DMC: "Palm Sunday" by Margaret Simon

PALM SUNDAY

These hands
weeding, discovered palms,
and wondered...
Will these old palms
make supple crosses?

These hands
cut long strips
of granite green.
A mind-memory of angle to knot,
thread through, criss-cross.

These hands
delivered simple gifts
to lonely, sheltered neighbors,
a churchless congregation
praying together. 

© 2020 Margaret Simon (draft). All rights reserved.


Our first of three challenges from My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth by Patrice Vecchione (Seven Stories Press, 2020) is to write a poem about the place empathy has your life. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our April 2020 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, April 24th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice, courtesy of the publisher.

DMC: "Baby's Breath" by Fran Haley

BABY'S BREATH

He wakes—that sound.
That rasp.—Is it?
It is.
He traces it to the crib.
The baby. Just three months old.
Not breathing right.
Hand to her little face—no fever.
She stirs under his touch, still sleeping.
Breath ragged, rattling.
He is young.
It is his first child.
He goes back to bed.
But
he carries his baby with him.
Lies awake all night
with her beside him
making sure
she still breathes.
 
-She does.
Long after he does not.

Thank you
for all the nights
you watched over me
when asthma attacked,
Daddy.

© 2020 Fran Haley. All rights reserved.


Our first of three challenges from My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth by Patrice Vecchione (Seven Stories Press, 2020) is to write a poem about the place empathy has your life. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our April 2020 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, April 24th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice, courtesy of the publisher.

DMC: "I Have so I Give" by Angelique Pacheco

I HAVE SO I GIVE

Two eyes to see the needs of others,
Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers.
One heart to feel their pain and despair,
One heart to give them love and care.
Two hands to give to those in need,
To be a blessing is love indeed.

© 2020 Angelique Pacheco. All rights reserved.

Our first of three challenges from My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth by Patrice Vecchione (Seven Stories Press, 2020) is to write a poem about the place empathy has your life. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our April 2020 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, April 24th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice, courtesy of the publisher.

Register HERE for Patrice's virtual book launch today, April 7th, at 6:00pm Pacific Time!

I am visiting Laura Shovan's blog today with a wordplay prompt for her #WaterPoemProject—30 days of writing prompts about water, suitable for students (and adults) who enjoy writing poetry. If my prompt looks familiar to some of you, it's because it was adapted from Nikki Grimes's 2015 DMC challenge. I hope you'll to join in!

DMC: "Music Therapy" by Linda Mitchell

MUSIC THERAPY

When Mom lay still in a hospice bed
I called my oldest friend, a music therapist
I needed Mom’s favorite hymns.
With piano and voice my friend sent love.

I called my oldest friend, a music therapist
Whom should I send?
Here I am Lord,

I needed Mom’s favorite hymns.
it is I Lord,
I have heard you calling in the night

With piano and voice my friend sent love
I will go Lord, where you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

© 2020 Linda Mitchell. All rights reserved.

Lyric Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Anna Laura Page / Daniel L. Schutte
"Here I Am, Lord" lyrics © Oregon Catholic Press


Our first of three challenges from My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth by Patrice Vecchione (Seven Stories Press, 2020) is to write a poem about the place empathy has your life. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our April 2020 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, April 24th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice, courtesy of the publisher.