Poetry Friday–one little word & #haikuforhope

Happy Poetry Friday And Happy New Year!

I found a word I’m going to embrace this year, as my #OLW (one little word…) Ponder… I came to it after discarding a couple other words. I tried on wait, though, even when used as a verb it doesn’t have enough action in it for me, and I wanted a word that would imply movement but of a slower more thought out kind. I think I moved from wait to pause–but moved away from it quickly as it still was lacking in forethought. I then looked up synonyms of both of these words, and didn’t find anything there that spoke to me. Sometime after I came upon ponder, and it seemed just right. I like the softness that it offers in the sound of the word itself, and that it takes you a little longer to say the word, it invites taking a breath. Ponder also made me remember a painting I did a while back of a hanging succulent vine, sage colored, I think it’s in the artichoke family, not sure.

PONDER… my one little word

I came upon ponder… But first…

Wait met me in the middle of the road,
Though, she scurried off to soon. Then came pause–

But she didn’t budge fast enough…
After searching through synonyms ponder meandered over,
She nestled by my side and then spun out across my page…

© 2019 Michelle Kogan

I’m also sharing a few more #haikuforhope, as I’ve been enjoying writing these. And as it’s a new year I thought I’d share a page from my notebook. The very top scribbled out sentence is from I Know Why A Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, the book I’m presently reading. I wanted to remember Chifforobe–a combination of a closet and drawers– I loved the sound of it and you don’t really hear it mentioned that often. The next two scribbled out poems are from Laura Purdie Salas‘ 15 words or less post, from today, I didn’t make it back to post but did write a poem from her photo prompt. The last poem and sketch is my #haikuforhope for today.

picket fence shadowed
ice crystals, designing signs
on sun’s cold day…
© 1-3-2019 Michelle Kogan

 

15 words or less

Crackling skies disguise
growing discomfort,
as blood red encroaches
skies windowpane…

© 2019 Michelle Kogan

 

willow’s branches dance,
gathers her skirt, and whispers
protect our children
1-1-2019

winter dull-drums scoot,
leaves wiggle secret hellos
day wishes sunlight…
1-2-2019

© Michelle Kogan

This weeks  Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted by professor, author, poet, anthologist, and educator extraordinaire Sylvia Vardell at her blog Poetry for Children. Thanks for hosting Sylvia! Be sure to drop by her blog and see what she’s sharing with us…