Imagine the Possibilities

Happy Poetry Friday!

We’re taking care of our niece’s dog for a couple of weeks. Anna is a twelve-year-old Great White Pyrenees. She is a big dog, but very gentle and sweet. It took a few days for all of us to adjust to the other’s rhythms, but I think we succeeded. I was so happy to have a burst of cold weather accompanied by two snowstorms this week – a special gift for our special guest. Anna is a guardian, securing our property each morning with a walk around the fence line. All she asks in return is some attention and a soft place to rest. We are happy to oblige.

I’m reading The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal edited by James Crews. Throughout the book, Crews intersperses “Reflective Pauses” that invite writing and reflection. In one, he suggests focusing on a plant or animal and exploring it with curiosity and wonder. During the past week Anna has offered lots of opportunity for observation.

Anna

she trots into the yard

long fur flowing
feeling all the feels

nose in the air
smelling all the smells

rabbits beware
there’s a new girl in town

in this place, this space
this temporary home

she will claim as hers
forever
Draft, 2024RoseCappelli

White on White

like a polar bear in snow
white on white
searching the surroundings
lingering
just a little longer
Draft, 2024RoseCappelli

Robyn has the roundup today on Life on the Deckled Edge. Please join her for a celebration of tea and lots more poetry fun.

Happy Poetry Friday!

A while back while diving into Welcome to the Wonder House by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard (illustrated by Deborah Freedman), I lingered on Rebecca’s poem in the Room of Praise about rain. I loved her opening line: “Rain is everything to a worm, a puddle, an umbrella.” It made me wonder about the things in my life I could offer praise to. I’m a bit particular about the feel of the pen I use as I write. It has to have just the right line thickness, glide effortlessly, and feel comfortable. I had recently discovered one that fit all of my requirements, so I borrowed Rebecca’s line and crafted a praise poem.

That poem about my pen has been sitting on my desktop for months, waiting for the right time to step into the world of Poetry Friday. This week Margaret posted a great picture in This Photo Wants to be a Poem of a collection of pencils gathered in the pocket of a child’s backpack. They reminded me of soldiers, ready for duty. Pens and pencils – maybe it was time to bring praise to both of these important writers’ tools.

The Pilot G-2

A pen is everything to this writer.

Look at the way it sits just-right
in the crook of my index finger and thumb
the way it glides effortlessly across the page
ink flowing like blood
letters
words
thoughts
connecting heart to hand

A pen is everything to this writer.
Draft, RoseCappelli2024

______________________________________________

Pencils

assembled like soldiers
ready to march
across the page
leaving letters and words
in their wake
Draft, RoseCappelli2024

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Tracey has the roundup today here. Be sure to stop by for a wonderful discussion on the history of Monopoly tokens, a poem in praise of the thimble, and lots more poetry goodness.

Happy Poetry Friday!

I live outside Philadelphia along a regional rail line into the city with stops at many small towns on what’s known as The Main Line. Even though my husband has lived in this area all of his life, and I for most of my life, there are some towns we haven’t visited in a long time and others we have never been to. As seniors we have free access to the rail line and have used it to travel into the city. When we do, invariably one of us will comment on how we should use the train to explore more of our area. What new restaurants or shops have cropped up in some of these small towns? What might we discover on a train adventure? So, I did some investigating, purchased a few gift cards, and for Christmas gave him a box of suggestions of places to go and things to see using the train as our transportation. I tell you all this because I think it was the origin of my One Little Word for 2024…explore.

I’ve been choosing a OLW for about ten years now. Sometimes they are soon forgotten or turn out to be not exactly the right word, but sometimes they serve me well, especially when they can extend beyond my writing life. I’m hoping to explore more about the area where I live, myself, and my writing in 2024 and see just where it leads.

In 2024…

discover
how curiosity
fosters new ideas
fills mind and heart
explore
Draft, 2024RoseCappelli

____________________________

On the Eve of a New Writing Year

looking forward like a bride
at the threshold of possibility

preparing the way
anticipating the light

inviting courage to explore my heart
and confidence to share it
Draft, 2024RoseCappelli

By the way, Allan and I had our first “exploring by train” this week. We decided to use one of the gift cards for lunch at a restaurant in Wynnewood. When we got there the restaurant was closed because of an electrical outage, but thanks to some exploring (and a little help from Google) we found another spot. I’ll keep you posted on our adventures.

Marcie has the round up today here. Be sure to stop by for news on her one word for 2024 and what adventures she has planned, plus a look back at 2023. And of course, lots more poetry goodness.

Image from Pixabay

Happy Poetry Friday!

First…

A huge shout out and thank you to Tricia Stohr-Hunt, my Holiday Poetry Swap pal, who sent a packet full of wonder. I’m amazed at how she managed to choose so many of my favorite things, including a cento comprised of NCTE notable poetry books, many of which have now found their way onto by TBR list.

Then…

I attended an art exhibit at the Brandywine Museum of Art showcasing family and nature in children’s book illustration. I viewed original works by Sophie Blackall, Micha Archer, Juana Matinez-Neal, and several others. Inspiring!

At the Brandywine
story
in pictures
elevating wondrous words
Draft, 2023RoseCappelli

Also…

I made a long drive to my friend Kathy M. Miller’s house. I know Kathy as an author (Chippy Chipmunk books), but she is also an accomplished cellist. Kathy invited me to play trios of Christmas carols with her and one of her students. I’m a cello beginner, but I decided to take a leap of faith. I’m so glad I did.

On a Musical Afternoon
Christmas
carols harmonize
across three cellos
Draft, 2023RoseCappelli

Finally…

As I was driving home from Kathy’s, I witnessed a spectacular sight. The sun had been in and out of hiding all day, but at this particular moment it peeked from under the cloud cover and wrapped the whole area in a magnificently warm, almost eerie, glow.

That morning I had written an elfchen about light inspired by Margaret Simon’s photo that she captured on a morning walk. In this week of the Winter Soltice, I was reminded of the wonder and beauty of light.

Window Warmth
candles
offer comfort
in darkened windows
welcome with warm light
peace
Draft, 2023RoseCappelli

Warm wishes to all for a comforting and peaceful holiday season. Jone has the roundup today here where she celebrates the soltice with a nod to the mystery of darkness. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

Happy Poetry Friday!

The prompt this week from the Nevermores was to “write a colorful poem – inspired by a color, full of many colors, or simply containing color.” My thoughts immediately went to the cardinals I watch in the trees outside my writing space. Although we don’t have snow, I love the contrast of red on white that you see so often in photos of these colorful birds.

That got me thinking about other ways red bursts through winter white to make a statement. I also turned to an old mentor text If You Want to Find Golden by Eileen Spinelli and Stacey Schuett. This book takes the reader on a journey through a city from morning until night, highlighting many different colors. Spinelli speaks directly to the reader, encouraging the use of different senses to experience color. Although I chose not to write in second person, I tried to make red come alive with personification.

Winter Red

red winks through winter white
on rosy cheeks from winds that bite
from cardinals perched on willow’s branch
in early morning light

red beckons from the holly
on berries plump for picking
or yarn that’s wound for knitting
some jolly wooly mittens

red wraps fox in silky fur
paints the sky as dusk descends
promising next day’s delight
red whispers into night
Draft, 2023RoseCappelli

Janice has the roundup today at Salt Verse City where she offers thoughts on her holiday activities and a beautiful metaphor about democracy. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.