What Have I Been Given?

Posing with a Pin Oak

Photo by Amy LV

On the Ground

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Two evenings ago, at my knitting group, Gretchen brought out a few jackets and other things that she wished to give away. Katie brought a couple of tablecloths to rehome, Tanya brought pumpkin bread, and Emily brought a baby sweater pattern and pumpkin pie. Once again it felt so good and warm to share with friends. Such sharing is a regular occurance with this group of friends, offering each other items we no longer use but which still have lots of life left, passing baked goods and tea across the table. I was grateful to come home wearing this cozy autumn jacket, and yes...it is the jacket in the photo above, a great match to the pin oak trees in our yard.

Today's poem came to me as I wrote in my notebook yesterday, reflecting on this simple and happy moment with friends. I hadn't planned to write a poem about it, but I was notebooking along, knew I had a poem to write for today, and this one showed up. I am again reminded of the importance of regular writing, of writing not because I am inspired but because it is delightful to see which words and stories and wonderings appear on the page when I set myself to work.

Remember this - you don't a great idea to get started. Just get started.

And if you want to try what I tried, remember something you have been given and write about that. Perhaps it was a gift, or a hand-me-down, a piece of advice, or a bit of food. When we pay attention to what we have been given, we feed our sense of gratitude. You may even wish to make a list of things you have been given in your own notebook. Actually...I think I will do that too.

Ahead of me will be a bit of mending on this cuff. I have a couple of old flowery suitcases full of fabric and will choose a perfect patch. Perhaps I will write about it. Perhaps not!

A Small Hole on One Cuff

Photo by Amy LV

In unhelpful cat assistant news, I bring you Winnie (otherwise known as Winnie Woo or Winnie Walenda). She was happy to join me yesterday in my outdoor writing session...

Winnie the Writer

Photo by Amy LV

Carol is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at Beyond Literacy Link with the theme of "Autumn's Abundant Gifts." Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

May you be given delights and may you give delights to others this week.

xo,

Amy

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Celebrate a Gift from a Loved One

Fairy Mouse

Stitched and Photographed by Silvia Saenz

Students - So many thank yous to embroidery artist and dear Instagram friend Silvia Saenz, a mender and sewist I admire. Silvia sews to repair garments and also to create joy...as you can see with this cuddly mouse. While the mouse was a gift for a different family member, Silvia often sews and mends for her granddaughter, so I chose to write today's poem in Silvia's granddaughter's voice. I am grateful to Silvia for allowing me to share this photo she took of her work.

When you hear a story or learn something about another person, you might choose to pretend that you are that person and write as if you ARE that person. In this way, the world of writing opens up beyond our own worlds. Of course, when doing this, it is important to consider when it might be necessary to research a particular life experience and when it might be wiser to respect that the experience is so wide and deep that it best be left in the voice of the true experiencer. Because people have given me homemade gifts, today I drew on my own, very similar, experience to write in this granddaughter's voice. If someone has ever made something for your or repaired something for you, perhaps you, too, might wish to explore this topic in your writing.

Did you notice that while this poem rhymes, the ending does not rhyme? This is one way of ending a poem...breaking a pattern. Today's pattern is broken by breaking the rhyme. In a way, this slows the poem down and brings a reader's attention to the warm meaning of those last few words.

Heidi is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at my juicy little universe with a celebration of looking closely at our world. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

xo,

Amy

ps - Claude has become quite cuddly in the mornings. He raises his paw into the air as if he is in school, and I must pick him up for a snuggle. This morning, he thought he'd keep my notebook warm as I typed.

Claude: Writing Partner

Photo by Amy LV

Please share a comment below if you wish.

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If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

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