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Friday, April 30, 2021

Springtime Word Weaving

It's Poetry Friday time to connect with the creative muse so I carve out a writing space amidst the boxes that still line my hallway and study. Next, I recall last weekend's springtime walk with my little granddaughters and start word weaving my thoughts into different types of poetic forms for National Poetry Month. I begin with a photo I took during the walk and then transformed it into a digital inspiration. Using the Prisma app and the fibonicci sequence of a six-line twenty syllables poem, I dedicate the following mathematical endeavor to my little granddaughter who is a nature-lover.  

Child
Blows
Wishes
To the wind.
Dandelion dance,
Springtime wonder for little hands.
©CV, 2021

Be lulled by Bob Dylan's Blowin' In The Wind sung by Kina Grannis.


My roots take me back to childhood days when I blew dandy wishes to the wind with the dandelions I plucked. Back then, I also watched my Nonnie make dandelion greens for dinner. While I did not continue that tradition, I do love to drink tea made of dandelion roots or herbs but never explored the idea of growing a patch of dandelions in my herb garden. I wonder if they would take over the basil and parsley I intend to grow? I decide to use a different mathematical format to pen equation poems introduced to me by my poet friend Laura Purdie Salas to ponder my streaming thoughts.

dandelion root  x  wish weed puffs = springtime well-being

yellow weed flower + green stem + white feathers = wishes for happiness

About Poetic Forms

creativity + constrained poetic forms = conscious and concise word choice

Because my busy poet friend Matt Forrest is hosting Poetry Friday this week and invited all to try a tricube poem that consists of 3 stanzas, each of which have 3 ines, which each have 3 syllables, I thought I would challenge myself.  Here is my first tricube.

Spring sounds float
Through the woods 
By the creek.

Trees line paths.
Creek babbles.
Wish weeds pop.

Child picks one.
Holds it tight
and blows hard. 
©CV, 2021


Child giggles
as feathers
float through air.

Little fairies
delicately
blow away.

Spring's wish weeds
signal hope's
airborn flight.
©CV, 2021

What fun it is to have some time to myself to create digitals and word weave as a storm cuts across the patio. I hope you join me at Matt Forrest Esenwine's blog site, Radio, Rhythm, Rhyme. You will not only find more poetry but Matt's new success. Congratulations are in order!
Celebrate the close of a funfilled National Poetry Month

26 comments:

  1. Those dandelion seeds sprouted a bouquet of wonderful poems, Carol! Your fib and the "spring's wish weeds" tricube are my favorites. Well done!

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    1. Catherine, the picture prompts I created of my oldest granddaughter were my inspiration to write. Thanks for joining me early in your morning. Have a wonderful day!

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  2. Wow, tackling four poems in different forms was quite the challenge - and you succeeded admirably! Thanks, Carol - glad you enjoyed the tricube!

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    1. Thanks, Matt, for your comment and hosting. I will introduce the tricube to my graduate class this summer.

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  3. I'm in awe of how you, and by extension your granddaughters, managed to make a weed (that some deem problematic) magical! "Dandelion dance" indeed! *swoon*

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    1. I have always loved dandelions, Bridget. When my mother told me that my grandmother (Nonnie) made a side dish of them, I cringed but I actually grew up loving greens.

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  4. I've written a few dandelion poems, too, Carol, & have some pics of the grands. I love yours and the idea of the 'feathered wisps' in the wind. Simple & happy times are the most important thing in the world!

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    1. Linda, I am loving being able to spend time with y granddaughters. Yesterday, I watched the baby while Sierra went to the doctor with her mother. Then we snuggled in fir her nap while looking at the photos of the afternoon we went out for a nature walk. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  5. Love all the wishes blowing through your poems! Glad your granddaughters are inspiring you.

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    1. Thanks, Buffy, for joining me. I shared the poems I wrote with my almost-4-year-old. She was very interested in the digitized picture s of herself as a way to discuss the day.

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  6. Oh my! Look how that granddaughter of yours is growing and thriving! This is such a hopeful, uplifting post today, Carol. I especially love your Fibonacci poem.

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    1. Michelle, it is so good to connect with you. Yes, Sierra is growing fast. I missed months of her life during the pandemic so I feel blessed to be near her and our new little addition. Sierra enjoys seeing photos I take of her and reading with me. Have a great weekend.

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  7. Oh carol. SO much springy wonder in your post. Thank you. And how lovely to think we were both watching storms as we posted.

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    1. Yes, we are on sync with watching the storms and got another huge one last night, Sally. Thanks for joining me.

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  8. What a fabulous exploration of dandelions and your walk through several poetic forms, Carol! Each form seems to enhance a different aspect of either the experience or of words. I love all of them, and you're so right about how forms like this make us so much more conscious of word choice! Beautiful...

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    1. Thanks, Laura for going me here and on Twitter. I hope your move is less taxing than mine. I do admire you for the number of times you moved in the past 5 years. I can't even imagine that. We are still trying to manage just this one life move.

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  9. Love all your word weavings, Carol. Your post is a multi-media treat for the senses. So glad you are now living in close proximity to your sweet young girls who provide so much inspiration.

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    1. Thanks for joining me here, Christie. I am delighted to be so close to our little ones. Yesterday, we had to rush over to take care of Aurora, 15 months old, since my daughter had to take Sierra to the doctor. It was my pleasure to Grandma-sit.

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  10. I love that you have captured the same topic in so many different formats. And how you have really nailed the magic of the experience! These would be fun to collect and put into a book to give to your granddaughter each year as a Christmas or birthday gift. I'll bet she would love them!!!

    I also love your equation poem about creativity and constrained forms. I messed around with some different forms this month. It was definitely true that they pushed me to be more concise in my word choice. You say it perfectly!

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    1. What a great idea, Carol to collect the digital photos and poems I wrote for and about Sierra over her almost-four-years. Thanks for the idea.

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  11. I love all your dandelion thoughts today! Wonderful!

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    1. Many thanks, Ruth. I just posted SJT and am looking forward to reading your post.

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  12. Your post is chock-full of dandelion poem wonder Carol, and I love your "Dandelion wish-weeds," and your equation poems so full of springtime happiness, thanks!

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    1. It is a splendid spring day here in Virginia and I am full of inspiration from what I see that may be different than Long Island. Michelle.

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  13. Those childhood dandy wishes are the best. I remember when a dandelion was magic for me and then for my children. You can make tea from the roots? Do tell us how! I make strawberry tea from strawberry tops. It's delicious.

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    1. Linda, thanks for joining me here. I have been exploring Virginia as I work on organizing the house. I have not personally made dandelion tea but have tasted a tea with herbs and dandelion mixed in. While I cannot remember where I purchased it, I will take a ride to Trader Joe's to see if it is there. If I recall correctly it is not sweet. Now you say you make strawberry tea. I would love to try that. I have so many strawberries at home and plan on taking a trip to Messick farm to pick strawberries. Tell me if you have taken that trip.

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