Say Yes to Oui

I find inspiration in the lids of the yogurt I eat. I buy this brand not just because it’s delicious, but for the messages and the pure glass containers that will root new plant life for me to share with friends. Here is a poem inspired by Say Oui to Time Off!

Say Yes

we said yes because

what we know about us

is that we like a big window

and gray and white

and newness and matching

towels and linens

not odd assortments

and light,

plenty of light

and good music speakers

front, back, and outside

for good 70s tunes

and fifteen trips to France but

not going there

instead, staying close to home

but still away, oui?

and time off

to enjoy it

School’s Out Rictameter

One of the things I love to do when I have a little spare time is read the blogs of other writers. I noticed that Donna Smith of Mainely Write was part of the same KidLit Progressive Poem that I was writing for 2025, so I checked out her blog and discovered a new poetry form – – a Rictameter. You can check out Donna’s blog here to read about the structure.

For today, I’m writing a Rictameter to celebrate the beginning of summer.

School’s Out!

school’s out!

what will we do?

camp in state park campgrounds

take family trips to the beach

have watermelon seed-spitting contests

read books in a hammock all day

count stars on a clear night

take a night swim

school’s out!

A Poem Made of Questions

In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Poem Made of Questions.

A Poem Made of Questions

doesn’t have

exclamation points

periods

or hellfire

narcissism directives ~

it offers free choice

What Your Feet Know

In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: What Your Feet Know.

What Your Feet Know

your feet know

after a long trip

the way home

your feet know

the tight pull of belonging

listen to your feet

A Scent From Long Ago

In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Scent from Long Ago.

A Scent from Long Ago

White Shoulders

her scent permeates

the gold box

containing

not just jewelry but her

presence ~ memories!

What Quiet Sounds Like

In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: What Quiet Sounds Like.

What Quiet Sounds Like

hurt hearts are

what quiet sounds like

no phones ping

no texts ding

quiet endures without peace

when hearts are hurting

Instructions for a Dream

Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing calendar topic for today is Instructions for a Dream. I’m using the Shadorma form this month for these topics – a poem with syllable lines numbering 3-5-3-3-7-5.

Instructions for a Dream

drift to sleep

on marshmallow clouds

chase rainbows

hug puppies

paint a night sky canvas of

glittered twinkling stars

A Poem that Begins with If….

In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Poem that Begins with If.

a poem

that begins with if

seems open,

understands

that there must be conditions ~

criteria met

I Was Birdwatching

Merlin was going strong

helping me identify the birds

by their birdsongs

Prairie Warbler

Orchard Oriole

Northern Cardinal

Tufted Titmouse

Brown Thrasher

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe

….when my husband walks up

and kisses me right on the lips

then asks

what did that register as?

a lovebird???

and this is the kind of humor

I love about him

and how I know

he’s a keeper

A Secret You Keep

Today’s topic for the tiny writing shared by Georgia Heard on her May calendar is A Secret You Keep. I’m using the Shadorma form this month for most of these poems (3-5-3-3-7-5). My poem today is inspired by the prankish secret I’m keeping. A few weeks ago, I cleaned out the silverware drawer and put the holder back in a different direction. A week or so later, I noticed my husband had flipped it back to the original position. And so I turned it back. He flipped it again. Again, I turned it, in a different direction from either of the first. And now, this game – more of a prank than a secret – is part of the fun of the morning.

A Secret You Keep

suddenly

after 18 years

there’s a tiff

over which

way the silverware tray goes ~

so now it’s a game!