Poetry Friday January 6, 2023: Word of the Year
Catherine at Reading to the Core has our roundup this week.
Word for 2022
Last year my words of the year were NATURE AND NURTURE (not versus). I knew I needed to spend more time out in nature and nurturing myself after a long time of teaching in a pandemic.
I did do this–reading about nature, writing haiku about nature, taking nature journaling classes at my local parks.
Word for 2023
This year’s word piggybacks a little bit on last year. My word for the year is NOTICE.
I want to:
- pay attention
- notice when my writing is working
- notice when my writing is not working
- slow down enough so that I can notice the world around me
- connect the dots
- savor
- look
- listen
What is your word of the year?
Haiku of the Week
winter wind
seed pod slips on
fur coat
Photo and Haiku © 2022 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: December 9, 2022 in my neighborhood
Haiku Written: December 16, 2022
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What I’m Reading
by Katherine Applegate
This book was the big seller at our book fair in December. I finally got a copy to read for myself over the break. This middle grade novel-in-verse has such lovely writing. I’m always intrigued when an author takes a real life situation or story and turns it into beautiful poetry.
26 Comments
Linda Mitchell
ooooooh! Notice is a great word. I’ve just read Odder and am listening to the audible version too. It’s so wonderful! I think it’s a wonderful read-aloud full of funny and tragic bits that all of us can relate to. My book club meets about it this week. I so enjoy your haiku journey. Thanks for your continued inspiration.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh I love listening on audio. Should try that with Odder!
Kay Jernigan McGriff
Notice is such a good word. And your haiku is such a good example of taking time to really look and notice.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! I hope to do more of that in 2023.
Bookseedstudio & JAN
Such an organic flow from nature nurture days to notice. You’ve got a noticeable 2023 Word.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thanks, Jan!
Ruth
Great word!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
Mary Lee
I’m excited to see how this word turns out for you this year. You strike me as a person who already does plenty of rich noticing, so what will come from a deeper dive? Good luck! Happy Noticing!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I am working on a special mostly-daily challenge for myself for noticing. I’m only a week and a half in, so we’ll see how it goes.
Carol Labuzzetta
Notice is a great word, Marcie. We all need to slow down and notice things more. I hope it works well for you this year. I’ve picked my word but not shared it yet with anyone publically. Unlike previous years when I really had to intentionally think about my OLW, this year, the word just came to me – and I thought, “that’s it!”
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, my words usually come to me and I realize it’s the right word. That’s what happened to me this year!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
You NOTICE everything, Marcie! This word fits you like a glove. Can’t wait to see where it will take you this year. We share the overlap of “slow down” in our words. Mine is “deeply” – In slowing down, I hope to absorb deeply all the words, all the moments, and be intentional and deep in my response. Looking forward to our poetry year together!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, I think notice and deeply are great words for poets!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, I am soaking in your word notice that fits so beautifully with my Be and Patricia’s deeply. It is going to be an interesting year finding a slow down pace to write. I look forward to your noticings to add clarity to my thoughts.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, we all picked great words!
Linda Baie
Odder is on my list, Marcie. Many are praising it as her best. I hope ‘notice’ brings you even more discoveries this year, but I am often love what you share & “notice” already. That furry seed pod is amazing, & it looks ‘windblown’ as you ‘noticed’. Have a good week ahead!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Linda!
Kathryn Apel
Oh! I think this is my fave of your image poems. This is simply delightful! Cosy and sweet. So glad you noticed. (I hope you also notice that it worked!🙃)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! It was one of those things that I noticed and had to go back and take a picture of it and see it twice!
Heidi Mordhorst
NOTICE is at the heart of what we do as writers, isn’t it? But when the pace picks up and productivity takes over, noticing, even if it’s happening, can fall away as we charge forward. Thanks for reminding me to remember this! Your photo and haiku of the furry pod, oh my.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Aww, thank you, Heidi!
Catherine Flynn
Yes to slowing down to notice more and connecting the dots! Thank you for reminding me to do the same! I love your photo and haiku. Is it a confused pussy willow? Looking forward to reading more about your noticings this year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I wish I knew what it was! It’s from a tree, but I haven’t been able to identify the tree (even using my Winter Trees field guide).
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