Progressive Poem 2024

The Progressive Poem is here today! Hooray! This year, the unfolding couplets have been emotional and poignant, as we follow two refugee siblings on their journey. My addition is in bold.

cradled in stars, our planet sleeps,

clinging to tender dreams of peace

sister moon watches from afar,

singing lunar lullabies of hope.

almost dawn, I walk with others,

keeping close, my little brother.

hand in hand, we carry courage

escaping closer to the border

My feet are lightning;

My heart is thunder.

Our pace draws us closer

to a new land of wonder.

I bristle against rough brush—

poppies ahead brighten the browns.

Morning light won’t stay away—

hearts jump at every sound.

I hum my own little song

like ripples in a stream

Humming Mami’s lullaby

reminds me I have her letter

My fingers linger on well-worn creases,

shielding an address, a name, a promise–

Sister Moon will find always us

surrounding us with beams of kindness

But last night as we rested in the dusty field,

worries crept in about matters back home.

I huddled close to my brother. Tears revealed

the no-choice need to escape. I feel grown.

Leaving all I’ve ever known

the tender, heavy, harsh of home.

On to maybes, on to dreams,

on to whispers we hope could be.

Visit Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe tomorrow for the next addition! And, thank you to Margaret Simon for coordinating this year's efforts. For the complete list of contributors, see below.

Also... happy book birthday to Bless Our Pets, which hits shelves today (April 16)! For a sneak peek at my poem in the book, check out my Poetry Friday post from two weeks ago.

April 1 Patricia Franz at Reverie

April 2 Jone MacCulloch

April 3 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse

April 4 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life

April 5 Irene at Live Your Poem

April 6 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche

April 7 Marcie Atkins

April 8 Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a God Forsaken Town

April 9 Karen Eastlund

April 10 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance

April 11 Buffy Silverman

April 12 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise