Poetry Friday–Spring & Actions for Hate Crimes

Spring Crocus, Detail, wip, Michelle Kogan, © 2021, watercolor on Sekishu Japanese paper.

Happy Poetry Friday and Welcome SPRING!

Trying to welcome Spring, though Spring has decided to temporarily take leave, I hear she may return next week. Anyway, here’s a poem for Spring Crocus’ and a WIP watercolor with bits of white to help as it’s on Japanese Sekishu paper, and although I’ve painted with watercolor for years, painting on this paper is a new journey for me.

SPRING’S CROCUS

Crocus cups stretched toward sun
and flung their petals outward—
They couldn’t resist mid March’s 
teasing 60 degree temps.
One, two, three days, and then
they shut–tight as a drum.
They’re holding steady, holding tight
through blizzardy snow,
and cold driving rain, 
waiting, waiting, and 
waiting…

But I’ll remember— 
Your brilliant hues of 
crimsons and lavenders,
your sun-like central 
amber-yellow floweret
fanning up towards sun,
as if part of an Egyptian
ceremony for sun god Ra,
while your attending stamen
stand at attention beside you. 
Your gently scalloped petals,
reminding me of sandbar banks.
Your outlined lacey edges 
extending tenderness to all.
Your etched needle-eye-thin curving lines
perhaps mother nature’s signature.
Your sister shadows playfully
mingling between each other. 
Your terra verte pin-stripped white stems
flying this way and that, as uninhibited as a child.
Your strong, yet elegant stalks
occasionally leaning into another 
as if to say, come closer–
it’s been such a long, long year
since we last embraced…
Your paper-like, lemon-yellow-white wrapper
each holding its own unique shape,
sloughing ever so slightly as 
now its completed protecting
it’s flourishing flower.

If only one or two more breaths
could breathe your natural beauty,
perhaps one or two could 
sleep more soundly or
breathe more fully or
even consider another
other than oneself…

© 2021 Michelle Kogan

I have also been thinking about the recent attack and hate crimes in Atlanta Georgia, and wrote this golden shovel poem from an article I read about it in the New York Times.

ACTIONS AGAINST HATE CRIMES

As Covid continues up and down, this
scourge of slaying Asian Americans is 
another call for Americans to reflect and not 
just carry on, to take action and not just
retreat within ourselves. Efforts for an
all world recovery become thwarted when Asian
Americans are attacked with biased hate crimes by American
citizens. This problem needs action now, “this is” our “American Problem.”

© 2021 Michelle Kogan

The striking line for this golden shovel poem comes from The New York Times article:

The Growing Power of Asian-Americans in Georgia Now Comes With Fear.
Here’s the line: This is not just an Asian American Problem.

Linda Baie, friend, and wielding wordsmith poet, is our generous host for this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup at her blog Teacher Dance, thanks for hosting Linda! Linda is sharing a dress rehearsal for Spring, and also a poem on time. Be sure to drop by her blog for many more poetry offerings.

Visit Renée LaTulippe at No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.