Poetry Friday Adventures in Books and Bonus Poems
Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone is our host for Poetry Friday this week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
Adventures in Books
While I haven’t been traveling to as many parks–school has started up, I did get to do some pretty awesome book events this week.
I got to meet Kirsten Williams Larson for the first time in real life. She was doing a book event at Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum to promote THE FIRE OF STARS. It’s only about 20 minutes away from me (and a very cool museum if you’re ever in the area).
On Saturday, I went to the National Book Festival in D.C. It was my first time in person since 2019. It’s a little earlier this year than usual, but I was able to make it my say-goodbye-to-summer book event.
I got to meet Katey Howes, author of A POEM GROWS INSIDE YOU (and many, many other books), in real life for the first time.
You might recognize this art from Lisa Congdon, amazing artist and frequent picture book illustrator.
I also attended a session on nature poetry with Joy Harjo and Camille T. Dungy.
Dr. Carla Hayden mentioned, in her intro, that the Library of Congress will be getting all of Mary Oliver’s papers! You can imagine how I feel about that!
The session really made me think deeply about nature poetry and what is considered nature poetry. Of course, I also bought Ms. Dungy’s new book SOIL.
Poetry Friday Inspired Poems
Clunker
In June, Linda Mitchell posted some of her clunkers—lines she threw out.
I chose “I am no longer winsome to the sun” and created a poem with that title.
I Am No Longer Winsome to the Sun
He used to kiss me in the morning
to wake me—
maybe it’s him, maybe it’s me
but I no longer feel his warmth
through the blackout curtains
I strung up to block him.
Even when I walk outside
he doesn’t follow me anymore
shunned by sunscreen
I’ve lathered to avoid forced cut and burn.
Sometimes he finds me
when I perch on the deck in the late afternoon
soaking in his Vitamin D
and allow him to linger for just
a few minutes.
Draft © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Monotetra
Back in July the Poetry Sisters wrote and shared their Monotetras. It looked so hard (and their poems were soooo good)! Then Rose Capelli gave this assignment to the Nevermores. And I don’t hate it for my first attempt.
It reminded me of a quote I read by Richard Wilbur, Poet Laureate. He says
“Limitation makes for power…The strength of the genie comes of his being confined in a bottle.”
He used the words urge, release, peace, hiss, perch in one of his poems (not a monotetra). I borrowed those and rhymed with other words instead of the ones he used (with the exception of release and peace).
Here is my monotetra.
Summer’s Edge
My skin can tell when seasons merge,
no holding back, it’s time to splurge—
a walk at dawn, if there’s an urge—
a summer dirge, a summer dirge.
The sky is full of V-ing geese
acoustic birds will never cease,
they praise the sky for wing’s release—
the clouds grant peace, the clouds grant peace.
A hidden snake emits a hiss,
annoyed I’ve jostled his sun-bliss.
He slithers to a dark abyss—
leaf pile’s amiss, leaf pile’s amiss.
The forest soundscape rings of church
it’s holy reverence fills the birch,
on summer’s edge I want to perch—
for you I’ll search, for you I’ll search.
Draft © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Sealey Challenge
Haiku of the Week
milkweed waves her blooms
meadow buzzes with the news
bee swings by first
Haiku & Photo © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: June 11, 2023 at Huntley Meadows Park
Haiku Written: August 4, 2023
What I’m Noticing
A few weeks ago, my book club met on a very rain night on my porch. The next day everyone remarked about how many memories we had from our childhood about watching rain from porches and how that evening brought that back.
We discussed THE MUSIC SHOP by Rachel Joyce. I don’t know a lot about music. My husband likes to play the game in the car “Who’s singing this? What’s this band?” My answer is always, “I don’t know.” Despite my lack of musician recall, I really loved this book.
32 Comments
Linda Mitchell
What an experience…just reading this post. I too have memories of watching rain from porches. The scent of the rain, the scent of the damp wood and concrete and asphalt in summer…the refreshing feel of it all. I love what you did with that clunker! Oh, my goodness…you are having an affair with the sun. LOVE! I did not get to the National Book Festival this year. I overdid things in San Fran and am walking in a brace to immobilize a knee that’s gone beyond wobbly. I crave my younger knees! Thanks for the summer postcard and best of luck as we dive into the school year. I have a new administrator …and I’m going out on a limb here…I think it’s going to be a GREAT year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m so sorry you are starting out the year with a wobbly knee! The night before school last year, I sprained my ankle, so I know how that feels! The National Book Festival was much, much smaller this year than pre-pandemic.
Tabatha
You get around! Thanks for taking us with you. Your book club spread looks delicious!
I especially like the goose and snake stanzas of Summer’s Edge. Well done!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! Yes, I have been a busy one this summer, but with school starting, I’ll likely not be traipsing around having adventures nearly as much.
Tracey Kiff-Judson
I don’t know how you squeeze so much living out of every week! I especially love your poem, “I Am No Longer Winsome to the Sun.” It captures that love-hate relationship perfectly.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Tracey! My daily adventuring is done with school starting up, but I hope to be able to still do some fun things on the weekends.
