Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday: Practices

January 10, 2025 /
Kat is our host for the week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
 

Practices

 
Georgia Heard’s email newsletter this week talked about intentions and practices. Goals are great, but they are endpoints. This really resonated with me. I love goal-making. It’s an important part of my writing life. But there are also things I do that have no end goal or end date. Those are my practices. They may lead to something tangible in the future, but that isn’t the point of them. Georgia asks the important question of her readers: What practices do you want to bring into your literate life this year?
 
I love the phrase “literate life” because it goes beyond writing.
 
I decided to journal about this idea this week. Here are the practices of my literate life:
 
  • Daily poetry reading—I read a minimum of three poems a day. I take notes on things that astonish me. Right now the Nevermores are reading Water, Water by Billy Collins. We’ll talk about it at our next Zoom meeting in February.
  • Daily Haiku—I take pictures with my phone and with my camera with a macro lens. I print them out on 2×3 sticker paper. Each day I choose a photo, stick it in my notebook, and write a haiku in response. I’ve been doing this daily for several years and it’s a huge part of my daily practice.
  • Craft book—I always have a craft book going. Sometimes, I read a chapter a day. Sometimes I read part of a chapter a day. I’m almost finished with Oliver Burkeman’s new book Meditations for Mortals. The chapters are super short and are perfect for reading one a day (which he recommends).
  • Reading—I read daily. Some busy days it might just be the aforementioned daily poetry and craft book. But often, I read in the evenings as well. I sometimes listen to an audiobook while making dinner or driving. I’m trying to be better about the practice of picking up a book instead of my phone. I’m good about this when I’m waiting for something (like at a doctor’s office). But I’m worse about it at the end of a long day. I’ve read a LOT over the break, so I hope to continue that once school kicks into high gear.
  • Sit Spot—For a long time, I did a daily sit spot practice. I had a little spot in the woods where I would sit after school. I listened to the sounds and did a page of nature journaling (mostly writing). I wanted to switch up my space and a few months went by and I didn’t do it. I got out the habit of my sit spot in the past few months. Last summer I put in a moon garden, and I’ve been thinking that I want to spend more time out there in all seasons. I’d love for this to be a practice that I return to again and again. My roadblock for this is always weather-related. I really don’t love the cold. But I have a warm coat and hat and gloves. I just need to do it. It’s much like going to the gym—the hardest part is getting there. Once I’m there, I love it.
  • Writing Daily—While this seems goal-related, it is and it isn’t. I always have goals around writing projects. But writing for me is such a habit that it’s part of my daily practice. I know that some of my writing time this season is going to be taken up by marketing. It’s a thrilling thing to have a new book out in the world. There is only so much time in the day, so I know that some of my marketing efforts will have to be done during my morning writing time. But I like for my time each day to include at least writing on a project or revising a project.
  • Poetry Weekly—I write at least one new poem per week. The Nevermores group is great for accountability for this. We have a prompt a week and we write to that prompt and share it.
  • Poetry Friday—This is also a practice of mine—to write a post per week (most weeks) and share it. Then I try to read as many posts as I can each week. I’ve learned so much from this poetry community. 
 
When I write all of these out, they seem like a LOT of practices. Much like developing new habits, I didn’t add all of these at once. I added them a bit at a time. I’m currently doing all of these practices. The only one that is a new one is one I’m trying to reincorporate—my sit spot practice. What I have to be willing to accept is that I’ll do it MOST of the time, not necessarily every single day.
 
Many thanks to Georgia Heard for helping me do something thinking around this. 
 
What are the practices of your literate life?
 

Haiku of the Week

 
moon garden
bundled in its winter whites
snow wardrobe
 
Photo Taken: January 6, 2025 in my moon garden
Haiku Written: January 7, 2025
 

25 New-to-Me Poets in 2025

 
In her essay “Ten Things About Poetry,” Patricia Smith challenges the reader to “discover one new poet every week.” (in The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics edited by Diane Lockward). I’m setting out to discover 25 New-to-Me poets in 2025. Join me as I read at least 5 poems by a new-to-me poet.
 

Francis Ponge

I first heard of Ponge when I was taking a class on object poetry with Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard. I wrote his name down then and never revisited it—until now. I looked back over those notes because I was looking for object poems to study for a new project. Actually, it’s an old project that needs a bit of RE-CREATION.
 
It was hard to find books by Ponge–my public library doesn’t carry any. Abebooks, where I find a lot of older titles, mostly has his books in French. So, I turned to the free internet.
 
The Poetry Foundation website calls him the “poet of things.” He writes mostly prose poems and many of them are about everyday objects or natural things. I found that some of his poems (like “Snail”) read like a lyrical nonfiction piece.
 
For your reading pleasure:
If you have any favorite object poems or object poems, send them my way. I love “Tomatoes” by James Crews, “My Mother’s Colander” by Dorianne Laux, and Odes to Common Things by Pablo Neruda.
 
 
 

RECREATE

 
This week my RECREATING included:
  • 2 museums (I’ll report on these at the end of the month)
  • Lots of reading (due to snow)
  • Recreating a chapter book project—I’m just at the beginning of brainstorming.
  • A snow walk

  • Started printing vegetables on fabric inspired by Margarts (you really should follow her on Instagram). I printed celery and artichokes. Artichokes are my favorite thing that Margaret prints, but mine didn’t turn out as well as hers. I need more practice!

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34 Comments

  • Rose Cappelli

    January 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM

    Love all of your intentions, Marcie, and I know you’ll be successful with them. And now you’ve added another hobby – vegetable printing! Hope to learn more about how that is going. Take care and continue to heal.

  • Susan T.

