Welcome, and happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m so happy you’ve dropped by. Whether you’re a regular participant in the Poetry Friday world, or you ended up here from a search or a link, please know that we’re a welcoming community! Read, comment, think, share, and enjoy!
Randy and I had a lovely week in Puerto Rico, on the island of Culebra. The only writing I did was on the airplane both ways. It was a much needed, low-key trip, and I feel very lucky that we could go. It was low-season, so mostly just us, locals, roosters (omg, so many roosters), and no-see-ums that left my skin in shreds. But, there were also sunsets, delicious meals, kayaks, board games, swims, lots of walks, gelato, and friendly people. Here are a few pics.
Now, I’m trying to catch up! This week, I read Margaret Simon’s wonderful Wood Duck Diary: Tanka poems in English and French. This beautiful little book follows the nesting and hatching of the first clutch of wood ducks in 2021, which Margaret and hubby Jeff watched through their Ring camera in their TECHE Project nest box. It’s an intimate, mesmerizing portrait of the family–I recommend you go buy this book. It’s not only a good read, but profits benefit the TECHE Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving Louisiana’s Bayou Teche (where Margaret lives :>)
Breaking news: Margaret has offered to send a free copy of this book to one lucky commenter. Please spread the word.
Here’s a favorite tanka:
Foggy Flirtation
Fog hovers, hiding
drake and hen within its midst,
maze-bank of cypress knees.They swim in, out, around, through.
Warmth invites this mating waltz.
Isn’t that wonderful? And it’s followed by the French translation, too. I’m sure it sounds even more beautiful in French :>D But since I don’t speak French, I’ll stick with the lovely English version.
And for loads more poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with Sarah Grace Tuttle, a fabulous equality and justice-minded poet with a newly redesigned website!
16 Responses
Hi Laura, your trip sounds wonderful, and makes me want to be there now! Since I’ve not been on Poetry Friday very much these recent weeks, I missed knowing about Margaret’s book, which looks lovely. I remember her sharing the views from the box, always exciting. And now, poetry, with French, too. Watching with one’s own special view must have inspired Margaret very much. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the shout out. I’m happy to send a free copy to one of your commenters.
Glad you had a relaxing time in Puerto Rico (enjoyed the photos!). Thanks for sharing a poem from Margaret’s new book — sounds like a wonderful project!
Tanks for the Tanka! I have also just returned from travels and it is difficult to reenter. Poetry helps! Thank you Laura, Doida
This book looks wonderful! “maze-bank of cypress knees” … super evocative. And I love that it’s for a great cause! Thank you for sharing Laura.
Laura, it is wonderful that you and your husband had a wonderful, relaxing trip to Puerto Rica. You needed a rest to just chill. Thanks for alerting us to Margaret’s new book. “Warmth invites this mating waltz.” I read and reread this poem. The last line resonated with me,
“Warmth invites this mating waltz.”
I imagine it’s bittersweet. Sending autumn hugs your way, Carol.
Tanka you for sharing the tanka. (I couldn’t resist!) Wood ducks are some of my favorite ducks, as skittish as they are. Love the PR pics, too. Even San Juan has stray chickens.
Hahahaha! I’ve never seen a wood duck, I don’t think…Yep, we heard about chickens on the main island, and so I’m sure there must be roosters, too. But the roosters on Culebra are really something. Almost non-stop crowing. If we walked three blocks to a cafe, we were guaranteed to send at least 8 roosters marching away. We talked to a businessman whose partner lives on the main island and refuses to visit Culebra because of the roosters. In fact, the businessman was wearing a rooster button-down shirt, which is how we struck up a conversation with him :>D He had it made because if he was going to visit Culebra regularly and do business there, he figured he might as well celebrate the roosters.
Your photos from P.R. are gorgeous. I’ve been trying to convince my girlfriends that we need a girls trip to P.R. We’ll get there someday. Hooray for Wood Duck Diary! Margaret’s writing about the natural world of the Bayou is some of my favorite writing. She treats the wood ducks and surrounding critters like family. I love that!
That is so true about Margaret’s writing! And take some kind of extra-strength bug spray or cream if you do go. I still have raw patches from the no-see-ums, and I heard horror stories from another tourist in the airport.
Such a beautiful book of poems! I look forward to reading it! And welcome home, Laura.
Glad you had a chance to get away, Laura. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos!
I love Margaret’s Foggy Flirtation, too, especially the last line. What a cool idea to have the tankas in English and French and look forward to seeing the book. I took French in school years ago. Don’t know how much I remember. 🙂
Hooray for some time away, in spite of the no-see-ums! Thank you for so generously shining a spotlight on Margaret’s book. She does such good work for her community — human and more-than-human alike!
Your trip sounds (and looks!) wonderful! Yay for you for getting away. Such a great pick to share from Margaret’s lovely book.
I was unaware that Margaret had this book. Your vacay looks like it was very relaxing.