Patricia at Reverie has us thinking a tad bit as to what we might include in a letter to Santa. It makes me think of that wonderful song, "Grown Up Christmas List" written by David Foster and Linda Thompson.
The last stanza is so, so fitting: No more lives torn apart That wars would never start And time would heal all hearts And everyone would have a friend And right would always win And love would never end, no This is my grown up Christmas list This is my only lifelong wish This is my grown up Christmas list
Last week, I shared Amy Losak's haiku in the later HSA Members' Anthology. Today I have a back story about my haiku which actually began as this poem for Laura Shovan's 2023 February Poetry Project. Her theme was story and this poem was a response to Marilyn R. Garcia sharing a photo of a family quilt and this prompt: Today let’s think about old objects that hold stories. What is the oldest object in your home? Why do you have it? How did you get it? Do you actually use it and how? Who will get it when you have crossed the rainbow bridge and why?
Great Grandmother’s Quilt My great grandmother’s quilt hangs in my bedroom Reminding me of the generational creative bonds Each fabric piece tells a story, threads stitching the collection together My great grandmother sewed perfect circles My drawn circles aren’t as perfect but she has a message My great grandmother’s quilt hangs in my bedroom For fun, she hid spectacles as embroidery on the quilt I still haven’t found them. I keep looking. Reminding me of the generational creative bonds Which fabrics were dresses, which were aprons I do my quilting with words and papers Each fabric piece tells a story, threads stitching the collection together © 2023, Jone Rush MacCulloch When the HSA Members' Anthology put the call for haiku for the theme, elements, the quilt came to mind . It was one of five haiku I submitted. Essentially I sent in a found haiku from the above poem. (PS. It is obvious that I sort of staged this quilt photo! LOL! This quilt was made in the 1800s.There is another single quilt square hanging there) 
You Made it to the Invitation!
It's 25 days until the new year! And that means time to start thinking of sending New Year Post Cards! Our little group is at 14 and we'd love for you to join us!
Send five, send ten or send to all? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.How It Works:
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Anastasia at Small Poems is hosting us today for the first Friday of December. She's asking the question "What is Story?" and reflecting on her first acceptance letter for something she wrote.
This week my copy of Fractured Cattails, the Haiku Society of America Member Anthology arrived. The theme for the book was elements. It was a joy to see other Poetry Friday Community members, Marcie Flinchum Atkins and Robyn Hood Black share the pages with me. Also sharing the pages was Amy Losak, author of H is for Haiku and Wing Strokes Haiku. Both books feature the haiku of her mother. I reached out to Amy and asked to share her haiku. Amy's haiku is so perfect for this moment. Granted we are into a waning autumn but still prayers don't seem enough. I will share my haiku that's in the anthology next week. next week. 
Join Us, You're Invited!
It's 31 days until the new year! And that means time to start thinking of sending New Year Post Cards!
Send five, send ten or send to all? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.How It Works:
 ©graphic by Amber Fleek
Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town is hosting the Poetry Friday Community with an Ode to Taxonomy.
I have a photo haiku. The morning earlier this was spectacular. 
It's 39 days until the new year! And that means time to start thinking of sending New Year Post Cards!
