Our Host
Stefani is an Associate Professor of Education at Aquinas College in Michigan. She teaches courses for pre-service and in-service teachers in instructional design, literacy, ed tech, and research methods. Her K-12 teaching was in California prior to moving into teacher preparation. @stefboutelier
*Note: This picture is in Tully Cross Village on the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast of Ireland–Aquinas College has a 50-year history of sending students. A published book of poems and stories is also available.
Inspiration – Deibide Baise Fri Toin
I am fortunate, or ádhmharach, to be teaching a Gen. Ed. Irish Culture and Identity course this semester (it’s a long story). This course ends with a two-week trip around Ireland and with service experiences in Tully Cross. Irish poetry (both in English and in Irish) has many popular forms and poets. Most Irish poetry is focused on syllabic quatrains and tends to range from humorous (e.g., limericks) to narrative (built from the history of songs at pubs).
Process
Today I will introduce the Deibide Baise Fri Toin form. It was difficult to find the full history of this form and more impossible to get a clear translation, but I like how it ends with one word to represent the power of single words and syllables. The quatrain form (3/7/7/1) is explained here:
Line 1: 3 syllables, rhyme A with two syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables, rhyme A with two syllables
Line 3: 7 syllables, rhyme B with one syllable
Line 4: 1 syllable, rhyme B
A published example of a Deibide Baise Fri Toin
This link provides a nice templated example at the bottom
Stefani’s Poem
poem writing
linking emotions, fighting
syllables create a curse
verse
month, commit
reworking, first draft, omit
community challenge, yes
stress
fun, rapport
yet, sometimes I do abhor
even if rhyme must be shoved
love
Your Turn
It’s Friday, it’s an Irish poetic form, and we are more than halfway through Verselove, so have some fun! Write one quatrain in Deibide Baise Fri Toin or write 10. Write a free-form quatrain or write as you see fit today.
Sláinte
Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own poem. (This is a public space, so you may use only your first name or initials depending on your privacy preferences.) Not ready? That’s okay. Read the poems already posted for more inspiration. Ponder your own throughout the day. Return later. And, if the prompt does not work for you, that is fine. All writing is welcome. Just write something. Also, please be sure to respond to at least three writers. Oh, and a note about drafting: Since we are writing in short bursts, we all understand (and even welcome) the typos and partial poems that remind us we are human and that writing is always becoming. If you’d like to invite other teachers to write with us, tell them to subscribe.
Year end haze,
Walking the halls in a daze,
Counting the days till the break,
Ache!
Lock in grades
Be nice, hand out A’s in spades,
Get your “June planning” done early,
Girly!
Been too long
A little bit more, be strong
Graduation’s almost here,
Cheer!
I found this prompt to be a fun challenge! As someone who mostly writes poetry that are complete sentences, throwing that away because I had to make the sentences rhyme was challenging.
Hurt
Pain, feeling
The weight of life cause hurting
Pain can also be from: friends
Rends
Heart failing
Used to be the one, blazing
The one that caused you rue
You
Andrew, loved this! They read like potential lyrics to a song.
Thank you everyone for trying this new form yesterday. Enjoy your weekend and happy writing!
Family matters
Breaks were there
Cracked teacup sits in fear
taking scalding water hurts
bursts
Fault lines shift
Tectonic plates aligned, drift
Seismic signs point to this fate
Quake
Once it’s done
aftermath has just begun
pick through pieces salvage bones
lone.
Dave, wow, what a title for this earthquakey poem. A metaphor for a seismic event and the aftermath. You’ve written so powerfully with this sparse form.
OOowwweeee, I am not sure what I’m feeling but it hits hard. Families are complex and complicated so I hope you’re okay. The aftermath is sometimes harder than the actual “break.”
Dave, this was just lovely to read. This is the second one I’ve read, and these poems are striking me very song lyric-y for some reason. Must be something about the structure. Love the nuances here, nice work!
This was tricky! And so fun! I love it! I tried to write a little about my dog and cat …
Our Pets
Talula
Her golden paws will fool ya
Cat-queen with kneading to cure
Pure
Finnegan
You know his tails a waggin’
Old man puppy loves the sun
Fun
Frenemies
Exactly what does this mean?
He chases her, she runs too
Phew
Familiars
Fur family it figures
Listen just like my kids don’t
Won’t
Ona,
Your poem brought me so much joy! The ornery relationship between these two is highlighted in your playful lines like “frenemies/Exactly what does this mean?/He chases her, she runs too/Phew” made me chuckle because I could picture them playing with each other and then getting annoyed! Thank you for sharing.
Ona,
this is a really endearing poem and I love your pets names! I can totally picture them chasing each other around.
Ona, so fun. Talula and Finnegan–a mouthful of pet names! So cute, and the poems are a delight to read. I love the three-syllable words for line one in each.
Too much cuteness here, Ona! I see all the fun and furry adventures!
Ona, I loved this!! That last stanza made me laugh out loud (relatable) and I loved the rhyme of “Talula” with “fool ya”! Great poem, loved the images!
