I’m happy to host the progressive poem today, a Poetry Friday tradition that moves line-by-line among poets in the Poetry Friday community during April as a celebration of National Poetry Month. Thanks to Margaret Simon for organizing this year’s effort.
The first four lines of the poem to-date are composed of quotations from other sources. I’m copying Mary Lee’s summary and adding her line:
Irene gave us our first line this year, a quote from Emily Winfield Martin’s book, The Imaginaries. In the second line, Donna gave us a quote from The Hobbit and set us on the JOURNEY of a poem for two voices, perhaps told all in quotes. Catherine chose a line from The Wind in the Willows . Mary Lee included a response from Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (one of my favorite MG novels.)
So now I have two decisions to make: do I follow the pattern of using a quotation as a source for a line? Do I continue the debate about the journey? I’m thinking no and no (which does not mean that Linda can’t return to the aforementioned pattern–after all, I’m only one voice in thirty.) But I’m feeling adventuresome, and ready to turn in a different direction.
On second thought, maybe I can use a source poem for inspiration and not a direct quote? Hmmm…. I’m thinking a spring adventure might be mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful, in the words of E. E. Cummings’ In Just- So I’ll borrow a bit and add a few words of my own:
Where they were going, there were no maps; “Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not today.” “Take the adventure, heed the call, now ere the irrevocable moment passes!" “We have to go back. I forgot something!” But it's spring, and the world is puddle-wonderful, so we'll whistle and dance and set off on our way.
Take it away, Linda!!
Want to follow along on the journey? This list shows where the poem has been and where it’s headed:
1 April 1 Irene at Live Your Poem
2 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
3 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
4 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading
5 Buffy at Buffy Silverman
6 Linda at A Word Edgewise
7 Kim Johnson at Common Threads
8 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
9 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
10 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
11 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
12 Jone at Jone Rush MacCulloch
13 Karin Fisher-Golton at Still in Awe
14 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
15 Carol Labuzzetta @ The Apples in my Orchard
16 Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe
17 Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken Town
18 Patricia at Reverie
19 Christie at Wondering and Wandering
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Kevin at Dog Trax
22 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
23 Leigh Anne at A Day in the Life
24 Marcie Atkins
25 Marilyn Garcia
26 JoAnn Early Macken
27 Janice at Salt City Verse
28 Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference
29 Karen Eastlund at Karen’s Got a Blog
30 Michelle Kogan Painting, Illustration, & Writing
Puddle-wonderful, indeed! Nice line, Buffy, and thanks for letting us in on your decision-making process!
Great line, and we’re off on the journey!
Being an EE Cummings fan since my early days as a poet, I detected the influence right away. I’m curious whether the whistling is tuneful or alertful–both possibilities intrigue. Onward!
Wonderful, Buffy. You’ve entered us into springtime in a perfect way with Cummings. Ah, just wish we had puddles!
A mud-licious contribution of puddle wonder.
So far this year’s Progressive Poem is already The Best. TY, all for the clever quotes/ inspired by lines/quotes entertainments day by day. Also cheers for line-leader poet
whisperer Irene & 2022 step—right up organizing whirlwind Margaret.
Hugs to all!
Jan/ JG Annino
I love that you used e.e. cummings for a source of inspiration. I feel the need to go stomp in some puddles!
Buffy, I like that you used e.e. cummings as inspiration. The poem is now wonderfully situated in nature where puddle-wonderful puddles are outside today.
Love ❤️ your response, ready, let’s go!!!
Ahhh!!! Love it! Off we go…in a new direction! Thanks for being brave, you puddle-wonderful mold-breaker, you!
Time to get those feet wet!
You are puddle-wonderful, Buffy!
That might be the nicest compliment I’ve ever gotten, Margaret! Thanks again for corralling the progressive poets.
Love all the possibilities your line offers, Buffy! You captured all the exhuberance of E. E. Cummings original work.
Visions of my puddle-loving KIndergarten explorers are dancing in my head, Buffy. Your line solidified an image in my head, and it connects amazingly well to my list poem today. Bravo! https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/2022/04/05/to-the-vernal-pool-we-go-pathways-npm-napowrimo-nationalpoetrymonth/
Thanks Buffy & Molly for giving everyone the heads up that I’m filling in for Molly tomorrow morning.
Will change the post to reflect that in a bit. Thanks for playing backup, Linda.
Oh, I love how you’ve moved the poem forward, Buffy. What an inspired line to send us on our way! Finding inspiration in a source and adding your own twist feels like the Goldilocks solution…just right! I will not be responding to your line as I’m handing the baton off to the fabulous Linda Mitchell who oh-so-generously offered to take my spot this week when I got into a bit of a jam. I’ll be directing readers from my site to hers. Thanks for the perfect set up. I’m excited to see what Linda does with it!
Oh, this is exciting! I love how the poem has started and is offering so many directions to take! Wonderful job done by all!