It’s Day 24 of our 2016 daily write-in. This year’s theme is FOUND OBJECTS. We have a new writing prompt for every day in February.
For those of you who are new to my blog, please read my introductory post about the February daily write-in. You’ll find more information and all of the Week 4 FOUND OBJECTS at this post.
I’ve ordered the prizes for most frequent contributors. Can you believe we have less than a week to go?
Now that we are in the home stretch, do you find your words flowing quickly? I missed several days last week, but surprised myself with a steamy ode to a book cart yesterday.
On to Day 24. I’m having some formatting issues with today’s post — sorry about that!
FOUND: Bird’s Nest
We’ve had several natural objects over the course of the project. Many of us have stories about happening upon a birds’ nest in an unexpected place. I remember little birds nesting in my grandparents’ hedgerows when I was a child. It was a thrill to peek between the tight leaves and branches to see eggs sitting in their nest.
I hope that Matt Forrest Esenwine will stop by today to tell us more about this nest. Here is his haiku, which identifies the birds.
Phoebe meets Phoebe,
family flourishes; soon
five wee Phoebes fly
– © 2016, Matt Forrest Esenwine, all rights reserved
Jessica Bigi sent me a note along with her poem today. When an image or object like this nest triggers a memory, that’s rich soil for a piece of writing to grow in.
Photograph: Jessica Bigi
Seasons of Our Lives
By Jessica Bigi
Of those we love
How’s wings of love cradled us
When home seems distant
We wrap ourselves
In broken memories of
A home we once remembered
Nests of hope on the
windowsills of our hearts
For in the springs of our lives
Robins build their nest
At summers end their hatchlings
Fly into new beginnings of life
Reminding us that our lives and
homes must change as each season
folds into new beginings
We rest in woven words
Of those we love
themselves to the back entry
…swallows’ nest
stuccohung
bugspatter
mossdangle
birdhuddle
homewe daren’t open that door© Heidi Mordhorst 2016
Sure, it’s small,
but to us, it’s cozy.
Yes, there’s a lot of traffic here,
but, well, you get used to it.
It’s kind of a mess,
but I’ll tidy up just as soon as I get the chance.
What you can’t see
is the perfection of light in the mornings.
You can’t know
the lingering warmth in the early evenings.
And I’m sure you can’t imagine
our view of the stars when the rest of the world is dark.
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016
Check out Mary Lee’s blog post for today http://www.maryleehahn.com/
watches my brother and me
LOVE BIRDS
By Charles Waters
Two love birds sitting in a tree:
Lovely, dovey, OMG.
T – W – Double E – T
Hubba, Hubba, leave them be.
***
kids crowd the nest in cozy congestion –
millennials in the bird world.
We Three Phoebes (or Christmas in July)
By Donna Smith
We three Phoebes of
New Hampshire peek
Out of the nest
And open each beak;
Flies from Mamma,
Beetles from Papa,
Insects are what we seek.
Ohhh – oh!
Wings of wonder,
Wings of flight,
Wings of phoebes
Strong and light;
Nest we’re leaving,
Flight achieving,
We will fledge in a fortnight.
©2016, Donna JT Smith, all rights reserved
***
Carol Varsalona also has a family connection with the nest and her poem for today. I hope you’ll stop by her blog to see the photograph she’s paired with this poem and story.
Carol says, “I have one of my own at my post but my daughter who is buying for the first time fell in love with a house that has pet odors (dog, cats, birds). This may mean having to take up the hardwood floors.” http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/02/home-builders.html
Home Builders
Keys to a new home-
closer look-
a festive spring touch
outside our new front door-
a do it yourself decorating service?
Wait a minute,
did we ask for
shared space with neighbors?
Residency requirement needed immediately.
Whose paying the rent?
Moving day!!!
©Carol Varsalona, 2016
***
Sticking with our haiku theme today, here is Jone Rush MacCulloch’s contribution.
Sayornis phoebe
mud and grass dwellers
no flies here
***
DAY 25 FOUND OBJECT PROMPT (February 25)
See you tomorrow for Day 25.
REMINDER: If you have contributed any poems that have not been posted yet, please send me a reminder either in the comments or via email. I aim to have all of the poems up by the project wrap-up on Friday, March 4.
Interested in what we’ve written so far? Here are links to this week’s poems:
Sunday, February 21
FOUND OBJECT: Antique Sewing Machine
Poems by: Diane Mayr, Linda Baie, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Jessica Bigi, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona, Charles Waters.
Note: You will find links to all of the Week 1, 2, and 3 poems at this post.
Monday, February 22
FOUND OBJECT: Stick Insect
Poems by: Mary Lee Hahn, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona, Jessica Bigi, Charles Watesr, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Linda Baie, Diane Mayr.
Tuesday, February 23 at BOOKSEED STUDIO
FOUND OBJECT: Library of Congress Cart
Poems by: Jan Godown Annino, Jessica Bigi, Donna Smith, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Carol Varsalona, Diane Mayr, Mary Lee Hahn, Charles Waters.
Laura, phoebes are known for returning to their nests year after year, and these were no different. Many years ago, a family built their nest right above our front door, and each year the mother (or one of her grown babies) comes back. In the case of this picture, taken in 2013, it was nearly late June and they had not returned…so we figured they must not be coming back. At the same time, we were trying to determine a name for our soon-to-be-born daughter, and we wanted something that reflected our lifestyle and home; living in rural NH with 3 acres of woods behind our house, a brook running in back of the property, and a pond and field across from the house, we considered names like Brooke, Wren, River, Robin, and many others – but none quite fit. When the phoebe finally DID come back – and her babies flew away one week before our baby was born, we felt that “Phoebe” was the most appropriate name for our little girl! And it suits her perfectly.
We have lots of phoebes here, too, Matt. They nest on the ledges on our front porch. It’s so much fun to have them living that close and be able to watch them.
Phoebe is a beautiful name for a little girl! So glad the name found her and fit!
What a wonderful story behind your pic Mat
Hi, Matt. I remember when your daughter was born and you shared her beautiful name on your blog. It’s lovely to hear the story to go with the name and it’s one I’m sure she’ll treasure when she’s older.
Matt, I love the backstory to this image. I have one of my own at my post but my daughter who is buying for the first time fell in love with a house that has pet odors (dog, cats, birds). This may mean having to take up the hardwood floors. I am still wondering what she and her husband will end up doing.
Laura, I just finished my post and I see that you have found it on Facebook. Here is the link to my post with the Day 24 prompt: http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/02/home-builders.html
The poem is below for easy access.
Home Builders
Keys to a new home-
closer look-
a festive spring touch
outside our new front door-
a do it yourself decorating service?
Wait a minute,
did we ask for
shared space with neighbors?
Residency requirement needed immediately.
Whose paying the rent?
Moving day!!!
©Carol Varsalona, 2016
Now I am off to read the other blogger’s poems.
Laura, though my name isn’t in any of the “roundups of contributors” for day 7, my poem is there. I’m assuming it is counted in!
This poem is way longer than I’d had visions of… it just kept going and growing… a little like Alice… (‘Alice to herself’ is in italics)
Day 25
Key to Happiness
Alice to herself:
“Which do you pick, Alice
Which key will you choose?
If you pick the wrong one
You could stand to lose…”
“There’s really no wrong choice,”
She heard Cheshire Cat say,
“So pick any one;
Don’t think, don’t delay.”
Alice to herself:
“Be cautious, my dear,
Use careful detection;
One key could be lucky,
So take care in selection.”
“Please, go on,” said Cheshire,
“And make one your choice;
One key’s for a clock,
One’s for a Rolls Royce.”
Alice to herself:
“If you pick the wrong key
Don’t pout at your lot;
Perhaps it will still be
A pretty good spot.”
“Which one?” asked the Cat,
The big or the little?
