CROW
Crow, cool darkest sapphire
caught my eye–
Are you a sign?
A welcome of spring,
a protector of earth,
your sleek form
follows a path…
Thanks for your
momentary
portal!
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
noon spring pruning,
catch me if you can–
fleeting moments
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
soaking up midday
sun, violets admire
city folks…
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
On my blog for National Poetry Writing Month I’ve been focusing on flora, fauna, and our environment. Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
Poem 13– A CELEBRATION & SPRING
Poem 14–Haiku TULIPS
Poem 15–Birds’ Perspective
Poem 16–WHO’S IN THE MOON?
Poem 17–Haiku Tulips and Sparrow
RACHEL CARSON’S WORDS
You gave us a gift in thought and word
to care for our soil, water, air and earth,
Your Silent Spring still cries out to be heard
Rally Rachel Carson’s call, protect earth’s worth!
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
My poem above was from a prompt by Supriya Kelkar who was featured on Renée LaTulippe’s blog, this week, No Water River. The prompt was to write a poem about “a strong woman from history.” Rachel Carson is just that, and I continue to return to her. I also just read a wonderful picture book about her called Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World, by Laurie Lawlor, and illustrated by Laura Beingessner. It’s a lovely capturing of her life from childhood through to when she was fighting adamantly for our environment with her book Silent Spring!
Also for National Poetry Month, yesterday I added my line to the 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem, come and take a look!
In addition to all the poetry writing and reading this month I have been busy preparing artwork for two group art exhibits that I am in. Both are opening this Friday, April 20, 2018. One is in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago at Gallery 1070, here’s the flyer from it:
The second exhibit is at a Gallery I’ve been showing with for four years called Studio b., 114 N Elm Street, Three Oaks, MI. Their season opens this Friday and I’ll have work up through the Thanks Giving weekend. It’s a delightfully lovely spot to visit, especially as the weather warms. The area is filled with galleries, gorgeous nature areas and sand dune beaches.
On my blog for National Poetry Writing Month I’ve been focusing on flora, fauna, and our environment. Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
Poem 13– A CELEBRATION & SPRING
Poem 14–Haiku TULIPS
Poem 15–Birds’ Perspective
Poem 16–WHO’S IN THE MOON?
Poem 17–Haiku Tulips and Sparrow
Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup. Thanks for hosting Tabatha. And BTW her latest Anthology is out on Friday April 20th, Imperfect: poems about mistakes: an anthology for middle schoolers. I’m very happy to have a poem in this rich collection!
Ah… the 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem has landed at my portal. For a little backstory, the Progressive Poem was created by Irene Latham, poet and author, in 2012, and occurs during National Poetry Month. Irene selects a poet to write the first line and for the next 30 days each day a new line is added by a new poet, (who has signed up) and slowly a poem is built with curves, crescendoes, peaks, and valleys, happening wherever they may fall.
We have a delightful and fantastic story unfolding this year. Jasmine or Jas, is our MC. She began her life as a seed and is having quite a rollicking adventure traveling in the careful talons of an owl into the upper stratosphere, to perhaps pass by or visit her other new friend Moon.
This year, Heidi Mordhorst, created an extra element for those participating in the Progressive Poem. We were all asked to quickly jot down our responses and foretelling to the initial line that was composed by Liz Steinglass–set it aside and then revisit our thoughts before writing our own line. Here’s Liz’s first line: “Nestled in her cozy bed, a seed stretched.” My initial thoughts were, This could go anywhere–it’s fresh and free–a new beginning. Perhaps the MC is a seed, but what kind? But perhaps the seed is a metaphor for a little girl… The seed is definitely a seed but a fantastic one. I’ve also been sketching a bit as the poem’s been developing…
Here’s the poem with my line added at the end.
Nestled in her cozy bed, a seed stretched.
Oh, what wonderful dreams she had!
Blooming in midnight moonlight, dancing with
the pulse of a thousand stars, sweet Jasmine
invented a game.
“Moon?” she called across warm honeyed air.
“I’m sad you’re alone; come join Owl and me.
We’re feasting on stardrops, we’ll share them with you.”
“Come find me,” Moon called, hiding behind a cloud.
Secure in talons’ embrace, Jasmine rose
and set. She split, twining up Owl’s toes, pale
moonbeams sliding in between, Whoosh, Jasmine goes.
Owl flew Jasmine between clouds and moon to Lee’s party!
Moon, that wily bright balloon, was NOT alone.
Jas grinned,
stretched,
reached,
wrapped
a new,
around tender
rootlet
a trellis Sky held out to her, made of braided wind and song.
Her green melody line twisted and clung.
Because she was twining poet’s jasmine, she
wiggled a wink back at Moon, and began her poem.
I’m passing the baton on to Linda Kulp Trout, placing our special Jas in her care.
Come join us for the rest of Jas’ adventure by following the links below, who knows which way the wind may take her!
April
transfixed by indoor
tulips, sparrow waits
patiently…
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
On my blog for National Poetry Writing Month I’ve been focusing on flora, fauna, and our environment. Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
Poem 13– A CELEBRATION & SPRING
Poem 14–Haiku TULIPS
Poem 15–Birds’ Perspective
Poem 16–WHO’S IN THE MOON?
WHO’S IN THE MOON?
Everyone thinks there’s a man in the moon
I know there’s really a woman in there.