Linda Baie
I love that you got to go to the Book Festival & “be” with different authors & illustrators. And I want to tell you that I’d love to perch on summer’s edge and never move! Your ‘clunker’ was a clever response to Linda’s line, would be a real delight to skin doctors, too, wouldn’t it? Hope your school year has started wonderfully, Marcie!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda! We welcome students tomorrow! So here we go!!!!
Laura Purdie Salas
Beautiful monotetra, Marcie–especially the final stanza!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Laura. I enjoyed writing it more than I thought I would. It’s a bit like a puzzle.
Janice scully
Such an inspiring post! First of all your charming “clunker” poem is no clunker. The sun is a fickle lover, but the “I” of poem shows control of the situation, simply allowing him to linger at the end. The monetra form is on my list to try. Love the repetition in the last line. Thanks for sharing the haiku and your challenge books.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I actually enjoyed the puzzle-like quality to the monotetra. Hope you enjoy it too!
Molly Hogan
I had all sorts of comments in mind–that gorgeous monotetra, the clunker creation, your fabulous poetry events, and then I read about the game your husband plays with you in the car. Did you hear me yelling, “Mine does that too! ” I’m also not blessed with musical recall, and I’m not nearly as fond of the game as my husband is. Well, he’s actually perpetually disappointed and astonished by what I can’t name, but he can’t seem to stop himself from asking. At any rate, I felt such solidarity! Thanks for another rich post.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets to play the unwinnable music game. 🙂 Ha!
Catherine Flynn
What a busy week! Thank you for sharing the Richard Wilbur quote. I’ve been feeling my limitations recently, so these words give me hope. All of your poems are lovely. I especially love Summer’s Edge and the repetition in the final line of each stanza. Well done!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
Denise Krebs
Marcie, wow, what a beautiful and rich post here full of lovely poetry. Your montetra to nice. I like how you found the rhyming families in the poem by Richard Wilbur. The clunker from Linda’s line is my favorite. Thanks for sharing these and other wonders today.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Denise!
Alan j Wright
You continue to gather gems at a rapid pace Marcie. I really enjoyed your clunker line poem. The use of metaphor ‘shines’ through. You have used the line so very effectively, delivering it a new vitality. Well done.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Alan!
Heidi Mordhorst
Marcie, I’m glad you got to enjoy the Book Festival–somehow I did not even know the date had been adjusted from the ususal Labor Day date…I would have been able to go! My friend and librarian from my most recent school attended the same session as you and kind of live-Tweeted it to me, is how I learned it was happening. Your two poems are something. You chose a great line from Linda and it’s a good counterpart to your monotetra with its melancholic feel. I love that last stanza.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, the National Book Festival date confused a lot of people. Next year it’s later in August. Not sure why it’s moving around. The nature poetry session was my favorite.
Mary Lee
Oh, my! Everything in this post — Joy Harjo AND Camille Dungy, the very clunker I chose this week for the Poetry Sisters’ Exquisite Corpse and the (WOW!) poem you wrote from it, your (WOW!) monotetra, and all of Mary Oliver’s papers going to the Library of Congress. Just…wow.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes to a lot of wow’s! 🙂 I am hopping over to your blog soon to read how you used Linda’s clunker. 🙂
Rose Cappelli
As always, there is so much goodness in this post. I love the poem you created from the clunker and your monotetra is wonderful, but, like Molly, what struck me most was the musical game. We call it “Who’s this?” and my husband has been playing it since forever. When my daughter was little she always gave the same answer – The Beatles – and was delighted the many times she was right. Everyone can beat me at it, but sometimes I manage to surprise them. I only attended the National Book Festival once, but I hope to get back there one of these years. Thanks for the pictures.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Ha! I’m not the only one trapped in a car playing an unwinnable game! 🙂 The National Book Festival has changed so much since the pandemic. I was still glad I got to go.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
What a week with rockstars of the writing world! Way to end your summer, Marcie!
I think last year when your book club met, you and a raven had a run-in 🙂
I have a husband who loves that music game too. Sometimes I have to warn people: “Don’t make eye contact!”
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! Last year it was a crow named Devon/Damon/Demon??! He was swiping food from the back deck. Luckily, he doesn’t come to the front porch. Sometimes a toad comes to visit on this porch. What is with all of the husbands and the music car game–so, so many people mentioned that in the comments. 🙂 HA!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, what a delightful post! There is so much to wonder about nature and you managed to move succinctly from one experience to another. I soaked in all the delight. This happening caught my eye: “I also attended a session on nature poetry with Joy Harjo and Camille T. Dungy.” That session must have been fabulous. Your haiku was fabulous both with a crisp photo and companion wording. Keep on bringing us the delights of nature in your travels.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Carol!
Michelle Kogan
Marcie, I’d like to perch on your “Summer’s Edge” poem and take it with me into fall, summer never lingers long enough for me. Thanks for this rich bevy of poetry, oh so cozy and delish looking book evening, and all your books, lovely post!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Michelle!