Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 15

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

11:36 a.m. I’m a little later than usual. I was putting the finishing touches to a talk I’ll be giving later on poet laureates.

Did you know I get stage fright?

And yet, I hunger for attention. I guess that’s the fate of a writer. We work so much in solitude and then we want attention for our work, our thoughts, our selves.

There might be a poem in this.

Spoken word is the format of the day
play with that you poet you
who longs for attention for your words
thirst for love is a crime
time will be your enemy, friend
end this poem before it takes you too far
starlight is bright, but not for poets

can't rhyme that, can you?

11:42 a.m. Haha! I may have accidentally created a new form. I had no idea where it was going until I hit the end. I didn’t look up any rhyming words until then, and I only did that to see if there really weren’t any good ones for “poets”. I kind of like it. It uses rhyme, but not in a traditional way. Let’s add punctuation and maybe a title.

Poet Rap
by Michelle Garren-Flye

spoken word is the format of the day;
play with that, you poet, you
who longs for attention for your words!
thirst for love is a crime—
time will be your enemy; friend,
end this poem before it takes you too far!
starlight is bright, but not for poets.

can't rhyme that, can you?

11:46 a.m. That was fun. Thanks for joining and feel free to let me know what you think.

Poem and photo copyright 2026 Michelle Garren-Flye

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 14

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

10:40 a.m. One of the past years (can’t remember which) I wrote fortune cookie poetry. I cracked open a fortune cookie every morning and wrote a poem based on the fortune inside. Thought I’d try that live. Here goes:

Listen to the wisdom of the old
their words and memories may bore
but somewhere in them there is gold
that makes listening worth the chore

10:53 a.m. Took a short break to make a cup of coffee. Here we go. Again.

Believe inside each person of age
their real self still in their prime
resides within what might be a cage
stuck there counting minutes of time

11:11 a.m. make a wish.

11:12 a.m. I’m having a hard time not being trite with this one. Sonnet may not have been the best choice. Oh well, I’m committed now.

When bodies grow old and mind cobwebs
and life has entered its reprise
the tide that once crashed now ebbs
thoughts and wisdom don't come with ease

11:18 a.m. That one was not easy.

Still pay attention to the old man on the street
Because as we know, history is doomed to repeat

11:20 a.m. That’s not awful. Let’s see what it looks like all put together.

11:35 a.m. Okay, now let’s see what it all looks like with punctuation and rewrites. (Sorry, had a couple of interruptions.

Reprise
by Michelle Garren-Flye

When bodies grow old and mind cobwebs
and life has entered its reprise,
the tide that once crashed now ebbs
and wisdom doesn't come with ease.

Yet, listen to the wisdom of the old;
their words and memories may bore,
but somewhere in them there is gold
that makes the hearing worth the chore.

Believe inside each person of age
their real self still in their prime
resides within the fleshy cage
created by the passage of Time.

Pay heed to the old man on the street!
As we know, history is doomed to repeat.

11:45 a.m. I like the rewrite much better. I had a hard time with the title, though.

Photo and poem copyright 2026 Michelle Garren-Flye

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 13

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

1:58 p.m. Late again! Gonna go back to my tried and true form of haiku, I think. See what you think:

spring cleaning unearths
past years' deserted treasures
you pause to address

still treasures or junk?
is it gold you've found hidden
or aluminum?

impossible choice
put it aside for today
pray strength tomorrow

2:05 p.m. I kind of like this. I love haiku’s little turn in the middle. It’s very like the way a sonnet has one in its last couplet. I wanted to see if I could do that with three haiku (with the last one being the turn) and still keep the turn in each one. It probably needs more work, but I have stuff to do today, so I’m going to call it.

Hope you enjoyed!

She’s definitely a treasure. Photo and poem copyright 2026 Michelle Garren-Flye

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 12

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

1:04 p.m. Happy Sunday! It’s my Saturday since I work Tuesday-Saturday, so it’s my day off, but I’m sitting in my bookstore writing my poem for the day. 🙂

In preparation for writing a poem today, I decided to research tanka, a Japanese form of poetry closely related to haiku.

