Besides March Madness, we’ve toasted two weddings, a 65th birthday, and showered a bride-to-be (my future daughter-in-law 
). And the wildflowers have arrived, ushering spring into the desert. Not sure how much more joy we can pack into a month. But I’m a firm believer that both joy and gratitude cannot be contained.
The air at 30,000 feet (and some Joni Mitchell) always lends itself to reflection. These poems found their way out of my pen before we were wheels-down.
Weekend of joy. Now I need a nap.
wedding #2
a family gathers in dresses and wraps
with hugs and lipsticked kisses
whispers and eyerolls
letting go and letting joy lead
scrambling for seats
deep breaths as beauty
walks down the aisle
on the arm of her father
with stories and tears
clinks and toasts
precarious 90-year olds
and their dancing feet
wrapped in prayers of gratitude
this is the stuff of life
Our six brides-to-be… well, four to go now!
©draft, Patricia J. Franz
The Nevermores prompt (inspired by Amy Ludwig VanDerWater): Somewhere a….
somewhere a bride
for Matt & Clare
somewhere
a mother gathers clouds westering across the horizon
they sweep and scuttle
pestering to release their dreams
seeds of hope
somewhere a few burst with impatience
fall free
find soil
settle
seep
somewhere
a thirsty succulent hides in hard-scrabble
dreams of leaf, of life
something stirs
–a whispered spring
somewhere
sky, cloud, soil, seed
wait
watch
a song rises
a flower blooms
somewhere a bride
says yes
©draft, Patricia J. Franz
It’s #PoetryFriday!
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This week’s round up is hosted by Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect.
THE 2024 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH PROGRESSIVE POEM BEGINS HERE on APRIL 1ST!
I am delighted. to be kicking off Line 1 of our 2024 Progressive Poem.
Circle back on Monday morning — MDT — and watch our poem grow!
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. 
Oh what joy abounds! I’m so glad you’ve had so much to celebrate lately! And loving that it is feeding your poetry!
So much joy in both of your poems, Patricia! And what a lovely group of young women.
Ohhh… “precarious 90-year olds / and their dancing feet” resonates as I think of my beloved elders this week. Thank you for sharing, and I can’t wait to see what the Progressive Poem brings this year!
These are both wonderful. I love, love, love “letting go and letting joy lead”. Now there’s a motto to live by! I’m delighted to hear about all the joy filling your month and hope April follows along in that pattern.
Thank you for sharing your joy and transmitting it right to my heart! I love “a song rises / a flower blooms” especially.
The mother, the clouds, the rain, all leading to the yes of the bride…BRILLIANT!
Your poems that celebrate the joy are so full of love, Patricia. How can we not glory in the poem “for Matt & Clare”. Yes, a nap might be nice, along with dreams of your special month! Looking forward to your line! Love the pictures, too!
Patricia, you love is shared over again in both poems. “Seeds of hope” and a “whispered spring” bring the glory of the seasons transitioning to me. Yes, there is always “somewhere a bride says yes”! in Poem #1 the ending is perfect for it captures the feeling we should all have-gratitude for life! I look forward to hear how you open the Progressive Poem. Brave You!
Patricia, the Progressive Poem is in good hands to get us started on Monday. I’m excited to see where you take us. The poems you wrote in the air are touching and special. Some of my favorite lines are about the precarious 90-year-olds dancing and all the other images of “the stuff of life” and all of it “wrapped in prayers of gratitude” Just lovely.
In the second poem all the things happening somewhere with life and hope “sky, cloud, soil, seed” AND the sweet addition of a bride saying yes. I have to ask are the six brides (to-be and new) standing in chronological order? Or is that a coincidence? Either way, I think that is so cute with them holding our their hands and each photo a different bride.
I’m looking forward to your first line, Pat! I love the Progressive Poem. I appreciate your wedding celebration having recently attended my son’s. Thanks for sharing your family!
What wonderful moments, Patricia! Your first poem brought to mind such great memories of attending a family wedding out of state, and of watching my elderly in-laws dancing together…So much joy. Thank you.