Hi, everyone–I’ve missed you and Poetry Friday for all of January! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Poetry Friday is one of the many things I’ve had to let go recently in order to try to become more of an activist in protecting my neighbors and democracy. Even just my tiny blocks of protesting, postcard writing, food shelf delivering, etc., take a surprising amount of time. So many people are doing SO much more, and I’m grateful to them for it. (And I don’t know how they do it!)
I didn’t share my 2026 word here, but it’s PROTECT. Protect my community and family, and also protect my own mental health. Finding the balance between speaking out and helping and also continuing to live my own life is tricky! We were at the site of Alex Pretti’s killing on Wednesday, and it was devastating. Also, Friday is Randy and my 38th wedding anniversary, which makes me so happy. That dichotomy…goodness.
Anyway, though I didn’t post last Friday (protesting at the Whipple ICE Detention Center with my daughter that morning), I did meet up with my Poetry Sisters in late January for a live write. It was so lovely, and I wrote three tricube drafts. My goal is to share one today and one each for the next two weeks.
Someone in the group mentioned how they had written several tricubes and then moved lines around from one poem to another, mixing them up. Since every line is three syllables, you can do that! That sounded like so much fun! Here were my three quick first drafts:
AnAnd here’s one tricube. I love those videos I’ve seen of Emperor penguins shooting out of the sea onto shore!
I’ll be very honest and say I probably won’t be visiting many other blogs this month. That makes me feel guilty for posting. But I’m hoping that guilt will nudge me to get to at least 3 posts weekly. Stay safe, everyone. Protect, create, and appreciate!
Lovely Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone (am I ever!) has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.
21 Responses
I really enjoyed reading your tricubes, Laura, and so appreciate your work on the ground in Minneapolis. I love the mention of a t‑shirt cannon! At our son’s recent graduation from trade school, there was a pre-ceremony announcement for the audience NOT to use confetti cannons. It had never crossed my mind to do so, but once it was mentioned, it’s all I wanted.
Go, Laura! Poet. Patron. Protector.
Dear Laura, you CAN dance with abandon. You do! And you just showed us how to dance with tricubes. Thank you! xo
“Protect” is an excellent OLW. Congrats on your anniversary and thank you for everything you do. This week on Bluesky, rent money was being raised for people in the Twin Cities who can’t leave their homes to go to work, or who are dependent on funds from family members who’d been snatched, hurt, etc. I saw that about a hundred families’ rents were covered, but it could have been much more than that. We can only do what we can do, but it adds up. xoxo
Dancing for your beautiful poems, Laura, and your courage to speak out. Happy Anniversary, Hope you and your spouse can dance, dance, dance!
Dear Laura, Happy Anniversary! I love your tricubes, especially that penguin “swallowing words.” Thanks also for sharing the variations on a tricube. Your post is filled with inspiration!
You’ve been on my mind these last few weeks, Laura. Thank you for caring so deeply and acting to protect your community. You are a wonderful role model. Love how you mixed up the tricube lines for Launching from Waves. Yes, let’s dance with abandon! Happy anniversary to you and Randy!
Laura, thank you for all you are doing to help others in Minnesota and for taking the time to check in with PF. Happy Anniversary! That is something to be grateful for. Your tri-cubes were lovely and well done, complete with dancing penguins. Stay safe.
The image of penguins springing like t‑shirts from a cannon! I love that.
“Protect” is a wonderful word that you are putting to maximum use. Thank you for all that you’re doing in Minneapolis, and know that we are supporting you from here in every way we can.
Protect is a perfect word-of-the-year for you Laura. Thank you for standing up and speaking out.
And these tricubes are wonderful I’m going to try to write a few of my own.
You don’t need to apologize for not commenting, Laura. I’m just glad you shared your creative tri-cubes, saying so much with those few syllables! I saw your post as you visited Alex Pretti’s memorial site, then Randy with his friends playing. I want to wish it weren’t so, but know it is, and from afar, I am trying to do what I can to help. You’ve given me a smile today with those penguins like t‑shirts… & that’s enough gift always! (Happy Anniversary!)
Laura, yes, you have important work there! Don’t worry about not going to all the blogs. Thank you for what you are doing. My daughter is home with a newborn in Minneapolis during this oh-so-trying chapter. Minnesotans are the heroes of the story! Thanks for the advice of the tricube. I’m going to try that. I love how using lines from each poem created a whole other poem about dancing like the Emperor penguins. Bravo!
Laura your word-protect seems so appropriate. I love the notion of improvisation around a known poetry form and as you state, tricubes are an ideal form with which to practice a few moves. Love the penguin poem. It leaps from the page as well as the waves.
I’ve been following you also Laura and your posts on Instagram/FB, thanks for all that you are doing. Especially like the voice in your last tricube, “Unsaid Things,” snippets of life, it feels very timely, and timeless too. And Protect is such a poignant word for all presently, thanks for carrying its torch! Be safe, xox
No guilt is necessary. I understand it. But, please accept my gratitude for the work you’re doing on the ground. The small and the big things. It does take time. I’m hoping to get out to see the Walk for Peace with my daughter today. It’s frigid and it will take time…but you know what? It’s worth it. Protect yourself and your time too. Sending you huge love! Love like it’s shot out of a cannon at a wolves game!
Laura, I am so proud of the work you are doing to protect your community. I am raising my fist in support. You go, girl! I love a dancing penguin. I also wonder how you switch your brain from protest to play. I know the two must be in balance for you to stay healthy and happy.
I love the word PROTECT as your word for the year. I can see it in your actions! Thank you for your activism. Love that penguin poem!
Keep doing the important work, Laura! And let the penguins keep us motivated!
Thank you for ALL you’re doing in Minneapolis, and please, take a break from PF comments so that you can take care of yourself. The fact that you are still writing, still showing up here at all, is a testimony to your diligent creative spirit. Happy Anniversary! Celebrate in all the ways possible, whenever possible.
Laura, thank you for all that you’re doing to stand up and protect! I think of you so often and of all the people suffering in Minneapolis. Your trio of PF tri cubes is wonderful and an inspiration to give this form a try. I especially like “Unsaid Things” and the urge to speak up with words of connection and community. Wishing you strength and balance and whatever else you need to sustain you at this time.
Laura, your change actions are amazing-such a love gift to the world. Being a protestor/advocate is a powerful load and I honor what you have done. I understand that you cannot add one more thing to your calendar. I feel that pang also so I am happy that I read two of your posts today. May your Loveuary month be filled with more heartnotes that sweep us away.