Poetry Friday -- Emotional

What I love most about my 2015 National Poetry Month project is what I love most about writing poetry: I had the vaguest of notions how the whole thing would play out, and it grew to be more than I ever could have imagined.

I billed the project as emotions from "Anger to Zest," when in fact we went from Anticipation to Relief.

Not I -- we. The most amazing thing about the month was writing alongside Carol, Kimberley, Kim, and Steve. I loved overlapping challenges occasionally with Jone, and also having Carol V., Linda, Heidi and Kevin write with us occasionally. The conversations in the comments both at A Year of Reading and Poetrepository kept me going.

I'm proud of my collection as a whole, but there are a couple with inside jokes I'd like to share.

On April 29, I tucked the adage, "Pride goeth before a fall" into this poem:

PRIDE

Is it branches full of unopened blossoms against
an impossibly blue April sky?

Or could it be rows of trees, heavy with fruit in
late summer, yellow jackets hovering?

Look down. Is it in the remains of
the bounty, rotting after October frosts?


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

I'm still cracking myself up over the various kinds of interest you encounter at various kinds of banks. (from April 19):

INTEREST

At the bank
it's what you get
without trying.
You just have to be there.
(monetarily)

At the (river)bank
it's what you get
without trying.
You just have to be there.
(open-mindedly)


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

But probably my favorite, is this hidden tribute to ROYGBIV, from April 14:

THE WHOLE SPECTRUM, PLEASE

tulip petal

monarch wing

forsythia's shock

first leaves in spring

prairie sky

shadows on snow

thunderhead's tower

dogwood, crow

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

There's a whole blogpost to be written about my email haiku lessons from Diane Mayr. In that future blogpost, I will show how this pair, seen here still in draft, have undergone an amazing transformation through a series of gentle nudges by Diane!

The roundup is now at Ellen Leventhal's personal blog, Elementary Dear Reader. 

PO-EMotion -- Relief

Wikimedia

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I have written

the poems

that were sitting on the shelf

in plain sight

and also the ones

locked in the cupboards.

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

but I've had enough for now.

I think I'll walk

down to the park.

I sh'an't be gone long.

You come too?

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"Relief"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Relief"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"In an Instant"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.

PO-EMotion -- Pride

Flickr Creative Commons photo by Todd Shoemake

PRIDE

Is it branches full of unopened blossoms against

an impossibly blue April sky?

Or could it be rows of trees, heavy with fruit in

late summer, yellow jackets hovering?

Look down. Is it in the remains of  

the bounty, rotting after October frosts?

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"Pride"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Pride"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"Piano Pride"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.
"Bring Spring Inside"

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.

PO-EMotion -- Optimism

PLANTING BULBS IN THE FALL

It will matter

that I gave them

time 

and 

choice.

It will matter

that they read

widely,

deeply,

voraciously.

It will matter 

that we were family --

accepting

and

respectful.

It will matter

in a someday spring

when they

truly

bloom.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

Carol has two very different takes on optimism.

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Optimism"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"An Inconvenient Optimism"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.
"Optimism"

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.

PO-EMotion -- Contentment

this parsley --

all I want from life --

until it's not

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"Contentment"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Contentment"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"Just a Glimpse"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.
"Contentment"

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.

PO-EMotion -- Zest

A CLERIHEW FOR JAMA RATTIGAN

Jama shines above the rest,

cooks up blog posts filled with zest.

She's not gilding on a lily,

she's the allspice in our chili!

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Flickr Creative Commons Photo by Cicely Miller

TURN THE HEAT UP

In our haste 

to pack away 

sweaters and mittens

we forget 

that spring is fickle.

Abandoning 

the tulips 

to the frigid deluge,

we stir more garlic, chiles, and cumin

into the steaming soup.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"Zest"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Zest"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"A Few Clerihew"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.
Jone's word today is ALLSPICE.

PO-EMotion -- Cheerfulness

Wikipedia

GOLDFINCH

flash of gold 

not smelted 

newly molted

lilting flight

burbling song

undulation

concentrated

coruscating

cheer

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"A Recipe for Cheerfulness"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Cheerfulness"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"Family Portrait"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.
"Celebrate Life"

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.

PO-EMotion -- Distress

Flickr Creative Commons Photo by Nicolas Raymond

HELP!

I ate too much!

I took a test!

My boat capsized!

I'm in distress!

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"distress"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Distress"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"The Procrastinator"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.




Renee has the Poetry Friday roundup at No Water River.

PO-EMotion -- Contempt

Flickr Creative Commons Photo by Menno van der Horst

layers of ice

bend willows

break spirits

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

Contempt -- an acrostic

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Contempt"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"Broken Promises"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.
Jone's word today is WILLOW.

PO-EMotion -- Shame

CAUGHT THROWING A PAPER WAD ACROSS THE CLASSROOM

I'm sorry

I regret it

I know that it was wrong.

(But still

I can't believe that

I made a shot that long!)

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

"Shame"

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Shame"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"My Shame"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.

PO-EMotion -- Guilt

Flickr Creative Commons photo by Dave Crosby

GUILT

rain pouring

unclaimed umbrella 

I stay dry

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

She has two poems that are thought-provoking.

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

an acrostic of Guilt

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"This is Just to Say"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.
Jone's word today is UMBRELLA.

PO-EMotion -- Wonder

FOREST FLOOR

The name of the next street over 

hints at what our neighborhood was 

before there were houses and streets: 

Forest.

The Red Oak in our front yard, 

her sisters the Burr Oak across the street, 

and the trio of Hickories in our neighbor's yard 

are all of a size that suggests they have been standing here 

for at least a century. 

Maybe longer. 

That they have survived the destruction of their habitat 

and adapted to urban living 

is a testament to their tenacity.

But the real miracle can be found 

at the base of our oak. 

On what was once the forest floor, 

(now an unmown ring around the base of the tree) 

sessile trillium, 

perhaps as old as the fragment of forest, 

emerges and blooms 

every spring.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

Wonder Bread and Wonder the book

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Wonder"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.
She celebrates bloggers' voice.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.
Jone's word today is TRILLIUM.

PO-EMotion -- Interest

INTEREST

At the bank

it's what you get

without trying.

You just have to be there.

(monetarily)

At the (river)bank

it's what you get

without trying.

You just have to be there.

(open-mindedly)

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Carol, at Carol's Corner, will join me again this year as often as possible.

Carol shows us the evolution of interest.

Kimberley, at iWrite in Maine, is joining me this month. 

"Interest"

Kay, at A Journey Through the Pages, is joining, too!

"Invisible Trails"

Steve, at inside the dog, is sharing his poems 

in the comments at Poetrepository.

Heidi, at my juicy little universe, will join us when she can.

Linda, at TeacherDance, will join as often as she can.

Check the comments at A Year of Reading or Poetrepository for her poems.

Kevin (Kevin's Meandering Mind) is back this year,

leaving poetry trax in the comments.

Carol, at Beyond Literacy Link, is writing alongside us when she can.
Her post is here.

Jone, at DeoWriter, is doing a "double L" challenge. 

She and I are cross-poLLinating our challenges whenever possible.
Her word today is SHALLOWS.