Poetry Friday: Steeped in Poetry
Bridget Magee at wee words for wee ones is the host this week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
Steeped in Poetry
I didn’t get to post last week because I’ve been fighting some illness (not COVID) for the past few weeks. I was basically going to work and sleeping. I’m much better, thankfully! Luckily, I’ve been able to squeeze in some poetry learning. Even though I wrote poetry in graduate school, I still feel like there’s so much I don’t know, so I’m always looking for ways to stretch myself.
Poet’s Studio
In September, I took a class with Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s Poet’s Studio on “The Poetry of Things.”
I always love a deep dive into a specific kind of poetry. I wrote three poems that I think are revisable for this class. Then the Nevermores and I wrote object poems for our weekly prompt last week.
The Rhyme Comes Last
This week, I was able to join into NE SCBWI’s Virtual Shop Talk and Poetry Friday’s own Matt Esenwine did a talk about understanding your subject in poetry. It really gave me a new way to approach my poems and dovetailed nicely with my new learning on object poems.
Haiku of the Week
spider hides—
hazy web masks her presence
to flyersby
Photo Taken: June 20, 2023 at Ashby Pond Conservatory
Haiku Written: August 4, 2023
What I’m Reading
by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell
Charlesbridge, 2023
I’ve been excited to read this novel-in-verse ever since Traci told me about it at ALA in 2022. Charles also talked about it at our Highlights workshop. This is a wonderful middle grade novel-in-verse about a much needed topic. I’ve already started recommending it to teachers.
What I’m Noticing
I haven’t been able to take my walks for almost two weeks, so I haven’t been noticing much. But these gorgeous flowers have been blooming for weeks in a shady spot, and in a time when all of my favorite flowers are gone, it’s lovely to see some flowers thriving in fall.
26 Comments
Rose Cappelli
Hope you feel much better soon, Marcie. Your haikus sing!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Rose! I took my last antibiotic tonight and I am so much better!
Bridget Magee
I’m glad you are on the mend, Marcie. I love that we have so many amazing poetry mentors to learn from – you included. Gorgeous spider photo – “flyersby” look out!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Bridget!
Linda Baie
I’ve seen more webs recently, love your idea of ‘masking’ and the continuing warmth seems to make the blooms even brighter! I’m glad you’re better & sharing again!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Marcie, so sorry to hear you are under the weather. Hope you are feeling well soon. Lovely photograph and haiku! I am excited to read Mascot as well. I am in the middle of African Town right now.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m MUCH better. Last of the antibiotic tonight. African Town is soooo good! I read and then listened on audio. The audio has multiple voices and is fabulous!
Mary Lee
Your photographs are as much poems as your words!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh thank you! I’m still learning, but I have enjoyed taking the photographs.
jama
Love the “flyersby” in your haiku. Beautiful photos in this post!! Nice to catch up with your news. Glad to hear you’re feeling better 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Gosh, Marcie! I hope you’re recovering from the mystery illness! I’m fascinated by the colors on the spider. Wonder if they are as brilliant if (s)he were walking right-side-up? I just finished MASCOT, too. So timely!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Interestingly, they look different from different angles.
Sally Murphy
‘Flyersby’ – that word made me shiver with its rightness. So clever.
Glad to hear you are healing, Marcie.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh thank you! I love that word. 🙂
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, I am always amazed at how your new lens captures photos at such a close range. The spider is so detailed and your words fit so well. The spider is a clever insect as your words indicate. Thanks for the gorgeous flower photo. Get well soon.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much! I’m much, much better.
Linda
Glad to hear you are feeling better. Covid is tough. Another great haiku. I especially love “flyersby.” : )
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Definitely not COVID. Multiple negative tests. I think I had a viral soup of school germs.
Jone MacCulloch
Oh Marcie, I’m sorry you were ill but glad to hear you are on the mend. Georgia and Rebecca’s classes are the best. Thank you for sharing that haiku and photo, stunning!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
Janice Scully
Glad you are feeling better. That is an amazing spider and I did need to look closely to make sense of it. Thanks for reminding me about Mascot. I’m ordering it and look forward to reading it!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh yes, I hope you love it. I’ve already had teachers checking it out.
Michelle Kogan
Happy to hear you are started to feel better Marcie! Seems like many “flyersby” are getting snatched up in a preponderance of web weavers, thanks for your poem and pics too, lovely!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Michelle!