It’s Poetry Friday!
I love coming across writing invitations that work to get my creative juices flowing, especially when I’m stuck. In her mid-month Heart Beats newsletter this week, Georgia Heard shared an exercise she conducted during her workshop “Words That Sing and Soar” with Irene Latham given through The Poet’s Studio. She chose five words to share with participants and asked them to write a poem using all five words. I thought that might be a good exercise for the Nevermores (my poetry group), and since I was the facilitator for this month’s meeting, I decided to give it a try.
I chose a Mary Oliver poem that appears in Little Alleluias titled “The Morning Walk.” Here is the beginning of that poem:
There are a lot of words meaning thanks.
Some you can only whisper.
Others you can only sing.
The pewee whistles instead.
The snake turns in circles…
I chose five words from the poem: thanks, whisper, can, tree, shine. We all took ten minutes to write allowing the words to inspire thoughts and ideas. The words took us all in different directions, which is what you might expect. Here’s mine:
As Summer Fades to Fall
Thanks to the maple
rising high
touching sky
whispering have a safe journey
to passing geese–
because it can.
Soon, in the last stretch
of its season, that same tree
will shine gold and red
in a dazzling display of life
even in death–
because it can.
Draft, 2026RoseCappelli
Thanks for reading today. Denise has the round up today at Dare to Care. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I love the repeated line “because it can.” In the first stanza, it surprised me, and in the second, it was the just right landing. I love how Georgia’s writing prompts are so accessible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Poetry Friday – Today’s Poetry Roundup is Here | Dare to Care
Rose, yes, yes. “because it can” is a beautiful refrain. I love this sweet prompt, as well as the words you chose from Mary Oliver’s poem. I’m sure it was a delight to hear each of the Nevermores own special take on the words. Red maples are such a beautiful, breathtaking in the fall, tree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a great exercise… and now I’m thinking “because you can.”
;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous prompt, and what a timely and beautiful poem. “in the last stretch/of its season” especially resonated with me. Thanks, Rose!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We don’t have many maples in Denver, so I search for them in autumn, and now from your poem, Rose, I’ll think of its messages sent, “Because it can.” I love how you created from those words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great prompt. It really led to a pretty poem from you. The line, “because it can.” is just so beautiful. I love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a practice of writing a haiku when I solve Wordle in 3. I use each of my three word choices in a line. Sometimes the haiku clunks, but others surprise me! That’s what I love about challenges that give a set of words — the surprise. Your poem surprises and shines!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mary Lee. I’ll have to try that with the Wordle words.
LikeLike
I just love this phrase “in the last stretch
of its season”. Thanks for sharing your process and the rich reward of your poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Add my voice to the chorus of “because it can” fans! :)
LikeLike