falls fading garden
bursts zinnia’s
bedazzling blooms
© 2020 Michelle Kogan
Happy Poetry Friday, Happy Fall and Happy Inktober!
I’m taking a break from the din of our world to share with you a summer poem swap from Ruth Hersey, and my response poem to Ruth–Many thanks Ruth, xo! Ruth wrote a series of cinquains for me, that she connected by having the last lines rhyme. Sending thanks again to Tabatha Yeatts for offering this lovely diversion each summer!
The ink drawing at the top is in celebration of the first day of #INKTOBER. It’s celebrated all over the world with artists and any one else that would like to participate and create ink drawings over the month. You can find out more about Inktober at Jake Parker’s Blog, he began this event back in 2009.
Michelle
Sends out postcards
Encourages voters
Urges responsibility,
Duty.
Michelle’s
Butterflies, birds,
Fruit, flowers, animals
(Nature’s colors preserved in paint):
Beauty.
Michelle
Teaches artists,
Writes and paints and sketches,
Creativity her weekly
Routine.
Michelle
Creates freely,
Lives a life of wholeness,
All the lovely things she’s doing
Convene.
©2020 Ruth Hersey all rights reserved
And a thank you response poem for Ruth…
Dear Ruth
Loves many birds–
Captures images to
Share with poet friends as tasty
Forage.
Dear Ruth
Teaches children
English, with sprinkles of
Poems, beauty, love, and earnest
Knowledge.
Dear Ruth
Searches inside
Seeking spiritual
Thought-waves and centering on her
Journey.
Dear Ruth
Offers probing
Poems from, There’s no such
Thing as a God-forsaken town
Worries…
© 2020 Michelle Kogan
Tabatha Yeatts, at her inspiring blog Tabatha Yeatts: the Opposite of Indifference is our Poetry Friday host for this weeks roundup, thanks Tabatha!
Visit Renée LaTulippe at No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Clever Ruth & then your response, Michelle! I love your first Inktober, too, & I need to plant some zinnias! Have a great weekend!
It seems like Ruth has invented a new form! Linked cinquains. A circlet of cinquains? You two really “get” each other. Nicely done!
Thanks Tabatha! I like that “circlet of cinquains” or how about cinquain circlet… We’ll have to run it by the creator, Ruth. 🙂
I love these two poems. What a fun swap and response!
Thanks Rebecca, I liked the challenge Ruth set up for herself and wanted to give it a try!
These are wonderful. I’ll have to try them. Also… the zinnia artwork is fabulous. Some bloom in my garden right now!
Oh, I love poets in conversation….and that’s what this is. The final word in each of Ruth’s stanza’s really stand out as character traits. Very nice and compliments to you. Your repetition of Dear Ruth is such a lovely address. The summer poetry swap is always so fun and I love the creativity that comes from it. Hooray for Inktober! I’ll be watching for sketches.
Ruth captured your spirit, Michelle, in her masterly crafted cinquain. I most especially like the lines:
“Creates freely,
Lives a life of wholeness,”
Then your “Dear Ruth” response poem captured HER spirit expertly, as well. I most especially like the lines:
“Seeking spiritual
Thought-waves and centering on her
Journey.”
I love that you shared this poetic exchange and your first sketch for Inktober. 🙂
Thanks, Michelle! This was fun! 😀 Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Michelle, I love the poetic exchange between you and Ruth. Your inktober poem and drawing are a great pair. I am starting to collect for Abundant Autumn 2020 Gallery so when you are ready send me a couple of your image/drawing poems. Thanks for your creative touches.
A beautiful artistic exchange between nature-lovers, teachers, and friends!
What a fun exchange!
What a lovely and heartfelt exchange. I loved your two similar but slightly different approach, but showing such deep affection!
What a fun form for acknowledging a person’s specialness. They each capture the other in just the right way.
This was such fun to read. The poetry swaps are the best.
I’m so glad we were privy to the poetic conversation between you and Ruth. What a fruitful poetry swap! I also love your first Inktober response. My zinnias have been a source of joy this summer and seem to have experienced a burst of energy with fall’s arrival. What an unexpected autumn gift!
What a beautiful exchange of poems! You two captured sweet snapshots of the good you both share with others.