March 2026 SOLC–Day 6
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 serves as a Poetry Friday post as well!
I’m lucky enough to have a writing group that I’ve been meeting with for years now. It’s a consistent bright spot in my world! In addition to bimonthly Zoom meetings, each month one of us poses a challenge, and then we all share our responses on the first Poetry Friday of the month. This month’s Inkling challenge was from Margaret Simon who asked us to write a poem using the word “becoming”. She referenced a Jacqueline Woodson poem, but I honestly never managed to even click on that link. I toyed around with a couple of ideas related to becoming, and then remembered a poem I’d written earlier this year that had been searching for a title. It seems like it found it!
On Becoming Wonder Woman*
Wonder Woman donned her metal cuffs
to protect her as she entered the fray,
to deflect harmful projectiles,
making her both stylish and
impervious.
Today, I put on my flower earrings,
my fragile plastic optimism
on full display.
Then I head into the classroom
hoping to emerge,
if not victorious,
at least
with some bloom
intact.
©Molly Hogan
*Disclaimer–I am in NO way implying that I am Wonder Woman. I wrote this poem after a morning when I deliberately chose to wear these earrings feeling like I needed every optimistic vibe I could scrounge up. These earrings are like a little dose of happy, and because my brain works in mysterious ways, it reminded me of Wonder Woman donning her magic cuffs. Apparently earrings are my battle armor of choice!
To see what the other Inklings did with this prompt, click on the links below:
Mary Lee @ A(nother) Year of Reading
Linda @A Word Edgewise
Margaret @Reflections on the Teche
Heidi @my juicy little universe
Catherine @ Reading to the Core
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Karen Edmisten at her blog. Stop by to enjoy some poetry goodness!
Nix the comfort zone 
The armour of optimism is powerful, if not necessarily making one impervious. I do like the goal of emerging with some bloom intact. I imagine you did.
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These earrings wield considerable power!
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Love this dose of happy. We are all wonder women, just by being ourselves. Here’s to the power of yellow.
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I’m a little weird about my earrings. These are definitely a favorite!
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I love the idea of a positive armor and you leaving with some bloom intact. You ARE a Wonder Woman!
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Oh, you nailed it! How perfect this title is now. I love the positive vibes and energy I get from writing alongside you, Molly. It’s one of the treasures of my life.
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You know I’m always delighted to find a title out in the wild! lol Also… right back at ya’!!
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[…] Lee @ A(nother) Year of ReadingLinda @A Word EdgewiseMolly @Nix the Comfort ZoneHeidi @my juicy little universeCatherine @ Reading to the […]
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I’m so happy that the prompt gave you this awesome title! You Are Wonder Woman facing a troop of 2nd graders every day. I am teaching little ones today. I think I need a blooming set of earrings to wear.
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Sounds like you knocked it out of the park even without magical earrings!
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You ARE Wonder Woman! I love the earrings. (I like big earrings when I’m on zoom!) xo
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I ALWAYS like big earrings! lol These are especially powerful because my husband surprised me with them after I’d commented on how cute they were. I didn’t even realize he’d been listening!
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No disclaimer needed, Molly! We know what it means to have someone inspiring you, giving you a bit of a protective shield 🙂 Do you know the “come in the room” teacher on YouTube? Mr. Holmes. He makes lists of things his 2nd and 3rd graders have said. Hoo boy!
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I am ignorant of most things YouTube, but will have to check out Mr. Holmes! Thanks for the tip!
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What a clever poem. So much to like about it, especially the word, “impervious,” and the end, “at least with some bloom intact.” They are some earrings…sure to perk up any day. Great job!
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They always perk up my day, even if they aren’t always leading me to victory!
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I remember my daughter, years ago, asking if the new fashion of boys getting earrings was their chance to add some spark they felt was needed. Now, you’re writing with your own armor, earrings for the strength to carry on! I love the striving “for some bloom intact”!
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Your daughter’s comment is both interesting and perceptive! Gotta find my armor where I can! lol
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Cheers for flower power! It’s your attitude that sets the feeling in a class & I’m feeling that day students flowered in their efforts. As an aside, I have a swinging neon yellow petal flower bauble earrings [ I feel that are that old collectible plastic that I can’t name at the moment] that elicit smiles if I wear them. BRAVA for wearing sunshine & for creating this spirited poem, which I luv.
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Your earrings sound magnificent! A fantastic pair of earrings can really set the tone!
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What a wonderful poem, Molly! You captured the strength needed to face a classroom of littles every day! And I love the earrings, too!
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Thanks! They’re a favorite of mine!
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Goes right to my heart! Poetry of vulnerability!
Today, I put on my flower earrings,
my fragile plastic optimism
on full display.
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Thanks, Dan! That optimism can feel a bit tattered and frayed some days. The earrings help.
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I’m going to take issue with your disclaimer and say that you are, indeed Wonder Woman, as is every teacher (Wonder Women and Wonder Men.) 🙂 My husband was a teacher, I was a homeschooling teacher, and both types of classroom demand, at least on some days, everything of us.
So, yes, don the flower earrings, write the poetry (love this one!) but claim the title too! 🙂
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Thanks, Karen!
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Today, I put on my flower earrings,
my fragile plastic optimism
on full display.
My favorite lines–and those earrings are amazing! And I think it’s fair to claim a wonder woman title now and then. This work is not for the weak!
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Thanks, Kim. One of the petals broke off under a cat assault the other day and I was distraught! Luckily, I managed to find some wonder glue …I mean super glue…and repaired them. Phew!
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Oh I love the longing to emerge with bloom intact! Molly, you don whatever you need to empower yourself! We all need your wisdom!
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Some people put on a power suit, but I go for a bold pair of earrings! lol
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What an image you created with your poem…I can imagine you standing a bit taller, feeling stronger, as you don your sunshine-y earrings! 🙂
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They do pack a positive power punch!
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I love the hopefulness of ending the day “with some bloom/intact.” And I agree with Karen, you are Wonder Woman!
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Such a clever poem! I love how you matched two seemingly unrelated things and made it work so well. Those earrings are awesome! Sometimes I wear my grandmother’s or mother’s earrings for the same reason. IT feels like they are with me, giving me courage.
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I put serious consideration into my earring choices. I often choose to wear earrings that were gifts from my children when I want to feel them close.
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I have a pair of earrings that works for me in a similar way! And don’t apologize…you ARE Wonder Woman! OWN it!!
(PS–I’m reading every day’s slices, just not commenting daily. You are ROCKING the challenge!!)
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I want to know what your earrings look like, Mary Lee. Earring magic is a serious matter! Also, thanks for reading along during the challenge…I’m sitting here wondering what in the world I’m going to write about for tomorrow’s slice!
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You might as well claim the wonder woman title. If you can take your fragile plastic optimism into your classroom day after day, you deserve the title!
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Well, that’s one way of looking at it! Thanks, Buffy!
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