Happy National Poetry Month! Spring is not completely sprung here in western Connecticut, but the Weather Channel assures me it’s coming. I’ve been preoccupied with many responsibilities over the past few months, which left me with very little time or energy to devote to writing. But while I was brainstorming ideas for our Read Across America celebration, I came across a reference to Q is for Duck, by Mary Elting and Michael Folsom. One thought led to another and my idea for NPM was hatched.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a difficult time wading through what seems to be an endless stream of bad news. It hasn’t been good for me and I’m working very hard to tune out much of the negativity. With this in mind, I decided to use Q is for Duck as a model and, during April, write short poems about different things that are hopeful. I may switch things up from time to time and use Natalie Babbitt’s The Search for Delicious format (Delicious is…). Right now I’m keeping my options open.

Although it’s Saturday, I’m sticking with the etheree I wrote for the Poetry Sister’s March Poetry Friday challenge as an introduction to my NPM project. Happy April, everyone!

I
am done
with despair.
Instead, I’ll kneel
in the softening
Earth, roused from winter’s deep
slumber by sun’s strong rays and 
thirst-slaking showers; revel in
violets and clover, listen in
as robins chirp a melody of hope.

Draft, © Catherine Flynn, 2023

Please be sure to visit Mary Lee Hahn at A(nother) Year of Reading for the Poetry Friday Roundup and other NPM news.