Happy Poetry Friday!
I’m sharing more #PoemsofPresence. The first one, from my notebook comes from thinking and wondering about poet, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, and her 100 tulips that she planted last fall… I was wondering if they are up and thinking how spectacular they must look. Hope the adorable cottontails haven’t been visiting them…
TULIP TEMPTATION
for Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
thinking about
amy’s hundred tulips,
emerging upwards…
watch out for waiting
cottontails, hungry for
springtime’s special treat…
© 2020 Michelle Kogan
baby leaves dancing
from trees, seedpods linger
with layers of love…
©2020 Michelle Kogan
And a spring poem by E. E. Cummings
(“in/Spring comes(no-…”)
by E. E. Cummings
in
Spring comes(no-
one
asks his name)
a mender
of things
with eager
fingers(with
patient
eyes)re
-new-
Read the rest of the poem here.
And… related to leaves, the ever generous poet Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, has shared my poem PRESENCE OF TREE, another #PoemsofPresence, at her blog Today’s Little Ditty, thanks Michelle!
Carol Varsalona at her blog Beyond Literacy Link is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup, thanks for hosting Carol! She’s offering up Mother Nature’s best, with a “SNEAK PEEK” from her Nature Nurture’s 2020 Gallery, be sure to stop by.
Visit Renée LaTulippe’s site No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Michelle, I liked going from your pencil sketches to your colorful drawing. The branch of leaves is simple in layout but full in thought. It is fun thinking that the baby leaves dance in the wind. Eliot’s poem is just right for this season. I hope those little bunnies are not jumping into Amy’s tulips. Have a great weekend.
Thanks Carol. I like doing observational sketches in pen as an exercise, it slows you down and helps you to focus.
As cute as the bunnies are they can eat a plant down in no time at all—I have a few plants covered in wire to keep them away.
I’ve spent a lot of time watching, first for ‘baby leaves’, then for the full flourishing, Michelle. These are all thoughtful spring wishes and I always love your art.
Love that bunny and your tulip temptation and baby leaves poems. So nice to be reminded that it’s spring! Thanks, too, for sharing that Cummings poem — it’s one I don’t commonly see around. Love it!
Love these moments of presence, Michelle—especially “Tulip Temptation.” The personal touch— “Amy’s hundred tulips”—is charming. But you’re not kidding about them being springtime’s special treat for bunnies! When I lived in Massachusetts I planted a bunch of bulbs edging our driveway and once they bloomed, they were ravaged pretty much overnight. Same with the blueberry bushes—but that was thanks to the blue jays, not the bunnies. 😦
PS. You might need to re-post your link on the PF roundup. It seems to be going to wordpress.com rather than to moreart4all.wordpress.com.
Thanks Michelle, I see I posted the unpublished version. I’ve added a new link at Carol’s post, and now I’m waiting to find out how to delete the first one.
Your notebook sketch/poem is amazing. I hope Amy gives an update on those tulips! Maybe with bunnies lurking, you need to plant 100 bulb to get a fraction to enjoy? Luckily your poem won’t be nibbled upon…:)
I’m hoping, too! And yes, that little cottontail (we don’t call them that here; rabbit, hare or bunny) is as cute as its name. Also ‘layers of love’ – just beautiful, for seedpods!
Oh, I do love that pencil bunny contemplating the tulips. So cute! Your artist eye and heart seem to draw you right to beautiful scenes. We are so fortunate t be able to enjoy your talents…those baby leaves dancing…they came from loving hands.
I was just thinking of those tulips the other day! Can’t wait to see pictures of them! Thanks for your lovely post. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Planting a hundred bulbs is such work, but what a payoff!
I love your waiting bunny. Such a cutie, you almost can’t be mad.
“a mender of things” is a beautiful way to describe spring.
Thanks, Michelle!
“layers of love” describes your art and poetry offerings today.
You really captured that bunny in your drawing. I always love the art on your site and your images such as, “Baby leaves dancing.”
I hope to plant bulbs this fall (not tulips). In the meantime, I just planted some Virginia Bluebells to enjoy next spring!
So much spring beauty here! I love the connections between you and Amy!
Michelle: So much to love in this post. The e e cummings poem is new to me, and I often love his work. Your beautiful branch of leaves reminds me of a presence poem I am working on… all in all, I send a big thanks for this post!