Category: Musings on Extemporanea

{npm ’26 • poetry friday progressive poem line}

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April 25, 2026

1:57 pm

5 Comments on {npm ’26 • poetry friday progressive poem line}

General Coolness, Happenings, Musings on Extemporanea, NPM, Part and Poetry

You are HERE! Welcome to today’s stop on the The Land of Poetry tour!

For a bit of history: The Progressive Poem began with Irene Latham, who hosted it from 2012-2019. Those archives of the poem can be found HERE! Margaret Simon took over in 2020, and those archives are HERE.

The rules state:

  • The poem moves from blog to blog, with each poet/blogger adding a line.
  • Topically, the poem is intended for children.
  • Each poet/blogger must copy the previous line exactly as written, unless permission from that poet has been given.
  • After presenting the poem to date, the poet/blogger may add their own line, offering an introduction if they wish.

There’s no rule that the poem rhymes, but this year, there’s a definite rhyme scheme that we’ve worked hard to continue, and a very Earth forward sentiment with all this burgeoning life metaphorically embodying the poetic elements. It’s been wild, but I really love where we’re heading, and… okay, I’m stalling. So now, without further ado…

Map by Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske, with progressively more creative additions by a multitude of poets.

The Land of Poetry

On my first trip to the Land of Poetry,
I saw anthologies of every color, tall as buildings.
A world of words, wonder on wings, waiting just for me!
Birding for words shimmering, flecked in golden gilding.

Binoculars ready, I toured boulevards and side streets,
exploring vibrant verses, verses so honest and tender.
feathery lyrics, bright flitting avian athletes
soaring ‘cross pages in rhythmic splendor.

In the Land of Poetry, I am the conductor,
seeking oodles of poems that tug at my heart,
a musical medley of sound and structure,
An open mic in Frost Forest! Wonder who’ll take part?

There’s a pause in the program; no one takes the stage
the trees quiver, the audience looks up. Raven lands,
singing Earth’s message of the sage.
“Poetry in motion will be forevermore, from forests to sands.”

“Scatter,” she croaked. “Beyond Wilde Pond, to each and every beach.”
Meek Dove mustered courage and sang, “Instill humanity with compassion and peace.
Let Thackeray’s middle name, from this thicket, hearts reach!”
Her gentle coo-ooo-ooos reverberate, soft as fleece.

Words dart, dimple—Do I dare warble what’s in my soul?
I’ve inhaled inspiration…yes, I’ll risk my refrain.
I fly to the mic, chanting “Tadpole, mole and oriole!
Come all living beings from water, land, air; come high and low terrains!

Come, living your poems, hearts open, ablaze,

…and now, over to you, Sharon! Please feel free to add a closing quotation if you feel the Poet spirit has finished her statement with my line, but otherwise… Enjoy!

The 2026 Progressive Poem Poets Include:

April 1 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
April 2 Cathy Stenquist at A Little Bit of This and That
April 3 Patricia Franz at Reverie
April 4 Donna Smith at Mainely Write
April 5 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
April 6 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
April 7 Ruth Hersey at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town
April 8 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
April 9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
April 10 Janet Clare Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
April 11 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry
April 12 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
April 13 Linda Mitchell at Another Word Edgewise
April 14 Jone MacCulloch at Jone Rush MacCulloch
April 15 Joyce Uglow at Storied Ink
April 16 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
April 17 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
April 18 Michele Kogan at More Art for All
April 19 Kim Johnson at Common Threads
April 20 Buffy Silverman
April 21 Irene Latham at Live Your Poem
April 22 Karen Edmisten
April 23 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
April 24 Mary Lee Hahn at A(nother) Year of Reading
April 25 Tanita Davis at {fiction, instead of lies}
April 26 Sharon Roy at Pedaling Poet​
April 27 Tracey Kiff-Judson at Tangles and Tails
April 28-30 wrap-up by Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference

{pf: npm ’26 • poetry peeps engage the ekphrastic}

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April 24, 2026

12:28 pm

8 Comments on {pf: npm ’26 • poetry peeps engage the ekphrastic}

Musings on Extemporanea, NPM, Part and Poetry, Poetry Friday, Seven Sisters, Sleeper Stories, What We Do, Who We Are

Welcome to another Poetry Friday Adventure!


Poetry Peeps! You’re invited to our poetry challenge for the month of MAY.

