Poem Swap 2016

Summertime is our time to follow our passion, recharge, and relax. Poem swapping is one activity that I have been involved with for two summers now. There is an element of creativity and anticipation each time a swap approaches. Swappers send an original poem to a person in the writing community via Tabatha Yeatts, the originator of the Summer Poem Swap.  Poem swapping allows me to be taken back to a quieter time in America when postcard writing was the norm.

Poem Swap #1 was sent to me by a writing colleague, Jone MacCulloch early this summer. After Jone visited Yellowstone National Park she sent me another surprise. Inside the package was a postcard that read: "I got  home from this gorgeous place. Felt inspired to create little journals to tend to poetry swappers. Enjoy." Thank you, Jone, for the inspirational quote and petite notebook beside the summer postcard poem that can be found here.

An intriguing POEM SWAP #5 package arrived on July 20, 2016 from my poet friend, Keri Lewis. I sent this tweet back to her with a hug. 

While I am tempted to open the package, I tweeted this to Keri, "I'll play by the rules, Keri, until August 22nd."

Then, Poem Swap #3's package arrived before I left for a beautiful "summerscape" weekend celebrating a family friend's wedding at the Jersey Shore. My Twitter friend and poet, Linda Baie, filled the envelope with many pieces to read. It was like Christmas in July this month. Linda wrote a beautiful summer poem using the Etheree poetic format. The Etheree consists of 10 lines of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 syllables.

Whose POV?

When

Flowers

Cry to be

Celebrated-

Pink, cerise, orange,

Spring cycles summer bright;

Rainbow-swathed gardens invite

Bees, butterflies, ladybirds, worms

To add their part to this growing crowd.

Boastful humans write poems of their feat.

©Linda Baie, 2016

Beside the poem, Linda sent me a precious, little book that is over 100 years old (see above).The book celebrates poetry, florals, life, nature, and faith. As Linda said, it reminded her of my galleries (the invitation to #Summerscapes can be accessed here). I thank Linda today for her thoughtful collection of poetry that she sent me. Little did she know that I have a collection of books dating back to the Victorian era that I purchased from one family's collection along with a beautifully carved, rosewood couch from the 1850's. 

When I returned from the Jersey Shore, I sent off my Poem Swap #3 to my colleague, friend, and writer, Margaret Simon. It was a humble attempt at a riddle poem inspired by the intense heat. After that, I found a poetry prompt on Margaret's Instagram site that intrigued me, so I composed this while thinking about my journey into digital writing.

Reflection in Pink

journey to restful

pleasures deep in the forest-

which way to turn

©CV, 2016

Now please join my friend Margaret Simon who is hosting Poetry Friday this week at Reflections on the Teche.

Poetry Alive!

Poetry is alive every season of the year but who can deny the sweet smell of summer blossoms as a spark to be creative. When Tabatha Yeatts of The Opposite of Indifference announced the Summer Poem Swap 2015, I knew that I would be interested in the creative venture but a torn rotator cuff would prohibit me from the full experience. Tabitha was kind enough to provide me with one swap and so I passionately set off to create after I found out whom my swap partner was. 

I soon discovered that for me the one glitch of the project was in the optional activity of sonnet writing but I embarked on a search for inspiration journey that led me to the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. At Long Island's Jones Beach, I collected shells of different varieties. These appeared to be randomly washed ashore as if the sea casually discarded them for passerbyers' delightful pickings. The trinkets from nature's tossings glistened in the sun waiting to become the gems for my creative project. Although they provided inspiration for writing, I still could not capture the essence of sonnet writing, so after many attempts I forgo that format. I decided upon one that would suit my writing style and be a worthy offering for my swap recipient, Keri Collins Lewis. If you stop by Keri Recommends, you will see what I sent to her. 

This morning when I opened Facebook, I was so excited that I could hardly contain my joy when I saw what Keri posted, Poetry Friday and Carol's Gift from the Sea. It is wonderful to be filled with passion to create, but equally exhilarating to see your work discussed in a positive light at a social media site. 

