March 2018 SOLC–Day 9
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
Today’s post is a twofer–a dual post for Slice of Life and the Poetry Friday Roundup. So, in that spirit of two for one, I’m sharing two poems that I wrote this week.
This first poem was in response to Laura Purdie Salas’s timely 15 Words or Less Poem weekly photo prompt. (Luckily, my fears appear to be unfounded.)
Photo credit to Laura Purdie Salas
I Spy
Pinkish eye
far from dry
Dusting of crusting
Disgusting!
I fear my plight is
conjunctivitis
M. Hogan (c) 2018
And then there was this poetic moment a week or so ago.
At dusk
I watched a fox
slip through tree shadows
sure-footed in the snow
his tail a crimson comet
in the fading light
a chicken carcass
heavy in his jaws
M. Hogan (c) 2018
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by the kind and talented Michelle H. Barnes at her splendoriferous blog, Today’s Little Ditty. Her blog today is overflowing with shared advice from poets about incorporating poetry in the classroom and engaging students with poetry in meaningful ways. Wow! What a resource! I will be revisiting again and again and again…
Nix the comfort zone 
Your poetry today brings out some disgusting realities, eye disease and the circle of life. All a part of our shared life experiences.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how both poems together show 2 different, but strong feelings! You use alliteration so well, “dusting, crusting, disgusting” and it captures conjunctivitis perfectly- EW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luckily I was just paranoid. I think I’m in the clear!
LikeLike
Wow! The poems are so different! I love foxes and your description of “his tail a crimson comet in the fading light” is simply stunning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lynne. There’s so much versatility in poetry, isn’t there!?
LikeLike
That fox poem was superb. I too loved the crimson comet – that hints at the chicken carcass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kat. It was such a rich moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that crimson comet and had to smile over the pink eye. Been there. Decrusted that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luckily, I think I overreacted to a rabidly contagious student and a mildly itching eye. Phew!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had it a lot in preschool days, but we haven’t had it since. I think we must have developed a resistance, since it’s still around. Maybe you have, too. Have you ever had the viral version? Now that is a stinker.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Molly, you called it right. Conjunctivitis is disgusting. You topped that poem with a crimson comet in the fading light. Now maybe I could write a golden shovel from the line I lifted. Let’s see what the weekend brings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be keeping an eye out for your golden shovel.
LikeLike
Long ago, one of my dogs left our yard, and as we went out to look for him, he came running, with a chicken carcass! I don’t know if your fox had killed one. Our dog just seemed to have found a cooked leftover in someone’s garbage. Humor aside, I love that “crimson carpet” & am happy your eye is okay!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our fox was enjoying a fully feathered chicken, not a cooked leftover. lol Our dog used to find rancid deer haunches in the woods. Ugh. Nasty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You paint a couple of vivid pictures- love them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Could those poems be any more different, Molly?! Nice range today… and I’m not talking about free range chickens either! I sure hope that chicken wasn’t someone’s pet. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the versatility of poetry 🙂 Unfortunately, we think the chicken may have been one of ours. Sigh…life in the country.
LikeLike
You have certainly embraced the “a poem can be about anything” mantra! I’m glad you don’t have conjunctivitis! Like others have mentioned, I love that “crimson comet!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laura’s eyeball photo prompt came as just the right (or wrong?) time!
LikeLike
–“heavy in his jaws” – that is an AWESOME line, Molly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Robyn. It was one of those moments that just cries out for a poem.
LikeLike
Oh, gross, Molly! Ha! No, really, both VERY well crafted…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Donna. I was in the midst of my pink eye paranoia when I saw Laura’s photo prompt. I laughed out loud and then I just had to go for it!
LikeLike
Five stars for rhyming “plight is” and “conjunctivitis”!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol Once that popped into my head, I just had to write the rest!
LikeLike
“crimson comet” YES!
LikeLike