It’s Poetry Friday!
My Nevermore’s partner and friend, Marcie Flinchum Atkins is hosting our round-up this week.
Marcie has been visiting parks and libraries during her summer break. She continues to find ways to combine her beautiful haiku, macro-photography, love of all things books, and poetry!
The Nevermores wrote poems this week with the word prompts: fireworks, parade, independence.
We had the joy of visiting our 11-month-old grandson over the 4th. There were fireworks – a tumble, a bump, shrieks of laughter, a sad-mouth song. There was a parade – endless laps in a long hallway, huge smile so proud of himself as his tiny legs propelled like a pinball around the room. And there was independence – insisting on his own path, following his curiosity, which currently is any small-item he can hold in each hand.
So I chose to try a Sudoku poem.
independence day
independence day
unruly stars
explode
in celebration
independence
on-the-way wide-eyed
fireworks flash
child’s drum roll
night sky’s
finale stomp
light by myself
kaleidoscope
let me sparkle
work-in-process
parades color
be still
©2023 Patricia J. Franz
In the end, I found in it a metaphor for recognizing and celebrating the struggle that is independence – always on the way to becoming, like a child.
Everyone knows: Put a small child in the center of a room and you will see independence in action – and a lot of adult entertainment of the heart-filling kind!
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. 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. 
Love thinking of fireworks as “unruly stars.” They really are. Your sudoku works. I heard them more than saw them this year, and they were loud!
In our mountain town, fireworks are illegal (wildfire trauma). They’ve gone to doing drone electronic shows accompanied by music. Not quite the same 🙁 — but safer!
Yes, “independence on the way” describes the wonder of a young child. Did you know we Inklings are doing sudoku poems today? I want to know how challenging this was for you? I’m not totally pleased with my result, but it’s out there.
I didn’t realize the Inklings were doing sudoku poems. I found them a fun challenge. I decided to keep working on them 🙂
Love every line, Patricia, and the way it fits our own celebrations along with watching the independence grow in an almost one year old! What a grand time you must have had!
grand time with the grands!
“work in progress” Hear! Hear! Lovin’ the Sudoku format…you are right in step with Inklings too. Love it!
Yes, who knew! I loved reading them all this week.
Patricia, I love the way you structured your words in the suduko poem. “be still” and “let me be” stood out. I think of your little grandbaby and realize that the quest to independence is a challenge yet an adventure. You must have had an amazing time watching the little one claim the right to be the center of the parade. All of the suduko poems I read are very interesting. I want to try the puzzle approach and see if I can make sense of it.
I’m really enjoying the sudoku poetic form. I’ve coupled it with Metaphor Dice now, so I’m hoping for even more inspiration.
I also love “unruly stars” and this:
child’s drum roll
night sky’s
finale stomp
I’m thinking a sudoku might be in the Nevermores’ future.
Let’s do them!
I also love the unruly stars and night sky’s finale stomp.
Independence is definitely unruly and a work in progress! I like how you used color in your presentation, and how you explored the themes of childhood and independence.
Yes, the color addition was a last minute thought but it became yet another layer.
Like others, I love the unruly stars and the interweaving of the two themes. I also like the vertical line in/fireworks/finale/let me/be
Well done!
Thank you, Carmela. I’m looking forward to integrating Metaphor Dice into the process next time.
Beautiful sentiment! I love your use of color on the black background for your poem as well!
Thanks, Tracey. This was a really fun additional layer.
“Let me sparkle!” Yes! Love this. So excited you decided to do a sudoku poem. I’m amazed by these.
I got myself some metaphor dice and am going to play further.
Like so many, I love how you combined the ideas of your grandchild exploring and growing and independence. I’m also oh-so-curious about a “sad-mouth song”. The Sudoku form worked so well for you here. They’re quite a puzzle to construct, aren’t they!?
Our grandson’s little lips would turn upside down after a particularly tough tumble but he wouldn’t cry… “sad mouth song”
So clever, Patricia!
Your wisdom in reflecting this special night with your grandson is touching. Recgonizing and celebrating the “work-in-progress” toward independence is a beautiful observation!