Poetry Friday: New Places for Poetry
Heidi at my juicy little universe is our host today. Hop on over there for the roundup.
New Poetry Anthology
Fellow Poetry Friday friend, Carol Labuzzetta, has edited a new ekphrastic poetry anthology called Picture Perfect Poetry.
I have three ekphrastic poems and three photos featured. There are lots of different types of ekphrastic poems in this anthology, and it’s great for students ages 8 and up.
New Eclipse Poem
Georgia Heard also featured poems on her blog from the poetry community for Poetry Month. I sent in an eclipse poem called, “The Impending Eclipse: Sun’s Op-Ed.”
Poetry Month Project
Every day in April, I’ve been writing a poem inspired by some interesting fact(s). This week, I was able to attend a poetry workshop with Shutta Crum where we talked about short forms. I wrote a Pensee, which is a French form of poetry.
Pensee
5 lines (2, 4, 7, 8, 6 syllables)
Line 1—introduces subject
Line 2—description of subject
Line 3—action taken by subject or for subject; has a verb
Line 4—info about time and setting
Line 5—final thoughts
Last week, I was on a local-ish writing retreat. Saturday’s wind was fierce. I didn’t take this picture until Sunday once the wind had calmed down. But it was my inspiration for the poem.
Potomac River: A Pensee
river
Potomac flows
pummeled by furious wind
winds along borderlines into
Chesapeake’s waiting arms
Haiku of the Week
evening wind
tulips purse their lips
wait for sun
Haiku & Photo © 2024 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: April 5, 2024, Burnside Farms
Haiku Written: April 11, 2024
Poem as Picture Book
by Michelle Schaub
Illustrated by Blanca Gomez
Norton Young Readers 2024
This is a 275-word celebration of rain.
Poetry Connections
- Rhyme
- Onomatopoeia
- Word play
- Alliteration
- Use of space and line breaks
Links
Grow
It’s been a great week. I spent most of last weekend writing and writing and writing. I took a whole bunch of projects to work on, but I chose to spend most of my time pushing forward on one project—the one closest to being ready to send out. While I didn’t move the needle on a bunch of projects, I did move the needle far on one, and that feels like a win.
24 Comments
Heidi Mordhorst
I’m happy to hear you had a productive growing time last weekend, Marcie! I’ve been contemplating my working rhythm, motivations, commitments and trying to move some obstacles–it can be tough going. I believe the pensee is a close cousin to the Elfchen! Your windy pensee came out beautifully.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Move some obstacles–yes. Sometimes I love being away from my regular to-do list so I can just focus on one piece of writing. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does–perfection. A friend of mine and I did a mini-retreat on a Saturday in a library. We picked one with great seating and a restaurant nearby. We wrote all morning, walked across the street for lunch, and came back and wrote for a few more hours. We got about 4-5 total writing time in. It was a rare Saturday when we made that work, but we got so much done.
Margaret Simon
I can’t thank you enough for yesterday’s visit. A more fomal thank you is forthcoming. I’m hoping to post about our visit for today’s post, but time is running low these days.
I love the pursed lips of these tulips. You have inspired me to at least write a haiku each day. Thanks again for your generosity. I’ve taken a few moments to look at all the things available on your site. Amazing!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I loved chatting with your students. And yes to a haiku a day! It doesn’t take too much time. So glad the site was useful!
JoAnn Early Macken
Hooray for progress in any direction–and congratulations on finding homes for your poems! I especially enjoyed the imagery of “tulips purse their lips” and the juxtaposition of “wind / winds.”
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Thank you for the introduction to the pensée, Marcie! I am glad you had a productive writing retreat. I am always amazed by how much longer writing takes than I expect. Love, love, love your pursed tulip’s lips!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It’s so true–writing does often take longer than expected.
Rose Cappelli
The description of the tulips with pursed lips is spot on, Marcie! And thanks for the new form.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you!
Verrena Diane Anderson
I liked all I read here, but especially the tulips with pursed lips! Thanks for the ideas you share so generously!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you!
Linda Baie
Hi Marcie, Thank you for so much inspiration in both your activities and your words. I noted the pensee, and love your inspiring use of “wind” & “winds”. Yes, A Place for Rain, new by Michelle Schaub, is terrific. Wishing you some more writing time this week!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Linda!
Alan j Wright
Grew up in a tulip growing region, Marcie, so your haiku hit the target perfectly for me. Looking forward to seeing our respective ekphrastic efforts nestling among the pages of Picture Perfect Poetry in the near future
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! I’m looking forward to reading the anthology all the way through. And how lucky to be around tulips! I grew up in the tropics–too hot for tulips. 🙂
Laura Purdie Salas
Hooray for your writing retreat! And I love your sensual haiku and pensee…
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Laura!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Ooh…I wanna try the PENSEE now, too.
And your tulips are the color of MISSILES (remember those sorbets on a stick?). YUM!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Haha! Sorbet on a stick. Yum!
Linda Mitchell
ooooh! So much goodness here…I must put ‘Papa is a Poet’ on my requested book list. And, I love a new form to play with. Pensee looks fun. Thanks for that. The words, “Potomac and pummeled” are great together in your poem.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh thanks, Linda!
Cathy
Thank you for sharing the pensée structure for a poem. I think I will have to give this a try. It sounds like you’re making progress on your project. Yay! Keep moving.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Cathy!