Quilt Bit 1
Photo by Amy LV
Quilt Bit 2
Photo by Amy LV
Students - Today I was thinking about one of my favorite poets, Joyce Sidman. I visited the generous Poetry Ideas section of her website and decided to write an "Invitation Poem" of my own. I also took a little time to read in her beautiful book WHAT THE HEART KNOWS: CHANTS, CHARMS, AND BLESSINGS, and once again I fell in love with it. I highly recommend this book to you.
To write an invitation poem, you might think of something you would like to share with someone else. An experience, a place, a moment, a bit of nature or food or music or art. Your choice, of course! Then, invite away with the words we use when we welcome others to share in goodness with us.
Earlier this week, our friends Barry and his daughter Gracie Lane came for an overnight visit, and Gracie slept under the quilt pictured above. We talked a bit about it...how it is one of the many I have collected from thrift or antique stores...and once again, I got to imagining its stories. When time came to write an invitation poem, I wanted to invite everyone to sit under these fabric rectangles with me.
What might you invite someone to do? A party, of course, but what other, simple pleasures might you choose to share with a friend, family member, stranger, pet, or even something else...?
Next week I look forward to a four-day writing residency with the students of Greenacres Elementary School in Scarsdale, NY. Last year I visited this wonderful school for a day of assemblies, and this week I will be lucky enough to write poems with the whole school. On Thursday, we will share some with each other in an assembly. I am grateful to have received this invitation!
Cheriee is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Library Matters with a wondrous celebration of Vancouver Poet Avis Harley. We invite everybody to join in each Friday as we share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship. Check out my left sidebar to learn where to find this poetry goodness each week of the year.
Please share a comment below if you wish.
