One of the most satisfying benefits of joining fellow writers in this month of Slicing is the cross pollination of ideas. One person’s writing sparks and idea in another and so on. The chain is really never ending. This morning, my friend Margaret Simon was inspired by Naomi Shihab Nye’s statement that “nothing is to small to notice.” She noticed the light of spring and wrote a stunning poem full of “the slant of light.” This reminded me of a quick glimpse of shadows I had the other day as I drove past a patch of woods. Here, in honor of the first full day of spring and World Poetry Day, is the poem my noticing inspired.
Season on the Brink
Shadows lumber,
crisscrossing soft winter snow,
a maze of light and dark.
Patches of soil emerge,
inhaling a deep breath of
waking,
exhaling the rich scent
of earth,
full of life
stirring and squirming,
restless for
spring.
© Catherine Flynn, 2017
Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, Lisa and Lanny for creating this community and providing this space for teachers and others to share their stories every day in March and on Tuesdays throughout the year. Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers to read more Slice of Life posts.
Reading to the Core 
I take lots of shadow pictures, and love each one for its capture of the real. This is beautiful, Catherine. Love that “stirring and squirming”. Hope you’re feeling better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Stirring and squirming restless for spring”, how accurate! Great word choice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shadows are just as fascinating as the light that causes them, crisscrossing our path, like the path of our poems. I know a poet who once wrote call and response poems with another poet friend by email. Maybe we should consider a project like this with our nature noticings in different parts of the country?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m feeling the stirring and squirming, too, Catherine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous. The feeling that things are about to happen. And you it’s so true that we inspire one another — formats, themes, words, etc… Love that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lumber, emerge, waking, stirring, squirming…Your word choice brings this scene to life and creates an interesting and beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful thought, “cross pollination of ideas,” about SOL. Love: “inhaling a deep breath of
waking,” That truly is spring!
LikeLiked by 1 person
love the personification in your poem, Catherine. There really is so much cross-pollination of ideas–it’s an amazing month of inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve really been enjoying your poems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Catherine, what a gorgeous poem. This line, “inhaling a deep breath of
waking,
exhaling the rich scent
of earth.” Absolutely amazing use of language.
LikeLiked by 1 person