This weekend, many of my online poet friends are gathered at the annual NCTE conference. Some year, I’m going to get there to hang out with my people.
This year one of those friends is receiving the Donald H. Graves Award. What an accomplishment. So deserved.
I love reading her blog, Reflections on the Teche. It’s rich with student poems, her poems, and celebrations.
Margaret was in Washington last summer. I love the first line of this poem. Clouds do keep you guessing in this part of the country.
Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, July, 2014
The clouds always keep us guessing,
so you have to know the tides.
Deception is easy, looking only
at the horizon line. Sometimes masked as a cloud,
the snow-topped mountain in the distance
deceives us, too.
The rocky beach becomes my foot hold,
a path of colorful stones washed smooth
by the constant lapping of the water.
I close my eyes to the salty air, listen
to the hum-swish of waves crashing the shore,
hear in them the possibility of danger.
Guided by the presence of the moon,
the sea gives and takes.
In the grit on my tongue, I can taste
the unleavened bread of sacrifice.
Be still and know is all I must do.
Marvel at the wonders of rock and air and sea.
Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Thank you, Margaret, for all that you do for students and the poetry community.
Poetry Friday is hosted by Becky at Tapestry of Wordsa.
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Such a lovely tribute, Jone. And I love this poem, it is really nice, especially the hum-swish of the wave.At first I thought it was DC….but the snow-capped mountain in the distance gave it away. I am so happy for Margaret. It is such a well-deserved honor. I am so sad to miss NCTE this year. My first in a while. Happy Thanksgiving to you. How is the reciting going? I am finally able to add to my blog!!
I love this poem of Margaret’s, Jone–thank you so much for sharing it today! Congratulations again to Margaret!!!
What a nice tribute, Jone– I’m sure Margaret will be touched. Great choice of a defining poem, as well.