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Hello Poets and Happy 2024!
I am hitting the ground running after a glorious winter break trip to Hamburg, Germany. Even though the weather was dark and drizzly, I loved all of the Christmas markets, art museums, neighborhood walks, and dinners with friends. Thank you, Marcie Atkins, for hosting this week's round-up.
WORLD is my one little word for 2024. I introduced WORLD here. A padlet has been started for WORLD here.
Our creative and smart poemster friend Heidi set the January challenge for the Inklings. Come along and play with us.
First, we received this beautifully hand-made countdown calendar. Each day celebrates Yuletide with a prompt for thinking and writing. I love this so much!
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| Heidi's gift |
I don't have a poem for every prompt...but I have some. Each prompt worked well with my time away to slow down and look--taking in sights, sounds, and, feelings more than my day-to-day speaking, teaching...and even complaining. Writing to these prompts was good for my soul.
Returning Sun
When our faces are hidden by winter clouds
we wear scarves, hats, and mittens
We look for you in the dark sky
We call out Sun, return to us!
Sun, return to
Sun, return
Sun
Linda Mitchell 1/5/24
Generosity
Seating with room to spare-
including a spot for you
on this crowded bus of the WORLD.
A smile for you and all
your friends – and theirs too.
Generosity has spare change
to help anyone out in a pinch.
Generosity makes sure no one
is left out or behind.
Generosity has an abundance of heart,
space, things to share.
All of this and more is generosity.
Linda Mitchell 1/5/24
Home
Where cats
sleep in my favorite chair
Home is where brewing coffee
scents the air
Home is where my laptop
sits on our kitchen table
Home is where I am able
to look out to pine trees
waving seasons in
and sweeping seasons out.
Home is where I sleep best
best when everyone I love
is there.
Home is singing washing dishes after a close game of cribbage
Home is
reading before bed and a kiss goodnight.
Linda Mitchell 1/5/24
I love that we both shared a picture of Heidi's gift "in the wild," and that we both chose our Generosity poems! My Home poem featured the kitchen junk drawer! I loved calling the sun back on the Solstice. So. Much. Fun.
ReplyDeleteLinda, your poems are so very you, written even as they are to someone else's vision! We both repeated "Return!" 3 times; I love "pine trees waving and sweeping," and "all of this and more" is in fact generosity. Thank you for playing along and hanging my creation in such a beautiful spot, my friend. May the WORLD be good to you this year!
ReplyDeleteI love these poems and this glimpse into your poetic world. What a wonderful word choice too, at a time when we need to see the world as a whole.
ReplyDeleteFrom word to world... how wonderful, Linda! So glad for your holiday, too. May it will bring you many poems! xo
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your journey with world—you had a wonderful jump- start visiting Germany! The voice of “Generosity” is intoxicating—love its casualness, and I love “Home’s” closing, thanks for all Linda!
ReplyDeleteWORLD is so apropos, Linda! It is expansive and looks outward. Great choice! I love your poems. Home, in particular, got me with your line about sleeping best when everyone you love is there. I know that feeling well.
ReplyDeleteSuch a gift - the prompts! I adore your call to Sun - especially the repeating, yearn of "Return!" I feel it with my whole body.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Happy New Year and what a treat to travel to another part of the WORLD. Your new OLW allows an international look at life. I look forward to what your padlet will grow into. "Generosity has an abundance of heart." - A beautiful line! I also liked this imagery-filled line: "I can see Home is where I am able/to look out to pine trees/waving seasons in/and sweeping seasons out". The world is your oyster in 2024< Linda.
ReplyDeletespace, things to share.
WORLD is a great word! And I love the gift of prompts. So lovely!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read the poems that spring from your OLW! I always enjoy you poems. My favorite today is "Home." So comforting!
ReplyDeleteOops! I am the anonymous commenter. : )
ReplyDeleteWonderful word for the year, Linda. I especially loved your poem about generosity - it's in so many small actions and reminds me that it's a cousin of kindness. Have a wonderful year exploring WORLD.
ReplyDeleteThat "Home" is so full of particular details--I love it, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about your trip and look forward to learning more about where "World" and you will travel together this year. Your Generosity poem is so warm and big-hearted--just like you! I also really like how you chose to broaden the "home" prompt by including the multiple small details that combine to create your home. Perfect!
ReplyDelete"World" is a fabulous word for 2024, Linda. And oh, "Home" ... happy sighs, so relatable. Happy new year, friend!
ReplyDelete