Stefani, thanks so much for this neat form! This has been…a week. Glad that tomorrow begins our first day of Spring Break — I’ll have more time to devote to VerseLove, and I can’t wait! My poem is…kind of a vent, unfortunately!
Brain teeming
Poetry writing dreaming
Work piling, piling on top:
STOP
Kids craving
Teacher colleagues stark raving
Nightmare from which I need wake:
BREAK
Slow settle
Back to earth, find my mettle.
Find my center and I vow
(NOW)
To forget
Never-ending school upset
Constant cloud of negative
FORGIVE.
Wendy, it sounds like you need a much needed break! Enjoy it! “Slow settle / Back to earth, find [your] center.” Yes!
Wendy, wow! Here’s to a great Spring Break! Love that first stanza. It really kicks off a great poem describing this craziness.
I love the dreaming of writing, but the work piling. And the repetition of “piling”
Uuuggh! Wendy, I feel for you and I’m so happy it’s your spring break. Take time away from work and give yourself some love!
You nailed it with the poem form and the message hits home. I was in that exact same position a few weeks ago. Spring break seems so far away now. Please enjoy it.
💜
Stacey, TY! <3
Stefani,
Getting to this late again. Thank you for introducing me to this new form.
Dreaming of Summer
Summer soon
And we’ll be over the moon
With grading done, no more stress
Rest
Summer fun
warm days, blue skies, candy spun
Late night campfires and sleep in
Win
Tammi, I literally exhaled in relaxation when I read your poem. Thank you!
Yes! Yes! And Yes!! I am ready! 36 more days for me.
Enjoy the end of your school year. Your poem makes my heart happy!
OMG–what a hard challenge for a Friday! Stefani, you are clearly much better at these Irish quatrains than I! But in spite of it all, I did give it a try.
Inspired by the teeny tiny fruit on the our apple tree on campus, here is my quatrain (plus 2 words). Maybe it would work without those last two words?
Fruit babies
scarlet orbs, lunch snack maybe?
will the crows get to them first?
worst!
(case scenario)
You can see the photo on my blog: https://thinkingthroughmylens.com/2024/04/19/apple-tree-quatrain-npm24-day-19/
Kim, Thank you for sharing and for linking to your blog. Your addition of the fifth line is perfect and needed!
I’m Tired
Puppy play,
if allowed, would last all day.
Tried to stop. He got weepy
needy!
Donnetta, did you get another dog?? I love your poem and it has me intrigued.
No,but my Poo Poo will always be a puppy in my heart.
Donnetta, puppies are so great and so tiring. Your exclamation adds effectively to the meaning. Thank you for sharing.
It’s Friday.
The weekend is here, hooray!
Please let there be lots of sun.
Fun!
Amen! The forecast isn’t calling for much sun here, but one can hope!
I say yes to that.
Perfect! Just what I needed to see on Friday afternoon. 🙂
Yes, I’m hoping for lots of sun too!
Yes! I need a carwash! 🌞
Thank you, Stef! I’ve never heard of this form and was eager to give it a shot. I think it’s one I’ll need to practice and enjoy when I’m not in a Friday-tired mindset. I absolutely love your final words as a message for April: “verse/stress/love”
Field tripping
Bus late hands tightly gripping
Face can’t lie, I’m not that fake
ACHE
Feet throbbing
Weekend lesson plans robbing
My time for Netflix and chill
STILL
©Stacey L. Joy, April 19, 2024
This is a Friday-tired mindset poem, for sure! I love that your face can’t lie. I don’t think mine can, either. I sure hope you get to relax this weekend, Stacey.
Stacey Joy, I don’t know what’s up with late busses for a field trip. That happened to us this week also. I feel your…ACHE!
Friday-tired mindset–I’m with you! This format was a tricky one for a Friday afternoon. Hope you still get that Netflix and chill!
Stacey,
I feel you, “feet throbbing” and all. My Friday nights are T.V nights too. Hope you have a relaxing weekend.
Stacey, there was a lot of Friday mindset with this prompt…bring on the weekend and rest those feet (and binge a show). Thank you for sharing.
I tried to fit this poem into the 3/7/7/1 frame, but it had already found its shape in my head. Not sure it’s all there yet, but this was fun to do. Thank you, Stefani 🙂
They spotted
the beast in a landscape dotted
with dreams of children scattered
tattered
Your rhymes work so well – especially that last word. Powerful! Your themes of children and beasts have me reminiscing on “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.”
Your poem made me think of a news story I just saw about people grabbing a bear cub from a tree to take selfies with it. Those dreams had a high chance of being tattered!
Yes!
Your poem makes me want to know more. This feels the beginning of a story. Those last two lines “with dreams of children scattered/tattered” are so ominous.
computer
new yet not computing right
upset firewall is bad guy
stalling blocking angry bye
By Seana Hurd Wright
Seana, in this single quatrain you exhibit the frustration of technology and the expectation that it is meant to work fast and easily. Thank you for sharing today.
My phone had issues after an update last week & it had me so frazzled! We depend so much on our devices these days. Your poem is an accurate depiction, for sure!!
