Today’s post is inspired by Kim Johnson, who’s organizing a community event for National Poetry Month. Her local arts council chose the theme of “Awakenings” and in her Slice of Life Story Challenge post of March 12th, Kim sent out a call for short poems of 4-6 lines. Featured poems will be displayed on canvases in windows around the town square throughout April.
Kim: Here’s to power of awakenings, poetry, and community! Much success to you, my friend, and all involved in this exciting event.
Now…how might I play some little variations on this theme, let’s say, with snippets of my life?
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awakening (plural awakenings)
noun
- the point of morning coffee (may require more than one cup)
- a soul-spark generated by infinite possibility
- a heart condition caused by beautiful language
- (plural) the celebration of poetry at a local literacy event
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Sisters Seeing
One winter’s night, when I was ten, I dreamed of an angel.
My little sister stood by me at the window, watching it pass.
Morning brought this revelation: she had dreamed of it, too.
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First Rhythms
Love of words was born in me
upon my grandmother’s lap
reading stories in rhyme
rocking chair keeping time
with the beating of her heart.
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Cicada Rhythms
High in the oaks against the bluest of skies
the rattling swells as its season dies.
A paradox, this buzzing call
from amid the leaves, soon to fall.
This song of my childhood, lingering still
in the last of the light, before the chill.
Full force, cicada sings—don’t you know?
—summer’s gone on the wings of a song long ago.
Yet it returns, when you rise from the ground
Awaking the child I was, with that sound.
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Lullaby for My Granddaughter
Precious darling, while you’re sleeping
I’ll be here, safe watch a’keeping
This time is such a fleeting thing
When you awaken, love, let’s sing.
My precious Micah after I sang her to sleep
*******
Composed for Day 27 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge with Two Writing Teachers
with thanks to Denise Krebs for inspiring the Dictionary Entry poem
lit bits and pieces 
Fran, my heart is filled with joy that I can’t even describe! Every single one of these poems is simply pure gold. I appreciate so much the gift of poetry that will not only be featured in the event but that is also written especially for the event – a gift like this with an offering of poetry is the kind that is kept forever. Where do I even begin? The definition poem is certainly a feature – it may steal the center frame because I do t know whether I mentioned it or not but our owner of the coffee shop is the arts council chairman. This brings the first definition into the realm of the Chamber in the business sense, especially drinking more than once cup. The sisters poem speaks because the angel is seen by both of you, and it brings a feeling of protection. Okay, and the Reading rhythm just steals my heart and makes me melt. And the cicada rhythm is perfect for our rural area – especially with the numbers we will have this year! And Micah, precious Micah who will awaken to song and sleeps in the comfort of a protector who watches. Fran, I cannot thank you enough for these poems. I will be using yours along with a few others who have shared, and my heart is full because I know my town will be savoring the words of my writing family just as much as I am.
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Kim, I’m delighted you like the poems! I so enjoyed composing them. They’re all new except the cicada one, which I condensed; the last two lines of it are new, however, to tie to the theme. Please use any as you see fit. I didn’t know the owner of the coffee shop is the arts council chairman – that’s wild, re: the dictionary entry poem! I am so excited to hear how this event goes. It’s a wondrous thing to think of people immersing in poetry, standing in the square, letting words and rhythms wash over them…now I am thinking I could write one more about a baptism of words…anyway, I am awed by your work here. It’s a joy to know I will be part of it, dear friend.
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Fran – I love how these little poems progress – having cicada rhythms of their own. They rise in a crescendo from your childhood awakenings to that lovely lullaby for Micah. Just lovely!
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Thank you for this observation from your own beautiful poet-heart, Joanne!
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Fran,
You’ve offered a wonderful definition of awakening. My favorite of your poems is the one for your granddaughter. I like writing poems for my grandson, too. Your poem really is a lullaby. And that is such a sweet picture.
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Thanks so much for your words here, Glenda. When Micah comes over, I have to sing her to sleep – literally. She says “Sing songs” and I keep it up until her eyes get heavy and she drifts off. I will sit by her for a long while, just looking at her, marveling. Aren’t grandchildren the greatest thing ever? With the poems and posts we write for and about them, I feel we are creating time capsules of now, a word-scrapbook of how very much we love them. Such a magical time…
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Your poems touched my heart, especially “Sisters Seeing.” I believe.
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Thank you, Marilyn. That dream remains vivid, and I keep thinking I will use the image in a story, someday.
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I am very close to my sister and your poem felt so true.
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Such precious poems! I love the emotions they awaken and the sense of enchantment in each one. Especially the thought of the rocking chair keeping rhythm with your grandma’s heart. And the sweet lullaby for Micah. Thanks for sharing them with us. Is there anything more poignant than a photo of a sleeping child?!
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I love all these poems! I’ve been mulling over the idea of “awakenings” and haven’t quite figured out how to condense my thoughts into a poem. Your poem of definitions is a beautiful way to get readers thinking about the many ways we might think about “awakenings”. I also love the “First Rhythms” poem for its subtle connection to “awakening”. The combination of that poem and the poem to your own grandchild is beautiful. (What a sweet lullaby! The photo makes it even more wonderful!)
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Thanks so much for this gracious and thoughtful response! I hope you will write some “awakenings” poems. There really are a number of ways to take it. If you write some, I would love to know!
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Fran, I hope these poems were as much fun to write as they were to read. The “Sisters” poem was beautiful and haunting, and I have to ask…was the grandma the same one you wrote about in the other slice?
I’m also so proud and happy to know your work will be featured for community members to see and enjoy. They – and you! – deserve the audience.
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The poems were fun to write, Lainie – the hardest being the dictionary entry, if you can believe it! Thank you for your meaningful words – if the poems brighten someone else’s day, it gives me a deep sense of joy and fulfillment. To answer your question: My grandmother who read to me here in the rocking chair poem – and who wrote letters to me across the years, and whose diaries I now have – is Grandma Ruby, Daddy’s mother. My grandmother whose photo accompanied the “Verily” post, who had six children and lost one by age 22, is Grannie Lillie, Mom’s mother. I’d she she was an overcomer extraordinaire. My relationship with each was different, but both lived to see my children. I owe them so much more than I can ever say.
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I like all these variations on a theme! This would be fun to do with a class, too; one could use this as a template (theme, playful definition, poetry types).
I have a book recommendation, though you may already know it: Cicada Symphony by Sue Fleiss. It’s nonfiction, beautifully illustrated, has won lots of awards. I just got a copy for my library, and immediately thought of you!
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Thanks so much, Chris – I think playing with variations is exactly what students, and all of us, need to do. Sometimes the poem you’d write won’t fit in a form. Sometimes the form brings the idea. Experimentation pushes possibilities! I did NOT know about that book, so now it’s necessary that I drop everything else and order it. How lovely!!
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Wow, what a treasure chest of awakenings poems, Fran! Thanks for the shoutout. I loved reading your dictionary poem and then followed by so many more. They are beautiful and each so unique about another awakening. I love the cicadas awakening childhood memories and the lullaby to Micah. And sisters and stories by grandma awakening words. Wow. Such powerful gifts to the citizen of Kim’s county who will get enjoy these! I feel like I can hear you singing this: “Precious darling, while you’re sleeping / I’ll be here, safe watch a’keeping”
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Thank you, Denise – your words and poetic insights are always a treasure.
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Ahhhhh. Thank you for these peaceful moments of reading your poems of awakening and of song. My heart is happier for reading them.
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Thank you for these gracious words – knowing the poems make your heart happy makes my own happy!
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