Thursday, May 24, 2018

May DMC Wrap-Up + Giveaway


"A View to Remember" by Marjan Lazarevski

Only be willing to search for poetry, and there will be poetry:
My soul, a tiny speck, is my tutor.
Evening sun and fragrant grass are common things, 
But, with understanding, they can become glorious verse.
          – Yuan Mei

May's ditty challenge has been all about finding glorious verse in common things. 

Read my Two Line Tuesday post related to this month's challenge HERE.

At the beginning of the month, Julie Fogliano challenged us "to stare out the window and write what you see."  She elaborated:
Is there a bird out there? What is it doing? Is anyone walking by? Where do you think they’re going? Is it raining? What does it sound like?  Is there a car going by? A train? It doesn’t have to be anything big or exciting that you write about. Just write what you see. Do that everyday for a week. At the end of the week, read through what you wrote and write your favorite bits on a separate piece of paper. I bet there will be a poem in there somewhere… see if you can find it.

Apparently, many of you did see birds— 
along with a few squirrels, a cat or two, and numerous signs of the seasonal changeover.

On a personal note, I'm wondering if this is the month I break my track record and neglect to write something. It would be a shame—I haven't missed a challenge since the Ditty of the Month Club's inception in May 2014! But the month isn't over yet, so I guess there's still a chance. I'll be sharing a few more daily ditties next week.


Whether your view is grand . . .

Justin Kern

or more subdued . . .

Vladimir Agafonkin

your poetic perspective is always welcome here.


Many thanks to those of you who have already shared your window view, and especially to Julie Fogliano for the opportunity to slow down and let the world come knocking.


Scroll through the poems below, or for best viewing, CLICK HERE.

Made with Padlet


Inspired to write about what's outside your window?

Dan Vel

There's still time. . .

cgc76


Post your poem on our May 2018 padlet by 5:00 pm (EST) on Thursday, May 31st, and I will add it to the wrap-up presentation.









Participants in this month's challenge will automatically be entered to win a personalized copy of a house that once was by Julie Fogliano, with illustrations by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press, 2018). One entry per participant, not per poem.

Alternatively, you may enter the giveaway by commenting below. Comments must also be received no later than 5:00 pm (EST) on Thursday, May 31st. If you contribute a poem and comment below, you will receive two entries in total.

The winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced next Friday, June 1st.



Margaret Simon has "More than Meets the Eye" at this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at Reflections on the Teche. Thanks to a photo and poetry exchange among PF regulars, you'll find many more views and poetic responses. Enjoy!




25 comments:

  1. There are so many wonderful window views on the padlet, Michelle. Don't forget to add yours! I love some of the recent picture books that show neighborhoods with windows showing people in their lives, a reverse window looking, out to in! Happy May! And have a nice weekend, too.

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  2. Gosh Michelle, that first photo sure looks like the winding staircase in the Chicago Art Institute, and Willis tower in the background (which to me will always be Sears tower). Such inspiring window views you've arranged here–I see a story in the two by the brick windowed building … Lovely window pane display of the rich collection of window poems–lots of birds, baby birds, acrobatic birds, and more–thanks for your lovely orchestration!

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    1. It SHOULD look familiar, Michelle. That's exactly what it is! (More info if you click on the photo credit link.) I love that you referred to the presentation as "lovely orchestration." These window poems do sing... especially all the birdie ones (like yours)!

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  3. Michelle, I am loving the idea of soul as tutor... thank you! And windows... yes. What lovely views from this community! xo

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  4. Frankly, this month just made me jealous of everyone else's windows. Ha! But mostly I was glad to read all of those lovely poems.

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    1. LOL. But your bush view made me laugh, David! I love your sense of humor. :D

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  5. What a fine collection of window poems this month. Perfect for inward as well as outward gazing. Love all the different perspectives. :)

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  6. Wonderful photos, wonderful poems, wonderful month of May. Thanks for all of this.

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  7. Michelle, I believe in you! I'm sure you will write a marvelous poem by June 1st. It is a deceptively difficult challenge. Something simple as a view out the window is hard to make unique. But, if anyone can do this....you can. In fact, I'll bet you're already doodling on it. Thanks for a great month of ditty challenge. I so enjoy your ideas and enthusiasm....and the photos for this post are terrific illustrations!

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    1. Thanks for your faith in me, Linda! The "doodling on it" begins today... I swear.

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  8. Such a wonderful collection of views from the window. Thanks for curating and collecting. I hope to see your view soon.

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  9. I will be posting a cherita later. Better late than never?

    Have you been reading the series of window haiku at The Haiku Foundation? https://www.thehaikufoundation.org/category/archives/haiku-windows/

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    1. No, I was not aware of this series. But glad to be now. Thanks, Diane!

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  10. What a fun challenge you have created Michelle. I have previewed many of the poems on your padlet and am amazed at the variety of perspectives. I just posted one of my poems on the padlet but there are three on my post. I noted this on the padlet. I am looking forward to your poem and was hoping that you would have an offering for my spring gallery.

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  11. I've had such fun reading the window poems this month. I'm often inspired by the beauty outside my window, but my contribution this month was a bit dark. As always, I'm amazed by the variety of creative responses to a single prompt. Thanks to you and to Julie Fogliano for another great challenge.

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  12. As usual, so interesting to see your TLDers' takes on the theme! Can't wait to read yours, Michelle!

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  13. such a lovely collection. I like the morning to night progression of the poems.

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  14. Yuan Mei's wise words are so true! Thank you for sharing them with us. I loved this challenge and will continue to savor all the wonderful window poems collected here. Looking forward to reading your window poem, Michelle!

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  15. Thank you for hosting these challenges and inviting us to play along. I enjoyed all the poems collected so far. Looking forward to reading yours, too!

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  16. Such a terrific challenge/prompt. Kudos to all. (& special thanks to Diane for the heads' up re. the THF windows project over there!)

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  17. I've read a number of these and they've been so diverse, it's surprising how much one can see outside a window if one looks long & hard enough. Wish I'd had the time to participate, but it's been a busy month!

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  18. Now that school is over, I'm hoping to have some time to gaze out my window and write!!

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  19. I'm with David -- this month left me feeling a little jealous of other poets' window views! I think I need to break out my Windex, clear the pollen off my panes, and take another long glance outside. Good luck with your poem, Michelle!

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  20. Wonderful collections, and I'm left a bit jealous, too. :-)

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  21. What a wonderful collection of window poems. Janie's haiku captures my heart.

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