This past week a large envelope came in the mail addressed from Buffy Silverman, author of nonfiction books and poetry for young readers. My husband announced the delivery with a sense of urgency and excitement for what was in store. Much to my surprise, Buffy was my Summer Poem Swap writer who offered me a fascinating photograph with an equally intriguing sonnet. I was captivated by the way the words flowed and thought how easy Buffy made sonnet writing look. Her photography skills were noted as she deftly captured the dragonfly in silent motion on her arm.

Buffy's poems are inspired by her love of science and nature. "One of the reasons that I love to write about the world around us is that I am always learning and discovering new things." Once you look closely at the photograph, you will realize why this shot was especially tricky. This combination of photograph, poem, and short note was a perfect trio to send me, a lover of the grace and elegance of the dragonfly. 

Poetry is alive this summer in the Poetry Friday Summer Poem Swap, in the posts of the Poetry Friday writers. and will be featured in my soon to be created Summer Splashings Gallery. 

Now take a stroll over to my friend Margaret Simon's blog site, Reflections on the Teche. Margaret is the host of Poetry Friday this week and features the collage sent to from Irene Latham for the Summer Poem Swap. While the summer months heat up, the passion of poetry is ignited. Stay tuned to be inspired by summer verse. 

Word Crafting

"Writing is thinking on paper."

William Zinsser

Reading the children's book, a Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, has caused me to focus deeply on the beauty of words and the magic that spills out from their creation and manifestation on a page. Lloyd's ability to spin words attracted me to the character she created. Felicity Juniper Pickle, is a word collector who sees words all around her.  She has an optimistic viewpoint and a poet's sensibility illustrated by such statements as, "I was surrounded by words and stories and dust-speckled light. That's a pretty perfect way to be." - or - "I never wanted to forget all the ways we were connected that day: By shadows and sunlight. By pouncing hearts and a starry maybe."

Natalie Lloyd's delightful and whimsical tale should be hit with students ages 8-12 years (680 lexile level) and a thoughtful prospect for the 2015 Newbery as noted by several reviewers. 

As a word collector and weaver of words, I feel that words are the heart of my writing life. Natalie Lloyd's debut book deftly spins her tale with a zest for word crafting, pairing words in an unique manner that allows a certain type of magic to flow. One way to feel the fullness of life is to see words spinning from inside out, just like Felicity Pickle, and then allowing them to become visible and find a place to rest - moving the thought process from an internal process to an external one. 

A word crafter reflects, constructs, and captures thoughts on paper. As they appear, the writer savors them, refines their look and appeal, and continues the journey of penning thoughts to paper in hopes of improving the craft of writing. Here is a snippet of the unfolding of poetic language in Lloyd's book.

Today I'll wear a dress made of sunlight,

I'll spin like the lilies,

I'll bloom like the stars.

Hands hold,
Hearts fold,

Under my thumbprint sky.

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.

Ernest Hemingway

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As an apprentice of the writing craft, I continue to evolve in a world of expressive thoughts. My offerings today for Poetry Friday are a pair of original thoughts on Word Crafting with a Tagxedo word cloud. 

Words travel in spaces of the mind

Like a kite  s w i r l i n g  in the air. 

They spin; mill around; 

Seek companions;

Form bonds;

Find a resting spot.

Then, they quietly

Nestle

On paper

Until 

They get bumped

So new words 

Can join the fun.

cvarsalona, July 2014

Words are the platform on which ideas grow.

Power, beauty, and emotion

Reside in their very being.  

As they parade across a page

 Paths open

Connecting heart to mind,

Pushing aside negativity,

Becoming a visible reflection

of the inner spirit

In a quest for freedom. 

cvarsalona, July 2014

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Poetry Friday is being hosted today by a teacher/writer colleague, Margaret Simon, 
whom I have been chatting with online.

Please visit the Poetry Friday offerings provided this week by a wide variety of talented writers at
Reflections on the Teche