Send five, send ten or send to all? In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.How It Works:
 ©Amber Fleek, graphic Karen at Karen Edmisten* is hosting all the Poetry Friday goodness today. She doesn't want us to overthink and just enjoy all the poetry while offering up some Ella Fitzgerald. Last week, Mary Lee at Another Year of Reading offered her response to Lind Mitchell's Prose and Poetry challenge for the month: Write a prose piece–find a poem in it.Or, write a poem, expand it into a prose piece. Or, find a prose piece, transform it into a poem. Or, find a poem and transpose it into a prose piece. Any interpretation of this prompt is perfect. Mary Lee's reminded me of writing a haibun. I've been writing some of late and rather like the format. I also have been working on poems for a potential chapbook/memoir(?) of my life, especially around my first marriage. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. My former husband (who died due to Agent Orange complications in 2017) flew helicopter in Vietnam. Thanks to a recent class with Joan Kwon Glass, and a particular poetry prompt, I've been doing a deep research dive on his experience there (which I didn't really spend a lot of time discussing with him and the more I learn, the more I am horrified at what I didn't know or understand). Today's sharing is a VERY rough first draft with the Prose and Poetry challenge. And honestly, I would love feedback as to what is sings or might be confusing. I keep think of what I was doing in 1970 compared to what my former husband was doing in 1970.  Flowers left in honor of Veteran's Day 2023 In That Time
I was reading In That Time: Michael O’Donnell and the Tragic Era of Vietnam by Daniel H. Weiss. O’Donnell was a helicopter pilot between 1969-1971. Roughly the same time period that my former husband served. Also a helicopter pilot. My heart stopped when I read Pleiku, Vietnam and the 170th Assault Helicopter Company. I hadn’t thought about Pleiku or the 170th in over thirty years. My former husband flew there during 1970-1970. Did the two cross paths? It was never something we discussed. Now reading about O’Donnell, it’s peering into a window of what my former husband lived through. Unlike O’Donnell, he returned after his duty was served, Spring, 1970 Men flying helicopters Cambodia and Laos HS senior choosing a college dorm room Simi Valley, CA Men flying helicopters Cambodia and Laos HS senior planning “ditch day” Simi Valley, CA Men flying helicopters Cambodia and Laos HS senior attend prom Simi Valley, CA Men flying helicopters Cambodia and Laos HS senior graduates, parties at Disneyland Some pilots never return, others carry the weight © jone rush macculloch  I'm doing double duty today as I am at the coast (perfect for the SJT theme of renewal). This post will serve for SJT and PF. My mare-stanes (hag stone) at sunset at Rockaway Beach, Oregon.  Fran of Lit Bits and Pieces is hosting Spiritual Journey Thursday this month. She has a moving post about renewal and says, "In choosing the theme of renewal, I note that one definition of the word is resuming an activity after an interruption." When I heard the topic of "renewal", it was an "aha" as I have always viewed renewal as a spring time word. As I study Scots Gaelic, and the Celtic Calendar, we have entered a new year. Autumn is also renewal. The harvest is finished.Now it's the time of fall's decay, the returning to the earth. The cold months are necessary for cleansing the land, for the renewal of the earth. And it's fitting that the Gaelic name for winter is An Geamhrachd, which is the Celtic word for cold. At Faith & Worship, I found a wonderful prayer for this time of renewal: For the promise of harvest contained within a seed we thank you. For the oak tree within an acorn The bread within a grain The apple within a pip The mystery of nature gift wrapped for us to sow we thank you I found an article on A Focus On Nature by Chloé Valerie Harmsworth. She has wonderful illustrations in the article. I used the "A Time of Renewal: Autumn and Winter" for the following found poem.  A Time of Renewal: Autumn and Winter Nature Found Poem From the article by Chloé Valerie Harmsworth change the clocks have moved back the days short the nights deep and long the atmosphere seems to alter so do I mist, chilling creep through the cracks I swaddle an instinct to hibernate saving energy a constellation of warm, breathing bodies, waiting for the dark to pass strengthened this yearning of mine. we can enjoy simple peaceful activities go on life-affirming walks so much to learn the days and weeks descend into deep winter my attention turns to the trees’ naked beauty arms reaching out to the sky noisy, chattering corvids bring energy to the moment the earth’s reawakening shoots burst with spirit this period of rest and contemplation allows me to open like the first snowdrop ready to restart, refreshed and rejuvenated. ©Jone Rush MacCulloch, 2023 draft I am looking forward to hosting December's Spiritual Journey Thursday. as we head toward the shortest day, longest night, I am thinking about the importance of light in the dark of winter.
Our host for Poetry Friday is Buffy Silverman who is celebrating the arrival of her new book!
Carol at The Apples in My Orchard is celebrating bats and a milestone birthday. And she's still ope for submissions for her nature anthology.
I am sharing a Spooky Spectacular Found Poem even on Padlet. I hope you will share your poems. Here's the link to add yours. 
