It’s Poetry Friday! The talented Laura Purdie Salas has the round up today here where she gets us ready for winter with a shout out to her new book Flurry, Float, and Fly! and a skillfully crafted villanelle. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.
On Saturday I traveled to the Highlights Retreat Center to participate in Poetry Palooza, a workshop led by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Georgia Heard, Irene Latham, and Charles Waters. Yes! You read that correctly – all four wonderful poets together for three days of inspiration, word play, all things poetry, and fabulous food. I was overjoyed to meet old and new friends, including some wonderful Poetry Friday regulars. I came away with good advice for a WIP picture book manuscript, as well as a renewed interest in a poetry collection I started.
On the first morning of my stay, I came across a red rocker near the banks of the creek. The whole scene was picture perfect, and the creek (although you can’t hear it in the picture) seemed to be in conversation with anyone passing by. I jotted a small poem, the first of many I wrote over the course of the workshop, when I returned to my room in the Farmhouse.
Here’s another small poem inspired by the poet-tree we created with Georgia and Rebecca, and the invitation in Georgia’s Heart Beats calendar to create a new color called “generosity.”
Generosity
glistens like sunset gold
glittered with bits of stardust
gathering momentum.
Generosity
colors the world with kindness.
Draft, 2025RoseCappelli
There will be another Poetry Palooza at Highlights in 2026, so come if you can! You won’t be disappointed. Registration is now open https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/poetry-palooza-a-workshop-for-poetry-lovers/
Thanks for reading today.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Sounds like you had a fabulous time! I love the idea of answering the murmurs of the creek with your heart and defining generosity with color. Sort of like the Inklings challenge to find words for the taste of happiness!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mary Lee!
LikeLike
Sounds like a fabulous retreat, how tempting… Both your poems are lovely, inviting, and “Generosity” sparkles throughout, thanks for sharing them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michelle.
LikeLike
Rose, it was such a pleasure to meet you at Highlights in person and spend time with you and your beautiful poetry!!! The “bittersweet” and “answer with your heart” really resonated with me and reminded me that poetry is conversation. I also love that you expanded on our “Poet-Tree” word prompt and Georgia’s post to create your luminous “Generosity” poem! You are an inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words, Mona! So glad you stopped by and I hope you jump into Poetry Friday, too. Meeting you in person was a “highlight” at Highlights!
LikeLike
I love how these poems sit naturally together in conversation, Rose –the generosity of a red rocker :). See you Tuesday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Patricia! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
LikeLike
Oh, Rose, all of you together sounds just wonderful, & your endings of both poems, terrific. It is so inspiring to be there, to listen to everyone & share, to be out in those woods, a sweet site for a red rocker! I’m glad you shared!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Linda!
LikeLike
When surrounded by like minded souls, inspiration frequently flourishes, Rose. In that place you have found fresh new words to bring forward. How good is that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Alan. The walks helped, too – Solvitur Ambulando.
LikeLike
I love “nestled in bittersweet”. I envy your time at Highlights. It’s on my bucket list. I am so tempted to sign up today for next year. But a whole year away, so many things can change! What a wonderful team with those 4 poets!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be lovely to meet up with you at Highlights, Margaret! It does seem like a long way off, but I know the workshop will fill quickly. A small deposit will hold your spot and is refundable if things change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a truly inspiring workshop. Enjoyed both your poems. That red rocker has lots of personality, and yes, so inviting! Your generosity poem is filled with warmth and good feelings. Coloring the world with kindness is beautiful. Wonderful use of alliteration too.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jama!
LikeLike
I love the farmhouse! I stayed there in 2024. I’m so glad you got to go to Highlights. I would so love to attend a Fall poetry retreat. Someday, I’ll get to it. I love your rocker poem. I’d love to chat with the creek of the stream and the creak of the rocker.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like a magical time, Rose. That red rocker in the midst of the autumn gold has captured my heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rose, that rocker image and poem really resonates with me. Yesterday, I went to the garden here in central Florida where we donated a memorial bench with a lovely John Muir quote on it in memory of my parents. The bench is next to a tiny creek. It’s in an area ravaged by a hurricane a few years ago, but newly replanted. So still sparse, but a fitting “resting place” in memory of my folks. And flourishing in a few years, we hope. Bittersweet, indeed. xox, Laura
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thinking of you, Laura. What a beautiful tribute to your parents.
LikeLike
What a wonderful weekend. I have been feeling a bit of FOMO for missing out on the Highlights workshop. The red rocker is so inviting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so glad you were able to go to this Rose! It sounds like you had a wonderful time and were productive, too! I love the Red Rocker and can imagine myself being drawn to write about it too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
that sounds wonderful. What a delight to just be poetry. I envy your time there as well. Thanks for your poems, and for a moment to imagine myself in that place.
i love, “listen to the creek, then answer with your heart”. That is what poetry does.
LikeLiked by 1 person