Category: Summer Poetry Swap

Poetry Friday, Week 28: SummerGoodness

7/18/2025

Jan at Bookseedstudio is hosting us today. she's pondering nurturing and drifting.

If you would like to sign-up for the Pop-Up Poetry Salon on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11 AM EST, please leave your info HERE.

I am thankful for this community and people like Tabatha Yeats who organizes the Summer Poetry Swap. We are in the midst of it and this week I reviewed two wonderful pieces of mail from Carol Labuzzetta and Tricia Stohr-Hunt . Each of their swap made my week.

Tricia sent some potty forms to try. the prompt book is created with unused business envelops, the kind you get to sign up for things. The outside is filled with stickers and Tricia stamps. I am going to dig into these soon.

Carol and I have been using watercolors. These are two gorgeous pieces! In the guest bathroom, I am creating a poetry wall and "Jone's Song will be going there. The poem is based on the song from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Poetry Friday, Week 25: Naomi Shihab Nye

6/26/2025

Tanita at {fiction, instead of lies} is hosting Poetry Friday. She is sharing the poetry challenge for July which sounds very fun and doable.
Its a Sedoka is an unrhymed poem made up of two three-line katautawith a 5/7/7, 5/7/7 syllable count. Since a Sedoka has only six lines, you can totally do this! BONUS: Mary Lee (A(nother) Year of Reading) is hosting next Friday and has the theme for protest Poetry on Independence Day. Try a Sedoka.

We are living in some uncertain times. This past weekend, after the news, I decided to do restart abandoning art. This time I'm making 2 x 2 in canvas hearts. #moreart #morelove.

There are 2 that are heading to Paris with a friend to leave somewhere in the city. I'm going to make more this summer.

The other thing I'm doing is to revisited the poems of Naomi Shihab Nye. This one comes from The Tiny Journalist. It's a book I bought at the 2020 AWP Conference. I found the poem on Poets.org

Moon Over Gaza Naomi Shihab Nye 1952 –
I am lonely
for my friends.
They liked me,
trusted my coming.
I think they looked up at me
more than other people do.

I who have been staring down so long
see no reason for the sorrows humans make.
I dislike the scuffle and dust of bombs blasting
very much. It blocks my view.

A landscape of sorrow and grieving
feels different afterwards.
Different sheen from a simple desert,
children who say my name
like a prayer.

Sometimes I am bigger than
a golden plate,
a giant coin
and everyone gasps.

Maybe it is wrong
that I am so calm.
From The Tiny Journalist (BOA Editions, Ltd. 2019) by Naomi Shihab Nye. Copyright © 2019 by Naomi Shihab Nye. Used with the permission of the poet.

This line is so powerful:
see no reason for the sorrows humans make.

I received the first Summer Poetry Swap from Linda Mitchell. And squee she sent me a fabulous book to read by our very own Poetry Friday poet, Margaret Simon. I am going to begin it tonight. and will be using Linda's hand crafted book mark with the poem, A Book is a Place" by Clyde Watson on the back.

My goal this summer is to read more poetry and to share more titles. You may or may not know this but the CYBILS are pausing their year awards for this year. I get why they are yet I am very sad about this.

Poetry Friday, Week 33: Summer Gifts

8/25/2023

©Graphic by Amber Fleek

Today Linda B. at TeacherDance is hosting Poetry Friday. She is reflecting on the end of summer and the beginning of school and new adventures as some head to college.
This time of year is always a new year for those in education. And even when you retire, you feel it.

This week, I'm sharing the gifts of summer; the annual Summer Poetry Swap, organized by the fabulous Tabatha Yeatts. My swap partners were from Sarah Grace Tuttle, Marcie Finchum Atkins,
Carol Labuzetta, Rose Cappelli, and our host, Linda Baie.

For the poems I sent to my partners, I found lines from their poems and wrote golden shovel poems for each.

For today, I combined their lines and a line I wrote for their poems for a cento,

Poetry Friday, Week 35: Summer Poetry Swap

9/1/2022

Poetry Rocks design by Amber Fleek

On this first Friday of September, Linda at TeacherDance has hosting duties. Her poem about summer ending and school beginning reminds me of "Now" by Prince Redcloud.