Here’s the scoop: we’re having a Poetry Potluck. In the spirit of sharing a plate of poetry together, we invite you to grab a form you like, season it to your taste, and share it with us and all of your Poetry Peeps – it’s a good time for all of us to remember what we’ve learned, and to celebrate. Are you in? Good! You’ll have the month to craft your creation and share it May 29th in a blog post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. We hope you’ll bring a dish!

From Process…

Happy National Poetry Month, Poetry Friends! Ekphrastic poetry is one of my favorite, favorite forms, simply because I am an avid photographer, using my phone far more often for its photo capabilities than its ability to connect me to anyone else. I have been mildly obsessed with Springtime in the garden of this house, as come May we’ll have been here for one year, and we’re still in the “discovery” phase. Did we know we had daffodils? Nope, not until they started showing up. Ditto for the hyacinths. Now I’ve found my new best love – bearded irises. I’m entranced.

…to Poetry

Today the Poetry Seven are also poem-ing in honor of a birthday! My NPM project is daily tricubes along with Very Bad Drawings (TM), but in the spirit of wanting to bring a gift to my friend, I’ll spare our birthday girl my artwork and share recent garden snap instead. Happy Birthday to Sara Lewis Holmes, who is a bright spark, shining undiminished even in darkness – living aglow not “in spite of” but living into her Because. Farsee-er, questioner, somesuch-er, friend – may you continue to live all the days of your life. Love you, Sara.

iris awake

awaiting
its moment
through chill dark

comes beauty,
arriving
with the sun

breathtaking –
no shrinking
violet.

My Poetry Sisters are much more on top of things this month, engaging the ekphrastic in their own ways. Liz’s poem is here. Laura’s poem is here, Cousin Mary Lee’s is here, and Sara’s poem is here. Tricia’s poem is here, and Karen’s poem is here. Michelle K’s poem is here. Carol V’s poem is a puff of dandelion here, and Jill’s poem is here – welcome Jill! Margaret’s cypress poem is here. More Peeps may show up throughout the weekend, so don’t forget to check back to see their links rounded up here.

Our lovely hostess this Poetry Friday is Irene – and Emily Dickinson – so don’t miss stopping by for more poetry, and thank-you, Irene, for hosting.

In the chaos of life bursting into being, change insisting on its way, and finally a little sun, some things remain the same – unchanged despite our desire or efforts. Some things have also remained the same in spite of us – which is a bit of joy in the tangle. I hope this season reminds you to look for what is unfolding beautifully along with what is unfolding chaotically. Take deep breaths, and walk with measured steps. Life is change – and chaos – but I hope that today especially that you can be a calm in your own storm. Remember that you are well-loved.

{npm ’26 • 13}

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April 13, 2026

10:10 am

2 Comments on {npm ’26 • 13}

Happenings, Musings on Extemporanea, NPM, Part and Poetry, Sleeper Stories


Washday

Consider
housekeeping:
constantly

applying
principles
of order.

(though laundry
demonstrates
entropy…)

(Since even my washing machines have windows, they seemed fair game for observation.)

Monday, November 13, 1620, the Mayflower came ashore. After they probably kissed the ground in gratitude for someplace solid to stand, the Pilgrim-esses hauled out the wash… because it was Monday, after all, and that’s what one did on Monday.

Every time I manage to do laundry on a Monday I feel some sort of bizarre kinship with hundreds-of-years-ago Englishwomen, who started this, and all who came after… Just trying to impose order on chaos, tying the days of the week to some sort of recognizable pattern, trying to make meaning of drudgery. Good luck to all of us who keep trying…

{npm ’26 • 7}

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April 7, 2026

11:14 am

2 Comments on {npm ’26 • 7}

General Coolness, Musings on Extemporanea, NPM, Part and Poetry

Five Stars

Rehearsals,
Auditions –
Life holds none.

Though *nightly
curtains rise
on “Sunset.”

Unrehearsed,
The light drains
brilliantly.

Driving home the other night, the hills looked like black paper cutouts. Spring sunsets stretch longer as the light seeps more slowly. I thought “this light deserves a poem,” and though colored pencils don’t really convey the shade of peach just above the hills, I’m loving the quick scribble format of three. Though speed is not the point, this was both faster and more fun.

