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!
NOTE: I posted my How Much Money Does a Writer Make? update for 2025 the other day. You can find it here if you’re interested.
Also, some nice news!
It was fun to see some familiar Poetry Friday friends in the audience of Irene Latham’s poetry workshop with Inked Voices on Monday. It was a great presentation, and I can’t wait to use her suggestions to spark some changes. My poetry has mostly been sad and serious and for adults lately. I’m tired of it, but when I sit down to write something, that’s just what pours out. Frustrating!
The draft I’m sharing today I wrote a month or two ago. I followed a prompt from Audrey Guidman’s Substack (the March 11th one, if you’d like to check it out). I’m not on Substack, and I’m super grateful to the PF friend who posted a poem using this same prompt. I think it was Mary Lee Hahn :>) I love prompts that aren’t just a topic. The ones that take you through a game or process and leading you to write something you wouldn’t have come up with otherwise.
For this one, the two separate poems I began with were about 1) the retention pond I see our my studio window and 2) my sister Patty, who lives in Florida (oh! it’s her birthday on Thursday, when this post will go live–serendipity!). I miss her so much, and I wish we lived in the same city–or even the same state! This is a second draft.
And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with poet, educator, and mentor text maven Rose Capelli!
17 Responses
Laura, this is beautiful…and speaks to me so well. I have sisters who live far from me. I wish we were close enough to visit more. I’m grateful for facetime. But, I’d love some real sister time in our kitchens. I hear you on what “pours out.” Irene has some great ways of cracking into our our creativity. I can’t wait to see what shakes loose from your pen.
I love how you melded the two poems, Laura. I think it would make a nice birthday gift for your sister. “blurry and beautiful” is a favorite line.
Thank you for again sharing your writing financials. It is a strong dose of reality, and much appreciated. Someday I just hope to break even! Your poem spoke to me. My sister is also a galaxy apart with gravity rippling between us. <3
Lovely, moving poem, Laura, which resonated with me as well — don’t have any sisters, but miss my brother & family in Hawaii.
Laura, what a great prompt from Audrey Guidman. I clicked on the link to her Substack and have been gloriously distracted, writing a poem from her May 1 prompt. Thank you! Thank you for sharing your March 11 prompt poem. That is quite a process. I will be trying that too. Your updated post about what authors make was fascinating, so outside of my realm of experiences. So I thank you for your openness and willingness to share with your readers about how that all works.
My heart goes out to you, Laura. I hope joy finds you again soon! I admit I’ve been struggling with similar emotions lately. I had planned to attend Irene’s workshop but just didn’t have the energy. I hope she teaches another one soon. I haven’t shared anything for Poetry Friday in a long while. Except for a few poems, I’ve mostly written in my journal pouring out my frustration and questioning what’s next. I think a lot of us are feeling this way.
Linda, I miss you! It seems to be a hard writing season for many of us. Hugs ❤️
What a terrific prompt and a lovely draft! My sister is far away too, so I can relate. (Can relate to the sad poems as well.)
Irene’s workshop was terrific and inspiring!
Laura, I have a sister far away in Texas so your poem spoke to how much I miss her. I think it’s terrific that you post your earnings as a writer. I don’t know why it’s such a taboo subject but it is even more so if you’re a woman. It would have been a shame if you decided you couldn’t write.
I love your “blurry and beautiful” and the feeling of this poem, the longing and connection between the sisters. My sister is up by you near MPLS, and I’ll be taking a trip there in June to see her. I also have a couple of friends I’m very close to but we live very far apart, one in Spain and two in Japan. Thanks for this striking and sensitive poem Laura!
I feel the connectedness between the sisters. The ending is perfect.
The longing and connection leaks easily from this poem, Laura. It creates an invisible thread connecting you and your sister across the miles.
I’m glad you tried the prompt and had such success with it — I couldn’t tell your poem started as two poems! After an April of daily poems where my “prompt” was the same every day (tricube/news), I’m using her May prompts to keep my daily writing practice going. (It’s here if you need it! https://audreygidman.substack.com/p/may-poetry-prompt-calendar)
Thanks, Mary Lee!
I have a sister. My daughters are all sisters. Recently one of my daughters said she is technically the mother of all of the nieces and nephews because we all share the same DNA. There is such a special bond in sisterhood. I feel you!
Beautiful ode to your sister, Laura. I hope you’ll share it with her for her birthday!
Laura: I attended Irene’s workshop too, and it was great, so many fresh ideas to try. I can relate to your lovely poem about separation. The meshing of your two poems seemed seamless. My two sisters live in Florida, and we do feel like “galaxies apart” so often. Zoom helps, but it’s not the same as all the fun we would have if they were near. 🙁
I hope a reunion will happen soon for you, Laura. Those first hugs are always the best!