Poetry Friday September 23, 2022
This week’s host is Rose Capelli at Imagine the Possibilities. Rose and I are both in the Nevermores Poetry group. We write and share poems with each other every week. It’s been such a highlight of my year!
Haiku of the Week
skeleton seed pod
opens its mouth to the wind—
lets go
Photo and Haiku © 2022 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
What I’m Reading
A Man with a Rake by Ted Kooser
I read this book during The Sealey Challenge.
I flagged several books that I wanted to study further and this was one of them. Ted Kooser manages to do description in poetry that really is striking. He takes ordinary people and places and really makes the reader look at them much more closely. I’ve reread this for my 3-a-day poetry note-taking.
16 Comments
lindab414@gmail.com
I love Ted Kooser, too, Marcie, & this is one I haven’t read. There is a lake nearby I often walk, & full of milkweed plants. Now I will think of your poem when I see each one “open its mouth to the wind”. Wonderful image!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Ted Kooser’s poetry is just so accessible. Thank you for your kind words!
Linda Mitchell
I just smile every time I come to your blog. You are so creative! I am officially telling you that I’m also going to start sending out poetry postcards. I make so many collages–easily turned into postcards. Why not? And, getting a post card from you like I did this week is such a gift. Now, I just need a little time to put the parts of my project in order. But, you remain an inspiration! Thank you.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! Yes! Yes! I love it! Please do the postcards. Your poetry and collages are so amazing.
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, this haiku you shared is a gem. “open its mouth – let’s go” are two of the stand-outs. This one is clever. First, you spotted this on your walk and second, you added a wonderful haiku. I can see this happening if I close my eyes. Thanks for the new postcard, I love it!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh, thank you, Carol!
Rose Cappelli
Your haikus are always filled with perfect words in perfect places, Marcie. And thanks, also, for the lovely postcard!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yay! So glad your postcard arrived. Thank you for your haiku encouragement. It’s a fun, calming practice for me.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
I just this week learned of Ted Kooser and ordered this book! Marcie, I really like how you ended your haiku with just two words/syllables. I suppose I was expecting a five-syllable third line, so the abrupt end was doubly effective and perfect for capturing the essence of the seed pod.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh thank you! I’m trying to get better at not just sticking to the 5-7-5 pattern.
Margaret Simon
I received a postcard from you yesterday. Thanks so much! I love getting poetry in the mail. “Skeleton seed pod” is a just right metaphor.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Hooray! So glad your postcard arrived!
Marilyn R Garcia
Marcie, such a great visual and haiku to go along with it – now I really want to know exactly what kind of seed pod that is! And thanks for the Ted Kooser recommendation. “Accessible” poetry sometimes gets a bad rap, but I think if it’s not accessible, who’s going to read it and, if no one reads it, what’s the point? I’ll have to put him on the list for more reading. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I also love Ted Kooser’s book about writing poetry: Poetry Home Repair Manual.
I would also like to know what kind of seed pod it is. I found it on one of my walks in the neighborhood. I went looking for lichen and found this on the way.
Laura Purdie Salas
I love this haiku–such willingness in it!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!