Spooked as a Child--You Too?

If you haven't had a chance to meet author Carrie Clickard, I recommend it.

I was introduced to her by Michelle H. Barnes in her SPOTLIGHT ON interview at, Today's Little Ditty, two weeks ago. 


Each month, Michelle holds a DMC (ditty monthly challenge) and I try to keep up with the rest of the poets that always have the best ideas.

This month's challenge is: Write a poem about a person, place or thing that spooked you as a child.

I accepted the challenge but then the blank page loomed large. I have no shortage of spooked experiences....but how to encapsulate even one. 

I shouldn't have fretted. Kat Apel saved me by introducing a cool poetry form, tetractys, She shared some on her blog last week. I knew this form was perfect for a spooky topic.

Free-Photos. Free Photo: Forest, Snake, Arts, Trees, Path - Free Image on Pixabay - 336496, Pixabay, 3 May 2014, pixabay.com/en/forest-snake-arts-trees-path-336496/.

I’m
sometimes
afraid of
slithering snakes
hiding in the tall grass, shadowy shapes.
Sometimes long sticks
look like snakes
and I
shriek!

Once I got started, I kinda couldn't stop. So, I will limit this post to three tetractys. The first one is shared on the DMC Padlet.  Have fun being creeped out over there!

“Sump Pump Gallery.” AquaGuard Foundation Solutions, Aqua Guard Foundation Solutions, 7 Oct. 2016, www.aquaguard.net/waterproofing/sump-pumps/sump-pump-gallery/.

The
monster,
Oscar awaits
in the cellar under the sump pump door.
Uncle Tom gently
opens the hatch.
He roars --
Run!

This week's Poetry Friday is hosted by Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life. And, you can find her moderating #TeachWrite in her spare time (ha!) She's working hard in grad school these days but is graciously making sure we all have some poetry to enjoy this week. Thank you, Leigh Anne.

Slightly Different. “Free Image on Pixabay - Stairs, Light, Dark, Gloomy, Night.” Free Photo: Stairs, Light, Dark, Gloomy, Night - Free Image on Pixabay - 2799299, 30 Sept. 2017, pixabay.com/en/stairs-light-dark-gloomy-night-2799299/.

I’m
afraid
of basement
stairs – deepest dark;
shadows, cobwebs, spiders, hanging out there.
I’m less afraid
though, when my
flashlight
works.

Aubade Practice

Happy Poetry Friday

Last week, Irene Latham shared several aubade poems on her blog,  Live Your Poem . 

As I read them I had an, I want to try that, feeling. There are several places in my current work in progress to place an aubade. However, I've never written one before.

I needed a mentor text to practice with. I went in search of poems of goodbye. The lyrics to Taps work even though the song is a vesper. All the feels are still there, don't you think? 

“Taps Lyrics.” Scout Songs, BSA, www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/taps.html.

My practice aubade is a riff on Taps prompted by this stunning autumn sunrise photo from my first home in western New York. Much applause to John Kucko for capturing this shot from Portageville and posting it on facebook--and friends for sharing it. 

https://www.facebook.com/JohnKuckoDigital/photos/a.1746971242240091.1073741834.1736789656591583/1951476525122894/?type=3&theater

Be sure to enjoy Poetry Friday fun with this week's host, the aforementioned Irene Latham at her blog, Live Your Poem. You will love all her writing. I am so looking forward to meeting her in Phoenix at the American Association of School Librarians conference coming up in November. 

Brace yourself for a selfie, Irene!

Found Haiku

Thank you, dear Violet Nesdoly Poems for hosting the playground of Poetry Friday this week. I have such fun running around with my friends and all their words.

I'm having fun with found haiku. It feels as satisfying as what sudoku must feel like for some people (I have no idea...all those numbers that must be in the right spot gives me a nervous tick). Give me words....lots and lots of them!

It's October--time to play with autumn!

Adams, Ansel. “Merced River, Cliffs, Autumn, Yosemite Valley, California.” Art Object Page, National Gallery of Art , www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.66709.html.

A Letter in October
By Ted Kooser

Dawn comes later and later now, 

and I, who only a month ago 

could sit with coffee every morning 

watching the light walk down the hill 

to the edge of the pond and place 

a doe there, shyly drinking, 

then see the light step out upon 

read the rest here

Hartley, Marsden. “Maine Woods.” Art Object Page, National Gallery of Art , www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.72332.html.

Haiku Found in Kooser's Letter to October

1. 

watching the light walk

at the waiting window found 

no more than my face

2.

sowing reflections 

at the waiting window found 

a garden of trees

3. 

later and later

at the waiting window found 

beyond me, darkness

Finder, Linda Mitchell

Sick Day, Aunt's Photo & Mentor Poems

I caught the yuck and spent last Friday fighting off a fever--giving me more than usual time on my laptop where I admired a photo of aspens shared by my Aunt Kathleen and more Poetry Friday blog visits than normal.

Amy Vanderwater's Falling in Love with Meter post got me.  Also, Brenda Harsham's  To Be a Covered Bridge and Diane Mayr's found Haiku in Frost's After Apple Picking. 
I want to do all of that!

So, what was a red-nosed, coughy kid (at heart) home in bed to do between naps and sips of tea? Started with aspens...

Aspens, by Edward Thomas

All day and night, save winter, every weather,

Above the inn, the smithy, and the shop,

The aspens at the cross-roads talk together

Of rain, until their last leaves fall from the top.

and ... read the rest here

Then read again and again....finding lines of haiku ala Diane Mayr.

Haiku Lines found within Edward's Aspens 

Continued the golden trail with Matthew Brenneman.

