Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Kidlit Progressive Poem Continues

With delight, Spring enters during National Poetry Month as does the Kidlit Progressive Poem. Poet author, Irene Latham, created the traveling poem from 2012-2019. In 2020, teacher poet, Margaret Simon, began organizing the poem. Each year, thirty poets join together to pen a poem for children. This year, their imagination captures the essence of springtime. Their craft opens the door to a garden of of painted beauty. Each day someone new adds their line to the poem. Step back, breathe in the fragrance of a spring garden, and enjoy the half mark that comprises 2025's Kidlit Progressive Poem.

Open an April window
let sunlight paint the air
stippling every dogwood
dappling daffodils with flair

Race to the garden
where woodpeckers drum
as hummingbirds thrum
in the blossoming Sweetgum

Sing as you set up the easels
dabble in the paints
echo the colors of lilac and phlox
commune without constraints

Breathe deeply the gifts of lilacs
rejoice in earth's sweet offerings
feel renewed-give thanks at day's end


Touched by the majesty of springtime I I tried many different ways to continue the poem in a meaningful way. Then, near the end of day my one little word, renew, guided me forward. The image at the end of my line 15 is a photograph of my beautiful front tree that was digitized. 

I pass the poem on to the talented children's poet and author, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. I look forward to reading how she will close the stanza and what other poetic lines will continue the second half of the Kidlit Progressive Poem. 

Thank you to the following poets for being part of the 2025 Kidlit Progressive Poem during the 2025 National Poetry Month.


I am also submitting this blog post to Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life.
I add the 2025 Kidlit Progress Poem to my 2025 National Poetry Month Project.

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful. I can imagine the feeling of satisfaction when spring comes after winter. Here we do not have a winter so we do not experience such changes.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by. I love the seasons' transition. I would enjoy reading about a year without winter. When snow falls down from the sky in a gentle way, it brings a blanket of peace;

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  2. Carol, your focus on renewal and gratitude touches my heart deeply. You remain very much in my thoughts and prayers each day. I found it hard to come up with one line that felt right for the progressive poem, also! It's more challenging than it seems. Would you mind fixing the last word in my line, please? It should read "commune without constraints" instead of "restraints" - thank you. And yes - it really is fascinating to see where other poets take the poem. A true work of art!

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    1. Fran, I do apologize for not copying your lline correctly when I changed the format to a center placement. Your line was one of those that made me pause with its beauty and succinctness. I am glad that you found the glinch early in the morning.

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  3. I like how the poem begins with windows flung open and suggests morning, and your line brings us to the end of the day. I love this idea of a cooperatively-written poem. I wonder where it will go next!

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    1. Fran, the opening of the poem is indeed beautiful since it shares the excitement of moving into springtime. Thank you for stopping by to comment. Sunset in Virginia is remarkable most of the time.

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  4. Feel renewed! A wonderful directive. I am thinking of you daily in my prayers as you navigate grief with grace.

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    1. Margaret, thank you for continuing to think of me in your daily prayers. Navigating grief is a full time job right now.. My to do list is growing longer each time I look. I am searching for renewal that will make me feel whole.

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  5. Carol, "give thanks at day's end" is the perfect way to end each day. No matter what troubles and hardships we may face during the day, there is still so much to be thankful for come day's end. Joy permeates this poem. All the wonders of the world coming to life once again. How appropriate for this joyous season. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Bob

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    1. Bob, the line I wrote takes away from the sting of loneliness. I am ready to catch the blessing each day. Thanks for your prayers during Holy Week.

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  6. Newtreemom
    Renewal and thanksgiving are so important to keep year moving forward as this poem is with contributions from so many poets. These must be meaningful words to you now, especially, and thoughts and prayers continue to be with you from your many writing friends.

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    1. Dear Diane, I am grateful for your comment.I am honored to be part of this writing community. Have a blessed week.

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  7. This poem just keeps getting better and better, The image of the sweet lilacs brings them to life for me, I felt as if I could smell them. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Smell the fragrance of Spring. It brings so many memories. have a wonderful week!

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    2. The smell of lilac fresh from the branch signifiies the wealth of spring. Enjoy your week.

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  8. Carol, Our poem is growing and time is moving ahead. Ode to spring and its promise, surely a feast for the eyes, the sounds of coming back to life with birdsong we hear more easily it seems, scents of familiar flowerfriends returning and so much more. Hope. Growth. Possibility. All part of feeling renewed which I hope will come for you in the days ahead, my friend. I know you have found a lovely home here in the writing community and you have led the way, too. Like your other friends, my heart goes out to you as you begin your journey to renew all that needs it. I hope spring and its promise will help you on that journey. Your line works beautifully. Janet Clare F.

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    1. Janet, thank you for the lovely comment.The promise of spring opens my heart to renew my vow to move forward. Enjoy Easter and all it brings to your grands and mine.

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