Seana,
Technology be damned! Love your last line “stalling blocking angry bye”. I’ve felt this way before too.
Stefani, thanks for sharing this poetry verse/structure. I experimented with a few, but it’s a full day with a weekend of poetry ahead which prompted my response.
Healing
writing scars
shine brightly like midnight stars
guiding a peaceful passage
stage
Barb Edler
19 April 2024
Barb,
Wishing you lots of good poetry vibes as you take the stage this evening. Yes, poetry is healing, as your title so aptly announces, and it is those scars we illuminate through verse.
Good luck in the finals, Barb! We are all with you! Show them that “peaceful passage” on “stage.”
Barb, the use of “peaceful passage” from “writing scars” is lovely. Thank you for sharing today.
Barb,
Your poem is beautiful and contains so much truth. Pain is often the catalyst and inspiration for writing “midnight stars” and also provides catharsis.
Ohhh Barb! “Writing scars” is brilliant! They are what I pull on most!
🩵
calm release
oh, alone, I love to be
quiet space to do as feel
heal
good timing
play with words, practice rhyming
Irish form I’ve never heard
word
breathe, deeply
I’m outside with no peoply
nature sounds give me new lease
peace
Oh, the first line made me exhale. How welcoming. Every stanza feels like a nourishing breath toward peace. Love this. Thank you for the healing.
Yes, I feel this! Your last 2 lines are my favorite: “nature sounds give me new lease / peace.” The way you play with words to make the form work (“to do as feel” “with no peoply”) emphasizes your message – new lease to do as you please!
Maureen, I love how you open your poem. I think we are sort of on the same page today. I especially enjoyed “quiet space to do as feel/heal”. Nice job of bolding the key words, too!
Maureen, you shined with this form! I’m in awe. The final words soothe my heart at the end of a long, hard day.
Magnificent! I chuckled on peoply! 😆
Together
couch evenings
kids tucked in to their dreamings
he types code while I scribe words
nerds
day away
our lives still in disarray
we let worries wait till morn
worn
I doze off
first, he follows, which throws off
our groove, we stumble to bed
fed
This is an ode to carefree evenings; I love “tucked in to their dreamings” and “we let worries wait till morn.” Those single lines are a three word poem: nerds worn fed …sweet!
Rachel, love this scene of coding and scribing. It’s all poetry. And the way each stanza tells the passing of time is so tender moving toward slumber. Nice.
Rachel, this speaks love and togetherness in a very unique way. I hope you enjoy the “stumble to bed” and all that comes from your cozy space!
Rachel,
Your poem catches me in the same evening haze. The last line flows so perfectly and the intentionality shines!
Rachel, that 1st stanza is THE BEST! It speaks so much of compatibility.
Family Oral History
Lean, over,
like a branch wind-nudged to rest;
speak into the story scribed
time
Together
we craft family history
words before silent, shared free
seen
So many beautiful sentiments in so few words. I am mesmerized by “words before silent.”
Sarah, I love the opening image and the idea of crafting the family history. Your last stanza is particularly compelling. I like how you’ve italicized time and seen and the message that all can read freely adds to the idea that these words will be seen.
Sarah, your poems captures one of the many values of VERSELOVE. Somehow you nurture an eclectic community of writers who do just what you state in your closing stanza.
The “words before silent, shared free/seen” particularly speak for me. I am grateful to you for maintaining this space with such grace.
Bless you, my dear.
This “write” here, Sarah,
Boom!
Sarah,
The play on a family tree and oral history is so powerful. It made me think about how trees need air to breathe, grow, and survive and so so do our stories. If no one shares them, they go dormant.
My friend
Before fate has us condemned
Hold my hand, let’s run away
Play
Mon copain
Be lazy and sip champagne
Hide in a lavender field
Yield
Mi amor
Live like we are in folklore
Dream lazily with me now
How?
Mi tesoro
Fly with me like a sparrow
Into Wonderland we go
Grow
Those four first lines, varied languages of ‘my’, revealing deep love. “Mon copain/be lazy and sip champagne” – so very romantic.
Loving each stanza as invitation to be in different ways.
How sweet, Ashley! Love address to another one in different languages! I can even choose a line; they are all romantic and beautiful.
Ashley,
This poem form reminds me of Erica’s echo sonnet prompt because of the way you are using the final syllable (and this is also the beauty of the form) to echo the language and meaning in each stanza. I love the languageing you are using here, too and how it works so well to create rhyme. I think multilingual writers have a whole repertoire that monolingual writers do not when it comes to sonorous effect in writing. Love, love seeing this and hearing it. I wish I could hear you read it, too.
Peace,
Sarah
Wonderful to how you incorporated yet another language showing much fun poets have plating with words and making send at the same,
What a coincidence, Stefani. I just started reading a book about Celtic mythology yesterday.
Oh, Ireland
writers, poets, inspired and
Folklore, tales, Celtic myths
Gifts
Mo,
I sense a looking back and forward in anticipation of your emerald isle adventure. “Gifts” indeed. I want to jump on a plane and head to Ireland right now!
