We are well past the halfway mark of National Poetry Month. I’ve missed a few days this week, so in an effort to post a poem for every letter this month, I’m doubling up today with poems for O and P. They were both inspired by Buffy Silverman’s post about nocturnes and aubades. As Buffy points out in her post, “the forms do not have any prescribed meter or rhyme scheme.” Also like Buffy, I’m not sure these follow the guidelines exactly, but I enjoyed the process.
O is for Hope
Why?
Because…
As dawn’s glow
spills over
the world’s brim,
a great horned owl,
well-sated after a
night spent hunting
mice and voles,
is ready to sleep,
hoo-hoo-hoo-hoooing
her good night
to the world.
Draft, © Catherine Flynn, 2023
P is for Hope
Why?
Because…
One warm afternoon in March,
a chorus of peeps bursts
forth from a woodland pond.
Peepers, waking from
their long winter nap,
flood the deepening
shadows with their joyous song.
Their celebration continues
long into the night,
heralding the arrival of spring.
Draft, © Catherine Flynn, 2023
Please be sure to visit Karen Edmisten’s blog for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Previous NPM Posts:
Day 1: H is for…
Day 2: A is for Hope
Day 3: B is for Hope
Day 4: C is for Hope
Day 5: D is for Hope
Day 6: E is for Hope
Day 7: F is for Hope
Day 8: G is for Hope
Day 9: Hope is
Day 10: I is for Hope
Day 11: J is for Hope
Day 12: Hope is…
Day 13: L is for Hope
Day 14: M is for Hope
Day 15: N is for Hope
Reading to the Core 
Owls and peepers: harbingers of spring and hope. I love this project.
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I love these two very different experiences of nighttime! Peepers are the best 🙂
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Wonderful! That hooooo-ing is full of lovely OH sounds…but those peepers steal my heart.
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We don’t have spring peepers in Colorado so I’ve only head them a few times in my life, a wonderful experience to me! And I’ve had more experiences out camping with owls. Love both your poems, Catherine, nature’s beauty in two images!
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Oops, don’t know how “head” got in there, meant “heard”!
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These are so beautiful, Catherine. I heard the peepers here a few days ago, too!
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[…] Day 1: H is for…Day 2: A is for HopeDay 3: B is for HopeDay 4: C is for HopeDay 5: D is for HopeDay 6: E is for HopeDay 7: F is for HopeDay 8: G is for HopeDay 9: Hope isDay 10: I is for HopeDay 11: J is for HopeDay 12: Hope is…Day 13: L is for HopeDay 14: M is for HopeDay 15: N is for HopeDay 16: More Poems of Hope […]
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This is such a great project, Catherine. Your description of the setting for the owl – dawn spilling over the world’s brim – is perfect. And those peepers! I heard them at Highlights this week.
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Love the many expressions of Hope, Catherine! What an inspiring project.
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[…] HopeDay 12: Hope is…Day 13: L is for HopeDay 14: M is for HopeDay 15: N is for HopeDay 16: More Poems of HopeDay 17: Q is for […]
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Loving your alphabet for HOPE, Catherine! I think the owl is my favorite so far!
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[…] HopeDay 12: Hope is…Day 13: L is for HopeDay 14: M is for HopeDay 15: N is for HopeDay 16: More Poems of HopeDay 17: Q is for HopeDay 18: R is for […]
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[…] HopeDay 12: Hope is…Day 13: L is for HopeDay 14: M is for HopeDay 15: N is for HopeDay 16: More Poems of HopeDay 17: Q is for HopeDay 18: R is for HopeDay 19: Hope is… […]
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