It's Poetry Friday, the next to the final one in April! Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is our host on The Poem Farm, surely giving more information in her "poem story" about John and Betsy. She's kept us waiting each day on poetic cliffs to see what will happen next. Thanks for hosting, Amy!
If you celebrate Easter or Passover, wishing you a joyous and peaceful time.
I have a giveaway of a new poetry book here. Be sure to enter!
Tabatha Yeatts has created a link to poems teachers and librarians can print for poetry month, titled "Poetry in The Halls". I'm grateful to be one of the poets!
Tabatha Yeatts has created a link to poems teachers and librarians can print for poetry month, titled "Poetry in The Halls". I'm grateful to be one of the poets!
Jama Rattigan has a post HERE with many poets' goals for April.
The Progressive Poem schedule can be found on the right!
Continuing with ideas from the book. This time, wordplay
One idea of wordplay, to me, is to go for a walk, this time around my house, to find something that stands out I might play with. I have a kind of bulletin board made of wire I found a few years ago that's filled with fun things I fancy - a felt banner I found a few years ago that says "celebrate", lots of snapshots, buttons, and birds in various forms, tiny drawings by Ingrid and Imogene. I hope you can imagine it. I stand and look sometimes, savoring the things that mean memories. Some favorites hanging there are hearts. Here's a small picture, and my poem having fun with "hearts".
Heartfelt
heartthrob
will rob
heartstrings
broken wings
heartache
hard to take
heartbreak
teen ache
heartburn
adult turn
heart sick
never quick
heartsease
yes please
Linda Baie ©
extra - You may also know 'heartsease' as 'johnny jump-ups' or 'violas', some say 'wild pansies'.
And, voila! I have a new word to play with....heartsease. I did NOT know that this was a name for Johnny Jump-ups. What a wonderful poem with a delightful surprise, for me, at the end. I am happier for having stopped by and read it. Thank you, friend.
ReplyDeleteI usually called them 'johnny-jump-ups', but I know that Emily Dickinson loved "heartsease", Linda. Happy to give you a new word! Thanks!
DeleteSuch wonderful sounds bouncing between the words of this poem -- like a fluttering heart. When heartsease shows up in the finale, it's magical.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura, it was fun to write.
Delete"heartsease/yes please" You do so much with so few words here, Linda. And that board is full of joy! Lots of love to you! I am off to (once again) see if I can find me this book you are working from! xxxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, it's a wonderful book, has taken me to new places this time, Amy.
DeleteOh my goodness! How I love your rhymes! (I actually have "heart burn" in my notebook on 4/14 when I was playing with pairs off of burn, rather than heart for my "poetry is a burning blessing" metaphor!) And like you gave us a new meaning for heartsease, I added some fun meaning to Charlie Parker today! I'm feeling some synchronicity!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read your post, Mary Lee, to see what you did. I thought I'd seen them all, but guess not. Thanks for telling me!
DeleteI love how you have created a sense of history in this heart pumping (sorry I couldn't help myself) rhythmic poem.
ReplyDeleteTe he, Cheriee, thanks for the extra heart!
DeleteI also didn't know heartsease was another name for Johnny-jump-ups, but they are one of my favorite springtime flowers. They have such happy smiling faces. A wonderful image to end your poem with. And author amok is right - it does read like a beating heart.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are a favorite of mine, too, Alex, spring surprises! Thank you!
DeleteSo clever! And hearts are my favorite. Had to smile at "heartburn/adult turn." I like the "yes, please" -- ending on an upbeat note.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama, happy you enjoyed it!
DeleteLinda, your bulletin board has triggered some wonderful memories for you, Linda. I love what you did with your poem that moves with "ease" from one amazing thought to another. This one is a favorite of mine because of the intricacies of the word play. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI left a comment on your book review also. Thanks for sharing that interesting book that holds of wealth of information.
DeleteI found your other comment, too, Carol. Thanks for visitng for the giveaway and for enjoying my 'heart' poem. It was lots of fun to write. Yes, I love my collage of memories!
DeleteSo beautiful! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love all the twists you take on compound words starting with heart. Such clever word play!
ReplyDeleteI love this, Linda! And thank you for defining heartsease. What a joyous, free-wheeling poem!
ReplyDeleteFlowers can have such poetic names! "heartsease/yes please" is a great ending.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Linda. Like so many, I'm also delighted to add heartsease to my repertoire of flower names, and I agree with Michelle--very clever word play!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love this poem and like to imagine the bulletin board with so many items that matter to you. Johnny Jump-ups are a favorite spring flower. I just never knew that were also referred to as heartsease. Delightful wordplay in this poem.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of wordplay, and finding inspiration wherever you are!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone. I've been with my grand-girls since lunchtime, so away from the computer. I'm happy you enjoyed my poem and loved learning about heartsease, too. It was fun to just mess around with an idea. I have another word I'm working on. If you return to see comment replies, here is a copy of Emily D's poem:
ReplyDeleteI'm the little "Heart's Ease"!
I'm the little "Heart's Ease"!
I don't care for pouting skies!
If the Butterfly delay
Can I, therefore, stay away?
If the Coward Bumble Bee
In his chimney corner stay,
I, must resoluter be!
Who'll apologize for me?
Dear, Old fashioned, little flower!
Eden is old fashioned, too!
Birds are antiquated fellows!
Heaven does not change her blue.
Nor will I, the little Heart's Ease –
Ever be induced to do!
- F 167 (1860) 176
Linda ~ ditto Jama's comment, "Had to smile at "heartburn/adult turn." I like the "yes, please" -- ending on an upbeat note." Yes!!!
ReplyDeleteReply
Thanks, April. That 'heartburn/adult turn' comes from a close family member, fun to include!
DeleteLovely poem, Linda. And reading through poetry friday posts, I've now been introduced to two new words- tootslog and heartsease :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Kimberly, glad to add to your 'new words'!
DeleteLove this play with words - and turn of meaning. Delightful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy
DeleteMoving, gorgeous poem Linda, and your a master with this form also! Thanks also for sharing this lovely poem by Emily Dickinson–I didn't know they were called heartsease.
ReplyDeleteyes, please! I love the word play in your poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle and Kay, happy you enjoyed the poem & learned about Heartsease.
ReplyDeleteYou and your posts always fill my heart, Linda - thank you! (And I didn't know that Emily D poem; thanks for sharing it, too.)
ReplyDeleteTerrific! I'm glad to share one new to you. Thanks, dear Robyn.
DeleteLooks like a collection is building. Love the double meaning of heartsease.
ReplyDelete