Laura Shovan has a #WaterPoemProject going on at her blog, with terrific prompts each day for National Poetry Month. I intended to participate regularly in the project. My actual participation has been…. somewhat less than regular. But I jumped back on the bandwagon this week and wrote for a couple of the prompts.
On Tuesday Kevin Hodgson challenged us to write a poem full of peepers. I live at the swampy end of a small lake, where the spring peepers are usually deafening in March and April. Every year I try to spot a peeper and photograph it. Every year I fail. That experience inspired this haiku (and coincidentally, my pal Michelle told me that Friday is International Haiku Poetry Day, so hooray for haiku!)
surrounded by sound
I fail to spot a songster—
peeper serenade
–©Buffy Silverman
It’s been cold and snowy for the past few days in Michigan–not great weather for peepers who are hoping to mate. The American toads that were trilling earlier this week are now silent. But even though it’s 35° F this evening, I can still hear one persistent peeper. So here’s a second haiku in his honor:
April snow–
a lone peeper
p e e e p s
–©Buffy Silverman
On Wednesday Laura Purdie Salas’ challenge was to imagine that you had the power to make it snow (or rain, or sleet, or hail.) That took me back to childhood when I wished for snow almost every school day in winter. I still get excited when I look out the window in January and see a heavy snow. But the snow for the past few days has felt strange, matching the mood of these days. Here’s the poem Laura’s challenge inspired:
My Wish
Two months ago I wished for snow–
Miles and piles of wintry snow.
For whipping wind to blast and blow.
For school to close. For heaps of snow.
And now each day I wish for school.
For teachers, friends, and classroom rules.
My brother pokes—says I’m a fool.
It snows in spring. I wish for school.
–©Buffy Silverman
Wishing you a bit of calm and poetry. For all of this week’s Poetry Friday posts, head to Nix the comfort zone, where Molly’s baking bread and gratitude.
Sensitive voice in your “My Wish” poem Buffy, and so timely. Hope the peepers pop out soon… Thanks!
Oh Buffy,
I know this wish. We never had snow this winter and now no school. Thank you for this.
Love your haiku, Buffy, and that last poem reflects the wish of many of our children, for sure.
These are great, Buffy. Though I wished for snow as a child, I hardly ever wish for it now. But, every once in a while, when we have no where we have to be, it’s nice to snuggle in and watch it blow. For now, I wish for everything in your second stanza. Thanks for sharing.
Buffy, I missed Kevin’s prompt so thanks for sharing that and your delightful haikus and final poem. I liked each one but I thought the child’s voice in the last poem was really strong. I can imagine that many children are feeling deprived these days and longing for school to return (even if they were not ardent supporters of learning in classrooms). Your snow picture is telling.
These are wonderful, Buffy. I especially love the last one. Such wistful truth for so many kids…
Oh, that last poem! Such truth.
These are really wonderful Buffy. And isn’t it freeing to know you can jump in and out of these projects!
So glad you played with these prompts, Buffy – such rich results.
I am no longer going to allow you to doubt your haiku-writing abilities, Buffy. These are great! And that third poem, truly one for these times. Spot on, fun, and poignant too.
I have heard, not eyes have not seen a peeper. So many people have talked about the recent snow, and I have been so thankful that it did not reach this far down in Indiana. We didn’t have much of snowy winter, but I sure don’t want it now!
I hear you, Leigh–I don’t want it either! But fortunately it’s been melting as soon as it stops falling, and the weather is supposed to get warmer over the weekend.
Enjoyed all of these, Buffy. Hope you get a photo of that peeper soon. Last poem kind of poignant. Our priorities and perspectives have changed so much recently.
You are correct about a change in perspective, Jama. It would be nice to believe that there could be some positive changes coming out of all this trauma and tragedy…
I’ve heard those peepers only once on a trip with students to the Poconos. They are not here in Colorado, sad to say. I love your lone peeper: persistent! And the 2nd poem, fun & a heartbreaker all at the same time. Even as a teacher, of course, we used to wish for a snow day, but now. . . You’ve written the truth, Buffy. Thanks for all your beautiful pictures shared. I love seeing all that you see!
Thanks, Linda–I’ve been trying to get back into posting photos on Facebook. Trying to spread a little beauty.
What a great trio of poems, Buffy! I’m partial to peepers and can relate to being practically deafened by invisible serenaders. Your final poem is so wistful and heavy with emotion. I think it may be my favorite. We’re actually supposed to get another dusting tonight…
Thank you, Molly–hope your dusting doesn’t stick! (And thanks for hosting and your delicious bread this week.)
I have never caught sight of a peeper, but they put up quite the chorus by our pond. They are a little quieter with this cooler weather.
They’re quieter here, too. But tomorrow is supposed to be warmer so I expect that the chorus will crank up the volume!
I think my post disappears so I’ll try again, about how this virus is a powerful changer of perspective, as in your last poem. Thanks for sharing your work. I always admire your take on nature.
Thank you, Janice. Yes, our perspective has changed a lot. But nature still keeps me sane–I don’t think I have ever appreciated where we live as much as I do now.
It is true, as in your last poem, that this virus is a powerful perspective changer. I enjoyed your verse and always admire your take on what you see in the natural world.
Hi Buffy of the pond & chilly nite! I love all these lines. So glad one pepper obliged you. And your school poem, so bittersweet. Appreciations for sharing the goodness of Laura Shovan’s Water Project to Laura Purdie Salas’ prompt & your own process. I wish for wafts of fun Florida updrafts to lift all the way to Michigan. xo Jan
Oh I would appreciate that warming updraft! Soon enough, I’m sure.
Oh that lone peeper! And the fickleness of wishes…. thank you for sharing these, Buffy. xo
And thanks for stopping by, Irene! I didn’t really intend to tap into the “be careful what you wish for” vein, but the poem decided that’s where it wanted to go.
I look forward to the day you DO get a photo of a peeper. I’ll bet you can do it. I looked up a video of filming peepers and there was a funny one of a guy and his girlfriend trying to get photos. The guy was so excited to find peepers…cupping his ears, tracking them. The girlfriend was so unimpressed…walked up to the area and picked up a frog. lol.Your poems for these prompts are lovely…although the April poem is sad. Sometimes, we just need to give sad a voice. And, this poem does that perfectly. Well done!
Thanks for your faith, Linda! I always feel a little silly cupping my hands and trying to locate the sound and failing. I guess I need to try the girlfriend-in-your-video technique!
Thank you for sharing your lovely poems with us, Buffy. I never see spring peepers either.
Maybe we will both succeed this spring!
These are lovely, Buffy. I particularly like the last one which includes your personal feelings. It is funny how things we long for can turn out different to our expectations when we get them.
Thank you, Robbie. More imagined feelings–my kids are grown, but I’ve been thinking a lot about what it must be like for families with school-aged kids right now. And all I can come up with is overwhelming…