You are perceptive! Whenever I travel I try to read as much as I can about and from that place. I’min my Wilde and Lewis era right now.
“Celtic myths/gifts” – fabulous! I think my Irish background eaves me so delighted with this prompt. Love your “Oh, Ireland” – I hear such wistfulness and adoration.
Ha! Stefanie, this was fun. A little tough staying within the confines of the structure, but look what evolved. 🙂
Seen Mean Preen Queen
You mean me, really
No this is not being silly
Yes, I really want to know
Show
Show that here, really truly
Yes, just calmly and cooly
What does bias really mean
Preen
Preen, do you mean like a showoff
No, in this case, it means put-off
Putting off others to be seen
Mean
Can I help when thinking
Without my self-pride sinking
That they really think I’m lean
It’s okay, when I am seen
Queen
Anna, thank you for working with this form and bringing out the queen we have the potential to be! My favorite line is: “Without my self-pride sinking”
Oh, Stefani . . . this is such a great new poem form to share with us. And how cool is your life??
The new Taylor Swift album dropped over night so I have been digesting her poetic masterpieces. I worked some of the songs into this great poem form.
Tortured Love
(inspired by some of the songs on Taylor Swift’s latest album The Tortured Poets Department)
hearts breaking
both body and soul aching
my mind, my thoughts full of doubt
pout
moved setting
your location is letting
me know where all you go
No!
so high school
seeing you sure made me drool
tell me ‘bout when you saw me
glee?
your glances
what are even the chances
your touch feels just like a ghost
toast
oh, great strife
you were the love of my life
but then you took me to hell
YELL!
no donor
your heart needs a new owner
find someone your own old age
RAGE!
yuk Mondays
why can’t we have more fun days
long lapses of endless nights
lights
~Susan Ahlbrand
19 April 2024
Susan,
This is a genius idea! I hear echoes of the songs in your verses today. There’s definitely the
“but then you took me to hell
YELL!”
sentiment in some of the songs.One of my friends sent me a text w/ TS’s hand-written notes/poetry. My friend Susan Barber has an IG story selfie of herself as “THE TORTURED POETS TEACHER.” I took a selfie of myself as the not so tortured sub. Over on Threads TS posted in part this lovely line: “our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page.” It’s a Taylor Swift tortured poets kind of day!
Susan, I love that you are building off Taylor’s album, even if the word “poets” wasn’t in it. Maybe you should tag her with this on socials!
Stefani, this is such a fun prompt for Friday. I played for a few minutes, but I do want to come back to this form. The less words we use, the more challenging is to pack in the meaning. I feel so related to your final lines: “even if rhyme must be shoved / love”
Here are my attempts:
Grandkids
Two sweet munchkins
Playing or eating dumplings
Watching them grow is best show
Slow!
Poetry Fair
Coffee, morning,
Pen, pondering, opening
Searching for a fitting word
Nerd
Music to ears
Verses of talented peers
Every day surprising me
Glee
New friends found here
From places afar or near
Kindness and warmth fill the air
Care
Awww Leilya, “munchkins” and “dumplings” so precious!!! And your verses about poetry remind me of the echo poem as well that you say in your comment to Glenda. I love the last stanza and feel the same!
Thank you, Angie! I have just enjoyed reading your fun poem. It is so nice not to rush to campus in the morning. Enjoy the weekend!
Leilya,
Your poem and Fran’s are grandkid companions. You rocked it w/ this line: “Watching them grow is best show. Of course, you’ve captured the “word / nerd” exploration of writing poetry. My favorite line is “Pen, pondering, opening.” I’m reading that w/out the commas so I see the pen personified.
Oh, how didn’t I think about removing commas? I knew I was missing something. Thank you, Glenda!
Leilya, what a lovely nod to the community of writers we celebrate here as we grow together. Those grandkids – yes, the watching of them as they grow is for sure the best show.
Leilya, I really loved your grandkids one the best. The new friends one is also very special. I liked reading your various renditions of this poetry form.
Ha! I love the word/nerd. It fits me. Also the cautionary Slow! as we all know kids grow up too quickly.
Thanks for the new form. I’m excited to share it with my students. Today, we had a pretty scary lockdown (nothing actually happened, but it was tense). This is what I came up with:
In lockdown
stress texting, butts on the ground.
climate of fear. makes me burn.
Learn?
Eric, these lockdowns are pretty scary. You never know nowadays. I am glad you and your school are safe. Take care!
This morning a read an article reminding readers how bad things were during the pandemic. The article focused on the dismantling of the pandemic response team. Your poem is a necessary reminder of those days. Thank you. We must not forget.
Lockdowns are so scary . . .
You capture the essence quite well in these four lines.
I agree with the sentiment. We had a floor lockdown today, turns out it was a medical emergency and they had to keep the halls clear. Still. I do wonder about the last word – is it how can we learn like this? or will our society ever learn? Thanks for the poem.
I’m so sorry!! We live is such traumatic times. I pray we and our children can find healthy ways to overcome.
