In the spirit of Miss Dickinson

Good March, Friends.

When I saw Margaret's invitation for this week, March spirit-wind, I was a little stumped. Yes, I could easily write about the Holy Spirit. Lent is a time for me to think about spiritual matters in preparation for Easter.

Then, this bit of poem came across one of my social media platforms. I wish I could remember which one and when. I snagged it to share with my students thinking it was the whole poem. And, when I returned to the internet hours later to search for it found the entire poem.

I couldn't resist. I had to write back to Miss Dickinson. I've been getting to know her slowly as a poetry student. She is a wonderful teacher. 

read the rest here

Hello Miss Dickinson, Hello! 

Thank you – thank you- 

It’s been too long-- 

a journey like no other- 

This old hat has been battered -

about by the wind- 

My breath comes and goes 

with this lingering cough- 

How are you--Dear Miss Dickinson? 

Have you noticed Nature? 

Oh, let’s go sit— 

and look upon it together. 

I received your response- 

and the woodsmoke 

after our holidays 

when The Maples ran -

with sap over crusted snow. 

But Miss Dickinson, forgive me— 

all that corn snow melted 

for your ink well— 

have you used it up already? 

Will anyone be joining us? 

Miss April always wants in on-

our news. But she can wait-

I long for cold greening hours-

in velvet dressing gowns. 

You can fix my hair --

as I read your newest poems. 

Maybe tomorrow the young ones next door 

will fly a kite and we can watch where it roams.

(c) Linda Mitchell

Wood, Grant. “March.” Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian American Art Museum - Renwick Gallery, 2021, www.si.edu/object/march:saam_1979.18.

Thank you Margaret Simon for hosting Spiritual Thursday and participating in Slice of Life this month at her blog, Reflections on the Teche. Make sure you don't miss her newest!