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Hello Poets, Writers, Thinkers, and Sojourners,
Today is the first day of November. I have always found the day after all the energy of Halloween to be warm and welcoming. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I enjoy the peace of coming into a quieter space and place.
This post serves not one, not two, but three purposes.
- Spiritual Journey Thursday
- Poetry Friday
- One Little Word Reflection
Thank you in advance for your patience with all the purposes.
Spiritual Journey is a once monthly reflection. Spiritual is defined by each writer and reflected in their post. This month, I am hosting Spiritual Journey Thursday. Participating authors and poets will leave their links below. I will edit this post to include links to their work with this fabulous fall leaf show.
Poetry Friday is a weekly poetry check-in. Learn more of the details here,
Many thinkers, poets and authors have taken part in the practice of choosing one-little-word for a year. They reflect on that word in all kinds of ways. According to Google's AI search results, "The One Little Word, OLW, project is a yearly tradition where participants choose a word to focus and reflect on throughout the year. The word can be a thought, feeling, action, or, emotion and can be real or imagined. The goal is to incorporate it into your life and use it to help you remember your goals for the year."
My One Little Word for 2024 is WORLD. What a year to reflect on, pray for, live in and focus on our world. There is overwhelming heartbreak. There are glimmers of joy. I continually converse with my Creator about all of it. Poetry enhances our conversations. How about you?
Clouds
Laid out like sky vertebrae
A backbone for our world
of water and white – vapor and ice.
Delicate and susceptible to a changeable season.
Linda Mitchell--draft
I'm part of a wonderful critique group, The Inklings. They strengthen and sharpen my writing. November is my month to offer our group a writing prompt.
As we enter Native American Heritage Month I ask that you respond to Joy Harjo's Fall Song in any way that makes your heart happy.
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Fall Song by Joy Harjo. |
Riffing on Joy Harjo's Fall Song
by Linda Mitchell
Sun has sunk into November
casting long shadows
against my world, falling asleep.
I hear the wind
gathering skirts with gloved fingers.
Are there words for a goodbye kiss?
I need a refrain in turquoise and violet
of summer evenings.
When I hum an old tune, it’s flat.
If I make it up, it’s too sharp.
Your world plays right here, right now
between gray drones flying and refugees walking.
Moments of hope–
Devastating news.
Black and white photographs tossed into a box.
Our faith in seasons remains.
Harvest has passed.
We hang colored lights
in World's windows
summoning peace.
draft 11/1/24
For more responses to the November prompt check out the work of:
Mary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of Reading
Catherine Flynn @ Reading to the Core
Molly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone
Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche
Heidi Mordhorst @ my juicy little universe
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| One of my top Happy Places! |
Linda, I enjoyed reading your SJT post and thank you for providing such a timely topic for us to ponder. What you stated is true. This year has been stressful. Our prayers are multiplied on top of each other depending on the severity of the news and what happens in our own world. "Overwhelming heartbreak follows week after week but I am glad that you note, "there are glimmers of joy". The Creator listens to our thoughts and needs.Your poem is beautifully delivered. The ending makes me reread your words again and again. "Our faith in seasons remains...We hang colored lights in World's windows summoning peace." I send you thanks for your topic and your outpour of emotion.
ReplyDeleteMy post for SJT can be found at https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/10/my-world-your-world-our-world.html.
DeleteMy post for SJT can be found at https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/10/my-world-your-world-our-world.html.
DeleteLinda, wow, what a treasure chest full of poetry in your post. Thank you for hosting and making it all so compact right here. I've not written much lately, but I was challenged with your post. Your reflection inspired my own. Your riffs on JOy Harjo's poem was rich. I loved the "gathering skirts with gloved fingers" and "turquoise and violet of summer evenings." And those last three lines--I am holding on to them today. Thank you.
ReplyDeletehttps://mrsdkrebs.edublogs.org/2024/10/31/cherish-it-all/