Tanka follows a syllable number pattern of 5/7/5/7/7, and, like haiku, features a “turn” around the middle of the poem. It’s not usually rhyming, so let’s see what happens.

Artemis watches
as the tin can slingshots round
her lover the moon
she will let them return home
draped in victory this time

1:12 p.m. Okay, that was fun. A little darker than I’d intended. Instead of rewriting that one, I think I’ll try another.

valor, bravery
values they pin on heroes
proud soldiers of war
who thought, pinned down under fire,
I wish I'd known I was dead

1:16 p.m. I think I’m in a dark mood today. But I was brought up to believe you should leave a room better than you found it. So…although all this talk of war and drafts and bad economy can bring you down, I did stop to look at my irises again this morning.

Iris shines golden
warm sunlight on soft petals
tonight when dark falls
she will stand proud, straight, and brave
head up under Night's caress

1:22 p.m. I can’t say tanka is my favorite form. It’s much easier to be bright and shiny when you’re rhyming, maybe? But I don’t hate it.

What do you think?

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 11

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

10:34 a.m. I anticipate many interruptions today, so I’m going to get right to it. I saw, of all things, a Disney commercial today. It talked about playing. I also saw a VW bus parked in my neighbor’s carport. Intrigued, I stopped to talk to him about it. He said something about going to see a hippie band in it.

My brain combined the two things.

Sometimes you gotta stop to play
take a ride in a van to see a hippie band
splash in the puddles, act a little cray

the world's troubles on you may weigh
nothing may go as you had planned
so sometimes you gotta stop to play

you deserve to go on a break today
take a long walk along a beach of white sand
splash in the puddles, act a little cray

your life can sometimes go astray
or maybe you just imagined it more grand
sometimes you gotta stop to play

dress up is fun, or when the day is gray
play tag or castles, then go out and
splash in the puddles, act a little cray

games aren't just for kids, I say
when troubles make it hard to stand
that's when you gotta stop to play
splash in the puddles, act a little cray

11:11 a.m. make a wish.

11:12 a.m. It’s another villanelle. They’re both harder and easier than you might think. I’ve got to go over this one now. Make sure it’s got the right rhythm and rhyme.

Cray Play
by Michelle Garren-Flye

Sometimes you gotta stop to play:
take a ride in a van to see a hippie band,
splash in the puddles, act a little cray.

The world's troubles on you will weigh;
nothing may go as you had planned,
so sometimes you gotta stop to play.

You deserve to go on a break today!
Take a long walk along a beach of white sand,
splash in the puddles, act a little cray.

Your life can sometimes go astray—
or maybe you just imagined it more grand?
Maybe you ought to stop to play.

Dress up is fun, or when the day is gray
play tag or castles, then go out and
splash in the puddles, act a little cray.

Games aren't just for kids, I say!
When troubles make it hard to stand,
that's when you gotta stop to play,
splash in the puddles, act a little cray.

11:26 a.m. Done. What do you think?

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 10

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

1:04 p.m. Something happened to me yesterday, and I want to preserve it. So I know what I want to write about but not what form. Let’s see what happens…

1:05 p.m.

i'm never going to be okay
was what i thought that day
but joy walked in

her bubbly enthusiasm
reached me across the chasm
i'd stuck myself in

and i couldn't help but wonder
if my sadness was a blunder
my depression a sin

i let her essence
sneak into my presence
though happiness was thin

i'll be back she said
and i forgot my dread
and what might have been

it's gonna be all right
every good thing in sight
because joy walked in

1:16 p.m. It’s honestly not what I was thinking of writing, which was more of a freeform kind of thing. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve forgotten how to write a freeform poem. Is that possible? That you forget how not to rhyme? Should we call Dr. Seuss syndrome? No doubt he would think of a more creative name. Anyway, here’s a go at rewriting:

joy
by michelle garren-flye

i'm never going to be okay
was what i thought that day
until joy walked in

her bubbly enthusiasm
reached me across the chasm
i'd stuck myself in

and i couldn't help but wonder
if my sadness was a blunder
my depression a sin

i let her essence
sneak into my presence
a warmth on my skin

i'll be back she said
and i forgot my dread
about what might have been

it's gonna be all right
every good thing now in sight
because joy walked in

1:22 p.m. I dunno. I’m running late with this one today, but maybe tomorrow I’ll try to rewrite in a freeform.

