It’s PoetryFriday!
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Jan at bookseedstudio hosts our round up of all things poetry this weekend.
Join us!
Our poetry friend and one of my Nevermores partners, Marcie Flinchum Atkins has a new book coming out March 4th! It felt like a perfect fit this week to spotlight this historical YA novel-in-verse. ONE STEP FORWARD gives witness to what persistence looks like in the fight for women’s right to vote.
The back drop is World War I.
Mathilda’s immediate family is divided politically in their support of suffrage. Her older sister’s courage to fight for the right to vote inspires Mathilda to wade in. The powerful verse structure lends weight to Mathilda’s fear,
Here is a coming-of-age story –fictional but believeable, impeccably researched, that lifts up the long path and persistence it took, all that was achieved, and all that remains still to be done –even now.
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One More Page Books
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“The verse structure successfully conveys the grit, trauma, and violence of the times, adeptly emphasizing the activists’ doubt, pride, persistence, and exhaustion . . . Powerful, necessary reading.”
Two weeks ago our country turned the page of history. As a salve for our wounded hearts, Jone MacCulloch gathered us to write in consideration of persistence and hope.
In the face of so much heartbreak –the environment, politics in our country, and for me —the struggle to help aging parents come to terms with their limitations, I find myself searching for hope. Strength to keep trying. And I have to keep reminding myself that so much simply takes time.
for Mathilda
canyons carved by trickles over eons
a lone pine’s possibility in grim surroundings
persistence may be five million years in the making
or just feel like it
slavery, suffrage –we stand on
shoulders of resilience
the river churns in a grave of boulders, gravel, sand
the loblolly sips from the shared cup of moss and lichen
fragile freedom endures thanks to the soil-builders–
a vision of what might be
we can only try, try, try,
rest
then try again
draft, PJF
photo and poem © Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
It’s quite wonderful that you wrote for Mathilda, Patricia. I’m looking forward to reading Marcie’s book, which sounds terrific! Your poem brings in stalwart examples for us to lean on as we find our own paths of resistance! I like your inclusion of what we can do together: “the shared cup of moss and lichen”: Here we go!
Aaah! I’m so excited for Marcie’s book! Thanks for the reminder of when it comes out and the mini booktalk.
“We stand on shoulders of resilience” should be on a poster with that glorious photograph. Thank you so much for sharing all of this.
This is wonderful, gentle and uplifting. Thank you! – Sarah Grace Tuttle
I have been reading posts detailing resistance and now persistence this morning. Patricia, it does sometimes feels like we are climbiing the same mountain each day, but persistence is critically important. Your poem speaks with crystal clear clarity to this matter. The closing lines say it all.
Patricia, wow. Thank you for this hopeful poem. I’m clinging to “fragile freedom endures” and “a vision of what might be” Rest and try is good advice.
Well, now I’m crying! Thank you for your kind words, your beautiful poem. “We stand on the shoulders of resilience.” Wow! We sure do! Thank you, friend. xoxo
Patricia, appreciations for this stark view that offers hope, paired with your precise words that move me.
“the loblolly sips from the shared cup of moss and lichen”
reminds us how sharing heals & builds.
And so wonderful to see Marcie’s ONE STEP FORWARD featured. It won’t be long now. I’m so glad she created a book about the cruelties inflicted upon & the enormouse energy of the suffragettes.
Now not the least of all, often the leader of all, I join you in appreciation of Jone.
Your thoughts on Marcie’s book are spot on, Patricia. And your poem – “slavery, suffrage –we stand on shoulders of resilience” – is the perfect response.
Ohhh.
persistence may be five million years in the making
or just feel like it
Yes. Thanks for this, Patricia! So many people trying to figure out how best to resist, where to find the energy, wondering how long it will need to go on…
Thank you, Patricia, for the reminder of the epic context of time. I am so, so distressed by I think this poem may have slowed my heart rate, just a bit…
I find time in nature deeply healing, precisely because it reminds me of how small I, and all humans are, and how little time we’ve spent on this earth, in comparison with the rocks, and the trees. They will outlast us all, which I find a deeply comforting thought.