Are you interested in a poetry challenge? The September #poetrypals challenge is the Definito, created by poet Heidi Mordhorst,

This week, I have the wonderful work of Michelle Kogan. She sent it to me for the Summer Poetry Swap. It's always a joy to get something from Michelle. I love the journal she handmade and will carry it with me for sketching and writing.
Below is her poem. There is indeed mystique in our feathered friends. They are magical in the way they flit here and there.

FEATHERED FRIEND MYSTIQUE..
For Jone
Does sparrow magic amaze you?
How they tilt their head,
this way and that.
How they lilt their song
lively up and down.

Have you glimpsed them
on that high branch?
S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g
one wing than another.
Preen, preen, preening,
puff-fluffing head feathers,
noodling wings and all birdy things.

Oh joyous song they sing along
as if it's just for you.
Though really for their birdy loves
perched safely in that branchy shrub
W-a-y up above,
or in that shady tree.

But if you dare look too long,
or they catch you listening-
S-s-s-W-i-sh-Off they dash
in a flash-instantly.
Do you wander,
over-under and
actually wonder...
Were they ever
really there.

© 2022 Michelle Kogan

Poetry Friday, Week 33: Summer Poetry Swap from Denise Krebs

8/18/2022

Welcome to Dave who's hosting at Leap of Dave.

I highly encourage the Poetry Friday community to participate in Tabatha's Yeatts poetry swaps. She does a winter and summer one. A few weeks ago, I received a lovely envelope with these two poems. I love writing about the birds in my neighborhood so these were fun to get. And having been to Denise Kreb's neck of the woods (or desert) last September is was great to see the landscape again. Denise was kind enough to include crocheted dish rags (which remind me of the color of the hummingbirds), tea, and dark chocolate.

My response:

summer explodes with life
hatching nests and sipping food
thanks for the moment

©jone rush macculloch

Thank you, Denise for your kindness and brightening my mail this summer.

Poetry Friday, Week 32: Poetry Swap Star

8/12/2022

Head over to Margaret at Reflections on the Teche and wish her a happy birthday. She's hosting today. She was greeted with a rainbow for her birthday and has a poem from William Wordsworth.

Summer is for Poetry Swaps

When I returned from my travels, this swap was waiting for me. Linda Mitchell outdid herself with this "Junk Journal" which is more like a piece of art. and for me, a mentor example to create my own junk journal about Scotland.

an old book
for starry dream doodles
of wonder

© jone rush macculloch

New Blog Post Alert!

I'm adding "Monday Musings" to my blog. Here is the link for this past Monday.

Poetry Friday, Week 31: A Few Poetry Announcements

8/4/2022

Thanks to Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone for hosting today.
It's really great to be back. June and July zipped by me. Part of the time I was in Ireland and Scotland. I am still processing the trip and can't believe I've been home almost a month. What a month it's been! I have news.

The Poeming Pigeon: A Journal of Poetry and Art (Issue #12)

I am thrilled to announce that my poem, "A Story While Chopping Onions", will be featured in this upcoming issue of the The Poeming Pigeon.

It's ready for preorders at the website and is $18.00 if ordered before September 30, 2022. It's $24.00 after. Publication is set for October 25, 2022.

Summer Poetry Swap, 2022

Thanks to Tabatha, each summer welcomes the Summer Swap of poetry. One of the favorite places in the world for me is the Grand Canyon. And Patricia kicked off the season with these wonderful haiku.

layered bands, compressed
remains of Panagea
carved over eons

canyon colors, rise
desert sun sinks into time
nature's memory

pastel pink and gold
a day yawns, remebering
sandstone lullabies

how many lingered
in awe of earth's majesty
prayer of gratitude

© Patricia J. Frantz

In Other News

Three years ago, Klaire Lockhart and Aaron Packard, wanted to host an art exhibit in their community of Vermillion, SD comprised of artists from all over the country.

I submitted two photos and the mixed media piece, "Coda". They were accepted into the show.

