On this day-past-midpoint-of-April, I am happy to be part of the annual National Poetry Month Kidlit Progressive Poem. Like a potluck dinner where everyone shares a meal, in this progressive poem, everyone offers a line, building one poem throughout the month of April. Irene Latham started this tradition and kept it going from 2012-2019, and in 2020, Margaret Simon became the new host, welcoming 30 poets to pen a communal poem throughout the 30 days of National Poetry Month.
My line follows Carol's line from yesterday:
Open an April window
let sunlight paint the air
stippling every dogwood
dappling daffodils with flair
Race to the garden
where woodpeckers drum
as hummingbirds thrum
in the blossoming Sweetgum
Sing as you set up the easels
dabble in the paints
echo the colors of lilac and phlox
commune without constraints
Breathe deeply the gifts of lilacs
rejoice in earth's sweet offerings
feel renewed-give thanks at day's end
remember long-ago springs
And in case you were wondering, today in in Western New York, spring looks like snow on daffodils!
Daffodils in Snow, April 16, 2025
Photo by Amy LV
Tomorrow I pass the springy baton to Kim at Common Threads.
April 2 Tricia Stohr-Hunt at The Miss Rumphius EffectApril 3 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle EdgeApril 4 Donna Smith at Mainely WriteApril 5 Denise Krebs at Dare to CareApril 6 Buffy Silverman April 7 Jone Rush MacCullochApril 8 Janice Scully at Salt City VerseApril 9 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference April 10 Marcie Flinchum AtkinsApril 11 Rose Capelli at Imagine the Possibilities April 12 Fran Haley at Lit Bits and PiecesApril 13 Cathy Stenquist April 14 Janet Fagel at Mainely WriteApril 15 Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLinkApril 16 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem FarmApril 17 Kim Johnson at Common ThreadsApril 18 Margaret at Reflections on the TecheApril 19 Ramona at Pleasures from the PageApril 20 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of ReadingApril 21 Tanita Davis April 22 Patricia FranzApril 23 Ruth at There’s no such thing as a Godforsaken townApril 24 Linda Kulp Trout April 25 Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little UniverseApril 26 Michelle Kogan April 27 Linda Baie at Teacher DanceApril 28 Pamela Ross at Words in FlightApril 29 Diane Davis at Starting Again in PoetryApril 30 April Halprin Wayland at Teaching Authors
To learn about more National Poetry Month projects and all kinds of April goodness, visit Jama's Alphabet Soup where Jama has generously gathered this coming month's Kidlitosphere poetry happenings. And if you are here for Poem 16 of my National Poetry Month Project, you may find it HERE. Happy National Poetry Month!
xo,
Amy
Please share a comment below if you wish.
Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.
If you are under 13 years old, please only comment
with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.
Thanks, Amy, for adding another end rhyme. Remembering springs is such a positive directive. I love how those daffodils insist on being noticed, even in snow.
ReplyDeleteAmy, your line, "remember long-ago spring", is what I will do today to bring back sweet memories." Strong verbs walk through the Kidlit Progressive Poem allowing everyone to follow springtime's path. I remember spring in Syracuse while growing up. We would say that Winter shares its wonder from Thanksgiving to Easter. Your area is a testament to that thought.
ReplyDeleteWhoa--Thanksgiving to Easter. There's definitely a reason that I live where we say it's barefoot porch weather from May to October! This stanza has taken a reflective turn which is always appropriate, but I'm hoping we'll get back to the communal painting and create something powerful out there in the garden! Amy, I like your return to the shorter line length (and also your Hello My Name Is project, which you are kind to share!).
ReplyDeleteMmmmm.... gratefulness and refreshing memories. Lovely! Thanks, Amy - and thanks for that daffodils-in-snow picture. :0)
ReplyDelete