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Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret #Poemsketch

Walking in the sand, we watched snowy egrets plucking up their impossibly skinny legs to stalk through the incoming tide. My poemsketches are generally done very quickly. Written in less than 5 minutes and drawn/painted in the same. If I screw up the drawing, oh well. But I will say this was about my 7th

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Shovel in sand

Shovel Left Behind #Poemsketch

I passed this shovel half-buried in the sand on the beach two days in a row. It called to me for today’s #poemsketch. I have such lovely memories of collecting shells at the beach as a kid. And it’s Poetry Friday! Visit Amy at the Poem Farm for the Poetry Friday Roundup:>) Save Save Save

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Safety Pin

Safety Pin [15 Words or Less]

Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.  Today is International Peace Day, so check out the #peaceday hashtag and also the Peace Padlet. It’s also, appropriately, my daughter Maddie’s birthday, and I just videocalled her

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Mom's Nightgown

Mom’s Nightgown #Poemsketch

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll share some poem sketches written earlier this month, on our trip to Florida. The day my husband and I flew down, we went to see my dad. When I went into the bathroom, I was struck by the sight of my mom’s nightgown, still hanging on the back

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Stae Fair Season

It’s State Fair Season! #Poemsketch

Today’s #poemsketch is from my day at the State Fair a couple of weeks ago. Very fitting as it is now feeling fallish here in Minnesota, as if summer is disappearing into the distance, waving a deep-fried goodbye! Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

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What Is a Dot?

What Is a Dot? [Poetry Friday]

Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Today is International Dot Day, inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ The Dot! You know, we got home from our Florida trip (which was quite a bit more “exciting” than anticipated, due to Irma) on Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning, I had a work list a mile

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Moray Eel

Moray Eel [15 Words or Less]

Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.  I was in Florida for the past week, and before Irma hit, Randy and I spent several lovely days in Daytona Beach. (After Irma hit was another story.)

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Everyday Miracle

Strawberry-mango Waves

There’s nothing I like better than a gorgeous sunrise or sunset. I love that it’s a possibility every single day. You just never know when one will spring up!   Save Save Save Save Save Save

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Step Into a Storybook

Step Into a Storybook

Here’s a #poemsketch from the State Fair. It was so awesome watching kids practically step right into If You Were the Moon!   Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

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Locust Attack

Locust Hurricane #Poemsketch

Here’s the “clumsy bug” from Wednesday’s #poemsketch that I showed the woman at the State Fair. I wrote it when I got home from a stressful walk one day last week. The Carolina locusts were everywhere! Flying into me. And I had on capri yoga pants, and they actually hit my leg. I was totally

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Dublin Library

Trinity College Library [15 Words or Less]

Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.  Maddie took this photo in Dublin, at the Trinity College Library. Though it’s not immediately obvious due to the filter I put on it, those walls are made

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Art in the Shadow of the Sheep Barn #Poemsketch

Today’s #poemsketch was inspired by a fun conversation I had with a woman at Read + Ride Day. We talked about Jaime Kim’s lovely art and showed each other pics on our phones of our own art attempts. Hers was a lovely, featherlight bird! Save Save Save Save Save Save

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Stop Wishing for Me!

Stop Wishing for Me! [Poetry Friday with the Poetry Princesses]

Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was an ekphrastic poem to Sara’s choice of image. Here’s a picture she took while at a Highlights Foundation retreat (so jealous…someday!). On the way home from a Five for Fighting concert last week, I had

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Amur leopard at Minnesota Zoo

Leopard [15 Words or Less]

Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.  I was at the Minnesota Zoo Friday night for an awesome Five for Fighting concert. He was on piano or guitar with string quartet. Very cool. And it

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