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Wea’ve Written Weakly: Three Cheers For Mornings Like This

“I have to tell you what I’ve learned, that I know now
what happens to the dreamers.
They don’t feel it when they change. One day
they wake, they dress, they are old.”
Night Song [from Marathon]

~ Louise Glück

Okie dokie ~ Let’s do this thing!

I. The prompt poem:

Two Kinds of People, a ‘garland kimo’ by Selma Martin MOI

((What a great honor. Thanks so dearly.))

II. Selma’s prompt guidelines

  • Theme: The beauty and perpetuity of the natural world that surrounds you;
    • Think about the simplicity of a blade of grass or a flower petal, of how every detail IS a life of its own;
  • Form: Any form;
  • Length: No longer than 400 words, but not too short;
    • If you write haiku or any of the short syllabic forms, please make it a long series where we can feel your surroundings.

Inspiration for this W3 prompt

Louise Glück (1943-2023) was a famed poet and essayist. (*Click* on her name to read more.)

In a world run by technology, now more than ever, it can be rewarding to unplug, go outside, and look to the natural scenery around you. In Louise Glück’s poem “Sunrise,” the narrator reflects on the still, beautiful landscape in the hills and how nature is always there, persisting, even through life’s ups and downs:

And if you missed a day, there was always the next,
and if you missed a year, it didn’t matter,
the hills weren’t going anywhere,
the thyme and rosemary kept coming back,
the sun kept rising, the bushes kept bearing fruit—–‘Sunrise’Louise Glück

III. Submit: Click on ‘Mister Linky’ AT THE SKEPTIC’S KADDISH WEBSITE (link below)

Submissions are open for 5 days, until Monday, Aug. 26, 10:00 AM (GMT+2)

here, here!

Fresh out of my soul, this poem:

THREE CHEERS FOR MORNINGS LIKE THIS
(317 WORDS)
Hill after hill, the canopy of trees goes higher and higher
Don't know where the yard ends and the mountain begins
It is wild out there on any sunless night:
raccoon dogs, wild boars, hares, owls, civets, rodents, more;
it's also home to wild lilies, irises, Purple Coneflowers, more.

As I sit reading by the wide open bay window
inhaling the fragrance of the Four O'Clocks,
imagining them playing hosts to the moths,
an owl hoo hoots poetry at the Sturgeon Moon
and now I imagine all creatures regarding Moon too.

Early next morning I turn to the mountains
the panorama, most beguiling at the break of day—
the sun slants at an angle on the forest floor,
splash splashing the underbelly of maple leaves
who call out to other trees for the chorus to begin.

But day breaks out much earlier than it used to —
Rooster thinks it's queer. I stumble out to soothe him in
a green day dress. I must look like the vomit version of a
green silver Lily in half moonlight, half sunlight. He scolds
and pours liquid shame over me. From inside I hear him
Chanticleering, rightfully claiming agency on the day.

When the wind kisses the leaves, I feel kissed.
When the Four O'Clocks drop their tired petals, I feel kissed.
I shall die on a morning like this and feel kissed.
And my tired body will break open like a river when an
agile body will flow and go on climbing hill after hill,
through the canopy of trees to take me higher and higher...

A giant Asian praying mantis zooms by, perches on the open
window, and as she stares at my open book moves her jaws in a
circular motion. She's reading, memorizing! I don't move,
nothing moves. Until she snaps open her wings, and reciting Mary
Oliver flies away into the ocean of golden light.

Copyright © selma

Thanks for this great honor.
Thanks so much for participating and for reading my work today.

(btw, we have no pets. The rooster I mention is one that lives in the neighborhood;
I borrowed him for this poem).

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 47 Comments

    1. Anonymous

      Thanks dearly, Robbie. Glad you enjoyed it.
      Pow 💥 😉 thanks for that too. I hope you participate. You’re good with long and short poetry. Well you’re good at many things. Bless you. Good night. 🤗

    2. Selma

      Now how could I be anonymous? It’s me, Selma! thanks Robbie. 🤗

    1. Selma

      Thanks, Cindy. I hope you participate. Or it’ll be lonely here this week. Bless you. 🤗 🤗

      1. Cindy Georgakas

        You’re welcome, Selma. Oh how cute of you… I’ll try to look since you invited me but no promises.. I can barely keep up. lol😂❤️

  1. Melissa Lemay

    Wonderful. I love the mantis “reciting Mary
    Oliver flies away into the ocean of golden light.”

