Imagine the Possibilities

It’s Poetry Friday! Carol has the round up at The Apples in My Orchard. Be sure to stop by to see the beautiful wooden bowls and jewelry that she and her husband craft, plus lots of poetry goodness.

I’ve been vacationing with my family at the Jersey shore since I was a little girl. By the time I started taking my own kids there, a new bridge gave way to a new route that took us past Rosie’s Farm Market. We always made it a point to pick up some fresh produce or baked good, and my kids always teased about it being MY market. So, when Margaret posted a picture of a summer farm market for this week’s “This Photo Wants to Be a Poem,” my thoughts immediately went to Rosie’s where the slogan is “Rosie’s Has It All!” (My family also often quotes that slogan.) As much as I am looking forward to being on the beach with the whole gang in July, I’m also wildly anticipating a stop at Rosie’s.

Vacation Pit Stop

On the way to the shore
we stop at Rosie’s for
Jersey ripe tomatoes,
cucumbers and corn,
pink plump peaches,
blueberries and more –
Rosie’s has it all!
Draft, RoseCappelli2025

Photos are from Rosie’s website: https://rosiesfarmmarket.com/ If you’re in the Mullica Hill, NJ area, please stop by.

It’s Poetry Friday!

I’ve been experimenting with creating a moon garden in my back yard, an area with plants that might capture and reflect the glow of moonlight. I did a little research, but mostly I’ve been looking on my own for plants and flowers in silver and white.

Last week I came across a plant called Angel Wings. I was attracted to its velvety silver leaves and its name. When I view it in the garden from the patio, it really does look like angel’s wings. It reminded me of the angels I sometimes see on gravestones, especially those of children, perhaps to provide comfort and guardianship.

Angel Wings

In moon’s soft glow,
Angel Wings rest
like gravestone guardians,
wait to rise
on silvery white fronds—
enchanting
Draft, 2025RoseCappelli

The peonies are up, but with all the rain we’ve had, they won’t last long. So I’ve been bringing in as many as I can. Peonies always bring back sweet childhood memories.

The Scent of Peonies

Peony shoots wake,
reach for the sun,
grow into sticky nubs
that slowly, slowly
unfurl
into fragrant pink and white cups.
I breathe in the sweetness.
I find the memories.
Draft, 2025RoseCappelli

Karen has the roundup today here. Please stop by for lots of poetry goodness, and thanks for reading.

It’s Poetry Friday!

This month I’ve been using prompts from Georgia Heard from her newsletter Heartbeats. You can find out more here. Georgia encourages readers to write small daily. Here’s my tanka from Thursday’s prompt “what the wind carries.”

Wind whispers through trees
carrying wishes and dreams
in gentle breezes,
like a trapeze performer
hoping to stick a landing.
Draft, RoseCappelli2025

I’ve also been experimenting with punctuation in poetry after participating in Irene Latham’s wonderful webinar on Inked Voices “Harness the Power of Punctuation to Create More Impactful Poetry.” In my poetry group, The Nevermores, Marcie challenged us to write a poem with a form of punctuation we rarely use. I don’t think I’ve ever used a colon in a poem, but now I am seeing it everywhere. I was inspired reading from Barbara Kingslover’s How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons).

This poem combines a prompt from Georgia, “where you belong,” with the use of the colon. I’ve worn many hats in my life as a daughter, sister, teacher, wife, mother, writer, friend…and more. I narrowed it down to those who spoke the loudest.

Where Do I Belong?

A long life down many paths:
where do I belong?

In the garden:
memories from peonies—
the bridge from childhood.

Among children:
encouraging wonder,
awakening curious minds.

With books:
a room filled with shelves,
lined with time.


Footprints found in many places:
that’s where I belong…

pen in hand.
Draft, RoseCappelli2025

Ramona has the roundup today at Pleasures from the Page where she shares a very personal “Where I’m From” poem. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

It’s Poetry Friday!

I’ve been excited to welcome back the bluebirds and to watch them form a family. I don’t know if the male is my original friend, Fred, but I like to think he is. Just this week the five eggs hatched. I had to be quick with my camera as Fred is very protective, but here they are just a few hours old.

Hatchlings

five eggs nesting
miracle of life transforming
hatchlings greet the world
Draft, 2025RoseCappelli

I write a lot of poems about bluebirds. Here’s one from a few years ago inspired by One Dark Bird by Liz Garton Scanlon, a beautiful picture book about a murmuration of starlings.

One Blue Bird

1 blue bird
waves a wing
scans the sky
starts to sing

2 fine friends
build a nest
twigs and grass
woven, pressed

3 smooth shells
next day 4
not done yet
there’s one more

5 warm eggs
nestled deep
peck, peck, CRACK—
cheep, cheep, cheep!
Draft, 2023RoseCappelli

Sarah Grace Tuttle has the roundup today here where she shares her April Poetry Project, What May Not Be Erased: A Chapbook of Protest Poetry. Be prepared to be inspired! And be sure to stop by for lots more poetry goodness.