Stefani,
Thank you for sharing a new form and giving me an opportunity to tap into memories of our 2018 Ireland trip. Your poem captures both the joy and struggle of writing a poem every day.
Emerald Isle [Deibide Baise Fri Toin]
Ireland
land wrapped in green like garland
driving wild Atlantic way
slay
Guinness cheer
popping into pubs for beer
from Blarney castle to Mohr
pour
Trinity
long room book affinity
Irish writing paradise
nice
Glenda Funk
4-19-24
I’m loving getting to read people’s reminiscing and descriptions of Ireland. Never been but it’s making me want to go! Definitely lots to do there. This image is beautiful: “land wrapped in green like garland”.
I like this strong connection to Ireland, Glenda! I remember you shared about your trip; the picture looks amazing. I like your ending couplets rhyming; they remind me of an echo poem, which you mastered.
My dad’s lineage comes from Ireland and our daughter did her student teaching there and now this prompt and your output just really really really has me wanting to go! Since it isn’t likely to happen for a bit, maybe I’ll just go home and have a Guiness instead!
Glenda, the Guinness cheer! and Mohr/pour, this is pub-lively, and then the serenity of the green grass paradise, and the stateliness of the castles – – it is picture-perfect Ireland with an Irish short form that captures its vastness.
Dang, Glenda, I love everything about this. What a beautiful poem to show a perfect place to be. I really love the second stanza. I want to taste that Guiness beer with you and enjoy the beautiful Ireland countryside. Yes, it must be a writing paradise. Fantastic job of incorporating the rhyme without making it seem awkward.
Hello Stefani – what a cool experience to be a part of! it inspires me to think about my own family’s Irish American roots and our love for traditional Irish music. So I wrote today’s poem to speak to our early morning song sessions in the kitchen, and also thinking of the time I spent in Ireland studying Yeats’ poetry in college. It make me want to go back there! Thank for the post that allowed for such romantic remonincing this morning!
Morning Sessions
Remember
The fire’s peat moss and embers
We’re gathered round tight and whole
Soul
Pipes ringing
Morning glory is singing
Just fiddles, as day is long
Song
So joyous
To burst forth reels in chorus
We sing along, there’s no choice
Voice
Dad’s tuning
The strings are set and looming
Notes sent from heaven above
Love
Your stanzas definitely describe the love of Irish music. It’s another world to me, but lines like this allow me to tap into it a bit “The strings are set and looming / Notes sent from heaven above” and I love the image of being gathered around “The fire’s peat moss and embers”.
This is the line for me, Sarah
7 syllables and suddenly I’m brought back to smells of Ireland. Woot Woot.
Hi, Sarah! It is so great to share these memories with us. I love these lines; they are so cozy: “We’re gathered round tight and whole / Soul”
I also found a beautiful poem in your first lines:
Remember
Pipes ringing
So Joyous
Dad’s tuning
Awesome poeming this morning!
Your poem makes me want to go to Ireland too. I love “we’re gathered round tight and whole/soul.” It makes me feel at home.
Stefani, this was cool, and thanks for telling us to have some fun! I took on that challenge today.
My comic
and his tickling tonic
can brighten my mood with pun
fun.
I’m impressed
when he’s able to express
language better than I can.
Damn.
Haha!!! This is great, Angie!
Angie!
Damn, girl, this is a fun poem. We need to see the comic. Humor has been a staple of life since 2015, if you know what I mean! Love your rhyme, too.
Love this light tone and humor, Angie! You did have fun 🙂
This is a funny poem. I love the emotion – slightly sardonic?
Thanks for making me laugh out loud!
I love this! Perfect timing, my sister in law, who teaches Irish is visiting us today, so this is for her!
For Shoresheen (Irish for Georgine)
George arrives
Cool aunt with a sweet surprise
No more cleaning, it’s all done
Fun!
Such an appropriate prompt for the occasion. Cute poem and I love that you put the names in the title 🙂 Have fun!
Emily,
May the luck of the Irish abide in your home and keep it clean, too. Have a fun visit.
What a coincidence! Great time to write Deibide Baise Fri Toin. Thank you, Emily!
Stefani, what a fun form! I would be fascinated to hear about your Irish Culture class. Your three stanzas are a delight! I love the subject, and the “shoved / love” rhyme is magical in meaning and for an ending. I’m definitely going to try it again when I have less on my mind. I moved time zones yesterday, so everything’s a bit out of kilter. I’ll come back and read and respond later this evening.
here I am
sleeping in, it’s time to scram
hubby’s birthday, kids are here
cheer
I love the beginning with “here I am”. Have fun celebrating! 🥳
Yay! Have fun, Denise!
Denise,
Catching some ZZZZZs, I see! Rest up, have fun. Love your poem.
Denise, I am glad you made it to meet with your kids. When “kids are here,” it’s certainly “cheer.” Rest and enjoy your time with the loved ones. Happy Birthday to your hubby!
Denise, what a delightful moment. Sleeping in with kids being present and everyone celebrating an important birthday. Sensational poem! Enjoy!
