Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Progressive Poem is Here - Jessica Bigi

Having started this poem on April 1 with a two line dilemma and deciding to free myself up of the choice, Irene, our second poet and originator of the Progressive Poem back in 2012, got to select the first line.
Then she offered her two lines to the next poet.  And on and on it's gone.  The poem has come a long way, and has a nice flow.  It meanders with sights, sounds, smells, animals and now people...
Each poet has offered two of their lines for the next poet, so it's a Progressive Poem with a choose-your-own-adventure flavor.
Screen Shot 2020-03-31 at 3.57.16 PM


It is Jessica Bigi's turn to select a line offered by Robyn Hood Black.  Here are the two enticing lines choices:

OPTION 1: I free up my banjo, quicken my pace

OPTION 2: I offer a wave but keep to my plan

Drum roll....
Jessica picked Option 1, so the poem reads so far...

Sweet violets shimmy, daffodils sway
along the wiregrass path to the lake.
I carry a rucksack of tasty cakes
and a banjo passed down from my gram.

I follow the tracks of deer and raccoon
and echo the call of a wandering loon.
A whispering breeze joins in our song
and night melts into a rose gold dawn.

Deep into nature's embrace, I fold.
Promise of spring helps shake the cold.
Hints of sun lightly dapple the trees
calling out the sleepy bees.

Leaf-litter crackles…I pause. Twig snaps.
I gasp! Shudder! Breathe out. Relax…
as a whitetail doe comes into view.
She shifts and spotted fawns debut.

We freeze. My green eyes and her brown
Meet and lock. Time slows down.
I scatter the cakes, backing away
Safely exiting this strange ballet.

I continue the path that winds down to the lake.
Missing my breakfast for beauty's sake.
But wait, what's that delicious smell?
Something familiar, I know so well.

It's a campfire. I follow my nose. I see
a circle of friends waving at me.
I free up my banjo, quicken my pace


And now Jessica Bigi offers two lines for Fran to choose the one that she thinks best suits where she'd like to go with the poem...Either way, this traveler is going to sit a spell it appears!  And maybe that's a very good thing!  We are so close to the end of our journey!

Option 1:
Find a place to sit and gaze into space

Option 2:
Find a place to sit and unlatch my banjo case


Only two more poets until we reach our destination...completed poem!
Now it's off to see what Fran Haley at lit bits and pieces makes of this!


Here's the progression of the poem:

1 Donna Smith at Mainely Write
2 Irene Latham at Live Your Poem
3 Jone MacCulloch, deowriter
4 Liz Steinglass
5 Buffy Silverman
6 Kay McGriff at https://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/
7 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
8 Tara Smith at Going to Walden
9 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
10 Matt Forrest Esenwine at Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme
11 Janet Fagel, hosted at Reflections on the Teche
12 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
13 Kat Apel at Kat Whiskers
14 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
15 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
16 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
17 Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe
18 Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading
19 Tabatha at Opposite of Indifference
20 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
21 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
22 Julieanne Harmatz at To Read, To Write, To Be
23 Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
24 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wandering
25 Amy at The Poem Farm
26 Dani Burtsfield at Doing the Work That Matters
27 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
28 Jessica Big at Mainely Write     
29 Fran Haley at lit bits and pieces
30 Michelle Kogan


10 comments:

  1. Thanks, Jessica--it IS time to sit a spell, I think, and perhaps do a little musical reflection among friends?

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  2. Hi Heidi Yes it most defiantly is

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  3. So glad we're now among that circle of friends! Thanks, Jessica. :0)

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  4. Thanks Jessica and Donna...ah the story continues. I wonder!!!!

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  5. I was hoping that banjo would come out!

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  6. Jessica, I'm glad the banjo is back. Both new lines you offer lead to possible happy endings. I know which one I'm pulling for. Cant wait to see how it all wraps up tomorrow.

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  7. Thanks, Jessica, at last there with a circle of friends, nice & relaxing! And thanks, Donna!

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  8. Glad to have the banjo ready to go… I'll be doing some gazing tomorrow on your lines Jesica and on Fran's… Thanks Donna and Jesica!

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  9. Will our little adventurer reflect or strum a tune for us? Thanks Jessica for adding interesting choices for Fran. I'm off to Fran's post now.

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  10. A circle of friends, banjo in hand, I'm loving this atmosphere.

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