And yes, I wrote “daily” and meant its opposite, but them’s the breaks when you’re lettering in indelible ink. 🙄

{npm ’26 • 3}

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April 3, 2026

11:33 am

6 Comments on {npm ’26 • 3}

Happenings, Musings on Extemporanea, NPM, On Writing, Part and Poetry, Poetry Friday


In Service of Shadows

Tenebrae:
ritual
requires

all candles
extinguished.
Acknowledge

in darkness
this planet,
this grieving.

I’m continually fascinated by how some people – communities or individuals – can make space for grief … and how some others relentless insistence on ‘this’ being some Part Of The Plan or Lesson. Sometimes awful things like pandemics, fascists, genocide, and war happen. Who wouldn’t weep? Who hasn’t?

(It also occurred to me after the drawing was done that it might have made more sense to draw the candle in grayscale, since tenebrae means shadows… but, oh well.)

Poetry Friday is hosted today at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. Thanks, Matt!

{npm ’26 • 2}

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April 2, 2026

10:55 am

3 Comments on {npm ’26 • 2}

Happenings, Musings on Extemporanea, NPM, On Writing, Part and Poetry

mandé

mandatum
“Commandment”
in Latin.

A brick word –
Unyielding.
Requiring

Adherence,
Demanding
Charity.

Not having been raised with liturgy, I am the girl who’s always wondering, “Wait, what’s this about?” Our ensemble was asked to sing for “Maundy” Thursday. Could say MUCH MORE on the history of the medieval/traditional connection between the day and charitable behavior, but… won’t.

I hadn’t envisioned using crayons for this project, but boy are they faster. Additionally, they (and just scribbling on any old piece of paper, including old planners) help me remember the imperfection I’m meant to embrace within this practice — quick art and poetry made of and in the moment. I literally am requiring myself to let go of the rules for just a tic, scribble and post, the end. Meanwhile, this article on how art makes people healthier gently nudges me to keep going.


{poetry…comics…?! npm ’26}

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March 31, 2026

2:23 pm

2 Comments on {poetry…comics…?! npm ’26}

Musings on Extemporanea

NPM ’26 ♦ Sing On, O Mighty Pen

In 2007, my friend Sarah and I saw artist, author, puppet maker, and all-round personified avatar of art Yuyi Morales in San Francisco. (It was at Alma Flor Ada’s Reading the World conference, a single day event put on by the International & Multicultural Education Department of the University of San Francisco from about 1998 – 2009. It was life-changing, and I don’t say that lightly. That year we also heard from the glorious Ashley Bryan of blessed memory, and the incisive and intimidating Jane Yolen). During her talk, Artista Morales spoke about creation as an act of faith, and how her act takes belief in herself, persistence and determination. On a handout with some of her drawings, she shared her prayers to Señor Tlalocan, the Aztec god of rain, lightning, and fertility who “makes things sprout.” Her hope and determination that her creativity and her art would flourish have stuck with me, all these years later. And so I think of Sra. Yuyi today this month as I write my “O, mighty pen” project. Because, even if I feel like an imposter as a poet, my pen is mighty, and with it, my creativity has – and will – sprout.

Of course, I feel like even more of an imposter as an artist.

…and yet, I’m lifting my mighty colored pencils this month and taking on one more challenge. In 2023 as part of his classroom visits to schools, poet and illustrator Grant Snider put up a Substack called How To Make Poetry Comics. He reposted it last year, and I was intrigued. It is brilliant in its simplicity – and very direct about what poetry comics are, and are not to him. I’ve seen Grant Snider’s work and followed his Instagram for quite a while now, and I really like how he takes concepts and mulls them over in such a small space, so… thoughtfully and lyrically. Looking at his work, I’ve felt like four small squares – or three small panels – are surely not too much to fill, even for a person with a visual-spatial difficulty… right?

So, that’s this year’s project. Poetry + Art. Poetry Comics. Words and doodles.

Despite Grant Snider’s instructions, sometimes my art will be illustrating my poems instead of the other way around, but other times, I’m going to try and let the form direct the focus. To begin with, I’ll take it easy on myself, and just share a few of the tricube and haiku poems that strike me during the incredibly busy (!!!!) Easter weekend ahead, but later I’ll make sure and use all of his prompts – Four Senses, Here & Now, Horizontal/Diagonal/Vertical Movement, Zooming In/Zooming Out, Poem + Comic, Haiku – and then as I get braver, I’ll see where my pens and pencils take me from there…

O, Mighty Pen, don’t fail me now.

As always Jama-j has the full National Poetry Month in Kidlit rounded up here.