Graphic: ©Amber Fleek Bridget at wee words for wee ones is hosting Poetry Friday. She's celebrating her birthday and sharing a wee bit of joy.
Today I subbed in a second grade classroom and we had a day of poetry which I will share in a later post. I just want to share a reminder about next week's Spooky Spectacular Found poems. think about a creepy, scary horror story. Maybe the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, a little Lovecraft, or perhaps the Mummy. Here's a little sample: It doesn't need to be long. From The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe: uplifted my eyes to decayed trees shaking from my spirit Graphic; © Amber Fleek Welcome to Poetry Friday. I place to maybe find solace when the world is unsettled. Catherine at Reading to the Core has hosting duties. She's sharing Irene Latham's gorgeous new book, The Museum on the Moon. Friends, thank you for leaving comments. I always have the best intentions of commenting and sometimes (many times) I don't. It's my goal to be better. Being part of community is commenting. I am grateful to be a part of this community.  Wildwood Recreational Area, Mount Hood Village, OR SheLast night, I was preparing this post. It was going to be a different one. I kept hedging and feeling the weight of this week in the world. I kept reading Naomi Shihab Nye's work. She is my go to person when the world is unsettled. Her poems, books, and essays have given me a some understanding of the Middle East. Which one post to post? I couldn't decide and I went to bed without my post written. When I got out of bed this morning and got my tea, I knew what I'd write about today. I went back online and searched at Poets.org for Nye's work. Below is a cento for the Middle East, using lines from her poems. A Cento for the Middle East: Thank You Naomi Shihab Nye Sometimes there is a day you just want to get far away from. I thought pain had no tongue. overlooking my humanity. ‘ A landscape of sorrow and grieving “ But more war, battles, why not simpler things? burn of ancestors smoldering outside stolen homes, causes a uniformed man to approach barking, Is there something you don't understand? They are the bravest people on earth right now, kindness as the deepest thing inside, sorrow as the other deepest thing. wake up with sorrow. only kindness makes sense anymore, for an unfolding day. ©Jone Rush MacCulloch, (draft, 2023) Sources for the Cento: “Sometimes there’s a day” From The Tiny Journalist, BOA Editions, Ltd. 2019 “Arabic” from Red Suitcase. Copyright © 1994.. ‘Gratitude List” From The Tiny Journalist, BOA Editions, Ltd. 2019 “Moon Over Gaza” From The Tiny Journalist, BOA Editions, Ltd. 2019 “What she Said” Copyright © 2022 by Naomi Shihab Nye. This poem originally appeared in Tikkun, September 10, 2021. “The Burn” From Transfer BOA Editions, 2011 “The Burn” From Transfer BOA Editions, 2011 “Mediterranean Blue” From The Tiny Journalist. Copyright © 2019 “Kindness” from Words Under the Words: Selected Poems. Copyright © 1995 “Green Shirt” Copyright © 2022 by Naomi Shihab Nye. This poem originally appeared in Tikkun, September 10, 2021. Spooky Spectacular Found Poems: October 27, 2027 I'm hoping you will join me on October 27th for a fun poetry event.
