Poetry Friday: More in 2023
Join us for the Poetry Friday Roundup where Susan at Chicken Spaghetti is hosting.
More in 2023
Every quarter I do a reflection about my writing life. I think of what I want to NOT do anymore. I also think of what I’d like to do MORE of. At the end of the year, I think of that for the coming year. While sometimes thinking of adding MORE can be overwhelming, these are things that I think are doable and enriching.
MORE Nature
In 2022, I managed to take 10 nature journaling classes at local parks.
But then the summer hit, and I got COVID at ALA. It hit me harder than expected and it took me most of the summer to get back my stamina and be able to take walks again.
Just as I was feeling “normal” again, the night before school started, I fell down the steps in my basement and sprained my ankle. I was in a boot for weeks and then it took me until late October before I could walk without pain.
Then the time changed and it was dark within an hour of me getting off work.
All of that might seem like excuses for why I didn’t get outside more in the latter half of 2022, but now that I’m feeling better, I’m vowing to make being in nature more of a reality.
MORE Poetry
Last year, I really leaned into poetry, making it a part of a learning year and a part of my SHOW YOUR WORK efforts in 2022.
I did the Sealey challenge, sent poetry postcards, posted most weeks to Poetry Friday, read 3 poems a day, and wrote 300 haiku during my daily haiku practice.
I found the Poetry Friday community, the greater children’s literature poetry community, and my little poetry group The Nevermores, to be welcoming and nurturing and good for my poet’s soul.
I want more of that in 2023.
MORE Libraries
It might seem odd for a librarian to want to be in libraries MORE, but I do want that. Even though I spend all of my time in a school library, I love to write in libraries–not in mine, of course, there’s no time. But I love writing in university and public libraries. There’s no shortage of libraries where I live and they all have great spaces to work.
I got out of the habit of going to libraries to write during the early parts of the pandemic. In the past few weeks, I’ve been writing in libraries a little bit, and I love it and want to get back into writing in those quiet spaces more regularly. I have to be intentional about that, so I need to schedule it.
What do you want MORE of in 2023?
Haiku of the Week
winter’s forest—
turkey tails on logs
blue up the browns
Haiku & Photo © 2022 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo taken: December 17, 2022 at Clifton Institute
Haiku written: December 21, 2022
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What I’m Reading
by Julie Phillips
This nonfiction book interweaves the stories of several women writers including Audre Lorde, Susan Sontag, Ursula K. LeGuin and others. It talks about what they had to in their writing lives and their personal lives to be mothers and writers. I’m listening to it on Libro.FM.
Newsletter
I’m resurrecting my email newsletter in 2023. It starts this week! I write it mostly for educators, but others are welcome to join too! Here is the link to sign up.
30 Comments
Irene Latham
MORE Marcie. Yay! Wishing you long nature walks, poetry, and library writing time in 2023. I’m thinking of 2023 as a Year of Discernment. Mostly I want to be more present to the life that is, the one unfolding in front of me each moment…and see what that teaches me. xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Discernment is fabulous! We all need more of that!
JAN GODOWN ANNINO
Marcie, it’s Jan from children’s lit at Hollins, catching up on your ’22 year of too-many-medical encounters & cheering for your ’23 goals. Appreciaitons for the turkey fungus [mushroom?] foto & haik ~ they send me right into one of our area’s woods where the striped wonders are reliably rottingly found 🙂
In my 2023 I expect to be open to more whimsy for my family, my pals & meself.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Jan! So great to hear from you! Whimsy is a great thing to be open to!
Rose Cappelli
Love that you saw a turkey tail in the fungus! So sorry to hear about your ankle – I don’t think I knew that before. You’ve been a big inspiration to me in many ways. I’m always in awe of how you go all-in with an idea or project. In 2023 I want to be more attuned to the inspiration all around me and create more opportunities to grow as a writer.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Rose! Yes, the ankle was a night-before-school gift. LOL! I was literally on the floor of my basement (with my husband and son outside) and saying, “No, no, no! Tomorrow school starts.” I’m awed by your awe. Thank you! I so appreciate our little Nevermores group!
JoAnn Early Macken
Good for you for taking stock! I like the idea of focusing on More–good luck with those goals! I’m no fungus expert, but I’ve seen similar life forms growing in the woods of Wisconsin, and “blue up the browns” describes them perfectly.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m not a fungus expert either. But I’m a “noticer.” 🙂
Susan
Marcie, “blue up the browns” really reclaims blue! Here it’s not an indication of sadness, etc., at all but the opposite. I had Covid and sprained my ankle last summer, too; I’m glad to be past both! Your posts reminds me that I want to spend some time at the university library one town over; I used to take my (now grown) kiddo there to do his homework when he was in middle school. I miss it.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Terrible combo, right? Just when I was feeling better from COVID, wham, that stupid ankle. No fun! I’m sorry you suffered the same. And yes to more libraries!