Happy National Poetry Month: Day 9

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

10:50 a.m. Once again, I approach with nothing particular in mind.

I’m seeing more green on my morning walks. It’s nothing terribly new now. Spring has definitely done sprung. I love all the green, but I remember when I saw the first new sprigs.

Yesterday my horoscope asked me why I was holding onto the past so hard. It’s true. I do. The past is very important to me. Some things I want to remember. Some things I’d prefer to forget. Why do I want to hold onto all that? Because the future is unknown and I am afraid.

11:01 a.m. Sorry, had to take a quick break and make a cup of coffee. I have, from my musings above, come up with a kernel of an idea. I believe it will be another villanelle.

Let’s go!

let go of the past you've already seen
embrace what's to come, even the unknown 
let go of the past, the future is green

you know where you are and where you've been
there's nothing left there for which to atone
let go of the past you've already seen

the beauty of then will remain pristine
but time that has passed is already gone
let go of the past, the future's still green

i understand you lingering over that sheen
of what you accomplished with simple backbone
but let go of the past you've already seen

life has a way of casting a screen
making the past difficult to dethrone
but let go of the past the future is green

the road ahead may make you a queen
all you have to do is move on
let go of the past you've already seen
trust me, the future's still green

11:26 a.m. A few mild interruptions, but I managed the rough draft. Let’s see how long it takes to edit…

Let's Go
by Michelle Garren-Flye

Let go of the past you've already seen;
embrace what's to come, even the unknown. 
Let go of the past, the future is green.

You know where you are and where you've been—
there's nothing left there for which to atone.
Let go of the past you've already seen.

The beauty of "Then" will remain pristine,
but time that has passed is already gone.
Let go of the past, the future's still green.

I understand you lingering over the sheen
of what you accomplished with simple backbone,
but let go of the past you've already seen.

Life has a way of casting a screen
that makes the past difficult to dethrone,
but let go of the past! The future is green.

The road ahead may make you a queen;
all you have to do is move on,
let go of the past you've already seen,
and trust what lies ahead is still green.

11:37 a.m. When I was trying to come up with a title, I realized I already had it. That’s what I call serendipity.

Have an awesome day. Every minute is one more step into the future!

Photo and poetry copyright 2026 Michelle Garren-Flye

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 8

Posted on April 8, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

10:38 a.m. Here I am, fresh out of ideas of things to write about lol. But I think I’d like to write a villanelle. And as I am as inspired by our space heroes as anyone, I believe it will be about space. So here goes.

Catch a falling star for me, won't you?
Cup it in your hand and run to me;
light my face, my smile anew.

All the world may be astrew,
bombs fall, life thrown away with glee,
but catch a falling star for me, won't you?

I'll watch the brilliance break through
fingers clenched tight, and you will see
it light my face, my smile all new.

Wars are waged, the world is a zoo,
but right here and now, I can be happy;
catch a falling star for me, won't you?

Joys in this life may be few
grabbing onto them is the key
light my face, my smile anew

Up in space, you get a different view
where gravity releases and you are free
Catch a falling star for me, won't you?
Light my face, my smile anew.

11:04 a.m. Took a minute, but that’s the gist. Going to go over it again.

My Starlight Smile
by Michelle Garren-Flye

Catch a falling star for me, won't you?
Cup it in your hand and run to me;
light my face, my smile anew.

All the world may be astrew,
bombs fall, lives thrown away with glee,
but catch a falling star for me, won't you?

Just watch the brilliance break through
fingers clenched tight, and you will see
it light my face, my smile all new.