Denise, I love the phrase “time to scram” here! And I hope your day was full of good “cheer” with your family and your husband’s birthday celebration!
Hey, Stefani! Hope you’re doing scrumdiddlyumptious in your neck of the woods. What’s so beautiful about the Deibide Baise Fri Toin form is the limited it places on language, and the joy discovered with word-play. I gained a new style today…thank you.
Beautiful.
That Summer in Ireland
there i am
barefooted, a hologram
wiggling its toes in sand
tanned
feathery
radioactivity —-
conceptualization …
sun
use to be
such transparent history,
this summer-written chapter
her
lying there
(before she would disappear)
need another diet coke?
bloke
there i was
contemplating love because,
thirsty…she did not return
burn
In my opinion, these rhymes are perfect here and I love the image:
“there i am
barefooted, a hologram
wiggling its toes in sand
tanned”
the ghosting too real in “(before she would disappear)” and “she did not return / burn” 😭
Hi Bryan – I love this! What a story it suggests, it leaves me curious for more. Bloke and burn, yes! Such power in those single words, huh? Thank you for this, it was wonderful!
Bryan, I love how many people are connecting to their Irish experience. I am feeling like your poem could be turned into a rom-com…is that the right interpretation?:) Thank you for sharing.
I am with Angie, Bryan! This first stanza swept my attention with the final: “wiggling its toes in sand / tanned”.
The 7-syllable words are no joke too: “radioactivity —- / conceptualization …”
There’s quite a story here that you have condensed significantly leaving us wanting MORE!!
words picking
as a spade I am gripping
Seamus Heaney’s thoughtful poem
loam
earth inviting
my keystrokes softly writing
digging deep in solid ground
found
verse unearthed
syllables renewed, rebirthed
these lines are rough-hewn and new
true
____________________________________________
Thank you, Stefani, for introducing me to this new form! Your #VerseLove mentor poem was spot-on. There are times, like today, lol, when those syllables do, indeed, fight me every step of the way!
Wonderful, Scott. Just wonderful.
Hey, Scott — By golly, you whipped that sweet little baby right out there. I enjoyed the crafting. And not so “rough-hewn” …pretty slick! I particularly liked SH’s “loam” in its richness…just right. Susie
What a lovely invitation into both your words and Heaney’s, thank you! I’m thinking of you and this poem as I hit these very keystrokes, finding my way…
Scott, I like the juxtaposition of “keystrokes softly writing” as it adds a flow and purpose to the experience of typing (which is sometimes loud depending on the age of the keyboard). Thank you for sharing.
Love everything, Scott, but these lines speak to me today:
“earth inviting
my keystrokes softly writing
digging deep in solid ground
found”
Thank you!
Yes, “Seamus Heaney’s thoughtful poem” is “loam,” fertile soil for thought. I love the way you “unearthed verse,” both yours and Heaney’s.
Scott, this is such a serene poem. The last stanza is perfect, but especially so because of the narrative progression that you establish. And you picked the absolute perfect last word for each of the last lines of the stanzas.
Stefani,
this first one is for you and all of our Verselove hosts. The second is for all of us tired teachers.
Verselove
for hosting
pushing us to write, prompting
tiptop ranks
thanks
Enough
hi Friday
time to end this week, okay?
teachers had all they can take
break
I’m sure I’m not the only one who will invite you to host a day in the future! It was a while before I took on that challenge, but I love it. And I also thank the ones who religiously keep this going. Yall are amazing!
I like the conversational tone in the second poem. My “spring” break is ending Monday so we’ll see how long this renewed feeling lasts 😀
YES TO ALL OF THIS – thanks to our Verselove community for such inviting prompts, and yes to an end to this week! We’re about to go on spring break up here, so that last line certainly resonates!
Sharon, I am glad you used today’s prompt to write about verselove as I did. Thank you for sharing and have a great weekend.
Sharon, I love both of these! (And since I just woke up from a nap — a much needed rest after a long, long week — I’m living proof of your “Enough” poem: I’ve “had all [I] can take” and I need a “break”!)
Stephanie–Thank you for this morning challenge–and I do mean challenge!.The syllable battle was real here! Your second stanza said it all–but the stress is so worth it, in the end. Obviously, I had fed the animals before I wrote this, or there would have been mutiny.
Morning’s Imperative
Just awake
Two dogs, three cats, no mistake
World’s end if bowls stay empty
Frenzy.
GJSands
4-19-24
So fun, Gayle, you bring me back to when I used to have pets, picturing the “frenzy”!
A very real Friday morning, Gayle! Well done! Oops, my dog is calling. 🙂 Susie
Gayle,
LOL! We share the same alarm. Our clocks are the pets. Love finding your pets in your poem.
Gayle, your word “frenzy” ends us off with a great visual. Enjoy your day.
Gayle, indeed! The morning frenzy. A dog’s coffee cup……
Stefani, how exciting to teach in and visit Ireland. Seems like an opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks for introducing a new form. I rift off of your idea to write about this unique and wonderful community of writers.
What’s simple
causes an echo ripple
within these walls of mere words
heard.
