Thursday, March 12, 2020

Still wings

She walked with the Universe
on her shoulders and made it
look like a pair of wings.
~Ariana Dancu


Encouragement today from Sarah Cannavo.


"White Wings"
Stained Glass Sculpture by Edgar Phillips
photo by David Merrett


Fallen But Not Down
by Sarah Cannavo

Your wings might be dirty,
white feathers darkened with mud
and blood, stiffened by sweat and
burned to peeling by the sun
constantly beating down at your...

read the rest here

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For National Poetry Month, I'd like to share poems on my blog with the general theme of "Things I Wish You Knew..." with an emphasis on physical/mental health.

For instance: * Someone with dyslexia talking about why a particular font is easier to read * Someone with POTS talking about why they sometimes use a wheelchair even though they can walk * Someone with celiac talking about unexpected problem foods * Someone who had a gunshot wound talking about a ramification of it * Someone with anxiety talking about why they might avoid someone they like

This is just a tiny sampling of possibilities. The idea is to inform the reader about something that is outside their realm of experience, something that is maybe not that obvious. Your poem can be directed toward any age group -- I'm leaving it open. Please send poems no later than March 31st to tabatha(at)tabathayeatts(dot)com. (Earlier is great!)

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March TLD padlet: I am in the spotlight this month on Today's Little Ditty with a game poem challenge!

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Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Matt!

15 comments:

Janice Scully said...

Tabatha, thank you for sharing Cannavo's poem. Wings that are "dirty" is a powerful metaphor for things that somehow get in the way, cause us to have to struggle. I look forward to your prompt on TLD.

Matt Forrest Esenwine said...

A beautiful, important poem, Tabatha - thanks for sharing!

laurasalas said...

Tabatha, this is one of my favorite sets of quotation, art, and poem that you have ever shared. Thank you. Also, I have an idea for your poetry month theme,and I will try to work on a poem...

author amok said...

The last line of that poem is so hopeful. It reminds me that we already have all we need to attempt flight (whatever flying is for you).

jama said...

Ditto to what Laura Shovan said. No matter how bruised or battered, we still have wings, the means to overcome any adversity.

Karen Eastlund said...

The poem is remarkable. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing. Also, I recently visited the Oculus in NYC, and I immediately thought of those wings... the beauty of them coming out of the disaster of 9/11. Like a phoenix. What a theme to explore... Thanks again.

Linda B said...

I imagine you with wings, Tabatha, always lifting us all up. Having wings no matter the condition gives hope. I have an idea for a poem for you for April. It will be a month of good learning. Thank you for often sharing ideas about our lives.

Mary Lee said...

Lovely...inspiring. Thanks!

Michelle Kogan said...

Inspiring poem Tabatha, we need to look to our metaphorical wings and remember to continue to try to open them, thanks!

Linda Mitchell said...

For all that, they're still wings.
Gosh.
Thank you. Needed that more than you knew.
I'm working on a game poem and a 'I Wish You Knew' poem.
I suddenly find myself with some writing time.

Carol said...

Thank you for this beautiful poem. My son is going through a really hard time and I couldn't help but think of him as I read this poem. It made me cry.

I Wish You Knew-- I immediately think of my son- foster care, school struggles, blowing out his knee playing football, now mental health struggles. Maybe there will be a poem or two or three....

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes said...

"They're still wings." <-- this might just be my new mantra. Haven't forgotten about a "wish your knew" poem. Not sure if it's going to happen or not, but I hope so!

Ruth said...

Thanks for the encouragement! It's much needed, these days.

Catherine Flynn said...


This is such an encouraging post, Tabatha. The poem is lovely, but the quote you open with is really hitting home for me. Thank you for the reminder to carry my worries lightly.

Carol Varsalona said...

Thank you for the poem you shared, Tabatha. I bookmarked your post to work on. Thanks.