Happy Holidays Poetry Friday friends! Buffy Silverman is hosting today at her space Buffy's Blog. Be sure to drop by and join in the poetry cheer!
Today I am sharing a poem I wrote a year ago on Christmas Eve. As usual, I was sitting on my back porch thinking and writing. I thought about the sounds that ring so true on this special night. I had previously read Walt Whitman's "Sounds of the Winter" poem, so his words were swimming around in my head when my pen began to write. Here is my poem, inspired by an old poet's words and one truly miraculous night. 
Invitation to Write:
The holiday season can be an inspirational time to reflect on our connections to others and to this world. Take a moment at the end of this year to write from the sights and sounds of our world. Think about the ties that bind us all together in this life. Take a walk outside as the sun is going down. Turn your thoughts of this moment into words. Just write. Write from the sights and sounds of this night.
9 Comments
Happy Poetry Friday! It seems the weeks are flying by. Soon this year will end and a new one will begin. It's definitely the time of year to celebrate memories with family and friends. You can also find lots to celebrate this week in the world of poetry by stopping at Tabatha's space The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks for the warm welcome, Tabatha!
This time of year I find myself walking the woods alone quite often. As I walk, I tend to lose myself in the flood of memories that return in the stillness of the winter landscape. I think back to my childhood and loved ones lost along the way. I think of others who also lament for family and friends who have gone away. I find that walking has a way of easing me as these thoughts swirl around in my mind. As I walk, I write. I write in memoriam of people and moments that have passed. This week, I am sharing a poem inspired by one of my spiritual walks this month. 
Invitation to Write:
Memories have a way of finding their way into our notebooks all the time. Take a moment to reflect on your memories from this past year. You might make a list of these memories by starting with the stem, In memoriam of...which means "in memory of" or "to the memory of.." This list might include people, places, or even objects you can remember and recall. Read through your list and choose a few to write from. Take that memory with you as you go for a long walk. I truly believe that walking can sharpen the mind and comfort the soul.
Three cheers for Poetry Friday! I hope all of you in the Poetry Friday community are staying cozy and warm as we make our way into the thick of winter. I hope you all get a chance to visit Jone this week at her space Check It Out.
This week I decided to write a companion poem to the poem I shared last week Still No Winter. I really love the idea of poems sharing a deep friendship. I was determined that the character in my first poem would have this sort of fellowship with my next character. I began to let my mind wander with possibilities. Who would the mysterious companion be? What connection would the two characters share? How could my second character bring balance to the character I described in my first poem? And after pondering these questions long and hard, a character did in fact emerge. Now when I read these two poems, I close my eyes and imagine these characters walking hand in hand in this winter world. 
Companion Poem to "Now to Winter"
Invitation to Write:
Sometimes even a poem needs a friend. Think about poems that you have read or maybe poems you have written that share a deep connection. What joins these poems together? Maybe they share the same ideas or perhaps the characters are very similar. Try reading my companion poems to find the relationship between them or have a go at writing your own companion piece.
Warmest wishes to all on this glorious Poetry Friday! Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to stop by Bridget's space at wee words for wee ones for more poetry tid-bits. Thanks for hosting, Bridget!
​Well, after many months of mild weather, it seems that winter has finally come to us here on the ridge. Like my Dragonfly Tree here in this photo, I can recall many times I have walked the earth-warm fields just waiting for winter to peel back the curtain and take center stage. I have often imagined winter itself as an ancient artist; one who could paint the most brilliant masterpiece from any stark-white canvas. The poem I am sharing today is my attempt to give praise to this magestic season and to its creator, whose work is never done. 
Dragonfly Tree waiting for Winter photo by Kiesha Shepard
Invitation to Write:
Writers will often put themselves in someone else's shoes in search of meaning and perspective. Try taking on the perspective and voice of someone or something else. Imagine what they might say and think. There are all sorts of paths your writing will lead you to!
|
AuthorWelcome! I'm Kiesha Shepard, and I have a love for writing and the teaching of writing. Whispers From the Ridge is a place where I can share my words and ideas for teaching writing. It's also a place for you to find inspiration for writing the words inside of you. I invite you into my world of writing as I capture the whispers from the ridge. 
Follow by Email
Archives
February 2023
Categories
All
Click to learn about Poetry Friday!
Schedule of Round Up:
July
2 Laura at Laura Shovan 9 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche 16 Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone 23 Kat at Kathryn Apel 30 Becky at Sloth Reads August 6 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading 13 Christie at Wondering and Wandering 20 Carol at The Apples in My Orchard 27 Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections September 3 Heidi at my juicy little universe 10 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect 17 Denise at Dare to Care 24 Laura at Laura Purdie Salas October 1 Catherine at Reading to the Core 8 Irene at Live Your Poem 15 Bridget at wee words for wee ones 22 Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup 29 Linda at TeacherDance November 5 Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference 12 Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme 19 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink 26 Ruth at there is no such thing as a God-forsaken town December 3 Michelle at Michelle Kogan 10 Cathy at Merely Day by Day 17 Jone at Jone Rush MacCulloch 24 Buffy at Buffy Silverman 31 Carol at Carol's Corner |
RSS Feed
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kristine Paulus, Ryan Hodnett, Marie Hale, gurdonark, btrentler, Kelly Colgan Azar, jeffreyw, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region
