Hello, hello, hello!
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| Mixed media collage. Linda Mitchell August, 2024 |
How are you? I've missed you, Poetry Friday people. Summer has been great--let's catch up!
When I left in May for a summer hiatus I was unsure of some things: Would I stop writing? Would creativity leave me in the dust? Would summer be enough time to sort out unfinished projects, new projects and learning opportunities? I have this wonderful and terrible habit of impossibly trying to do all the good things!
Now that I am fully back to work with teachers and students in the building, I can happily report that I have continued to write. Creativity did not leave me in the dust. I have grown as a creative person and I have sorted some projects and project priorities. Although, if I'm honest, I'd love a bit more summertime.
Look! An honorable mention in the Lyrical Language Lab Free Verse Contest '24. I wrote this poem after seeing the contest announcement--as opposed to digging through my files to see if I had written something already that might fit the criteria. Woot! If you think you might want to take a poetry course, the LLL is a good one. It's not easy but it really works your poetic heart, mind and soul. You will be a better writer after taking the course (and doing the work, of course).
I had fun playing with clunker lines you all gave me in May. I'd love to see any clunker re-writes you've worked on.
Here are two lines I from the comments of that post turned into poems:
I have more poems from shared former clunkers. I'll share more in future posts.
See this beautiful Summer Poem Swap gift to me from Denise Krebs? It's such thoughtful art and sentiment. Many thanks to our Tabatha for organizing poetry swaps that make my snail-mailbox a happy place to visit.
A little more art from Jone who gave me some joy too. Mixed media artists sometimes swap Artist Trading Cards aka ATCs (think baseball cards but for artists). She designed this pretty ATC and sent it in one of her gorgeous raven notecards.
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| ATC from Jone McCulloch. Summer 2024 |
There's more from this summer. I don't want to overwhelm you in my first post back. Thank you, Susan @Chicken Spaghetti for hosting our Poetry Friday round-up today. I'm hopping over to see all the poetry goodies you have collected for us.
'We can eat stars until morning' is JUST beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE what you've done with these so-called "clunkers."
Also, I loved seeing that pot holder - man, that takes me back to VBS and summers full of projects of dubious quality which I cheerfully passed off on to my mother, who took them in good grace nonetheless.
☺ - oh, I forgot to say "-from Tanita"
DeleteCongratulations on the Lyrical Lab honorable mention. Your poem hits home for me and all those colorful hot pads that I wove for my mother. I think I still have a loom to pass on to grands. You've made beauty with "clunkers." Creativity did not leave you in the dust. That is obvious!
ReplyDeleteAnother sunny Linda collage! Beautiful. And so many congrats on your HM! What. a shot in the arm...keep going! Hoping you can snatch a few summertime moments even in the midst of back to school. xo
ReplyDeleteThank you for this inspiring, wonder-filled post, Linda! I loved the color words in your potholder poem that brought back many memories. Congratulations on the HM!
ReplyDeleteI did see your poem, special mention, from Renee's contest, Linda! It's wonder-filled, as is your post. Wishing you a lovely new year and welcome back to Fridays!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back and a fresh ovation for your honorable mention! I love "all the versions of" you, and I'll join you in a midnight feast on stars!
ReplyDeleteYou're back! And I'm so glad your creativity visited with you over the summer! :) HUGE congratulations on the contest!!! Yay!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Linda, on your HM! I love that your summer poem captured the colorful weaving that kept me busy as a child on summer vacations. Such a great memory! Clearly, creativity has not left you!
ReplyDeleteSuch a rich post Linda, in words, colors, and art. Love the Georgia O’Keeffe at the top, your popping colors in the potholder, and the stars ⭐️ too. Congrats 🎈 on your honorable mention!!! Thanks for sharing your Lovely poetry Swaps!
ReplyDeleteYou're ruining your reputation as a user of clunkers, Linda, because you don't write clunkers, lol! Love these! And that Georgia O'Keeffe quote is marvelous!
ReplyDeleteGreat summer round up of art, poetry and creative thoughts, Linda. Loved your LLL finalist poem! Inspired to keep going with collage art too, love your sun, Deb and Jone's ATCs. Looking forward to checking out all the Poetry Friday fun:)
ReplyDeleteLinda, clunkers can rise to a memorable moment of peace. May life make cluners into pathways for tomorrow.
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