    January 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM

    Marcie, you’re making me think! I loved reading about your literary practices, and I’d like to be more intentional about mine. Certainly participating in Poetry Friday is one, and lately making a poem out of Sunday’s New York Times headlines is another. I especially like the physical aspects of the latter: cutting the paper, underlining the words to cut out, and so on. And, as far as daily life is concerned, remembering to wear my “snow wardrobe” like your haiku is a must. I am so much happier when prepared for the weather!

  • Tracey Kiff-Judson

    January 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM

    Marcie, I love that you always find the beauty in ice and browning blooms. And how do you accomplish so much? I would feel so proud to accomplish 1/10 of the reading, writing, and creating that you do on any given day! I am in awe of your energy.

  • Linda Mitchell

    January 11, 2025 at 7:49 AM

    Aren’t snow days the best? A moon garden in winter whites–that’s pretty just the idea of it. Margarts? Thank you for the introduction! I’m headed there next. I love printing but not the prep and clean-up. I aim to do some printing in 2025. I spent some time this weekend ironing pretty napkins onto waxed freezer paper. I love the result. Not sure what I’ll do with the papers — but they are nifty. I like your reflections on your practices. I need to do some of this too. Happy New Year!

    • Marcie Flinchum Atkins

      January 12, 2025 at 7:55 AM

      Snow days have turned me back into a crafter. I didn’t really have time to do a lot of that stuff after my kids were born. I chose writing as my one other thing. But now we’ll see if I can add some crafting back in. You will love Margarts account! And she’s semi-local (Maryland). She did a local craft show in Vienna, so I bought some of her stuff. I love that you are crafting too!

  • Linda Baie

    January 11, 2025 at 10:27 AM

    It’s amazing that you manage to include all those, but when it’s a habit, it’s very hard to quit, isn’t it? I love the vegetable printing look, & like Sarah, look like Celtic knots! I must tell you that one of my granddaughters, 13, saw an idea somewhere & she has been doing make-up on various vegetables, then naming them, taking photos of them to share. They are both creative & a lot of laughs! Thanks for sharing all, Marcie, and the ‘winter’ images in words & photos.

  • Carol Labuzzetta

    January 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM

    Marcie,
    Thanks for sharing all of your practices. It is obvious that you are an extremely intentional person with boat loads of energy. I like to think of myself as the same. Those I know frequently comment on my energy and productivity as well. I wish I was as gooas writing about it as you. Perhaps, I will try. Thank you for the inspiration. I always enjoy your posts.

  • PATRICIA FRANZ

    January 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM

    I loved reading Ponge’s “Crate.” –So observational and yet so poetic. Might have to try some of these for my own practice. And I’m fascinated by the vegetable print. What will you do with the painted fabric??

  • Jone Rush MacCulloch

    January 12, 2025 at 9:01 PM

    Please don’t mind that I am stealing your list and adapting it. I love it and it’s a good reminder. I also love your reminder of your OLW posted. I will finish my art iece for DREAM this week and post it..

  • Karen Edmisten

    January 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM

    Marcie, your ongoing (and new!) creative practices are always inspiring. I love the look of the celery prints — it reminds me of some of Austin Kleon’s vegetable prints.

  • Jane @ Raincity Librarian

    January 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM

    I adore these intentions and daily practices, and I sometimes have to remind myself that there will come a time when I can find more time. Balancing work and parenting can just feel overwhelming at times, and I struggle to even find time for a weekly Poetry Friday post, but I cling to the notion that all stages of life are just that – stages – and that while certain parts of me feel like they’ve disappeared, they’re really more dormant than dead, just waiting for their time, and for now, I just have to keep them fed, like a sourdough starter, until I finally find time to bake!

  • Carol Varsalona

    January 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM

    Marcie, I am dazzled by your practices. Recreate is making sure that you fill your time with reading, writing, photography and your newest passion. All seem to work in tandem with each other. Kudos to your energy and creative mind. Friday’s haiku was inventive. Fashion is one of my passions so this poem catured my imagination. It sounds like the rest after your surgery was successful.

  • Robyn Hood Black

    January 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM

    Wow, Marcie – that’s all quite impressive! And inspirational. Thanks for sharing everything so thoughtfully. You have a healthy dose of self-discipline, for sure! Thanks as well for the Francis Ponge & other links.
    I’ve been thinking about practices more, too, and starting a busy year with an online mixed media class through Fiber Arts Take Two. I signed up for two consecutive classes a year or so ago, but only made it partially the way through each! (It was during the crazy Etsy holiday season.) Access is available indefinitely, so I’ll circle back to those, per Jane’s dormancy imagery.
    But this year, despite January-&-beyond deadlines & lots of family doings, I wanted to be more present with the class in real time (via FB group interactions and Lives). I’m scraping by, catching up! Of course, our Christmas cards are still dangling from twine in the dining room…. ;0) Best wishes as you continue to RECREATE!

  • Mary Lee

    January 14, 2025 at 11:21 AM

    Marcie, your posts are always so FULL of goodness! You inspired me to list my literate/healthy/for the good of the world practices and think about how I lean into practice vs. goals and process vs. product. My attention was also snagged by your vegetable printing. I, too, follow margarts. What will you make with your printed fabric? Finally, as for poets who write poems about objects, Valerie Worth is the queen, IMHO.

    • Marcie Flinchum Atkins

      January 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM

      Yes! Process vs. product is so important too! I just hung up one of my photos that I had framed that says “Joy in the process.” It was my mantra several years ago, but it remains at the heart of what I do. I love that you follow Margarts! She is localish to me so I got to go to one of her shows about 20 minutes away.

      Valerie Worth–of COURSE! I was reading her poems for a different project last summer. I will dig those books back out and look at them with objects in mind. Thank you!