Welcome to Poetry Friday!
Early Wednesday morning I was driving home from my daughter’s house and stopped at a convenience store for coffee. I stood in line, a bit bleary eyed, but surprised when the woman in front of me told the cashier that she would be paying for my coffee as well as hers. I thanked her and promised to look for an opportunity to pay it forward. The cashier smiled and commented on how we had made that day a wonderful Wednesday. It’s true. That simple act of kindness warmed my heart in the moment and throughout the day. It was especially appropriate because my one little word for 2023 is kindness.
Later, I read Margaret Simon’s post for This Photo Wants to Be a Poem and learned about a writing exercise called “Taking a Word for a Walk” by Anna J. Small Roseboro. You start with an abstract word, then use it as the first word in the first line of your poem, the second word in the second line, and so on until you have six lines. Each line should have six words. So, I put the two experiences together and came up with this:
Kindness can come when least expected.
Sometimes kindness appears as a gesture.
Appreciate a kindness however it’s bestowed,
because acts of kindness aren’t wasted.
Consider an act of kindness opportunity
to delve and dwell in kindness.
Draft, RoseCappelli2023
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a day filled with the kindness of loved ones and strangers as well. Buffy has the roundup today, so be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Thanks for sharing your sweet poem and moment Rose! Happy Poetry Friday!
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I look forward to Poetry Friday all week. Thanks so much!
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Thank you for your kindness (x 6!) Rose! Makes think of stairsteps. xo
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What a fun poetic exercise, and it’s no surprise to find you dwelling in kindness, Rose.
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What a gift, this experience! And I love “delve and dwell” – restores my hope in humanity!
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Oh, I had never heard of “taking a word for a walk” before–what a fun way to start a poem. And kindness is certainly a great way to start a day!
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Rose, kindness matters and I am so impressed that your were provided a random act of kindness to mark your day. I love the taking a word for a walk prompt. I think I want to try it out so many thanks for your kindness to share this process.
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From action to words, a wonderful way to tell us this special thing that happened to you, Rose. In a way you’re now paying it forward to us! It’s lovely!
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What a wonderful post. I love that type of kindness… it’s so easy and so fun for both the giver and receiver.
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Rose, that is a challenge to use the same word on every line, and you made it flow so naturally! Wonderful poem, and wonderful sentiment.
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I so want to try this form/challenge. You and Margaret both make it look effortless.
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Such an uplifting, inspiring post, Rose. Wonderful poem; enjoyed hearing about the coffee. With so much bad news in the world, it’s refreshing to hear about good people.
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It seems kindness is everything and I love your poem celebrating it. We are all capable of kindness and the will to exercise it. Thanks for this new-to-me form.
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What a fun form, Rose. You applied it perfectly to illustrate the ripple effect of kindness. 🙂
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Rose, what a sweet kindness poem. I want to consider each moment an “…opportunity / to delve and dwell in kindness.” That is such a generous and beautiful thought.
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Wow! One beautiful moment led to another with this poem, Rose!
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