Poetry Friday: In Praise of the Moon + Sealey Challenge Week #3
This week’s host of the week is Rose at Imagine the Possibilities. Hop on over there for the lineup.
Sealey Challenge
I’ve been reading for the Sealey Challenge every day—mostly Poetry Magazine issues, though I did sneak in a fabulous poetry collection as well.
Moon Garden
This summer, in the triple digit heat, I decided to put in a moon garden. I wanted whites and silvers to reflect the moon. I’m not the best gardener. I’m neglectful. But I do love sitting outside with my plants. This still needs a border, but I was hoping for some cooler weather to finish it off.
I wrote about my moon garden for the Nevermores.
Moon GardenI dig out the side garden with its scragglyazaleas to make room for reflection—a moon garden filled with silversof lavender and sagethe ivory moonflower and vincas,the baubles of the buttonbush.In the dusky twilight the flowersreflect the moon—whites, silvers glistenilluminated in the bluing evening.By day the butterflies alighton the hydrangea and aster.By night the coppery toads hop throughthe maze of greens, muted in the dark.When the summer thunderstorm blundersin after hovering heavy clouds all daywe drink in the cooler air, the moon gardengulps the silvered refreshment, welcomes the mothsslipping in and sipping the lingering droplets.The pale flowers barely noticeable in sunawaken in the moon’s spotlight.
by Marcie Flinchum Atkins, 2024
Haiku of the Week
meadow sunrise
every glume lines up
for a tan
Photo Taken: June 26, 2024 at Highlights Foundation
Haiku Written: August 8, 2024
Note: I think this is timothy grass, and I think the parts pictured are called glumes, but if someone else knows for sure, please let me know.
Poem as Picture Book
By Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Jessica Lanan
Knopf, 2023
This 129-word poem includes nonfiction sidebars about the moon.
Poetry Connections
- Apostrophe
- Anaphora
- Alliteration
- Consonance
- Assonance
- Vivid Verbs
Links
Grow
It’s the first week of school with students. I’ve mostly been working on poems and a picture book revision. I’ve not had a lot of time to devote to writing this week, so I’m trying to make the most of 15 minute spurts here and there. This is how I got most of my writing done when my kids were small.
26 Comments
Kathryn Apel
I’m sorry, but everything pales beside the third line of that haiku. I’m still smiling! Enjoy your new school year! (Now let me go and bask in your lovely haiku once again.)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much! 🙂
Rose Cappelli
Love that moon garden and so happy to have a picture! Hope you have a spectacular school year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It was so great to see you this week!
Patricia Franz
Gosh, your moon garden must have been showing off this past week under the Blue Moon! — And “glume”??? I had to look that one up! Brava!
Patricia Franz
And I LOVED Clint Smith’s HOW THE WORD IS PASSED. Thanks for the prompt to check out his poetry.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Both of his collections that I’ve read are SUPERB!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I hope glume is the right word!
Linda Baie
Your garden, and idea, is wonderful, Marcie, and I love “silvered refreshment”. The moon was a joy this week!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Tabatha
A moon garden is a delightful idea– I love that the flowers overlooked during the day are in the spotlight at night. (Brave of you to do it in the heat!)
15 minute writing spurts can add up. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I definitely think I’ve grown my writing on 15 minute spurts.
Denise Krebs
The Thank You, Moon book with the subtitle “Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight” reminds me of your new garden. I hope you get to enjoy it in the cooler evenings. It looks and sounds beautiful.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I hope I get to enjoy it too! Looking forward to seeing how it changes.
Mary Lee
Wow. Your photo is its own haiku — such a simple, yet evocative image. And your word choice in the haiku is *fire emoji*! From the exotic GLUME to the multilayered TAN. Perfection.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Mary Lee!
Molly Hogan
I’ve always loved the idea of a moon garden, but have never managed to combine motivation, time, and energy into creating one. Yours is an inspiration! What a magical environment you weave in the garden and on the page with those silver-y leaves and copper toads, and such a delightful use of the word “blundered”. I’m properly moon dazzled!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I realized I took this picture before I added some other elements too. I’ll have to post an update soon (after I finalize the border).
Carol Labuzzetta
Marcie,
I admire your efforts for the moon garden and the poetry it is producing. It sounds lovely! I especially like the second stanza of the Moon Garden poem. It just sings to me and creates a picture in my mind. Thank you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Carol!
Jane @ Raincity Librarian
This is how I’m trying to squeeze some writing in too – little spurts here and there around work and my kiddo! One day I’ll have time (and the energy) to focus, but for now, little spurts, here and there. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Little spurts are sometimes all we get! Especially in busy times.
Karen Edmisten
Your beautiful moon garden!
I love these lines:
the moon garden
gulps the silvered refreshment,
Gorgeous!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh thank you, Karen!
Robyn Hood Black
You are ONE BUSY POET! And person, generally. Thanks for sharing all of this sparkly goodness. (I had a blue moon haiku this week.) A moon garden is a fantabulous idea – really wonderful. And it comes to life in your words. Have a glorious new school year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Robyn!