 "This was a family 's home from around 1880s Oh the stories it could tell of life back in that time"
Photo credit Kathleen Lauritsen

Finished up by taking a dash of Brenda Harsham's poem To Be a Covered Bridge at Friendly Fairy Tales and a pinch Amy's Vanderwater's Sitting & Writing as mentor texts for this response to Aunt Kathleen's photo paired with Brenneman's poem above.


Friendship

I've seen friendship flourish
as aspens at high altitude. Not just sunny weather
flags-- but smile-warmed moments  
     piled on top of each other forming a foundation.
And, upon this one can build a home.

So, that you’ll seldom find one without another,
But, falls of friends fortified against a winter of alone.
Friendship burns bright long past the wick and oil.

       And, see aspens full circling this old
house, holding hands--hearts aglow.

(c) Linda Mitchell

Poetry Friday is hosted this week by the creative and generous Laura Salas at Writing the World for Kids. Do stop by and visit poets this Friday and on Thursdays when Laura hosts at 15 word poem challenge prompt. Thank you, Laura!

Poetry Friday: Hillwood Estate Visit

Today's Poetry Friday is hosted Amy Ludwig Vanderwater at her verdant Poem Farm. 

Amy is celebrating the publication of her newest book, Read! Read! Read!  (Wordsong 2017). Hooray!

I'm anxiously awaiting my copy to ... read. All accounts are that it is spectacular. Please drop by to pick some poems and enjoy the bounty she shares from her Poem Farm. 

On Sunday, I had a chance to visit Hillwood Estate in Washington, DC on the recommendation of my friend, Katie. This 25-acre estate was built and owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post who bequeathed it and her massive collections housed there to the Smithsonian Institution.

Hillwood writing prompts are infinite. I have a few haiku to share.

(c) Linda Mitchell

water, stone, and pine
beneath lantern light and glow
live sun and shadow

*

september maples
dressed for autumn’s masquerade.
fans flutter, gents bow. 

*

each pebble, each carp
sings a sky song -- earth’s

memory--heaven. 

Inscribed on the Friendship Walk at Hillwood:

“Friendship outstays the hurrying flight of years and aye abides through laughter and through tears.” – Tsarina Alexandra Federovna, the last empress of Russia.

Poetry Friday -- September

Three cheers for Michelle H. Barns for hosting today's Poetry Friday on her blog: Today's Little Ditty.

I've learned so much from keeping up with her blog. Writing with Michelle feels like I'm participating in a workshop.




My poetry searches seemed to create a bit of a poem/painting conversation, this week. Enjoy. 

September 2

BY WENDELL BERRY

In the evening there were flocks of nighthawks
passing southward over the valley. The tall
sunflowers stood, burning on their stalks
to cold seed, by the still river. And high
up the birds rose into sight against the darkening
clouds. They tossed themselves among the fading
landscapes of the sky like rags, as in
abandonment to the summons their blood knew.
And in my mind, where had stood a garden
straining to the light, there grew
an acceptance of decline. Having worked,
I would sleep, my leaves all dissolved in flight.

Now
Soft
Fall is coming
shhhhhhhhhhh

September 9

BY ELIZABETH WILLIS

It’s turneresque in twilight. The word comes at me

with its headlights on, so it’s revelation and not death.

I figure I’m halfway home though I’ve only started.

Nothing is moving but me: I’m a blackbird. The neigh-

bor’s in labor, but so am I, pushing against the road.

Physics tells us nothing is lost, but I’ve been copping

time from death and can’t relent for every job the stars

drop on my back.

Turneresque: Ballew, Dave. “September Twilight by DaveBallew at Simpson Gallagher Gallery.” September Twilight,Simpson Gallagher Gallery,www.simpsongallaghergallery.com/Artwork.cfm?artistID=7&artworkID=1054.

Who was Joseph Mallord William Turner? 

Abecedarian & Found Book Review

One thing I love about my work is that it's never the same from day to day. I can work with students, teachers, and books in all kinds of ways.

This week, I was hard pressed for a Poetry Friday topic. There's just so much angst surrounding us with fires, floods, and fools.  I found myself searching my library's catalog for ABC hoping for some inspiration for Carole Boston Wetherford's abecedarian challenge on Michelle H. Barns' blog, Today's Little Ditty.

I'm not sure why, but this book, Rhythm Ride: A Road Through the Motown Sound by Andrea Pinkney (Roaring Brook Press 2015) came up in the results.

I located the book....and couldn't put it down. 

It's beautiful 

https://andreadavispinkney.com/books/

The story of Motown is one that I've never taken the time to learn. I just like the music. 

I wondered...could I....maybe....try to find lines from this gorgeous book for an abecedarian poem? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Well, maybe if I.....

So, it started out with finding one sentence. And, then there was another....and another. The first part of the poem is on the Today's Little Ditty Padlet--where Michelle collects contributions to her monthly challenge. You can't miss the abecedarian found poem. It has the book cover to Rhythm Ride as an illustration.

As for letters I-Z? check back someday soon to see if it's making some groovy waves.

I challenge you to find a book that you fall in love with....and turn it into an abecedarian found poem. It's a new way to get to know what you're reading. I'll bet middle school students would have fun with this too.

For Poetry Friday fun, stop by Radio Rhythm & Rhyme for this week's round up. Give Matt a hug and a high-five for publication of his first picture book, Flashlight. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Finally, like so many others.....I'm holding those in the Caribbean and the southeast USA in my thoughts. These hurricanes are no joke. Please check in as soon as you can, friends.