 Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome to the ridge. This week, I am sharing a tiny poem about a Luna moth. Be sure to visit Tabatha at her space, The Opposite of Indifference, for more of the round-up. It seems that I make very little time these days for my personal writing, which has me feeling a little lost. Most of my writing consists of reflective academic writing for my graduate school work. It's been hard to find the balance between work, school, and home. I welcome all my visitors this week to share your wisdom or any strategies you may have for maintaining a healthy writing life. I look forward to reading your comments! This week, I decided to jump back into the round-up with a small poem about a moth. I stumbled upon this tiny poem, while I was flipping through the pages of one of my old notebooks. It reminded me very much of a poem I might find in Valerie Worth's book, "All the Small Poems and Fourteen More." I love that poems can come in all shapes and all sizes. I can always find a poem idea lurking between the pages of my notebook. That's comforting to me as a writer, especially when my writing time is limited. 
Invitation to Write:Revisiting and rereading your notebook entries can often bring a sleeping idea to life! Whenever you feel stuck in your writing or you're searching to find an idea, try returning to your notebook for writing inspiration. Big or small, ideas are waiting for you to lift them from between the pages of your notebook!
12 Comments
4/19/2018 08:28:01 pm
Sweet poem! Flows nicely. Luna moths are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your poem. 4/20/2018 07:02:59 am
An adorable poem. I have a luna moth my grandfather mounted, back when butterflies were plentiful. Now I feel vaguely guilty having his collection. They are so beautiful, though. 4/20/2018 09:08:55 am
To write a poem after the beauty of Valerie Worth is a wonderful thing, Kiesha, and you did! I love this "small moment" you've written and shared today. Luna moths are very special to see! 4/20/2018 01:40:59 pm
Beautiful poem to capture a beautiful moment! I still struggle to find find the way to balance all the different demands. I echo Linda's words to be patient with yourself. Graduate school (from what remember going just part time) is demanding, and you are reading and writing and learning and those experiences will enrich the rest of your writing when it comes. Grab those moments for your own writing when you can and savor them. I also take inspiration from advice from Laurie Halse Anderson too write 15 minutes. Some days even 15 minutes is too much, but 15 minutes often seems doable. 4/20/2018 07:17:41 pm
Your poem is lovely. I'm always going back through old notebooks. Sometimes I find a few diamonds in the rough :) 4/21/2018 03:42:57 am
Keisha, I think you have found the perfect metaphor for how you are feeling. That Luna Moth is the word play time you are craving whilst you are slogging through the academic reading, research & writing. I echo Brenda's thoughts even though it's tough for me to take the advice. I had an outright writer's tantrum a couple weeks ago and my writer's group listened, calmed me down and told me all the same things...e gentle with yourself. The words will come and all will be well.
Mary Lee Hahn
4/21/2018 05:33:32 am
Hooray for the wealth hidden in our writer's notebooks! 4/21/2018 07:12:57 pm
Your moth poem is so sweet, so gentle. Isn't it amazing what we find tucked away in our notebooks! 4/21/2018 07:37:34 pm
Your poem affected life?! Yes, you can share your lovely poem and its great "after story" with the world... Submit now on LifePoemsProject.com
Tabatha
4/22/2018 08:04:26 am
Trying to figure out a place for your writing in a busy schedule is an interesting question...it makes me think of what Amy and I each talked about in separate locations on Friday. She mentioned that finding the way in to a subject is like pushing a secret button that opens a secret door, and I said that I do "Click-writing," which is to circle a subject looking for a way to approach it until something finally clicks. Maybe figuring out an approach would click open your secret door. The approach could be a topic that especially moves you, or a form, or even a deadline. 4/22/2018 09:47:29 pm
I recognized your luna moth right away before reading your lovely poem. I did a postcard swap last summer that had a fairy catching a ride with a luna moth, and a haiku–they are beautiful creatures! Good luck with finding sometime, I try prioritizing and making lists, but it's difficult. Leave a Reply. |
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. 
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Schedule of Round Up:
January 4 Sylvia at Poetry for Children 11 Kat at Kathryn Apel 18 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect 25 Tara at Going to Walden February 1 Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference 8 Laura at Writing the World for Kids 15 Jone at Check it Out 22 Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge March 1 Linda at TeacherDance 8 Catherine at Reading to the Core 15 Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe 22 Rebecca at Sloth Reads 29 Carol at Carol's Corner April 5 Karen at Karen Edmisten* 12 Irene at Live Your Poem 19 Amy at The Poem Farm 26 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink May 3 Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup 10 Liz at Elizabeth Steinglass 17 Michelle at Michelle Kogan 24 Dani at Doing the Work That Matters 31 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading June 7 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche 14 Laura at Laura Shovan 21 Linda at A Word Edgewise 28 Buffy at Buffy's Blog |
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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
