Imagine the Possibilities

This week I’ve been thinking about shapes in poetry. Not concrete poetry where the poem is written in the shape of its subject or theme (although that would be fun to try), but more a poem inspired by a shape, or one in which a specific shape is used to describe something else. A favorite of mine from Valerie Worth is this one:

sun
by Valerie Worth

The sun
Is a leaping fire
Too hot
To go near,
But it will still
Lie down
In warm yellow squares
On the floor
Like a flat
Quilt, where
The cat can curl
And purr.

I think the unexpected mention of a square, rather than the expected circle, surrounded by the metaphor and simile is what makes this poem so special. I was thinking about these surprises while I watered the garden the other day and noticed a spider web strung among the plants and flowers – an unexpected triangle surrounding the expected circle. Unfortunately, my attempt to capture a picture failed.

In the Garden

A spider spun a triangle
leaf to leaf to leaf,
then circles inside circles
until it was complete.
Woven with the finest silk,
a model of design,
the impressive steamstress lingers
until it’s time to dine.
Draft, 2022Rose Cappelli

May your week be full of surprises and wonder. Janice has the roundup this week at Salt City Verse. Be sure to stop by for more poetry fun.

This week I’ve been experimenting with etherees. I wrote one inspired by my backyard birds, one about the beautiful strawberry moon that appeared this week, and one inspired by a Mary Oliver poem, “Music Lessons.” I took violin lessons for a dozen or so years as I was growing up. On Saturday mornings I traveled to my teacher’s house. She had three dogs with very musical names— Cadenza, Melody, and Trill. Her studio was on the third floor in an old house decorated with all things musical, including the large tapestry that hung on the wall in the studio. Thank you, Mary Oliver, for taking me back to that space I loved, and for providing the title of this etheree:

Music Lessons

each
note climbs
up the scale
and down the trail
of a melody,
creating the music
drifting throughout the old house
with the sleeping dogs on rich rugs
who dream of adventures and journeys
to places where harmonies stir the soul.
Draft, 2022RoseCappelli

Michele has the roundup this week here. Be sure to stop by for her tribute to her Dad, and daughters and dads everywhere. And for those of you celebrating this weekend, Happy Father’s Day!

Last week I was on a writing retreat with one of my critique groups – an annual event at the home of one of our members. It is a few days full of catching up, learning, writing, relaxing, reading, and eating. This year I took a few long walks in the surrounding woods. I usually try to just take in the beauty of nature around me, but on one particular morning I found myself snapping lots of pictures and jotting down phrases. Here’s what came of it in the form of a nonet I wrote for my poetry group, the Nevermores.

Daisies in the Rough

Wild daisies cluster along the path.
Velvet soft petals surround suns
of golden goodness for bees
who stop for a quick sip.
These sweet surprises
make me take note
of nature’s
gifts to
all.
Draft, 2022Rose Cappelli

Buffy has the roundup this week here. Be sure to stop by to learn about Lady Slippers, and of course lots more poetry fun.

The assignment from my poetry group, the Nevermores, over at Inked Voices was to write an ekphrastic poem. Marcie very kindly provided some links to photos that could be used without fear of copyright infringement. I soon found myself in the archives of the Library of Congress, perusing a myriad of photos. When I found this one, I knew what my poem would be about:

Several years ago I read about Harriet Hemenway and her cousin, Minna, who worked tirelessly to help birds whose feathers, wings, and sometimes whole bodies were being used to decorate hats. These were mostly high society women, so Harriet organized tea parties where the plight of birds could be discussed. This was also at the turn of the 20^th century, so since women did not yet have the right to vote, Harriet also invited influential men to join the discussion. These discussions were not only successful, but formed the basis of what would become the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Birds of a Feather

Once birds of a feather
gathered together on hats,
not the top of a tree.
Until Harriet said,
“Please come to tea, and we’ll talk
about where birds should be!”

Bird feathers were plucked,
disjointed and tucked
into hats to admire with glee.
Until Harriet said,
“Please come to tea, and we’ll talk
of where feathers should be!”

From society’s highest
both women and men
convened to converse over tea.
Then Harriet said,
“Spread the word about birds!
We need laws to protect and preserve!”

Now birds of a feather can gather together
without fear of ending up dead,
because Harriet said,
“Birds deserve to be free!”
And Congress declared,
“We agree!”
Draft, 2022 Rose Cappelli

Karen has the roundup today here where you can travel to Innisfree as well as read lots more poetry.

Let me begin by expressing my outrage and sorrow at the recent events in Uvalde, TX. My thoughts, prayers, and tears are with the families in that community and teachers everywhere. May you find the strength to carry on.

Tomorrow is my 45^th wedding anniversary. This week I unboxed the wedding dress I wore that day, the one I created and embroidered. I examined the stitching, wondering how I managed that accomplishment, while acknowledging that I must have always had a creative side, just expressed it differently. While once I created with sewing and handwork, now I create with words.

Yesterday I met with a friend who will use pieces of the dress to make a table runner for my daughter. Appropriately, it will lay atop the table my husband made for her when she bought her house.

The Dress

I finger the silky fabric,
remembering
a young girl
with daisies in her hair
waltzing in the dress she designed,
stitched,
embroidered.
Remembering
the dress
billowing in the breeze,
then tucked away.

Tucked away but never completely forgotten
through a life she designed,
stitched,
embroidered
with love and learning,
joys and sorrows.

I finger the silky fabric one last time
before the dress is just a memory—
transformed
but never completely forgotten.
Draft, 2022Rose Cappelli

Linda has the round up today at A Word Edgewise with a beautiful tribute to students and teachers. Please visit to find lots of poetry goodness.