Wars are waged, the world is a zoo,
but right here and now, I can be happy;
catch a falling star for me, won't you?

Joys in this life may be few,
grabbing onto them is the key
to light my face, my smile renew.

Up in space, you get a different view
where gravity releases and you are free.
Catch a falling star for me, won't you?
Light my face, my smile anew.

11:10 a.m. I think that’s about it for today. There’s a store full of kids here and they’re very interested in the cat. And the cat isn’t terribly happy.

11:11 a.m. Make a wish.

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 7

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

10:18 a.m. Today I should be at work, but I’m at home because this is where I need to be. You see, on Easter Sunday, I went downstairs into our basement and discovered about six inches of water. Fun stuff.

Of course, it happened on Easter. National holiday and all that jazz. Fortunately I have a plumber who doesn’t mind me texting him, and so I did, but I added, please don’t come today. (I knew the price would be astronomical.) I then went downstairs and whacked my sump pump with a broomstick and it kicked on and started working.

Seriously when does that happen?

Anyway, long story short, the plumber is here today, and it’s not going to cost me my food budget for the month, and so I’m making this corner of my world a little better.

But what am I going to write about?

Basements in Eastern North Carolina? Creepy and not the best choice at all.

Plumbers who come to your rescue? Love them, but not poetic.

Which leaves me with the irises that are growing outside my house.

Queens of flowers.

They guard secrets.

This is feeling poetic.

10:26 a.m.

10:35 a.m. Okay, I may have to come back to this. My brain just isn’t doing the poetic thing right now. I’m going to go read over some of my old poems and see if I can get any fresh ideas.

12:39 p.m. That happens sometimes. Just a bit of difficulty focusing with other stuff going on. I’m not writing about Queen Iris, I don’t think. But I’m back in my bookstore now, plumbing has been settled for the moment. I’m counting blessings.

Ode to the Book I Just Sold
by Michelle Garren-Flye

It's not always easy, the bookseller life—
sometimes you want to stop a sale.
I want to keep that one, your soul will wail
as the last touch cuts your heart like a knife.

But letting go is what it's about
so little book I love, go out into the world!
Come back read, with pages bent and curled;
spread the knowledge readers can't do without.

Better, isn't it, than sitting on a shelf all day?
At least maybe make it to a reader's nightstand
where some night she'll pick you up, unplanned,
and get sucked into the worlds you display.

1:20 p.m. Maybe not the best poem I’ve written, but not horrible. I’m running late so I’m not going to rewrite now.

Happy National Poetry Month: Poem 6

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Michelle Garren-Flye

10:50 a.m. I’ve been thinking a lot about my corner of the world. My concept is that if everyone concentrated on making their corner of the world, no matter how big or small, a better place, the entire world would follow.

I know how lucky I am in my corner of the world. I have a beautiful home (currently with some plumbing issues, but you know…), and I have my store. I’ve worked very hard to make both warm and happy and beautiful.

Anyway, I think I’m going to use this concept for my next poetry book. And in that vein, today I want to write a poem about my corner of the world.

11 a.m.

If my corner of the world is dark
I find a lamp to give it light
if the walls are white and stark
I add a painting to save its plight

Silence is sometimes what I need
but I welcome a cat's sweet purr
and musical ditties that bleed
into nights when insects chirr

Soft grass outside, carpets within
greet tired feet after a long day
pillows for heads laid down in chagrin
I'm finally done with this long fray.

Make your corner of the world safe and true
to what you wish to see in the larger view.

11:11 make a wish.

11:12 Moving on. Now for a rewrite:

My Corner of the World
by Michelle Garren-Flye

If my corner of the world is dark
I find a lamp to give it light.
If the walls are white and stark
I add a painting to make it right.

Silence is sometimes what I need,
but I welcome a cat's sweet purr
and musical ditties that bleed
into nights when insects chirr.

Soft grass outside, carpets within,
greet tired feet after a long day.
Pillows for heads laid down in chagrin—
and finally done with the long fray.

Make your corner of the world safe and true
to what you wish to see in the larger view.