Buffy Silverman Uncategorized

Welcome to Poetry Friday!

It’s my first time hosting Poetry Friday, and I’ve worried about inviting all you poetry lovers to hang out at my blog.  I have no holiday decorations.  I’m not wearing party shoes.  And most importantly, I wasn’t sure what to share with all you PF flyers!

We’re in North Carolina for nine months (my husband has a sabbatical) and although it’s gotten cold a few times, it really doesn’t feel like winter–especially not when I see the weather I’m missing in Michigan.  I’m not inspired to deck the blog with poems of holly (although I did cut some holly today that’s growing wild in my NC yard.)  And we don’t really do Christmas.

But fortunately inspiration struck the other day.  We bought a Venus Flytrap a couple of months ago at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in nearby Chapel Hill.  (Did you know that the venus flytrap grows only in North and South Carolina?  I did not before visiting the garden.)  I’ve fed it a couple of flies, and it has caught several tiny flies on its own.  But on Wednesday morning I saw a bulging leaf trap, barely able to close around a large insect.  As I peered at the tiny leaf opening, I wondered if it had caught a ladybug!

The ladybug escapes!
The ladybug escapes!

Maybe ladybugs are attracted to flies that are attracted to the flytrap??  A few hours later I saw the ladybug struggling to escape.  I grabbed my camera and took a couple of photos just as it made its way out.  The battle between ladybug and flytrap inspired this poem:

 

As deadly as
a tiger’s teeth
        or spider’s web:
Your spiky leaf

can snap
        and trap
a hapless fly;
you snag each bug
that wanders by.

But yesterday
you met your match:
a ladybug
        you tried to catch.

The lady sniffed
your gaping grin
        with bits of bug–
She stumbled in,

Your leaf clamped shut
        and held her tight
You hugged her close
with all your might,

But lady thrashed
and lady fought
        till lady was
no longer caught.

–Buffy Silverman, all rights reserved

Please share your links in the comments, and I will add updates during the day.

Happy Poetry Friday!18923_original

Over at Life on the Deckle Edge, Robyn shares the final post of her WE HAIKU HERE series, with special guest poet and editor Terri L. French.

At Today’s Little Ditty, Michelle reviews Jeannine Atkins’ View from a Window Seat and shares a bit of Jeannine’s winter essay, “Words and Wreaths.”

Peek through the Blue Window and you’ll see “High Dive,” B.J. Lee’s limerick that was featured this week on Poetry Minute.  B.J. will be taking a hiatus, mending from a bad sprain.  Hope to see you back again soon, B.J.!

Laura Purdie Salas is in a snowy mood.  She’s sharing Dancin’ (Snow)man, an original poem, and a poem starter idea.  Sorry Laura, my two left feet cannot manage the Macarena.

If you’re looking for some choral appreciation, head over to A Teaching Life, as Tara shares Mark Doty’s poem, “Messiah.”

It’s time for “Picking out a Christmas Tree” (a poem from Christmas is Coming!) over at Father Goose’s blog.

Diane Mayr has three posts to share:
At Random Noodling she looks in and out of windows and sees cats and haiga.
Kurious Kitty has an old (1617!) poem celebrating the winter solstice.
KK’s Kwotes has a quote about where to find poetry from Vivé Griffith.

At The Teacher’s Dance Linda shares the swap poem (and beautiful collage!) she received from Irene Latham and some antique postcards with Christmas poems.

Jump off your dusty camel and head over to read Violet Nesdoly‘s  original Christmas poem, called “Guided.”

Over at Teaching Authors, April is interviewing Greg Pincus about his new middle grade novel which combines math and poetry!

And speaking of Greg, head over to GottaBook and read “Hard to Eat – A Christmas Poem,” an original seasonal poem with a side of sillies.

The snow is falling at Gathering Books, but Myra keeps us warm with a poem by Nerisa Guevara about one of her favorite places in Manila: “The Heart of Malate.”

