Thanks to Elisabeth Norton who is hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, Unexpected Intersections here. Elisabeth has written to the #PoetryPeeps challenge, explained below, about a favorite Alpine creature that I love, too, here in the Rockies!
I recently read Mary Lee's post where she reminded us of the #PoetryPeeps challenge for this last Friday in August. You can find another description HERE on Tanita's post. Essentially, the challenge is to write after the style of Jane Yolen’s eight-line, unrhymed poem, “What the Bear Knows,” a poem written in honor of her 400th book, Bear Outside.
I wrote more than one of these. It was intriguing to pare down thoughts of what one thing "knows" into eight lines. Because I have loved celebrating "Poem in Your Pocket" day in the past while teaching and now at the bookstore, I choose to share this one.
Thanks for the challenge, #PoetryPeeps!
What A Pocket Knows
a keycard for a getaway
a lacy hanky’s good to pack
the ID card tucks in to go
a chunky bar’s a welcome snack
I hold a dollar bill, or two
and quarters for the fare
a poem stays in readiness
the one thing meant to share
Linda Baie ©
Ah your last two lines....perfect. And I have a funny story. I caught a Billy Collins live poetry talk a few weeks ago. His wife was sharing about a new vest she got for an upcoming trip, a Scottie vest, that has many pockets and is designed for travel or hiking or other things to replace having to carry a pocket book. I got one and love it, but I am still trying to remember what is in each pocket HOWEVER it comes with a brilliantly attached eyeglass cleaner fabric imprinted with a " numbered map key for all the pockets" so you can find each item and keep them in the same place. Now I have lots of room for multiple poems as well. It even has a pouch for a tablet (in "our" case a books of poetry I would think). It is not hot and the one I have is pretty snug, so I may have to buy a larger one to have for cooler days when I need to wear a fleece under it. It helps as long as you always take all the items you need with you!! And you don't take it off and lose it..... That would be a disaster. There's room for everything on your list. I must try this challenge. It's a great one to write in my notebook and have at the ready. Hugs to you as we reach the end of August.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful your vest sounds! I had a similar one & I gave it to a friend who was a camera enthusiast. It was for photographers & I don't even remember why I had it! I'll look for yours! When I go walking I jam everything into the pockets I have but a vest with more sounds great, especially for a journal! Thanks, Janet!
DeleteDelightful to read. Pockets are especially fun when you find something you forgot you put there.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, true! Especially if it's money!
DeleteOoh, I like this one -- such an innocuous thing, a pocket, but boy don't we mourn when we don't have one handy in a skirt or shorts! I get a bit grumpy when I don't have a spot to cram my spare change! And here's to that chunky bar - that sounds good right about now...
ReplyDeleteIt's one reason I like coats, often inside and outside pockets! Thanks, Tanita!
DeleteYour poem is a pocket full of sunshine, Linda. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bridget. I love pockets so it was a favorite choice.
DeleteI love pockets and especially poems in pockets!
ReplyDeleteYes, me, too! Thanks, Carol!
DeleteOf all the things a pocket can hold, a poem is the best of all.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree! Thanks, Margaret!
DeleteWhat a great sobject, Linda. We all need pockets to store our goods, especially a wee bit of a poem.
ReplyDeletea poem stays in readiness
the one thing meant to share
Love how you chose the ordinary to write about.
I agree, Carol! Thank you!
DeleteTerrific subject for sure, Linda - and you tucked so much IN to your pocket poem! Very fun; thanks for sharing. xo
ReplyDeleteDelightful poem Linda, she's quite an organized pocket and knows what she wants—I wouldn't mind borrowing her sometime… Love having the poem in there and a snack, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Janet - those last two lines are perfect! And in my case, tissues. I always grab extra tissues - just in case... Alas, I don't always remember to remove them, come wash day!
ReplyDeleteOh, how wonderful! I love this poem and all that's packed into it and the pocket. It's small like a pocket but mighty! Bravo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robyn, Michelle, Kat, & Linda! It's always wonderful to have a pocket handy!
ReplyDeleteNice ending, Linda. I like that the poem is there to share. The rest of the items are for the pocket owner, but the poem is the sweetest item. Lovely post! You like Mary Lee wrote a lot of "What ____ Knows" poems. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful - and I too love the last lines! Just perfect. I'm loving all the poems following this form.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise & Elisabeth! We need a poem in our pocket every day, don't we?
ReplyDeleteKeep a topic in your pocket...this one lets the pocket share its wisdom! That word "readiness" is perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love that "keep a topic in your pocket", Heidi! Thanks!
DeletePockets are the BEST...and so are poems about their wisdom. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary Lee. I'm so glad you posted a reminder about this challenge!
DeleteThe closing line is perfect. Thanks for sharing this marvelous poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carmela.
Delete