What a journey--and we're only halfway along! I'll start today by thanking everyone for reading my host post interview with Irene and Liz way back on March 30, and for playing along with our request to note where you thought we might go with Liz's first line.
Now it's my turn to reveal my initial expectations....
"I'm picturing a garden, and while we could spend 30 lines chronicling the growth of this one seed--who is she?!--I see the stories of many awakenings taking place in our garden setting, twining together in the way that spring growth happens, burgeoningly!"
I was imagining the sprouting, budding and blooming of many plants and maybe some minibeasts, all thoroughly grounded, so the introduction of Jasmine (not just jasmine), a thousand stars and the Moon as a character required a total reboot. And then Owl! And now Lee and his party! I won't think of myself as "wronger and wronger with every line," but you poets, you really know how to turn a ship with a well-chosen word!
Here's something funny: for a couple days this week I got confused and thought that I had the line on the same day as the surprise party for Lee Bennett Hopkins. I had already begun to think how I could slip in that other definition of "lee" (shelter from wind or weather given by a neighboring object, especially nearby land), or some hopping, or some little reference--but then I realized that was Linda's job...
and boy, did she do it! She has sent Jasmine and Owl and maybe Moon directly to Lee's party! Why equivocate? No symbolic sleight of word here! Linda, you are now officially a braver poet than I.
But let me move forward, with curiosity if not courage:
and boy, did she do it! She has sent Jasmine and Owl and maybe Moon directly to Lee's party! Why equivocate? No symbolic sleight of word here! Linda, you are now officially a braver poet than I.
But let me move forward, with curiosity if not courage:
Oh, What wonderful dreams she had!
Blooming in midnight moonlight, dancing with
the pulse of a thousand stars, sweet Jasmine
invented a game.
"Moon?" she called across warm honeyed air.
"I'm sad you're alone, come join Owl and me.
We're feasting on stardrops, we'll share them with you."
"Come find me, Moon called," hiding behind a cloud.
Secure in talons' embrace, Jasmine rose
and set. She split, twining up Owl's toes, pale
moonbeams sliding in between, Whoosh, Jasmine goes.
Owl flew Jasmine between clouds and moon to Lee's party!
Moon, that wily bright balloon, was NOT alone.
********************
I hope that puts my friend Donna in an intriguing and challenging position for Line 15!
I'll sign off, wishing a glorious National Poetry Month to all, and inviting you to scroll down for the latest development in the progressive poem project of my 2nd graders. They really do appreciate and learn from your comments. Thank you!
