Patchwork Prose and Verse
This one is for my sister in law, who introduced me to Stella and Grace eye masks. What a treat – they remove wrinkles and under-eye bags. Thank you, Jennifer! I’m using the Zeno form today, a short form that uses rhyming on the single syllable lines and takes the 8,4,2, 1,3,2,1 syllable line count.
just last weekend I learned about
energizing
gold eye
masks
morning calm
peaceful
basks
helpful tip for
one who
asks
Our host today for the first day of the June Open Write is Leilya Pitre of Louisiana. She inspires us to write dictionary poems. You can write read her full prompt here.
She outlines this process for writing a dictionary poem:
Choose a word that may describe you, and then then write your poem as if it were a dictionary entry from your life. Include some or all of the following parts:
What word have you carried? Write your own life-definition poem. You may follow this format closely or bend it to suit you. You may completely disregard the prompt and/or the instructions and write whatever brings you joy today.
Before Dad died, he kept urging us to tap into the serendipitous steering currents of the spirit. He loved words and their sounds and meanings. I’m choosing the word serendipitous today as my dictionary word.
serendipitous (adj.) – a favorite word of Felix Haynes; he referred to the serendipitous steering currents of the spirit – it began mattering in the days leading up to his death when he urged us to watch for things to happen – to unfold in unexpected and divinely inspired ways.
definition – the divineness of the hand that parts waters, lights stars, and moves mountains like in Romans 8:28, making a way where there seems to be no way.
synonym – beneficial
antonym – unfortunate
misuses – planned, controlled, humanly intentional
sentence: Don’t be surprised when the serendipitous steering currents of the spirit sweep in and cause miracles to happen.
confession:
sweets are my struggle
today I
ate three rolls
of Smarties ~ the Giant kind
(that’s no small matter)……
fairy lights twinkle in summertime trees
night magic sparkles on firefly green leaves
darkness of black sky sets stage for the stars
evening’s cool blanket, reprieve from the heat
front porch swing beckoning rest for sore feet
chamomile tea welcomes day’s end with peace
myth’s constellations: such stories they weave
If I were giving
you a gift basket
I’d make it a summertime sensation!
you’d receive
a skin-safe clean sunscreen
to keep you scorch-free and silky
a pair of sunglasses with readers
to soften the sunbeams
and a splishy
lightweight water tumbler
to saturate your senses
a basket sure
to make a splash !
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
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!
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
My sister in law and I have been making various salves, lotions, balms, and body butters. It all started in April. She found a recipe for Bergamot Body Butter, and it’s been fun ever since. We each ordered some of the ingredients and a slew of containers, fired up the stove, and got to stirring and mixing, making our own magnesium and shea butter foot creams.
Today’s poem is a simple tricube – three stanzas of three lines with three syllables!
Sister Time Tricube
bergamot
shea butter
olive oil
lavender
mixing bowls
minerals
beeswax flakes
kitchen fun
sister time
Jordan, our host for this 19th day of #VerseLove 2025, lives in Suffolk, VA.
She inspires us today to write poems about food.
lots of things I don’t do right in this world
but making a fresh sprout and kale wrap
with beets and a half dollop of
mayonnaise is not one of
them, fortunately ~ and
the difference is
right outside on
the porch where
it grows
fresh
Common Threads 