! I get caught in this cycle too. I feel like our poems for today complement each other nicely.
So lovely Rebecca and so much what I am feeling right now!
Oh, I'm so excited to celebrate with all the poets today and for Irene's inspiration to wake up our poetry! I also signed up for the Inked Voices class next Monday.
I also want to thank everyone for the wonderful responses to my haiku post yesterday! You made my day brighter and more creative.
with action
a chain reaction
of passion
can mend Mother Earth
the future's not frozen
not yet
fortunately! thanks for the hope at the end.
Kathy, I love the "not yet" ending. It gives hope, yet urgency to do something. Thank you for sharing!
YES. Love this conclusion, Kathy!
Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Indeed, time is fluid. LOVE your last line. While walking along the beach yesterday, I worked on a haiku. It was a kind of meditation. Thank you for your inspiration.
Aww, inspiration begets inspiration! TY.