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Thank you, The Opposite of Indifference for hosting this week's round-up!
It's still cold in my world...very, very cold. Right now I'm very thankful for the little button on my van's key-fob that starts my car while I'm still inside so that when I go out into 9 degree cold (minus 12 for Celsius folks) I can enjoy a less cold vehicle!
I'm more thankful for our Jone Rush-MacCulloch for not only hosting a wonderful 2025 postcard exchange (such lovely cards arriving in my mailbox) but also for hosting a zoom session, Creating for Persistence, last Saturday. It was exactly what my soul needed.
We chatted, read poetry, listened to poetry and responded to some great prompts organized and brought to us by Jone. I surprised myself with writing some half-decent drafts. What a great way to spend January time.
This is a draft from last Saturday in response to James Crews poem, I keep My Hope.
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Crews, James. “James Crews on Instagram: Instagram, Meta, 4 Jan. 2025, www.instagram.com/james.crews.poet/p/DEZ2EWbRJoH/. |
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Metzinger, Jean. “Still Life: Playing Cards, Coffee Cup and Apples, 1917 - Jean Metzinger.” Www.Wikiart.Org, 1 Jan. 1970, www.wikiart.org/en/jean-metzinger/still-life-playing-cards-coffee-cup-and-apples-1917. |
My response draft:
Still Good
Cracked Cup
Still good
My cup
Running over
Running under
Under cooked
Raw
Raw oyster
Raw bar
Saltwater
Sand and sea
Beach barefoot
Early wake up
Back deck
Coffee in hand
My cup
Cracked
Still good
Linda Mitchell -- draft
There is something particularly disappointing about a cracked favourite cup! Sometimes I keep them to hold doodads. Othertimes I use them as pot plants. Cup plants? (I can see why you would be very thankful for that little key-fob button. Stay warm.🤗)
ReplyDeleteYay for the key-fob trick! And for all the things that may be blemished, imperfect, but "still good." xo
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason why Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "Pied Beauty" is a favorite of mine! I'm here for a "All things counter, original, spare, strange"...including cracked crockery!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I thoroughly enjoyed your take on the cracked cup. What fun to trail along your path of imaginings!
ReplyDeleteLove that you have that wonderful 'key-fob'. I do not & often sit shivery in my car next to a neighbor's that is warming up. (We share spaces without a garage.) It is the little things! I wish I could have joined the group, sounds very fun, but love that you're sharing James Crews & your own response, Linda, that your own 'cracked cup' "runneth over". Emotions fill your poem with such heart!
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing this "in print" this week, Linda -- and I found myself reading it backwards to (reverso-style) and love it even more!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I missed Jone's poetry gathering. Sounds wonderful! I love ending with "still good." Stay warm! xo
ReplyDeleteBrrrrrr!!! It's been cold here, too, but nothing like folks have been having elsewhere - my in-laws are in Saskatchewan, and with the wind chill it feels like -40C!!! Forget my fingers, I think my very brain would freeze!
ReplyDeleteMy remote starter and heated seats are on the top of my gratitude list every winter, but especially this one! It's been weeks since we've hit 32˚ F. I love the Crews poem you shared and your response. There are so many things to ponder about breaking, worth, utility, etc. Keep writing and stay warm!!!
ReplyDeleteLinda, last Saturday's Zoom workshop was so much fun. My little grandgirls were peeking at me through the glass doors but were quiet throughout the 2 hours. I was so appreciative that I had time to chat. Patricia had a wonderful idea to read your draft backwards. A reverso in the making-wonderful! We are definitely in Long Island winter weather.
ReplyDeleteThis is like a little blitz, right? Works well--suggesting that until the cup is cracked from good use and leaking water, it's raw in a way, undercooked, but once "done," it accompanies us to the place we want to be, cracked and still good.
ReplyDeleteAfter RBG died, my RBG mug cracked and I just was devastated. It seemed like a sign! I love that you are working barefoot in to this poem. :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you about the cold Linda, it's been cold in Chicago too… Hang in there the light is lasting a we bit longer each day! I like the repeating of "Cracked Cup/Still good" starting and ending your poem, and the stream of consciousness feeing flowing through, and the bits of bites/stings in between, thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd you even managed to get "barefoot" in there!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I was sorry to have to miss the Saturday gathering at the last minute. The Crew poem and yours are great. I enjoyed seeing the movement in your poem to the back porch and relaxing with your still good cracked cup. And I was glad I was reminded of your one little word barefoot too, after I read Karen's comment.
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