 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
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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.   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.
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
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.  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  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 |
 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.
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.
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.
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.
Today, Poetry Friday is hosted Downunder at Kat at Kathryn Apel. And she's shares her interesting pets.
This week I received this gorgeous painting and poem from Mary Iphigene.
Do you know her work? She's an incredible artist and poet.
And from the sounds of it life has been particularly challenging in the Philippines.
I love how she used mourning/morning in her poem.
I also love 'crows feet/gathering'.
Thank you for this treasure, Mary.
Do you know her work? She's an incredible artist and poet.
And from the sounds of it life has been particularly challenging in the Philippines.
I love how she used mourning/morning in her poem.
I also love 'crows feet/gathering'.
Thank you for this treasure, Mary.
This is my response to Mary's poem. I used the phrase "Waking Up to Sunlight" for a sort of Golden Shovel (added an extra line).
Waking Up to Sunlight
Dream clouds fade with songbirds waking
me. The dog jumps up
tail wagging, nose nudging me to
rise and greet the morning sunlight.
This is joy.
©jone rush macculloch(2021, draft)
Waking Up to Sunlight
Dream clouds fade with songbirds waking
me. The dog jumps up
tail wagging, nose nudging me to
rise and greet the morning sunlight.
This is joy.
©jone rush macculloch(2021, draft)
Welcome to Poetry Friday. We are so close to half way through the year. Does anyone know how to slow down time? This week Buffy at Buffy Silverman is sharing observations and thoughts about spring time. I love her photos and what she has cerated with the word 'time'.
Summer means swapping poetry with others. This past week, I had poetry mail from Tabatha. She has a teaser in her post for Mary Lee a couple weeks ago. Blessings. They are rather fun to write. This blessing from Tabatha speaks to anyone cultivating words. Yesterday I started collecting the poems that have lived on my blogs since 2006 and it indeed felt like I was a standing in a poem garden,
A blessing for those who cultivate words
by Tabatha Yeatts
for Jone
May the sun find your seeds
and rain settle on your sprouts
and may you pick the weeds
of distraction and fear
from around your precious seedlings.
May you invite birds to sing
on your branches, bees to
circle your blossoms, and
praying mantises to stoutly
guard your growth.
May your fingers be nimble
as you stand before rows of bushes,
ripe with the fruit of your imagination.
May your feet tread
gently but firmly as you walk
the dirt paths between these overflowing bushes,
holding your words in your hands,
your pockets, and cradled
in the bottom of your shirt.
May you find the few you need
on the sparse bush that holds words
for hard times, for times when silence
and togetherness
are most necessary.
May you stand before
the one you never
thought would bear fruit
and feel the joyous
bewilderment
of seeing more than you can hold.
My response:
seeds of sprouts
nimble with imagination-
your blossoms
walk dirty paths
hold words in silence
feel joyous
~jone rush macculloch, 2021 draft
A blessing for those who cultivate words
by Tabatha Yeatts
for Jone
May the sun find your seeds
and rain settle on your sprouts
and may you pick the weeds
of distraction and fear
from around your precious seedlings.
May you invite birds to sing
on your branches, bees to
circle your blossoms, and
praying mantises to stoutly
guard your growth.
May your fingers be nimble
as you stand before rows of bushes,
ripe with the fruit of your imagination.
May your feet tread
gently but firmly as you walk
the dirt paths between these overflowing bushes,
holding your words in your hands,
your pockets, and cradled
in the bottom of your shirt.
May you find the few you need
on the sparse bush that holds words
for hard times, for times when silence
and togetherness
are most necessary.
May you stand before
the one you never
thought would bear fruit
and feel the joyous
bewilderment
of seeing more than you can hold.
My response:
seeds of sprouts
nimble with imagination-
your blossoms
walk dirty paths
hold words in silence
feel joyous
~jone rush macculloch, 2021 draft
Author
All 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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2022 Progressive Poem
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 Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone
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
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 Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone
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
