I'm participating in a 5-day "Open Write" on Sarah Donovan's Ethical ELA.
Today, Kimberly Johnson inspires us with the 32nd stanza of Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" in Leaves of Grass, which beginsI think I could turn and live with animals,
We had no restrictions or forms for our writing...except the simple suggestion to begin 'I think I could turn.'
Wild Morning Glory
I think I could turn into
wild morning glory,
“bineweed.”
Yes,
I’d get out and go visiting,
weaving my way into
everyone’s garden.
I’d get up nice and close,
climbing within and about,
defying the recommended six foot distance.
I’d feel them tug on me,
so many hands reaching for me, and
I’d have not a fear in the world.
Yes,
I’d get up nice and close,
burst into flower for my favorite people,
simply strangle every plant of
those folks who get under my skin.
There’d be no secrets from me,
as I sneak in and around.
Yes,
I will go on and on and on,
find my way someplace new every day,
never give up,
even come back the next day
after being pried loose and away.
I’d be the bane of everyone’s existence, yet
most certainly,
I’d feel connected.
Sarah J. Donovan, PhD, from her Ethical ELA website:
ReplyDeleteMaureen,
Love this idea of getting into everyone’s space only to end with the gratitude of connectedness. I wish I could burst into flowers! This would save me from having to speak — my tongue just does not work well at all.
Sarah
gayle sands, from Sarah Donovan's Ethical ELA's "May Open Write":
ReplyDeleteMaureen—yes! I want to also simply strangle those who get under my skin, and sneak in and around. I love your metaphor (personification?) of binge weed—beautiful, yet a pest in the garden. What a fun poem!
Glenda Funk, from Sarah Donovan's Ethical ELA's "May Open Write"
ReplyDeleteMaureen,
You’re a flower child, but I do sense a bit of Venus Fly Trap in the line:
simply strangle every plant of
those folks who get under my skin.
I love both this poem and the one on your blog today. Thank you.
–Glenda
Kale Tarbet, from Sarah Donovan's Ethical ELA's "May Open Write":
ReplyDeleteI absolutely enjoyed the personification here, and now I feel like I might want to be wild morning glory as well! I loved the movement and the creeping forward. That movement really drove your words. I also felt your imagery was evocative; I especially appreciated your line “burst into flower for my favorite people.” I was captivated throughout my read!