Poetry Friday: June 7, 2024
Tracey at Tangles & Tails is hosting this week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
Haiku of the Week
creeping thistle
neighborhood dance party
wind keeps the beat
Photo & Haiku © 2024 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: May 27, 2024 in my neighborhood
Haiku Written: May 30, 2024
Poem as Picture Book
by Julie Downing
Neal Porter/Holiday House, 2024
This 102-word poem as picture book follows nature from morning until night.
Poetry Connections
- rhyming
- vivid verbs
- alliteration
- assonance
- consonance
Links
Grow
Over Memorial Day weekend, I found myself with about 24 hours of time by myself at home. I’m fortunate to have an office dedicated to my writing. But it was out of control and messy. During short time, I boxed up every single thing in my office, moved it into the living room, painted an accent wall, and then sorted through all of the stuff and moved it back in. I decided to do this about 2:00pm on a Saturday, and I finished 95% of it by Sunday at 7:00pm. Over the next few days, I finished organizing some other pieces. Two things still need to be done: 1) I painted an accent wall (for when I’m on Zoom). I need to put up some floating shelves with my books on display. 2) I need to completely clean out the closet. Both of these are summer projects. The whole project was a bit of an exercise in writing procrastination. However, it helped me clear the decks for a my summer goal setting. And I’m a big fan of “outer order, inner calm” (Gretchen Rubin).
22 Comments
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Marcie, congratulations on your clean out project! I love the feeling of a fresh start. I am curious what color you chose for your accent wall. : )
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It’s a dark teal color. I will take a picture once I have it completely set up. 🙂
Jan/Bookseedstudio
Marcie, I’m wowed by your haiku & thistle photography. Your thistles are so fairy-like.
Orgabzation begets more organization & you’ve clicked the TidyUpTrain in a mighty way. Applause!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
So true, Jan!
Rose Cappelli
Oh, that neighborhood dance party! “Outer order, inner calm” always works for me. Your weekend sounds very productive, even though you say it was an exercise in writing procrastination. It will pay off in the long run, I’m sure.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, hopefully it will be easier for me to focus on the projects at hand.
Margaret Simon
I love your metaphor for a thistle at a dance party! I didn’t know until this year that thistles feed monarch butterflies. I’ve only seen them as invasive and ugly. Oh my! I could use some of your cleaning energy. I’ve been putting off writing, but with not-so-good-for-you things like binging on a series.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I blame it on the end-of-the-school -year decompressing, right?
Laura Purdie Salas
I love thistles! Well, the flowers. The leaves, not so much. Love your dance party vibe :>)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes to the flowers. The leaves do look and feel awful.
jama
Love your neighborhood thistle dance party! It’s so rewarding to complete tasks where one can see tangible results. A clean, refreshed space certainly inspires creativity. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes it does!
Denise Krebs
Marcie, I love the movement in your haiku. I can see the thistles moving in the wind. Hooray for “outer order, inner calm.” I hope you have a very successful, creative and fun summer!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Denise! I’m looking forward to summer!
Molly Hogan
I didn’t know the saying, “Outer order, inner calm” but I feel it in my bones! I love that you’ve set yourself up for a productive and relaxing summer–and so efficiently, too! I’m also a big fan of how “wind keeps the beat” in your fabulous haiku. Here’s to summer adventures!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes to summer adventures!
Karen Edmisten
What a fun weekend project! Nothing like clearing the decks (another fave thing of Gretchen Rubin’s!) to clear the mind.
And now I’d like to go to a neighborhood dance party. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes to clearing the decks as well!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, I guess my comment never made it to your post last night. I enjoyed your haiku. the photo is sharp and looks like a wonderful swinging dance party is getting ready. This photo sparked your creativity.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Carol!
Linda Mitchell
Neighborhood dance party! YES!
I love cleaning and ruminating as writing procrastination. It’s so satisfying. I love that you’re getting set up for zoom sessions. We had Sarah Albee visit last week and I mentioned your book to her. She’s in the process of moving too!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh yay! So glad your students got to meet Sarah!