I’m the last to the party, crawling up to the word buffet, invitation in hand from Leigh Anne Eck in case this is one of those exclusive shindigs where they ask for ID.
And they might. I’m dragging a leg, my shoes don’t match, my jeans have holes not bought that way, and my hair’s a bedheaded mess. I look like I belong on the set of the Thriller video, and it’s Easter Sunday. It’s way early, we’re half-packed in the camper, and we might be headed out to find a Sunrise service on the lake beach of Callaway Gardens.
But first, coffee. And second, an invitation to continue the writing journey at http://www.ethicalela.com beginning tomorrow, where we will write poetry together each day thoughout April during #VerseLove as we celebrate National Poetry Month. If you’re part of the Slice of Life group, you’ve written for 31 days. You can make it to 61 – just say YES! That’s how I became a daily writer 3 years ago this past February. I’ll be your host tomorrow as we introduce ourselves, and others in this group will be hosting a day on the journey as well. Consider this your personal invitation to the next party.
And third – the buffet of words. Here are my words and expressions, countdown style:
5. tentative consonants (shh-, spp-, smm-)- this is a word combination my eyes didn’t want to leave in Georgia Poet Laureate Chelsea Rathburn‘s poem Returning to My Childhood Library coming out in her new book, defined in her poem as “the soft sounds of someone learning to read.”
4. hush – this word comes from the tipping point poem for me, the one that catapulted a love of poetry to an absolute fixation on it, where the nymph silences the goblin wanting her green glass beads in Overheard on a Salt Marsh by Harold Monro from Volume 1 Poems and Rhymes, the Childcraft volume with the pink spine band.
3. ceaselessly– my One Little Word for 2023 and 2024 is Pray. This is how we should pray. And also, it’s part of Gatsby’s last words: So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. F. Scott Fitzgerald, party animal as he was, is where our dog Fitz (a true transcendental – not a party dog – who came to us with the more fitting name of Henry) got his new name.
2. Tell me – because it’s how Mary Oliver started her (probably) most famous line of all time from her poem The Summer Day. There is a beckoning to know, to tell a tale, to listen as someone shares a plan. “Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” And it’s why our dog Ollie is named Ollie. It’s at the heart of why we rescue – so we can give our dogs a family and a hope for their one wild and precious life. Ollie eats poetry books – his favorite is anything by Ada Limon. I suspect that what led us to rescue this little dog was divine intervention – I truly believe that he is the reincarnate of one of Mary O’s own little rescues named Percy, for whom she seemed particularly partial in the Oliverist possible way.
1, Hey, Boo! – my cryingest scene in To Kill a Mockingbird, that tender moment when Boo is behind the door…..and Scout (I can’t….I can’t…..I’ll get weepy and I won’t stop)……these are the words that named our dog (abandoned by his previous family, left behind a door, rescued by us) Boo Radley. Boo, who is as white as a ghost and rivals the most damaged of little dogs, who we know without a doubt, despite all of his own random and quirky fears, would pounce on anyone who tried to hurt us if we were dressed as a ham out trick or treating.
Happy Easter, everyone! Hope to see you each day in April and on Tuesdays all year long!
Daily Writers
last day of slicing
leads to first day of #VerseLove
daily writers born
Common Threads 
Kim,
I’m feeling the sentimentality and the care in your words and invitations. I wish all humanity treated one another w/ the tenderness with which we treat our beloved rescue pups. Wouldn’t that be something. Of course I’ll be writing poetry and creating a canva for each one, but most days I’ll post late. I want to read in March, something g I’ve neglected this mo th, and we know those who post poems late pretty much get sparse morsels that fall from the commenting table at the end of the day. I’m okay w/ that this years The Stafford challenge has led me to focus on writing for the pleasure of writing w/ no expectations from others. It’s been freeing in many ways, and I hope to carry that throughout April.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Glenda! It’s interesting that you say that about our rescue pups…..it got me thinking about the ways we treat people and our pets. Almost always, I consider where a pet has been and wonder what its history is. I rarely do that with people. I think it might make me more kind as I look at people and think about what they are carrying or perhaps whom they are carrying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful words, what a buffet! You’ve almost convinced me to join the #VerseLove party.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ramona, come on! We’d love to have you! Denise Krebs’ blog has the list of Slicers who will be hosting VerseLove this month. We hope to see you there!