The left or the right?
Or one in the middle?”
Alice to herself:
“One key may unlock
The best kind of thing,
Or maybe the worst
Is what it will bring.”
“There’s really no wrong choice,”
Cheshire Cat said once more,
“So pick any one, dear;
Just not 74.”
Alice to herself:
“Well, here goes nothing,
I’ll just take the dive
And say I want key number
One hundred five.”
“Oh, very good choice
You’ve done very well,
For this is the key
For something so swell!”
Alice to herself:
“Something that’s swell
Sounds pretty great!”
And with that CC handed her
Keys to some skates.
Then Alice went swiftly
Off down the street
Rejoicing that she’d
Picked a key that was sweet.
It wasn’t a Rolls Royce
Or other grand treasure
But a smallish-foot-sized
Bringer-of-pleasure!
©2016, Donna JT Smith, all rights reserved
While I don’t have time to update the full list of contributors for every day of the project, you will find the correct and up to date list for each day on the Sunday posts (Days 7, 14, 21). I will put together a round up of the entire project within a week after 2/29.
day 25
Poem Jessica Bigi
Keys inside of keys
Unlocking doors
WISDOM
Day 25
The action of attraction
There are screws that hold us tight
there are hooks on which we hang
there are locks that shut us in
there are keys that shoot our bolts
whichever way the waves rise
whichever way the wind blows
whichever way the ship rolls
whichever way the floor jolts
we’re shot, we’re shut, we’re hooked, we’re screwed
our brassy hearts hang hard and cold
waiting for a touch, a hand
waiting for the warmth of skin
and when it comes we leap to it!
we buzz with loosing, waking need
to staterooms, quarters, lockers, deck —
and now the crossing can begin.
©Heidi Mordhorst 2016
I love it! I was reading all those keys close up, too.
“we’re shot, we’re shut, we’re hooked, we’re screwed” induced a snort.
Love it, Heidi! All that pulsing energy waiting to ignite with the touch of a hand! I especially like the line “Our brassy hearts hang hard and cold.”
Day 25
The Key to Today’s Room
Listen for the first wren
who sings in the dark
at the end
of an endless
February.
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016
http://www.maryleehahn.com/2016/02/found-object-poem-project_25.html
Day 25 post and poem can be accessed at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/02/keys-to-learning.html. I have a digital composition created that accompanies the poem found below.
Keys unlock doors to learning.
Teachers hold the key.
Students respond
in cultures
of trust and engagement
where passion
mixes with purpose
for
wonderment
to evolve.
©CVarsalona, 2016
Happy to be participating again! Here’s my poem for today’s photo.
A Constellation of Keys
Common key cards
have no romance,
slipping into a pocket
without a wrinkle,
unnoticeable,
silent and disposable.
Carved metal keys
have character
and reassuring heft.
They clink happily
in a pocket,
socializing with spare change,
or if you please,
they sit in hand,
guaranteeing imminent access
or denying the same.
Patiently waiting on hooks,
a constellation of keys
has purpose,
power and potential,
silently offering up
an array of possibilities.
[…] This week, Poetry Friday is hosted by Elizabeth Steinglass. […]
[…] Wednesday, February 24 FOUND OBJECT: Phoebe Nest Poems by: Jessica Bigi, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Mary Lee Hahn, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Charles Waters, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona. […]
Late but here it is: https://deowriter.wordpress.com/2016/03/01/found-objects-poetry-challenge-day-24/
Sayornis phoebe
mud and grass dwellers
no flies here
Loved learning about them.
[…] Wednesday, February 24 FOUND OBJECT: Phoebe Nest Poems by: Jessica Bigi, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Mary Lee Hahn, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Charles Waters, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona. […]
[…] Wednesday, February 24 FOUND OBJECT: Phoebe Nest Poems by: Jessica Bigi, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Mary Lee Hahn, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Linda Baie, Laura Shovan, Charles Waters, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona, Jone Rush MacCulloch. […]