At Reading to the Core, Catherine shares the lyrics of “O Holy Night,” which began life as a poem, and a YouTube recording of the carol.

Climb up with the chocolate cat and enjoy the view from “The Sugar-Plum Tree” at The Opposite of Indifference, where Tabatha shares Eugene Field’s delightful poem.

Julie shares a list poem entitled “For It Feels Like February 29th or 30th” by Paul Violi at The Drift Record.  Julie warns the poem will make you laugh or scratch your head (I had a little bit of head scratching and several chuckles.)

Mary Lee shares a poem by Poet Laureate Kay Ryan and offers a give-away of Kay’s book (because Mary Lee’s birthday gifts included a signed first-edition of the book!)  Head over to A Year of Reading for a chance to win AND to host Poetry Friday.

Penny shares a spectacular ice photograph (taken by a friend’s daughter) and the haiku it inspired (written by Penny) at A Penny and her Jots. 

Margaret also received an amazing gift of a personal poem, and she shares Diane Mayr’s “Reflections on the Teche.”

Laura takes a walk with Thomas Hardy and the beautiful caroling bird in his poem “The Darkling Thrush.” That thrush helps her keep things in perspective at Author Amok.

Karen Edmisten shares a perfect poem for the season: Mary Oliver’s “Making the House Ready for the Lord.”

At The Miss Rumphius Effect, Tricia shares two haikus by Myra Cohn Livingston from Cricket Never Does, a treat she found this week at a used bookstore.

Irene shares good poetry news and offers a give-away of her book, The Sky Between Us, at Live Your Poem.

Tamera Will Wissinger shares a fun original poem about a child’s promises for Christmas Dinner, called “Mistletoed.”

Keri shares an original poem entitled, “Cookie Exchange.”  The poem will surely get you thinking about friendship and cookies–she also shares a shortbread recipe at Keri Recommends.

Liz Steinglass shares an original poem inspired by yesterday’s 15-word or less prompt.  My daughter make tiny perfect paper cranes out of paper napkin rings, so I’m going to send her this tiny perfect paper crane poem.

Ruth posts a thought-provoking poem about two minds entitled “Difference” by Stephen Vincent Benét at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town.

Janet writes a fast and fuzzy review of A Fuzzy-Fast Blur: Poems about Pets by Laura Purdie Salas at All About the Books.

Little Willow shares a delightful mask poem: “To a Post-Office Inkwell” by Christopher Morley at Bildungsroman.

Open the Drawer of M.M. Socks and you’ll find two original poems: The Christmas Room and Games!

Lorie Ann recommends Toys Galore by Peter Stein, a fun rhyming book for the toddler set, at readertotz.  Lorie Ann also has an original haiku at On Point.

Kortney shares “Annunciation,” an advent poem by Denise Levertov at One Deep Drawer.

Anastasia greets the icy weather with a haiku entitled “Winter’s Lace” at Poet! Poet!

The second review of the day for The 14 Fibs of Gregory K is in at Check It Out.  The book inspired Jone to write her own fib, which she shares on her blog.

Did I miss your link or get it wrong?  Please let me know!

46 thoughts on “Welcome to Poetry Friday!”

  11. Buffy,
    I love it! It works for both my inner scientist and my inner feminist. And of course my inner poet! I’m sharing the poem I wrote yesterday for Laura Salas’ 15 words or less poetry prompt. It still needs a title but I’m going with “Paper Crane” until I can come up with something better.
    Thanks for hosting!
    Liz

    Reply

  12. Hi, Buffy. I came back to reread your poem. I like the (not-so) subtle feminist message in this poem. This bug is one strong lady! I did not know about Venus Flytraps, but will share that with my young niece, who also lives in NC.

    Reply

  14. Hi Buffy,

    Thanks for hosting Poetry Friday! Excellent fly trap poem – I love it. I’m sharing a kid-centric Christmas dinner poem called Mistletoed…season’s greetings everyone!

    Tamera

    Reply

  17. Hi Buffy,

    Love the opening of your poem! Actually, the scientist in my loves the whole thing!

    I’m sharing two haiku today by Myra Cohn Livingston.

    Thanks for hosting.
    Best,
    Tricia

    Reply

  21. Thanks for hosting, Buffy. I love the poem and the fact that you witnessed the battle. I would’ve liked to have seen that. I’m glad the ladybug fought for her freedom!
    Today at a penny and her jots, I have a haiku inspired by a beautiful photo taken during the recent Texas ice storm. My friend’s daughter is the photographer and I’ve included a link to more of her photos that may inspire a poem from some of the Poetry Friday group.
    http://wp.me/p22d5X-PP

    Reply

  24. Buffy, you did a great job on that poem! Love the musicality of it. Thanks for hosting Poetry Friday today. Over at The Drift Record I’ve posted a very strange poem called “For It Fells Like February 39th or 30th” by Paul Violi, a poet who either makes you laugh or makes you scratch your head. Sometimes it’s not either or, it’s both.

    Reply

  27. Hi there Buffy! Thanks so much for hosting this week. Here’s our Poetry Friday contribution at GatheringBooks as we continue to feature Nerisa Guevara as our Featured Poet for Poet’s Sanctum:
    http://gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/poetry-friday-in-the-heart-of-malate/

    Your post made me smile. I have a very good friend who teaches at the North Carolina State University, he is also one of the deejays I believe on campus and lives around that area (near Chapel Hill too). He teaches geography, I believe. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the fatal dance between the bug and the flytrap.

    Reply

  29. Thanks for hosting, Buffy–it can be time consuming and scary and we ALL appreciate it–especially in DECEMBER!

    Your ladybug escaped, but she’s been caught in your wonderfully crafted poem (and photo)…thank you!

    At TeachingAuthors today I’m interviewing poet, social media consultant and author Greg Pincus, whose debut middle grade novel involves poetry and math. At the end of the interview, Greg shares a funny Poetry Friday poem from his book about fractions.

    http://www.teachingauthors.com/2013/12/book-giveaway-author-interview-with.html

    Reply

  30. Hi Buffy,
    Thanks so much for hosting! Your blog gives us a lovely, restful, and uncluttered atmosphere, a nice break from the season’s clutter and twinkle.

    What a fascinating poem and photo. Maybe the flytrap has food issues with the ladybug’s red. I also read your three pigs adaptation. What fun!

    My PF contribution today is a Christmas poem “Guided,” reposted from Christmas two years ago. It’s here: http://vnesdolypoems.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/guided/

    Reply

  32. I love the 2nd stanza of your poem! I love how you use snap, trap, and hapless.

    Welcome to the world of rounding up, you’ll find it’s a lot of work, but also a lot of fun, and educational, too!

    At Random Noodling I’m looking in and out of windows in a collection of haiga. http://randomnoodling.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-friday-enough-with-doors.html

    Kurious Kitty is celebrating the winter solstice with an old poem by Thomas Campion, “Now Winter Nights Enlarge.” http://kuriouskitty.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-friday-happy-winter-solstice.html

    KK’s Kwotes has a quote about finding poetry from Vivé Griffith. http://kkskwotes.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-friday.html

    Reply

  39. Thanks SO much for hosting, Buffy! I had no idea about the Venus Fly Trap just being in the Carolinas. Well, I’m about to be back in the Carolinas again myself, so I need to know these things. Love your poem, and the perfect rhythm of those first couple of stanzas that “catch” the reader. (Hopefully the plant will find another meal; I was rooting for the ladybug!) ;0)

    I’m in with the final post in my WE HAIKU HERE series, with special guest poet and editor Terri L. French, who coordinates the Southeast Region of the Haiku Society of America: http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm?post=940568

    Happy Holidays!

    Reply

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