LikeLike
I laughed as you describe your appearance as you amble to the buffet table!! I like how you shared your words and exactly why each word. Such thoughfulness. And thanks for the invite to keep writing in April. Who knows….
For now, congrats on completing this challenge. So glad you are a part of this community as I like reading your writing. Happy Easter, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Sally! I appreciate your reading and look forward to seeing you this month, whether in VerseLove or in Tuesday slicing or both!
LikeLike
Thanks for all your lovely words and the wonderful explanations that are so meaningful. Reading how you named your dogs is amazing. I love the word ‘ceaselessly’, so many ‘sss’ sounds! I totally agree that we need to pray that way, but I have learnt the simplest prayer can suffice. Another great month of slicing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Celia~ I appreciate your kind words.
LikeLike
Kim, I sure did love that scene from To Kill a Mockingbird, too. Wow, what a fantastic film and your word buffet is fantastic. I will see you tomorrow and thanks for being such a delightful inspiration in life and with writing:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Barb! Can’t wait for VerseLove to begin – we get to write together for another month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim – I feel like we are old friends! There is so much to your post. I love your humble self-deprecating humor; I love the words you chose, the poems your offer, and the names of both your dogs. I always wanted to know more about Boo Radley. I wanted him to have his own novel. Surely, he has a story to be told. I wish you beauty, joy, and peace for this springtime. See you at VerseLove!d
LikeLiked by 1 person
Joanne, it’s true! We are old friends! I think sometimes as I read certain blogs that I feel closer to people whose blogs I read than people I sit next to everyday. I can write a more accurate description of most of my blogging friends just from reading about their lives, their hobbies and interests. See you tomorrow – – I can’t wait!
LikeLiked by 1 person
First, Kim, that description of you at the campground this Easter morn is hysterically funny…I, for one, remember the Thriller music video when it came out, and truth is – it was awesome! Dragging a leg-?? Have I missed an injury?? Secondly…love what you brought to the buffet. One offering especially. My oldest son and I have visited Fitzgerald’s (and Zelda’s) grave – that end quote from Gatsby is etched in their tombstone, and my son and I may have taken paper and charcoal to make a rubbing, and the rubbing might be framed and still hanging in the room that was my son’s…just saying. Ceaselessly…only Fitzgerald. And, yes, we SHOULD pray that way (I Thess. 5:16-17). The haiku is a perfect segue for tomorrow; I’m so looking forward to it. Happy Easter and I hope you made it to your sunrise service, although I know there’s a sunrise service in your heart every single day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fran, not an injury, just my whole self is dragging…..this last morning of the challenge has me feeling tired. We didn’t make it to the sunrise service in person, but we did listen and could hear the music from one and watched the Stone Mountain service virtually. Then we watched Dad preach the Easter service also virtually, since we are a handful of hours from them. That is magnificent that you have the charcoal rubbing of their graves. I will add that to my list of places to visit! Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim, what a surprise to hear your description of your Easter morning outfit! I hope you found a beautiful sunrise service. Thank you for inviting us to the Verselove poetry party next month. You are convincing. The three words around your sweet puppies are perfect. They tell great stories and make me love your little doggies even more than I already did. And words 4 & 5–so much like you. I enjoyed reading the goblin poem that hooked you. (I’ve read it before too.) And tentative consonants, as a former primary teacher of beginning readers, I can appreciate those sweet and hopeful sounds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Denise, thank you for reading and commenting this month. It has been exhausting some days, but we made it to the finish line – and to see your rainbow, that’s like one of those race tapes where you have a colorful celebration at the end. And a promise! I love that photo on your blog today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it was a wonder to wake up to yesterday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a wonderful last slice of the month – and that haiku! Haiku as advertisements, what a cool idea. If such a job were to open, you are a natural…you weave these haikus so beautifully. You are right that daily writing creates us writers – and this community builds us, too. Thank you for your wondrous posts this month; I have so enjoyed reading them. I really must visit your coffee/poetry cafe!! This line from your slice today is so awesome – “Ollie eats poetry books – his favorite is anything by Ada Limon.” How I laugh at this possibility! Dear, dear Ollie! Wise dog. Thank you, Kim, for all your thoughtful comments on my blog this past month. Here’s to our month of poetry together! Tomorrow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Maureen! See you all through April for VerseLove!
LikeLike
What fun to get one last set of words! Using phrases is a nice way to open up these ideas. I love what you wrote about tentative consonants. I also love your description of showing up to the party. This slice was a pleasure to read all the way through!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike