So happy to be part of Irene Latham’s Progressive Poem! Here we go!
Nestled in her cozy bed, a seed stretched.
Oh, what wonderful dreams she had had!
Blooming in midnight moonlight, dancing with
Did you see the wonderful post with Heidi Mordhorst, Irene Latham, and Liz Steinglass? If so, you know that this year, we were asked to make predictions based on Line 1 of the poem. Here’s what I wrote after seeing Liz’s line:
I love that there’s some action already in this first line. Not simply description, but movement. Will this be a narrative about a seed growing? Or will it take a turn to be about something in the bigger world, and the seed is just one element? Will this be a micro story or a macro story?
Of course, only one other line has happened in between. Jane Whittingham contributed that (have you seen her sweet new picture book, Wild One?). So there wasn’t a whole lot of room for things to zoom off in any given direction. But she did introduce the element of dreams. So from here, the poem could continue in real time or could stop to reminisce about those wonderful dreams. I decided to pause and think about the dreams…
I wanted to continue with dream action, but the first few lines I tried didn’t work. The accumulation of lines 1-3 sounded too storylike to me. So I played with a few different poetic elements, trying to figure out a way to nudge the action forward but also keep a poemlike feel to the poem. And I decided to not end-stop the line.
Can’t wait to see who/what Michelle gives this dreamy moonflower for a dance partner. I had something in mind, but decided it would be much more fun to leave it up to the next poet’s imagination!
Thank you, Irene, and poetry community. And thank you to the poetry friend–was it you, Janet Fagal? Or you, Carol Varsalona?–who gave me a heads-up that the sign-up was live. So glad I didn’t miss out:>)
And here’s the schedule for the rest of the month! I hope you’ll follow along to see where words and creativity take us.
April
I love the no end-stop. That encourages an even deeper level of collaboration!
So true, Mary Lee. It also gives them more to space to play – since they ‘only’ have to complete a thought (not BE a complete thought) – and one whole line to do it in! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your process, Laura! “midnight moonlight” is beautiful. Now I am thinking about species that bloom at night… how might those dreams be different than day-bloomers?? And who/what will our seed dance with? xo
It’s fun to read your thoughts, Laura and that you did leave that line open for Michelle to carry on! And I love that you sneaked in something about the moon! Wonderful!
It didn’t even consciously occur to me that my moon mania was sneaking in:)
Oh that is funny, it is a poetian slip? But I love it!!! Moondance the song is one of my all time favorites…..well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance!!!
Michelle is going to have fun with this, Laura – I always love lines that can lead off to anywhere, and yours does that perfectly!
“midnight moonlight”
Wow!!
xx
As I ponder the next line, Laura, I keep coming back to what you might have had in mind?!! While I’m not sure my mind-reading abilities are up to the task, I appreciate your dreamy midnight moonscape to try out different options.
Haha! Sorry, didn’t mean to stress you out! I just meant I had something in mind that I would have said. That doesn’t mean it’s the “right” thing or the “best” thing. There were lots of options. And as I always says to kids on school visits, “Your job isn’t to come up with a line you think I want for the poem. It’s to come up with whatever line your wonderful and wacky imagination gives to you.” Have fun!
Ooo, I love the stop to dream a little more in “midnight moonlight” and the look at what to come when our seed blooms and dances! Lovely line, Laura.
Oh, oh! How beautiful! Blooming and dancing in midnight moonlight! Oh, it gives me shivers! I can’t wait to see where this goes. What a magical journey were are taking.
Three terrific lines, and I too love your open-ended line, not to mention the alliteration.
I love both the action (blooming, dancing) and the alliteration (midnight, moonlight) in your beautiful line, Laura.
It has a nice rhythm and “wanderment” happening.
Love midnight moonlight and that you have opened your hand to the dance partner to come.
I’m really taken with the blooming in the dark, and I’m hoping that maybe Seed was dancing with…
naked abandon! I’m also enjoying your NPM Haiku, Laura.
This line with no end-stop: open, welcoming, daring. I have a friend who wakes up at night and goes out to stare up at the starry sky when it is dark where she lives in a rural-ish spot in Maine. When it is cold she goes by a window and watches the night sky. I am sure there is much to learn about the world dancing and blooming and dreaming in midnight moonlight. She is an artist. Lovely line, Laura!
That “midnight moonlight” is so inviting, Laura. Can’t wait to find out what the bloom is dancing with!
I’m thinking about Moon Flowers, as they open they look like gorgeous white stars–but there are other evening blooming flowers, I see color. What an entrancing direction your line has moved us in Laura!
I love that turn of phrase… blooming in midnight moonlight… it’s delicious. Thanks for your wonderful (and inspiring!) addition.
I love the alliteration, Laura, and of course the movement that continues the dream sequence. With whom shall the little seed interact with next? Can’t wait to find out.
Perfectly DREAMY, Laura! Loved reading your poetic ponderings, too. :0)
Oooh, Moondance! A night nuance that is bright, against dark. And I enjoyed following your path to these words which will lead to… who knows what light, or more night? Each day of Progressive Poem is a gift to open.
And appreciations, too, for your Happy Poetry Month Haiku.