Poetry Play

Writing, Appreciating, Celebrating

April is National Poetry Month and to celebrate, I’ve been exploring various types of poetry through writing and reading!

Playing around with words is so much fun, and poetry both draws boundary lines and breaks them.

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Blackout Poetry

(I’ve always wanted to try this, and thanks to our local library for having the supplies out this month, I finally did!)

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I Am From

(Inspired by George Ella Lyons’ poem “Where I’m From”)

I am from freedom and hard work,
        Created by –
Sunday morning services and the whisper of the Divine
sawdust stirred with the litany of NPR and littered curses
tilled soil and farmer tans
curiosity and questioning

I am from the backwoods of a Pennsylvanian valley
	Fashioned from –
glitzy lights of Las Vegas
the shadow of the Pagoda 
tels and spices,
of mountain conquering and stargazing

I am from homemade pepperoni pizza.
	Stretched by –	
Friendsgivings of multi-generations.
stocking hunts and warm pecan cinnamon buns on Christmas morning
fine eyes and scathing judgments in Pride and Prejudice,
watching Atticus from the front row during To Kill a Mockingbird. 

I am from the Lost City of the Incas, touching heaven.
	Strengthened through - 
Kitchen kisses, the safety of covenant, and deep hugs
burnt rice socks, warrior yells, a newborn on my breast
coffee in all categories

I am from the creative cacophony of gatherings.
	Finding joy in –
Book clubs and tea parties
Galentines and mocktails
Crockpots of soup and buttery slices of sourdough.

This is where I'm from,
But I am still going
Stitching new memories and people
and places into the fabric of my being.

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Triptych

A work of art with three sections

Water, trees, sky. 
Hugs, kisses, smiles. 
Journal, markers, glue.
Hiking boots, wool socks, wooded trails. 
Sandals, painted toes, sunshine. 
Rainy days, a book, a hot latte.  
Leaves, stems, blooms. 
Candle, wick, match.
Playground, dirt, giggles.
Milk, cookies, a cute mug. 
A tank of gas, a car, an adventurous ethos. 
Blankets, pillows, mattress.
Storm clouds, thunderstorms, rainbows.

They say good things come in threes –
With this list, I concur. 

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Loquacious

(An acrostic style poem)

Listening to me
One might think I never run out of words
Quite frankly, it’s my desire to 
Undertake the task of making people feel
Accepted. If I can create a 
Congenial atmosphere by being fully myself, maybe
Individuals will embrace 
Opening up. 
Unity comes through the creation of 
Safe spaces, and sometimes safe spaces come from someone
		Willing to be loquacious!

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Spine Poetry

The Liturgy of the Ordinary
(An) Everyday Sacrament (Of) Bread & Wine
(To craft) Habits of the Household
(For) The Whole & Healthy Family 

To Hell with the Hustle
(I want) Undistracted (time) Being with God 

Adventuring Together
Love Does The Flirtation Experiment 
(Battling) Pride and Prejudice
(As our marriage grows from) Foreign to Familiar 

Raising Tiny Disciples.
(By) Awaking Wonder
Rewilding Motherhood
(And) Reforesting Faith
(Striving for) 1000 Hours Outside 
(Building this) Mother Culture 

Welcome Home
Satisfied
(In) The Ministry of Ordinary Places.

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Resources

Books I’ve been diving into

• Birthing Beauty by Rubie Shiphrah - a raw processing of anxiety, depression, motherhood, birth, and life crafted with beautiful words.

• Breaking the Jar by Kelsi Folsom - these poems stir up the fierceness of women and breaking shame over the abuse of their bodies.

• Devotions by Mary Oliver - I love anything Mary Oliver and her poems of nature are a breathe of fresh air.

• Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry - I’m slowly turning the pages of this and taking it all in.

• And Yet by Kate Baer - The illustration on the cover drew me to this book on the library’s display shelf and I scooped it up. It did not disappoint.

• You Are Only Just Beginning: Lessons for the Journey Ahead by Morgan Harper Nichols - I’m waiting for this book to come in from the library, but I love MHN and know this book is going to soothe the soul.

Websites to check out

• Part-Time Poets just launched their first issue and I am here for it!

• Lyndsay Rush a.k.a. @maryoliversdrunkcousin on Instagram

• Poets.org

• “I am From” template to write your own

Our tulips are a poem of their own.