Linda Baie
“blue up the browns” seems like a good goal for the year, too, Marcie. Sorry for all the problems in 2022. It didn’t feel like that when I read your posts, always lovely & inspiring. One of the reasons I bought my home now is that it is a block from the local library. I adore it & do get up there often, know all the librarians by now, a super place to write. Have a wonderful year getting out!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
How wonderful to have a library so close!
Carol Labuzzetta
Marcie,
Hi! I love your turkey tail photo and haiku. My August was spent in our woods photographing fungi and researching them to learn about all the varieties (over 2 doz.) we found. I think the haiku is a perfect complement to a nature photo. I made a few like you have using Canva and really like how they come out. Good luck with your “more of” goals. I like it!
Carol
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thanks, Carol! Yes, so many fungi to explore!
Linda Mitchell
I love your poetry postcards. I sent out extra New Year postcards after being inspired by yours. Thank you for leading the way with that. It’s such an easy way of sharing writing. Goodness, I didn’t realize you weren’t able to walk so much last year. I could not tell by your blog! Here’s to lots more time outside in nature and inside libraries. I look forward to finally getting back to LOC.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Well, the one bonus about being off my feet more was more reading? And time on the computer? And yay for postcards. I got yours this week! Thank you!
Cathy
More of this! What a great idea. I’m completely fascinated by the nature journaling opportunities you shared. I’m going to have to see what I can find in our area.
Wishing you more nature, more poetry, and more of everything you love in 2023.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, during COVID when things were only offered outside, I found some classes and then just continued. John Muir Laws (and I’m sure others) also do some classes on YouTube.
Kay Jernigan McGriff
I second all of these for more in my life–especially the more being in nature and more libraries. When I work in the office, I often take a walk for my lunch break, and just this week started heading to the library across the street when they weather doesn’t cooperate for a walk. I’ve been using the time to read, but I like the idea of writing in the library. There is one solution to finding more time to write!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love writing in libraries. I’m particularly partial to university libraries. The only downside to the one near me is that I have to pay to park. It’s too far to walk with a heavy bag. But I love the 5th floor that is SILENT.
Laura Purdie Salas
Wow, lots of challenges this year, Marcie. And yet you still did so much! “In 2022, I managed to take 10 nature journaling classes at local parks.” That’s amazing. I also did a “more of” and “less of” list as I organized for 2023. My MORE list has hiking, writing what I love, and getting paid what I’m worth, along with several other personal/household things. And my LESS list is short. Less item writing. Less TV. Thanks for your fungus haiku!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Such great MORE and LESS lists. I don’t know how I managed to do 10 classes. My schedule aligned with the parks and rec schedule, surprisingly. I haven’t managed to get very many on the books this winter, sadly. But it was the start of me being able to do it on my own, which also is good!
Mary Lee
Your post (and the comments) really have me thinking…MORE of what for me? I’ll go with creativity and bravery. Here’s to a healthier 2023 for you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes to more creativity and bravery!!!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
The image made me think of a geode sliced open; and then you go and see a turkey fan! You are amazing, Marcie! I also had not thought of what MORE I wanted going into the new year -just what results I wanted – which is not the same. I know I want more days of writing-in-place, both mountain and desert. I want to disappear into a forest, be wrapped in both trees and in towering saguaros. And I want to lounge with a book in my lap and soak up words. I think both of these are woven into my 2023 goals, but now I’m going to go back and make sure!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I think the common name is turkey tails, so I can’t take credit for that description. I had never seen a blue one before though. All of your MORES sound so inviting!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, I do understand how life interrupts our thoughts, needs, and wants. I am sorry that you had so many interruptions but what you sent out and completed is amazing. I love today’s haiku. The picture does look like turkey feathers. How observant you are. More is a great word, especially when it centers on “more being in nature”-something I would like to do. One day at a time and “just being” are two of my Mores! May we all be blessed with time to “be”.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Wonderful! Those are great MORES.
Laura Shovan
It’s so hard when life gets in the way of our wanting MORE, Marcie. Cheering for turkey tails — they are such a cool fungus.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
They are cool! And the blue ones–so fascinating. My photo just doesn’t capture the how blue they were.