Hi, my Poetry Friday friends. The chaos continues here in Minnesota, but I’ve had so much loveliness this past week too. Gatherings with friends, support from passersby while protesting, progress on a picture book manuscript, extra favors from my critique group, knitting fun, and glorious figure skating Olympic performances that have brought me to tears. Plus a bit of good news on a poetry submission. Yay!
This week, I’m sharing my third and final tricube from last month. Here’s tricube 1 and tricube 2, if you’re interested. And below is that set of first drafts that I jumbled around to create new poems.
Having grown up in Florida, and with all my family still there, plus extended family in Georgia and Texas, I always watch hurricane news with a sense of skepticism, dread, and awe. And there’s always that sense of relief when the forecasts are wrong and the storms pass by. And hurricanes are a good metaphor for all the other things in life that don’t follow the path we thought they would…This poem ended up going in a kind of lighthearted direction in that third stanza, and it didn’t really end up resonating that much for me. Maybe I’ll go back to it…but probably not.
The creative Susan Thomsen (I have so many of her posts bookmarked with notes to “Try this!”) has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.
17 Responses
Laura, more strength to you boots on the ground there & Cheers for the Good News in a poetry submission. You had me at “Hurricane” you know.
“Hurricanes
never stay neatly
in footprints’
is a knockout verse.
More wishes for taking good care of your precious self.
Your BIG fan,
JAN
Laura, I grew up a couple of hours from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and we were very attuned to hurricane forecasts as my city sometimes got the remnants. I enjoyed your tricubes, and thank you for the kind words.
Well, I’ve enjoyed each one, the way you showed us that mixing up the lines feels as if it’s like you are an imaginative cook, using your tasty ingredients to keep the ‘recipe’ but it’ll taste different! I’m wishing Minneapolis & nearby small communities will soon get rid of the horribleness that’s been there for so long, Laura. Thanks for your & your family’s brave protesting!
Glad you have some good news to look forward to, Laura. I especially love the last verse of your tricube. Take care, my friend.
Dear Laura, I’m glad to hear the good things amid the continued chaos. Hurricanes are like that too…afterwards, the birds sing in the most glorious (unexpected!) ways! xo
Pope Leo’s prayer for this first Friday of Lent, reminded me of your poem.
“I confess how tightly I cling —
to plans, to outcomes, to recognition, to control.
I confess the subtle ways I resist Your will
while praying for Your blessings.
At this hour, I loosen my grip.
I surrender my ambitions.
I surrender my disappointments.
I surrender my need to understand everything.
I surrender the timing I prefer
for the timing You ordain.”
I guess we are more like Hurricanes that I thought. 🙂 Glad you are finding some loveliness among the chaos. Have a good weekend.
Thank you for this, Cathy!
Laura, congrats on your good news, and on all the happy things amid the chaos! Hoping for no hurricanes! Thanks for sharing your drafts and tricubes! I am in love with them all, especially those popping penguins!!!! Thank you!!1
I really like the “Unsaid Things” poem. I am proud of the people of Minnesota. Stay strong.
You all have had so much (and continue to have so much) to fight in MN. You must be exhausted as you fight the good fight, but here’s to the small victories and supports that keep you going.
Laura, good to see all the good things going on in Minnesota. You are all troopers. Peace and continued success in resisting. I like the fun you are having rewriting your tricubes! Fun!
Stay strong! Minnesotans are our heroes these days. You are showing what good neighbor means to the rest of us. That last word of your tricube, “unexpected,” is perfect.
Wow–that first stanza! And you’re right that hurricanes are a good metaphor for the things in life that don’t follow the path we thought they should. Wisdom right there.
Thank you for all you are doing for others in Minnesota. Our hearts are with you!
I have experienced many hurricanes in my lifetime of living in Louisiana and Mississippi. They rarely follow the plan.
Your trio of Tricubes have collaborated to produce a ‘Hurricane.’ Such is the power of words. Well done, Laura.
Laura, I enjoyed reading all your poems that arrived from the twirling chaos you stepped in and the love you were surrounded with. Congratulations on your success. Stay happy.
I’m still catching up with everything, but enjoyed reading all of your tricubes and thinking of you, out saying unsaid things and being unexpected. ♥