Friday, May 18, 2012

Poetry Friday: Distractions



DISTRACTIONS

Well.
Here I am.
Left behind
yet again.

I turned to watch the shadow of a cloud
pass over the riverbank
and when I turned back
the breadcrumbs had already been tossed.

Yesterday, I was noticing
the way a seed
swirled in the current
and suddenly my siblings were nowhere to be seen.

Look,
There's an ant
climbing the crest
of that bending blade of grass.


© Mary Lee Hahn, 2012


Katya has today's Poetry Friday roundup at Write. Sketch. Repeat.


22 comments:

  1. I love this. It is just about as perfect as they come! This little guy is totally like three or four kids in my class! And how I'm feeling right now-- every time I look away for a second, everyone else is zooming away or ahead! Thanks so much!

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  2. I'm glad to know little ducklings are as distractible as little boys. Thank you for sharing this poem.

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  3. Yes! What a true poem. And I love this guy...and you...and everyone this poem describes. a.

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  4. How delightful, Mary Lee! Thanks for sharing. We wrote mask poems up at the poetry workshop in Honesdale this week. (I even wrote a short little poem later about a blade of grass,too!) LOVE this voice, and the way you ended it in the midst of another wondrous diversion.

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  5. I like your poem.

    Poetry becomes an interesting view point when you are the duck, or a cloud etc.

    This gave me some good ideas. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from Frank McCourt, when he spoke to a group of us in Birmingham. He said, "there's something sweet about digression." I sure do like the way your little duck is not left behind at all, just onto sweeter things. Lovely!

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  7. Such a sweet poem. Love the little guy's voice. :)

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  8. What a great mentor poem for us to use when talking about voice with young writers. I love the little guy and the value of finding wonder in the world, no matter who you are! Thank you!

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  9. And now I know what it's like to be a duckling. Thank you for taking us inside that little head of his (or is it hers, or is it yours), Mary Lee. -Ed

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  10. I want to hug those ducks!

    I posted lyrics from Glow by Katy Rose at Bildungsroman.

    Happy Friday, everyone!

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  11. I was thinking about what to say, when I read of Frank McCourt's quote in Irene's comment above - and that is exactly true. This poem brings to mind so many of my kiddos...especially at this time of year!

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  12. What sweet distraction.

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  13. The ducks are so cute. And your poem so true as an adult I'm like that some days.

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  14. Alternate title: If Jim Was a Duck

    I totally relate. That duck is a poet caught up in the natural beauty of his world.

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  15. This is wonderful!

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  16. Obviously many love to see those ducks & they are so cute, but your poem is terrific, Mary Lee, especially that final part, off & running again. Thank you!

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  17. I relate very well to this distracted duck. I don't mean that I feel left behind though, sometimes I feel like others really miss out on what is around them. That little duck is noticing a lot. Thanks for the great pic, I LOVE ducklings!!

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  18. I love your dawdling duckling! And I'm glad she's not forsaking her ways.

    Like others, I can relate, as I seem to be constantly = two days behind in this juiced-up socially networked world.

    violet

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  19. Cute! I saw some goslings this spring along with 2 sets of ducklings. My visit to the pond inspired me to write too!

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  20. Anonymous10:42 AM

    Someways I feel like this guy. You capture distractions perfectly.

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  21. Hi Mary,
    Thanks for the post at All About the Books with Janet Squires. I recently ordered a copy of Eureka through Follett Library Resouces and it is also available through Amazon.

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  22. I think I am one of those little goslings. Always caught off guard by what the crowd has discovered without me!

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