Margaret,
you capture beautifully the satisfaction of sharing our words, learning from each other and the powerful validation of being heard.
Thanks for sharing.
Especially with your addition of “echo”, this form reminds me of the echo poems from the other day! “walls of mere words” what an awesome phrase, Margaret.
Margaret,
I love those last two lines and see “words / heard” as its own thing. I wish that “simple…ripple” always had the effect of “words / heard.” Since it doesn’t, I send the skipping stone to those who listen as well as hear. Love your poem.
Margeret, loving the concept of words being heard and thinking about that in our digital space. Thank you for sharing.
Margaret, I love the idea of the ripple, the echo of ideas, of being heard, feeling heard, and being seen.
Margaret, yes – a ripple indeed. I love that image of the power of words
Wooo, Stefani – what a compelling challenge! And what a perfect poem you share for the challenge of VerseLove itself. I want to keep tinkering with Irish poetry (how fascinating to be teaching Irish culture and to travel there with students) — for now, I have this. It came to me while thinking about how the Irish are noted for singing, and how my little granddaughter sings all the time — thank you for this new form to play with. The opening lien is borrowed from poet Ada Limón.
On Listening to
Micah-Girl, Age 2,
Singing Hymns
Give me this:
the pure undiluted bliss
of a toddler’s long and loud
song
I’ll capture
every drop of the rapture
clinging to this golden-rim
hymn
TAKE 2 (I have several versions, playing with words in different order – oops):
Give me this:
the pure undiluted bliss
of a toddler’s loud and long
song
I’ll capture
every drop of the rapture
clinging to this golden-rim
hymn
The second stanza! BOOM!
Fran, I see the Ada Limon opening line and smile right away as I begin to read……and then I hear the music, see the joy, hear the melody and see your golden-rim, the edge, the topic of exploration for the memoir. I saw the edge yesterday, too, with you looking into the past. I love how this all flows so sweetly.
Fran, singing grandchildren are the best! And you captured the glory in your verses. “Pure undiluted bliss!” Wow
Fran,
thanks for starting our day with the pure and bold singing of a toddler. You nailed it!
What amazing things you do in so few words, Fran. I love that you opened with a Limón line and celebrate Micah-girl’s lovely singing! Beautiful 🙂
Fran, the bliss of a child’s song is so beautiful and natural. It is sad how quickly that ends. Thank you for sharing multiple versions.
Fran,
Such a beautiful celebration of your granddaughter’s voice. I hope she’ll always lift her voice and song and know you’ll be there helping her sing her tunes.
Oh, Fran, I would love to hear Micah-Girl singing! I, too, wrote a stanza about my grandkids. I want to stop time sometimes; they grow so fast.
I love this moment you’ve captured in this poem! The bliss, the rapture, the loud and long song! Beautiful!
Stefani, I love to write with the constraints of syllables and rhymes and this new to me format fit the bill on this Friday. Your last stanza of shoved and love was so relatable to me – and anyone who’s worked with rhymes I’m sure. Thank you for introducing me to a little piece of Ireland in the Deibide Baise Fri Toin.
Word Play
Fun with words
Wordle, poems, I’m a nerd
Creating, solving each day
Play
Christine, I love this: World, poems,I’m a nerd….nerds have their priorities in order. I mean, how do we start the day without Wordle? This is playful, fun, and artistic. To create is to live.
Lol, Christine – from one word nerd to another: Love! I have already solved today’s Wordle!
Playing with words is something I find fun. It’s not for everyone, so I’m glad I’ve found a fellow word nerd.
Word nerds…unite! 😁
Christine, nothing like meta-writing…writing about writing. Thank you for sharing and enjoy.
Christine,
This reference to Wordle is perfect since the form today is new to many of us, presenting us a bit of a puzzle to solve.
What fun to have fun writing about word fun! Love it!
Stefani, I am loving this Irish form and that you are immersed in the culture of Ireland along with your students in this course. Your verse captures the essence of personal challenge and accomplishment. What takes work ~ being a poet, being a writer, being a thinker ~ is deeply fulfilling, but is not without its challenges. Your three single word choices at the end of each verse are simply perfect! Thank you for hosting us today and sharing a slice of Ireland with us.
Praise!
shake and sing
gospel choir awakening
hallelujah voices raise ~
praise!
raise and praise…perfect end words.
Kim, I can see the gospel choir in full on praise mode, but I can also see them moving into their song, shaking off the day-to-day to get into their routine. My thinking voice was raising in song by line three and shouting out line four! Your words are full-on energy today!
Kim, such a wonderful piece that holds the rhythm of the singing! “Hallelujah voices raise – praise!” You’ve captured the essence of gospel music in so few words! Hallelujah!
Kim, like Jennifer, I can easily envision the gospel quire singing and awakening with each new line. “Raise / praise” indeed!
Kim, I can see it and hear the gospel choir, and I want to join their ranks! I note the use of “awakening” – such a great word, perfect for a poetry writing event theme (I hope it’s going amazingly well).
This little ditty rocks with the rhythm of the gospel choir!
Kim, I love the concept and imagery of awaking with music. Thank you for sharing.