Did you have fun with Spring's Classic Found Poem Palooza? You are invited to another found poem spectacular palooza, spooky version. Do you have a favorite horror or scary book, poem or story? Maybe a Poe, a HP Lovecraft, Dracula or Frankenstein? It doesn't need to be long. From The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe: uplifted my eyes to decayed trees shaking from my spirit ©Graphic Design by Amber Fleek Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme is hosting Poetry Friday this week. Last week, I was in Mrs. Fisher's fourth grade class. We did the "I Come From" poems like last week and I'll share in the next few weeks. We also had time to "Poetry Play: Playing with Pantoums". I had five table teams make word tickets for four fall categories: Activities, Feelings, Colors, and Foods.  Then each table team wrote two sentences, one from a category that I randomly chose for them.  I Wrote All the Sentences on Strips. Then as a class, we gathered around and decided the order. I made a suggestion to add "In Fall" on some of the sentences. We then took a look at the order and we decided that switched the first two lines would help the flow, we also took out some extra words. Here is the finished poem: In Fall: A Pantoum By Mrs.Fisher’s Fourth Graders In fall, I sit in the leaves and drink warm apple juice Go into a corn maze, then jump into leaves on a farm I love seeing the r- orange and yellow leaves In fall, I feel gloomy about the cold weather that‘s coming Go into a corn maze, then jump into leaves on a farm I turn on the fire and I feel cozy and warm In fall, I feel gloomy about the cold weather that‘s coming So I get all cozy and warm I turn on the fire and I feel cozy and warm In fall, I love making turkey crafts So I get all cozy and warm I fell into a room of chicken pie, some apple juice in the corner of my eye In fall, I love making turkey crafts Me and my family love making sticky chicken for Thanksgiving dinner I fell into a room of chicken pie, some apple juice in the corner of my eye Some people eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and some people don’t Me and my family love making sticky chicken for Thanksgiving dinner I love seeing the r-orange and yellow leaves Some people eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and some people don’t In fall, I sit in the leaves and drink warm apple juice Are You Ready for Spooky Season?Stay tuned! Did you have fun with Spring's Classic Found Poem Palooza? You are invited to another found poem spectacular palooza, spooky version. Do you have a favorite horror or scary book, poem or story? Maybe a Poe, a HP Lovecraft, Dracula or Frankenstein? It doesn't need to be long. From The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe: uplifted my eyes to decayed trees shaking from my spirit On October 27, 2023, I will feature a Padlet with a Spooky Season Found Poem. Stay Tuned.  Graphic: ©Amber Fleek
Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup has Poetry Friday hosting duties. She shares a couple of fun poems from Scottish poet Helena Nelson.
Last week, I had the pleasure of guest teaching in a fifth grade class. The beginning of the year is a great opportunity to write "I Come From" poems. I tried something I came across during the #SealeyChallenge. I read Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge. Great book in which she talks about creating "word tickets". So I adapted the idea and passed out little papers for students to "prime the pump" by coming up with words for the poem:
Are You Ready for Spooky Season?
Stay tuned! Did you have fun with Spring's Classic Found Poem Palooza? Next week, I have an invitation for another found poem spectacular palooza, spooky version. Do you have a favorite horror or scary book, poem or story? Maybe a Poe, a HP Lovecraft, Dracula or Frankenstein?
On October 27, 2023, I will feature a Padlet with a Spooky Season Found Poem. Stay Tuned. |
AuthorAll photos and poems in these blog posts are copyrighted to Jone Rush MacCulloch 2006- Present. Please do not copy, reprint or reproduce without written permission from me. 
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April 1 Mary Lee Hahn, Another Year of Reading April 2 Heidi Mordhorst, My Juicy Little Universe April 3 Tabatha, The Opposite of Indifference April 4 Buffy Silverman April 5 Rose Cappelli, Imagine the Possibilities April 6 Donna Smith, Mainely Write April 7 Margaret Simon, Reflections on the Teche April 8 Leigh Anne, A Day in the Life April 9 Linda Mitchell, A Word Edgewise April 10 Denise Krebs, Dare to Care April 11 Emma Roller, Penguins and Poems April 12 Dave Roller, Leap Of Dave April 13 Irene Latham Live You Poem April 14 Janice Scully, Salt City Verse April 15 Jone Rush MacCulloch April 16 Linda Baie, TeacherDance April 17 Carol Varsalona, Beyond Literacy Link April 18 Marcie Atkins April 19 Carol Labuzzetta at The Apples in My Orchard April 20 Cathy Hutter, Poeturescapes April 21 Sarah Grace Tuttle, Sarah Grace Tuttle’s Blog, April 22 Marilyn Garcia April 23 Catherine, Reading to the Core April 24 Janet Fagal, hosted by Tabatha, The Opposite of Indifference April 25 Ruth, There is no Such Thing as a God-Forsaken Town April 26 Patricia J. Franz, Reverie April 27 Theresa Gaughan, Theresa’s Teaching Tidbits April 28 Karin Fisher-Golton, Still in Awe Blog April 29 Karen Eastlund, Karen’s Got a Blog April 30 Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, and Writing |