    And the owl hooting poetry at the moon.😊

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. Happy to know you read to the end of this long one Melissa. Thanks for being this sweet. Happy you enjoyed it. Blessings. Awaiting your lines.

    2. ben Alexander

      That’s my favorite part too, Melissa!

      Selma ~ that idea of the mantis reading really made me smile… just delightful!

      Much love,
      David

      1. Selma Martin

        Thank you, dear David, Sir. Delighted you enjoyed that inclusion… bless you and the best of the best in everything. You rock. xo

  2. Sadje

    Congratulations dear friend on being the selected poet. What a wonderful poem you’ve written to your own prompt. Awesome

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for appreciating dear Sadje. Louise Glück raises the bar so high I had to give my words wings to “try” to fly. Thanks for reading.

      1. Sadje

        You did a great job my friend

  3. Aboli Mane

    Congrats on being the POW! I can feel this poem, what a morning ❤️ Captivating 😍

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks Abolí. Happy you read and enjoyed. Awaiting your lovely lines.

    1. Selma Martin

      Happy you agree.
      Awaiting your gorgeous lines, Diana dear. Knock it out of the ball park like you always do. 👏🏽

  4. Anonymous

    This is so beautiful. I did chuckle about the comparison to vomit but it didn’t kill the mood at all!

  5. memadtwo

    Lovely details Selma. Congratulations! (K)

  6. Michele Lee

    I love spending time with you, with your descriptive words, thank you gifted poet. 💖

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. You are sweet. Happy you enjoyed this long one. Xo

      1. Michele Lee

        Always do, thanks Selma and happy weekending to you! xo

  7. rajkkhoja

    Beautiful poem. Interesting words written in poem.

  8. What a stunning poem, Selma, and one that reminds me of when we spend time in the outdoors, when inspiration ‘kisses’ me, nudging me into poetry or a story. I also love how Mary Oliver found her way in at the end. 🩷

    1. Selma Martin

      Delighted you enjoyed this long one. Not as long as Louise’s but very long. Thank you. Spending time in nature’s arms is awe inspiring. I know you know this. It shows in your words and poetry 👏🏽

  9. kittysverses

    Exquisite, Selma. Congratulations on being the PoW and lovely prompt, I like it. 🙂

  10. brazannemuse

    How different is our vision at the break of dawn… opening eyes on nature’s inspirations on our life’s journey – lovely poem and prompt for us Selma 💞Suzanne

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for reading my poem. different as they might seem, the same—sort of like the sea, always different, always the same. I really enjoyed your poem this week. Thanks. Bless you.

  11. lesleyscoble

    I love the green day dress detail in your awesome poem, Selma. 💚 I wanted a pet praying mantis when I was a kid. 😁

    1. Selma Martin

      A praying mantis. Oh my! You already had the makings of a creative mind.
      Thanks for reading my long poem Lesley. Glad the green dress wasn’t a downer for you. Blessings.

  12. sgeoil

    This is so beautiful! I just loved it. A wonderful prompt for us Selma, there is so much to rejoice in nature.

    1. Selma Martin

      Heather. Heather of the photogenic House Finch, Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Blessings dear friend. 🤗

  13. lynn__

    A great prompt, Selma! I shared one written while on our recent vacation to Colorado.

    1. Selma Martin

      Gorgeous. Gorgeous dearest Lynn. Thanks dear one. Loved it. And the beautiful close up. How lucky. Bless you.

  14. Anonymous

    Words can do so much. Help, rest, urge on, remove pain or sadness and you knpw so well what to do with them. Cheers, Muriel

    1. Selma Martin

      Muriel, so pleased you dropped in to read this long one. Thanks for the encouragement. Be well. Bless you in all you do. Thank you. Xo, Selma

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