Kim
I love the ambiguity in your poem. I hear a choir of birds singing, or possibly a church choir, or some other incarnation of choral song. And yes, I know you said “gospel,” but it doesn’t have to be single meaning.
Wow, you’ve got this form down perfectly. I love the joyous response and how well you were able to incorporate the rhyme.
Stefani, this is fun…I love counting syllables and searching for just the right word.Your poem ending in love made me giggle. Sometimes, we just have to get the work done! Teaching in Ireland sounds fascinating. Tell us more!
moon rising
worn out world tossing, turning
just now she’s fallen asleep
weep
How I live with this tossing, turning, and getting to sleep at the last moment……and the weep resonates with me as I awaken some mornings without enough sleep so that all there is to do is…..weep. Sounds like you’ve been there, too……us and the moon,
Boy, oh boy! This was me last night. Exhausted yet still unable to get to sleep. And it seems like just when I’m able to, the alarm rings. Even in the struggle you’ve depicted, you’ve given us beauty. The words soft and lulling. I can’t help but notice the only hard alliteration is in the tossing and turning – everything else soothes. Beautiful!
Linda, this is such a relatable story! Love the ending rhymes of asleep / weep. Hope you get some rest this weekend.
“Worn out world tossing” yikes are you speaking to me?!! I awake in hopes that some sort of peace can be found and arise saddened. You’ve captured so much emotion in these four lines personally and globally. Well done!
Linda, it’s amazing, the imagery you pack in so few lines. We should weep for this world that’s so worn out and now fallen asleep…so much metaphor, that. I hear echoes of CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising”…
Oh, that tossing and turning. I thought of a baby falling asleep and that release of stress that comes, weep.
Linda…I wonder who the weep is describing:) Thank you for sharing.
Linda,
That last word responding to “asleep” is so full of pain. I know how hard teachers work to get kids through the end of the year. I also see your poem as personal, about you or perhaps other teachers at the end of the long day.
Stefani, this prompt is a good challenge to get my brain activated this morning! I love that you are bringing us poetry from the place where teaching landed you. I used your location as my inspiration today (and definitely felt as if I were syllable fighting this morning).
in Ireland
poets breathe words, fire-fanned
thoughts become lyrics in strong
song
isle emerald
land of Yeats and Wilde, herald
the ballad and shanty, starred
bards
prez poet
(I bet you didn’t know it)
a bard-land of writers to
view
Wow, Jennifer…that is quite an activated brain on a FRIDAY. Nicely done. All those connections to Ireland. And, prez poet? I really didn’t know that. Biden?
Ireland’s current president is a poet (I didn’t know it until an hour ago!)
You went straight to Ireland and pulled out a green gemstone here, set in pure gold. Wow, I am so taken by the lyrics in strong song from being fire-fanned. and the starred bards – – that took some brain twisting! I did not know prez-poet – – I always learn the neatest things from my poetry friends.
Good morning, Jennifer! I, too, didn’t know about the president-poet. This is so cool. Imagine a yearly address to nation as a verse speech.
You’ve crafted words this morning that relay the essence of Ireland with Yeats and Wilde and emerald isles… I’d like to hop on a plane and experience this land of my ancestors.
Thanks for the Irish spin on the form. You placed us there, listening to starred bards.
Jennifer-! Phenomenal poem, so relative to the theme. Lyrical, as befits its Irish origins, and educational, too. Part of me wants to say OF COURSE the president is a poet, ’cause it’s IRELAND, a land famous for this…but I didn’t know it, and what a fantastic play on that old poem cliché. Touché!
Jennifer,
you’ve capture the romance of Irish poetry and song. Love your
I was in Ireland last summer and your poem makes me want to teleport over there and sit in a pub, eat fish and chips and listen to the beautiful lyrical singers.
“to / view” – a very Boston SMOT on that one (smart). Wola!
Jennifer — I love it when the poem’s place (Ireland) is one that intrigues me. I want so much to go there. I spend a fair bit of time in Yorkshire and there are strong similarities. But Ireland is still a goal for me. And I love it even more when I learn something exciting…Higgins is also a poet! Who knew!?!! Bard-land indeed. My close friend, Cathy, went to Ireland over a decade ago and was so smittten that she took our National Writing Project idea to their education head honcho and then began the Irish National Writing Project. She goes back every summer and teaches teachers in that endeavor. She’s turned it all over to those wonderful teacher-writers there, but she still goes and does a workshop with many of the original crew. She never fails to come back beaming with the quality of the teacher-writers there…”it’s in the culture, in their blood to tell stories and write beautifully.” What a glorious way to round out a lifetime career as an ela teacher! She describes those writers just as your poem does. Wonderful! Hugs, Susie
Jennifer, I know we have this Ireland connection and love how you’ve connected to your experience here.
Jennifer,
Your poem has me wanting to read Irish literature. I have a book given to me by a hotel manager in Dublin when we traveled there in 2018. Love all the rhyme, too. But I think “bard-land” is genius, so it’s my favorite component of your poetic celebration today.