As the stars come out, twinkling in nights sky,
She winks at me with her special flair.
But if you’re in doubt lend me your ear…
Look up at the moon,
whose shape does she share?
Look up at the moon,
Whose curves follow hers?
Look up at the moon,
When can you see her?
Is she out all day?
Is she out all night?
Who else works these hours,
Morning, noon, and night?
For us down on earth,
For us her history,
Moons revealing self
Masks no mystery.
She’s, she! Through and through
From her shape, her curves, her round-the-moon shifts,
Only one share’s Moon’s form
Woman with her gifts!
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
A Moon prompt poem from J. Patrick Lewis featured today on Renée Latulippe’s blog No Water River.
On my blog I’ve been focusing on flora, fauna, and our environment. Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
Poem 13– A CELEBRATION & SPRING
Poem 14–Haiku TULIPS
Poem 15–Birds’ Perspective
BIRDS’ PERSPECTIVE
In a
courtyard of
Mexico,
were
wilson’s warblers–
Yellow-bellied, black-capped
hopping pathways,
pausing
to eat a bug.
I wander in the
courtyard
paying
attention to
townsends and
audubon
warblers,
knock-knock
of a woodpecker overhead,
robins,
house finches,
canyon towhees,
sparrows everywhere,
bewicks wren,
curved-billed thrush,
hummingbird,
and grackles.
I notice patterns
warblers in morning,
wrens all day,
grackles in the afternoon,
a community courtyard,
a home.
Oh NO–
Groundskeepers
found grubs.
Groundskeepers
weren’t happy.
Grubs–
A problem
to tackle with
pesticides.
Every bird
ATE INSECTS!
Soak the
ground in
pesticides
risks killing or
sickening
their bodies,
scrambling their minds.
Think of
courtyard birds as
fellow workers.
Think of
wild animals
in the way a
service dog
benefits us.
Eating insects
dawn to dusk–
An army of
gardeners.
Clean air
Clean water,
Carbon sequestration,
are products of
animal activity.
Creatures preparing soil,
Dispersing seeds,
Distributing nutrients,
Regulating populations,
performing tasks necessary
To support NATURE!
Recognizing
animal labor
would help.
Think from
Birds’ perspective–
Appreciate
all they do!
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
Found poem from the article: NONHUMAN WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
By Brandon Keim, posted on Center for Humans and Nature blog.
From a poem prompt by Georgia Heard featured today on Renée LaTulippe’s blog No Water River.
On my blog I’ve been focusing on flora and fauna Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
Poem 13– A CELEBRATION & SPRING
Poem 14–Haiku TULIPS
indoor tulips stand
gallantly, waiting, waiting …
for midwest to warm.
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
A
Celebration
of
Jubilation
of
Historical
Consideration!
With
Bookish
Balloons
and
Wild Wacky
Words,
Marvelous
Metaphors
and
Scrumptious
Similes!
Stir them
Shake them
Stick them
In a Pan
Dim the Lights
Drum Roll
Please…
Hip Hip
Hooray,
Hip Hip
Hooray,
Hip Hip
HOOOOOORAY!
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
Happy Poetry Friday, and Happy National Poetry Month! For Poetry Friday many of us are celebrating Lee Bennett Hopkins Birthday Today! He happens to be a favorite poet of mine, and I’m very happy to shine more light in his honor. I think he was a favorite of mine before I knew who he actually was. One of the first poetry anthology books of his I collected was Marvelous Math. In this mix I’m particularly fond of his poem Sky.
SKY
by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Decimal point
meteors
streak
through
the night
Fractions
of moonbeams
gleam
white-bright–
I couldn’t find the rest of the poem online so you’ll either have to buy the book or check it out of your local library. Michelle Heidenrich Barnes featured Lee on her blog at Today’s Little Ditty, and he challenged us to write a Me Poem. I wrote Toady, for this challenge and I was quite taken by his comments in response to my poem. Toady eventually found it’s way into Michelle’s first poetry anthology The Best of Today’s Little Ditty, 2014-2015.
I have one additional poem I’ve written in Lee’s honor and another poem of his that I’m sharing, they are both titled SPRING.
My poem below address Spring’s reluctant weather here in Chicago. Though some where off the wild and windy breezes of our grand Lake Michigan, Mother Nature graced us with a few lovely hours of Spring like weather, hope it returns again soon!
SPRING
Waiting–
Waiting–
When
will it
come…
Checking–
Rechecking–
My plants
One by
One…
April
Has come,
Spring
are you
Here?
I’ve
Waited
An eternity
And won’t wait
Another
Year!
©2018 Michelle Kogan
SPRING
By Lee Bennett Hopkins
Roots
sprouts
buds
flowers
always–
always–
cloud-bursting showers
Read the rest of Lee’s poem at Poetry for Children!
For National Poetry Month, I’ve been busy writing poems and reading poems on blogs and, there just aren’t enough hours in the day, maybe I’ll have to give up on sleep for the rest of the month… On my blog I’ve been focusing on flora and fauna Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
You can also visit Jama at Jama’s Alphabet Soup for a detailed description and links of other poetry blogs featuring poems for National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Roundup.
Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Robyn! She’s concocting more Birthday Celebrations for Lee Bennett Hopkins, and has also spearheaded our posts in his direction.
Click the Karner Blue Butterfly to visit my Etsy Shop.
Read my poem, "Toady." I also created the cover art.
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