Poetry Friday: April 22
This week’s Poetry Friday host is at Reflections on the Teche.
Haiku of the Week
spring winds catch blossoms
peel back their pale pink petals
unveil hidden stars
–Photo and Haiku by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
What I’m Reading
The Lost Language by Claudia Mills (Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House, 2021)
Claudia Mills teaches at Hollins, where I got my MFA. When I found out she wrote a novel-in-verse, I knew I had to read it. With a main character named Bumble and best friend named Lizard, I was sold. This is a friendship story where two girls try to figure out how to save an endangered language. But it also doesn’t hold back from tackling anxiety, depression, alcoholism, and parents who struggle with hard things.
As a writer of poetry myself, I particularly loved how she uses titles to help set up the poem and do some of the setup.
19 Comments
Laura Purdie Salas
Ooh, I love the peeling back and the revealing–gorgeous, Marcie!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Laura!
janice scully
I love the use of hidden stars as a metaphor for the inside of the flower. Beautiful and surprising.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Janice!
kareneastlund4898
Gorgeous photo and haiku. Thank you!!!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
Linda Mitchell
ooooooh! I see stars–even if they are hidden. And, I think I need to read this book! Hollins has a very special place in my heart. Adding it to my virtual TBR pile.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, you’ll enjoy this MG novel-in-verse! Hollins seems to have that effect on people. 🙂
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Another beautiful haiku, Marcie! I love how you found the hidden gift of another natural beauty inside the flower; just as one is waning, it gives us another.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
So true! Thank you!
Linda
Beautiful!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Linda Baie
I saw this & loved it online, Marcie, hope everyone knows to look at the beauty when blossoms “peel back”.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you!
Catherine Flynn
This is lovely, Marcie. Those petals do “unveil hidden stars.”
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you!
Michelle Kogan
Beautiful star-blossom filled haiku Marcie–and intriguing book, thanks!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, your image poem is a simply lovely combination of photo and thought. May I please add this to my Poetryliscious Gallery of Artistic Expressions (My NPM 22 project.)? I will unveil the gallery during May.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Sure, that’s fine, Carol.