I haven't posted in a long while, but every Friday I enjoy all of the offerings. I've been wanting to jump back in, but my mind has been filled with distractions. Each week, I intend to join in then talk myself out of it because I don't think I have anything worth sharing. Weeks and months fly by. The longer I'm away from something, the harder it is for me to start up again. But, lately I've been feeling like I need to do something to bring more light and kindness into the world. The Poetry Friday community does exactly that. It is a group of wonderful people who are always kind and supportive. A place where everyone is welcome. So here I am posting two poems on Thursday evening before I change my mind.
The past couple of weeks we've had what forecasters call "a parade of storms" with snow and ice. The snow outside my window covering the ground and trees is so beautiful. I haven't seen many birds lately, but several winters ago I saw a little bird in my yard. Although I'm not sure if what kind of bird it was, my imagination led me to write this poem.
This next poem comes from my book Write With Me, a poetry journal for middle grade and young adults. Each poem in the collection is accompanied by a short vignette about the topic and an invitation for young people to write about their own experiences. This poem is about my first crush in seventh grade.
My crush on the boy in the poem lasted the entire school year. My friend encouraged me to tell him, but I was much too shy. He never said anything, but I wonder if he knew. He'd always smile when we passed in the hallway, and of course my heart would melt. I was sure he was my one and only true love until that day in eighth grade when I moved on to a new crush.
I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love and happiness!
I am glad you're back, Linda, and hope you keep coming! It seems just right since I shared "our" song today, doesn't it? I love your 'Valentine melody", know that many of you have had lots of winter weather so it's lovely that you had that wee visit & wrote about it! And your 'crush' poem, from my view, feels so poignant. I taught that age, knew "some" secrets, but I'm sure never all. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I taught that age, too. There were so many crushes!
DeleteThanks for sharing your poems, Linda! Both are so warm and friendly and kid relatable. I know exactly how you feel about not having anything worth sharing because I am that way too. But this community has bolstered my confidence and helped me grow in so many ways. I hope you continue to share!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rose. Time gets away from me sometimes, but I'm going to try to participate more often.
DeleteThanks for sharing these sweet poems (I'm swooning over the boy with the deep blue eyes). :) Happy Valentine's Day!!
ReplyDeleteI can still see his face. He was such a cutie. Happy Valentine's Day, Jama!
DeleteLinda, I can just hear that chirping little chick-a-dee-dee-dee! And you really captured the feeling of the adolescent crush. Took me right back to that wonderful-awful feeling in my stomach! : )
ReplyDeleteTracey, I remember that feeling so well. I don't know if we ever forget our first big crush.
Delete“Brain drains, Words tangle,” I remember feeling that in middle school. Linda, glad to hear from you. Sometimes you need a break when life gets too busy. And what better poems to share today?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice. I hope to post more often this year.
DeleteLinda, welcome back! I so love that little Chickadee's song and your poem about it. I agree this group does "bring more light and kindness into the world." Thank you for adding yours here today!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise. I'll be making the rounds on everyone's blogs tomorrow. I always enjoy them so much!
ReplyDeleteLinda, so lovely to see you here! I love your chickadee valentine and I can relate to younger tongue-tied you! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Irene. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Your poem reminds me of the guy I had a crush on in HS. I got up the nerve to call and ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance, but then we had a snow day and that was that. We never spoke IRL. It was like my call never happened. But I survived!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the snow day, but at least you were brave enough to ask him. It's funny how we never forget our crushes. : )
DeleteSo glad to see you here, Linda! I agree, this Poetry Friday group is full of kindness, and it's a bright spot in my week. I love the term "a parade of storms." That phrase might be the start of a poem. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marcie. Yes, "parade of storms" is definitely becoming a poem.
DeleteThank you Linda for these sweet poems and for stirring memories for me. The Chicka-dee's song has a special place in my heart. I can still recall my MIL staring out her window and singing those words to call her birds.
ReplyDeleteAwww, such a sweet story. Thank you for sharing it, Cathy. xo
DeleteThanks for these poems, Linda. I'm glad you made the decision to jump back in. I'm in the same boat, back after a hiatus. Sometimes we just need a break. Best to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteHehehe--that second poem. So heartfelt. That's a chickadee (I think) in the picture. So glad you're here, Linda. "The longer I'm away from something, the harder it is for me to start up again." I feel this so deeply. I've not been on social media much in recent months, and I feel somewhat disconnected from my lovely book friends. But it feels hard to dive back in, too. Hooray for being here right now, this week. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. I hope to post more often. At least that is my intention. : )
DeleteLinda, I know exactly how you feel about stopping and it being hard to restart. I am so glad you know I am not alone in this and welcome you back today. Your post IS exactly what we all need today - love and lightness! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the poems. I feel connected to you now. And, I hope you start seeing birds this spring! Carol at The Apples In My Orchard (My avatar does not match my blog page.)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support and encouragement, Carol. xo
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love the voice in Tongue-tied so I added it to my Heartnotes Padlet. Your first poem is already on the Padlet. Both make a lovely showing. Please take a look at the site to see the parade of poems for February.
ReplyDelete(https://padlet.com/cvarsalona/heartnotes-w1ucc134cvaov4kc)
OK, you definitely made me chuckle there, I absolutely had a few of those crushes, where I was *sure* he was my one true love (from a distance) until the next one came along! ;-)
ReplyDelete