Happy Poetry Friday!
I am fishy sitting for my college daughter’s fish while she is in NYC doing two internships with two different fashion companies this semester. Hence I’ve been spending time with her Betta fish Frida, and getting to know her…
MUSIC’S ELIXIR
Fishy sitting
for Frida…
A fine, feathery,
finned friend.
But beware–
These beautiful
Siamese fighting fish
are pretty feisty fellows
So far all’s well
in Frida’s floating
abode–Foods fine,
and friends are far away.
Last night, I sang softly to her
she seemed a mite sublime,
I wonder… might music
calm the chaos of our time…
2020 Michelle Kogan
free as a fish–
flying through air, floating
through dreams forever…
© 2020 Michelle Kogan
Here’s some Day Dreaming music to unwind to…
Frida fish day dreaming…
Laura Purdie Salas at her blog Writing the World for Kids is our welcoming host for this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Laura! Laura’s sharing a few poems that she started out writing in different and unique places, stop by and check it out.
p.s. I’m having some dental surgery done late Friday afternoon–hoping all will go well and I’ll be up to visiting Poetry Friday posts!
Visit Renée LaTulippe’s site No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Hello, my dental surgery sister! Sending good thoughts for quick healing. I love your alliterative first poem, and that last line…mercy! It’s especially I proposed as yesterday was my wedding anniversary, and I proposed that my husband and I write vows for each other, as we did not write our own vows 32 years ago. I ended up writing a cento, from lines of many different of our songs that one or both of us love. So I answer yes!
Thanks Laura, and Happy 32nd Anniversary! My husband and I will be married 35 years in June. I like how you came to your new vows via a cento, perhaps you’ll share it sometime. I found an interesting article on cento’s in the NYTimes, didn’t get to read the entire poem for I’m off to teach this morning, here’s s link: https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/books/arts/poem-these-fragments-i-have-shored.html
Best wishes for that surgery, Michelle! I do love the term “fishy sitting” & wish that music would be a restorative for all of us! That 2nd poem too connects with Frida swimming, and dreaming?
Yes, the haiku is about Frida too, I rote it while sitting there sketching her. The first poem came before the sketch. I think swimming is like flying…
I love Aretha and that song did take me away for a while. Yes, music does calm the chaos, and I have been wrapped in unpleasant thoughts this week. Good luck with your surgery. I so enjoy your work!
Fishy-sitting would make a great title for a picture book… just saying! Wishing you healing from the dental works… yikes, that’s no fun at all. xo
Thanks Irene, I was thinking as writing the poem it may make an interesting story or part of one, thanks, xo
Fun poem, fantastic alliteration :). Fishy-sitting does sound like it needs its own picture book. Good Luck with the dental surgery.
Okay, new Fishy book project… just turned on some more Aretha to invite some healing vibes my way, thanks!
Love your fishy sitting poem. Oh, that last line! We all need more music in our lives!
Best wishes for surgery and quick healing. Glad things are going well with fish sitting. Frida was quite the inspiration. I love the alliteration in the first poem. We could all use some sublime music.
Hi healing Michelle!
Hope your sutures ease things smooth. I experienced good healing from mouth surgery last year & wish you the same. But my main mojo for you is: goosepimples! I jumped at your healing thought about music.
Your poem moves me and feels like synchronicity.
I dreamed last night that I was in a public school lobby, waiting to be escorted to a library to give a presentation and because it was the start of the day the principal came out of the office, sat down at the piano in the entrance hall and began playing, music that was sent out through the loudspeaker to every part of school. When I walked down the halls, the uplifting smiles and feel from the music was so fabulous.
Is there a part of Our World where pianos are placed in more public areas, such as government bulidng lobbies (as we see some times in airports) so that anyone can plop down and provide a soothing thythm?
The three fishes are super, too.
Great Dream Jan, and I think I need to listen to some more music cause my healing moving a bit slow… Time to crank up some more Aretha!
I think my blood pressure went down watching Frida just for that short while. How nice that she has you and Poppa Pig to keep her company! I certainly hope you read her your poem. 🙂 Hoping all goes well with the dental surgery!
Thanks Michelle, and I’m laughing because you noticed Poppa Pig! Hoping to feel better soon…
Good luck with the dental surgery! I love the alliteration of your first poem and that ending line. I also enjoyed watching Frida swim….a lot! We have a saltwater tank at home with lots of activity, but those lovely fluid fins of Frida captivated me.
Fun frolics with Frida! I hope the surgery went well. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Hope you’re feeling pretty good today! When I saw your fish, I thought maybe they were for Pisces, but I guess it is too early for that. Maybe sometime you will do astrological sign cards for your shop and you can use Frida as a model.
Astrological cards are an excellent idea Tabatha! Not feeling quite where I want to be, but looking forward to getting there soon…
Hoping all went, well, swimmingly with the surgery and that you are Frida are keeping each other company.
We had to fish-sit our son’s SwishFish fighter fish. So I could so relate to this! They really are very beautiful and relaxing to observe. I used to feel sad for him all alone in there, but then I saw him take on a snail (of all things!) and I no longer felt that he needed a friend! Hoping you’re feeling much better after your dental work.
Fishy Frida…she’s lucky to have a grand-sitter such as yourself. How wonderful that your daughter is doing TWO internships. Woot! Is she graduating this year? My daughter is … just having finished up an internship at ‘American Needs You.’ I loved watching Frida with you through your poem. She just seems happy.
Late to the party, but enjoying your fishy & poetic post. I hope surgery went well. Floating with fish does seem SO relaxing!