Happy Poetry Friday!
I’m thinking about Blue skies and warmer locals as I trudge through another cold, snowy, and icy Chicago winter. The arrival of all these New Year Postcards from poet friends is taking away some of the chill and filling me with inspiration and gratitude, many thanks to all! And I wouldn’t mind at all stepping into one of these postcards for a short reprieve… Here are the individual poems from all the poets here:
Margaret Simon shared this line from Emily Dickinson, a favorite of mine,
Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door.
And here is her colorful blue collaged poem,
A new year
new ideas
growing buds
to find a garden
already blooming
Margaret Simon ©All rights reserved
Gail Aldous’s image is from the Adirondack mountains, here’s her poem,
cloud layers
mountain layers
life layers
joy
Gail Aldous, draft
© 2022 All rights reserved
Janice Scully’s card shares a beautiful drawing of the historic “Galeville Grocery building in Liverpool, NY.” It not only was a grocery, but the structure from the late 1800s was also an office for the Thomas Gale Salt Yard. There is a bell atop the structure that would warn “worker’s and residents of impending rain and to cover the solar salt vats.”
Here’s Janice’s poem,
TO A FORGOTTEN BELL
Idle for a hundred years,
bolted to the roof
of a grocery store—
ring again!
Bring in a new year
full of poetry.
Janice Scully
© 2022 All rights reserved
Janet Clare Fagal sent me a lovely snow covered tree/mountain scene. The image is by Kate Coombs.
Here’s her poem,
WEB OF HOPE
Sunlight spreads gentle fingers
across new snow.
Day slips on her frosty gown.
Golden threads of light
wash dark away.
Hearts breathe in for healing.
Eyes open to this year’s promise.
Janet Clare Fagal ©All rights reserved
Linda Baie sent me the lovely Blue skies smiling at YOU! postcard,
with this poem on the back,
Aim for the sky, but
move slowly, enjoying
every step along the way.
It is all those little steps
that make the journey
complete.
Chandra Kochhar ©All rights reserved
Robyn Hood Black sent me this keen drawn tiger and poem postcard,
(apologies to William Blake)
Poet Poet, burning bright
In the blue computer light
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful syntax-y?
…
Did he who made iambs make thee?
Robyn Hood Black ©All rights reserved
Tabatha Yeatts sent me the dreamy rainbow boat postcard that I’d like to paddle away in…
Here’s her poem,
Rain pauses.
Arise, heart! Feed yourself with colored light.
Indulge! Feast your eyes. Summon your songs.
Now, find those oars,
Bend your back to head for shore.
Outlaster of storms, open
Wide and sing
Tabatha Yeatts ©All rights reserved
And last but not least, the wonder-filled organizer of the New Year Postcard exchange
Jone Rush MacCulloch, sent me the snow, textury image, perhaps it’s snow… with this poem,
divergent pathways
a new year
alive with wonder
Jone Rush MacCulloch ©All rights reserved
HAPPINESS
Bright
Blooming
Blue sky
appreciation to all!
Spending time with your
Ring-sing poetry
Art cards
Fills my
Heart
full of
Wonder, Hope, & Joy!!!
xox
Michelle
© 2022 Michelle Kogan
Partially found poem, filled with my poet friends words.
Elisabeth Norton at her blog Unexpected Intersections is our host for this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks for hosting Elisabeth! Elisabeth’s sharing an acrostic poem about February with a bit of spring yearning… Be sure to stop by for her poem and many more!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
What a treasure chest to see all these together in the same post! Thanks for sharing, Michelle, and for your lovely poetic and artistic responses. So grateful to be in the mix! Appreciations to all.
Beautiful cards, lovely messages.
Your post is a bouquet of NY cheer, Michelle! Even your poem is shaped like a bow-tied bouquet!
(thank you again for my post box surprise)
Thanks for sharing joy in a mailbox :).
I celebrated my cards, too, including yours, Michelle. I love your ‘gathered’ poem in appreciation. The cards have been a light in our wintry world for sure.
This was my first year participating and so glad I did! They surely are brightening my days. I love your found poem: Happiness! So varied and lovely, each unique. I would not have seen the bouquet without Bridget, though, very clever!! Ten cheers for Jone! And all my poetry friends.
Isn’t it amazing to be ringing after a hundred years of idleness? Thanks for sharing these cards with us! Your ranunculus are beautiful xo
What fun to see your whole collection all at once! Thank you, Jone, for this opportunity!!
What a wonderful and artful display! Thank you! What a celebration of the new year!
Michelle, what a beautiful display you’ve made with your postcards! This is the first time I participated; it has been a delight, each poem a ray of sunlight. Thank you for your watercolor painting of such beautiful flowers and your Happiness concrete found poem, both are sending a ray of sunlight. Thank you for sharing and your inspiration.