The artwork will be professionally printed and wheat-pasted to the exterior of No. 7 Center Gallery, and the images will be included in an online exhibition hosted by packardgroupllc.com. The opening reception will occur on Final Friday, August 26th, 2022 at No. 7 Center Gallery, 7 Center St., Vermillion, SD. All selected artwork will be projected as a drive-in movie. The exhibition of 8x10” prints will be on display from August 26th through September 23rd, 2022.

I am so excited to be included and when the online link becomes available, I will share.

Poetry Friday, Week 35: Poetry Princess Challenge

9/24/2021

Laura at Laura Purdie Salas is hosting Poetry Friday today and sharing more of the Poetry Princess Challenge. It was to find a poem from the Poetry Friday Community and write a response using the Tanka form. Curious about tanka? Read this post by Kelly.

I went to the blogs and landed at Mary Lee's Poetrepository. She wrote a sonnet (and for AJ no less) about Summer's End. It is a cornucopia of juicy and rich words.
Meanwhile, I spied my last remaining Summer Poetry Swap. Guess who it was from? Mary Lee and I knew that this was a serendipitous moment.

I have been thinking today about the fact that I don't really have a favorite season. There is great anticipation for the arrival of the new season and all it has to hold. Toward the end, the anticipation of the season builds.

.Using a couple of the cards Mary Lee sent me I responded to "Summer's End" with a
Dodoitsu (7-7-7-5), part of the summer swap and a tanka. I pulled some of her words from the sonnet.

scarlett maple leaves quiver
apples finish crisp on trees
roads that are unexpected
fall’s many textures
©jone rush macculloch. 2021

wake before sunrise
cool air hushes summer heat
lingering too long.
harvest moon and Orion
set in the west. autumn arrives
©jone rush macculloch. 2021

ClarePoetry Friday, Week 31: Guest Blog Post with Janet Clare Fagel

8/26/2021

Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections
is hosting Poetry Friday today. It's going to be a fun party as she and others celebrate Jane Yolen's 400th book, Bear Outside. Poets in the community are writing after the style of Yolen's eight line, rhyming poem, “What the Bear Knows”.

Join the party, the topic is What the ____ Knows.

Last week I shared my Poetry Swap from Janet ClareFagel . This week, Janet is my guest blogger. And it's an honor to share her Summer Swap treasures from Margaret Simon and myself.

Summer Poem Swap
By guest blogger Janet Clare Fagal aka Janet F. August 13, 2021

For my first foray into Tabatha Yeatts Lonske’s Summer Poem Swap I was lucky to pair up with two wonderful poetry friends, Jone MacCulloch and Margaret Simon. Jone and I have communicated via email and online regularly since we connected years ago. Some day we are planning to meet in person. My first stay at Highlights with Rebecca Kai Dotlitch found me in the cabin Jone had used a few weeks earlier. Reading her entry in the cabin journal made me happy. She was there for a class on verse novels. I felt right at home. Later Jone started an after school poetry club in her library and I helped her with information from my Poetry on Parade program. She dubbed hers, “Poetry Rocks” and it did.
When Jone’s envelope arrived I found 3 gems: an erasure poem using the Zentangle format, a beautiful art piece with Jone’s poem and a lovely notebook with a handmade cover, perfect for pocket or purse and collecting idea for new poems. The collaged trio of birds on the cover reminded me that birds of a feather do indeed flock together. Here are some photos of the treasures from Jone. I have a special spot chosen to place the vibrant plaque, a starburst of color and hydrangea petals accompanied by this poem by Jone:

the sandman
collects dreaming dust
from grandma’s
hollyhock
burgandy velvet star
childhood memories

© Jone Rush MacCulloch

How perfect for the grandma of self-named Superhero, Dazzle Girl and her sidekick Superhero brother, Dragonfly. Thank you so much Jone for these treats!

My second super Swap with Margaret Simon arrived and in it was a notebook with covers that Margaret painted in an abstract paint, print, and collage design. I noted sponges, dots from perhaps wide pencils, circles from the bottom of lids or bowls and some feathery strokes in deep green. Atop the initial layers of this work were green crisscross pieces that reminded me of lovely grasses. Its bright yellow, white and greens cheered me and made me want to write in it immediately! The border had these words: “oh happy day “repeating along the edge.

She included a copy of the poem Tonight I am In Love by Dorianne Laux. She said when she read the poem she thought of me as one who supports poetry as literature. From it she created a Golden Shovel poem for me. Here is Dorianne’s poem followed by Margaret’s.  How lucky am I.

This poem sings my song for sure  And I want to shout, “oh happy day!”
It begins
Tonight, I am in love with poetry,
with the good words that saved me,
with the men and women who
uncapped their pens and laid the ink
on the blank canvas of the page.

I am shameless in my love; their faces
rising on the smoke and dust at the end
of day, their sullen eyes and crusty hearts,
the murky serum now turned to chalk
along the gone cords of their spines.

And it ends:
They could not have known how I would love them,
worlds fallen from their mortal fingers.
When I cannot see to read or walk alone
along the slough, I will hear you, I will
bring the longing in your voices to rest
against my old, tired heart and call you back.

You can find the entire poem here
From Facts About the Moon ©W.W. Norton & Company, 2006. Reprinted with permission.
Here is Margaret’s Golden Shovel poem:

                                                                               Tonight I Write
                                                                a Golden Shovel for Janet
striking line from Dorianne Laux “Tonight I am in love with poetry.”

I stained my arm tonight
with ink spots from fingers I
drew across a blank page. I am
falling into the words in
this poem, in love
with how sounds sing with
harmony and make poetry.

© 2021 Margaret Simon

How much do I love this idea of my fingers full of ink spots from caressing all the poems I love? And indeed how the words and sounds sing with harmony and make poetry.  A blessing, this poem and poetry.

Also in the envelope were two magnet photos of my grandgirl aka Dazzle Girl and my grandson aka Dragonfly Superhero. They have taken prime position on my fridge holding up artwork. Again, oh happy day!!! Thank you Margaret.
And thank you Tabatha for organizing this. I am so glad I took this plunge! I loved writing for Margaret and Jone and gathering some poetry I felt each would like. I am still smiling about it all.

Poetry Friday, Week 32: A Bonus Poetry Swap

8/12/2021

so glad to be here for Poetry Friday. This week Christie at Wondering and Wandering is hosting and she has a community poem, Poetry Is...

After Tabatha set up the Summer Poetry Swap, she offered an opportunity for an extra exchange. I was glad to add Rebecca Herzog to the swap. Her poetry package arrived late last week. It included an erasure poem which was so fun. I love the painted bookmark and the bracelet/anklet made by her daughter.

For a response, I decided to use the words for a Golden Shovel poem and use the final line as a final line as well. I have been working on ancestry puzzles of late so the words spoke to me in that way.

Let’s unravel the mysteries of generations
working feverishly and wordlessly
finding kernels of information to console
those who believed the stories of the past. Love
guided the ancestors’ choices. I am grateful
to carry on the name.
©jone rush macculloch, 2021
Thank you, Rebecca for a wonderful swap that sparked this response.

<<Previous

Poetry Friday, Week 28: SummerGoodness

Poetry Friday, Week 25: Naomi Shihab Nye

Poetry Friday, Week 33: Summer Gifts

Poetry Friday, Week 35: Summer Poetry Swap

Poetry Friday, Week 33: Summer Poetry Swap from Denise Krebs

Poetry Friday, Week 32: Poetry Swap Star

Summer is for Poetry Swaps

New Blog Post Alert!

Poetry Friday, Week 31: A Few Poetry Announcements

The Poeming Pigeon: A Journal of Poetry and Art (Issue #12)

Summer Poetry Swap, 2022

In Other News

Poetry Friday, Week 35: Poetry Princess Challenge

ClarePoetry Friday, Week 31: Guest Blog Post with Janet Clare Fagel

Summer Poem Swap
By guest blogger Janet Clare Fagal aka Janet F. August 13, 2021

Poetry Friday, Week 32: A Bonus Poetry Swap

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Summer is for Poetry Swaps

New Blog Post Alert!

The Poeming Pigeon: A Journal of Poetry and Art (Issue #12)

Summer Poetry Swap, 2022

In Other News

​Summer Poem Swap By guest blogger Janet Clare Fagal aka Janet F. August 13, 2021

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Summer Poem Swap
By guest blogger Janet Clare Fagal aka Janet F. August 13, 2021