Happy Poetry Friday!
My feathered friend here, Fox Sparrow is helping me celebrate all things wonderful about Fall. One very special area, my father’s Birthday, October 13th. My dad passed five years ago shortly after his birthday and each year I’ve been writing a poem to/or involving him since then. As I’ve been partaking in some of the birds from the #Birdtober prompts and #Inktober, this poem and art combine all.
FOX SPARROW & DAD
You like kicking around leaf foliage
prodding and poking for food.
Dad liked fall, its crunching-crispness,
and above all his ritual-raking.
I wonder if he found you,
scrounging round undergrowth…
I wonder if you found him
pondering autumn’s gifts…
He would’ve loved your chord-filled song,
and you his hearty lilting voice.
Perhaps you’re both out there
mixing music with stardust,
taking us in as we take in
slow, deep, rhythm-filled breaths
and exhale autumn’s golden-glistening reveries…
© 2021 Michelle Kogan
This week I also tried on the Red-necked Grebe #Birdtober challenge—though presently I have the poem, and art for it will come later (it’s been sketched out in my mind…)
LOOK AGAIN CLOSELY
I must agree dear Red-necked Grebe
you’re quite a grand sight to see.
You with your
long curvaceous rusty-red neck,
sporty black-beret cap,
roundness of body,
tour-de-force long legs,
and lobed feet together provide
streamlined propulsion and diving expertise.
Duck-like, absolutely not, heaven be!
With your grebe-chicks perched comfy-cozy upon thee,
and your lovely head riding water’s edge gracefully—
You’re a bird of water, salt and fresh,
any doubters, refer them to me
I’ll advocate adamantly with my repartee.
© 2021 Michelle Kogan
Last but not least,
I’m sharing some art from a virtual art exhibit
my daughter, Rachel Dohner and I are both in:
Bad@ssery: Women Creating a Just Environment and World
Oakton Community College’s second virtual Women’s Art Show
online till November 1st, 2021
Here’s the link.
There’s a sidebar listing all the artists exhibiting with
links to their images and artist statements.
There is also a
“Meet the Artists” virtual event
Tuesday, October 26th at 7:00 pm
Here’s registration info for “Meet the Artists”:
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Oct 26, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://oakton.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAtf-msrD4jHtDWrOZlo09EkaxLjSdH7_ZO
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
converse with beauty—
hold past, present & future
in time’s presence…
Bridget Magee, one of the puniest persons I happen to know is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup at her blog wee words for wee ones, thanks Bridget. Now try saying that 10 times, in honor of, drum roll please Bridget’s spanking new wonderful Poetry Anthology Book: 10•10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 Different Ways This is not only her anthologies Book Birthday but it’s her own Birthday this month too! Many Happy returns of the Day to you Bridget and this Fabulous new poetry anthology, which I’m very happy to have a poem in! There’s so much excitement over at her blog, you just must stop by!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Your poem to your father is an absolute treasure. I’m sure he is mixing music and stardust with a fox sparrow. I’ve not heard of a Red-necked Grebe. It’s a beautiful photo. You are halfway through birdtober?! Wow! Proud of you.
It’s a loving thing to write each year for your father, Michelle, & this poem is lovely, the voice calling out and wondering about that interaction with the sparrow. And I do love any kind of duck and how graceful they are when swimming. And, your daughter’s and your art are terrific! I am in awe of fabric artists!
Michelle, as always, you offer a feast for the eyes and ears here. I’m falling for the jaunty grebe thanks to your poem. The poem of the sparrow and your father is just a perfect combination to celebrate him and the little sparrow. Congratulations on your poem in the 10-10 Poetry Anthology and to you and your daughter for the art included in the Bad@ssery art show.
Your sketch is absolutely gorgeous! And your poetic tribute to your father is so beautiful – I love these lines in particular:
“I wonder if he found you,
scrounging round undergrowth…
I wonder if you found him
pondering autumn’s gifts…”
Wishing you and your daughter a successful exhibition!
I’m glad you ‘sparrowed’ some time writing this poem for your dad, Michelle. Being a fellow October-baby I have kindred feeling toward his “ritual-raking” – something I no longer do now that I live in a flat. Thank you also for allowing me to share your words with the world. 🙂
Both these poems are so evocative. The first is such a celebration of this totally gorgeous grebe. “Duck like, absolutely not, heaven be!” made me laugh. Such pride! The poem about your Dad was touching and must have been satisfying to write. Thanks for sharing these and the info about the upcoming exhibition.
LOVE your poem about your dad and the fox sparrow!! The last stanza is simply magical! Was happy to learn about the red-necked grebe through your poem, and thanks for sharing the art from the virtual exhibit. Talent runs in your family!!
Michelle, you certainly have been creative this month! I love both the poems but the Red Greb really speaks to me – its descriptions are full and wonderful – showing how much you appreciate the sight of them. Congratulations on having a poem in Bridget’s new anthology too!
The fox sparrow! Love it and your poem. I hope you’ll share the painting when you have finished. You’ve given me an idea, too, to try & write something about my late mom & birds; we used to enjoy watching them together.
Your poem for your father is so touching. Fox sparrows are a favorite of mine and I love the idea of your father and the sparrow “mixing music with stardust.” I even more love that you remember your father creatively each October. Lovely. Your grebe poem is another great entry in #Birdtober and I can’t wait to see the painting when you create it. And how exciting to exhibit in a show along with your daughter!! Finally, congrats on your poem in Bridget’s new anthology as well! Wow! Lots of fabulous going on for you 🙂
Many congratulations as your creative ventures bear all kinds of fruits! How fun that you are in the same art show as your daughter, and positively lovely that you remember your father with poems! Like Susan, I’m thinking about a poem for my parents now. They came to bird watching after I’d left home, but took so much joy in it!
This post is rich in so many ways. Congrats on the art show. And what a loving tribute to your father each year. I enjoyed the online exhibit. Both your piece and your daughter’s say so much on many levels. And the rest of the artists had great work.