National Poetry Month Day 9, Verse 9

I love this flower. In the midst of so much white and yellow, this flower dares to bloom in full color. But it also reminds me of our headlong rush through life. Innocence only lasts so long. And once it’s gone, we are never the same.

National Poetry Month, Day 8, Verse 8

Trying to add a few twists and turns and not just have this a straightforward ode to spring joy. Hold onto your seatbelts. I have no real plan, just going where the flowers take me!

Poem and Illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 7, Verse 7

I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to see this little conglomeration of some of my favorite wildflowers on my walk the other day. I actually almost walked past it, but I stopped and went back to snap a picture. I had the haiku pretty much written by the time I got home. I love it when it happens like that. Matsuo Basho said something about writing poetry which unfortunately has not stuck with me, but it was something about not allowing space between inspiration and writing. To just write the thing. (Can’t you just imagine Master Basho standing over you with his cane and yelling, “JUST WRITE THE THING!” lol)

So that’s what I did.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 6, Verse 6

I got up this morning and looked at the illustration I was working on last night (a bit late) and it wasn’t finished and I panicked…until I remembered that I started that one for tomorrow because today’s was already finished! This is what happens when you stay up too late being creative. Especially at my age!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one. I had fun playing with it since I did have some extra time. It’s a bit different for me. I used some different iPad “brushes”.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 5, Verse 5

Not much explanation needed for this one. I found these rather jovial flowers while on my walk the other day. They remind me of court jester hats. I fell in love, of course, and had to add them to the spring renga.

Poem and illustration copyright Michelle Garren-Flye 2022

National Poetry Month, Day 4, Verse 4

Back to the two lines, four syllables thing. You’d think it would be easier, but I have to consider what’s coming next in this linked format as well as what came before.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 3, Verse 3

My renga continues…

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 2, Verse 2

I actually wrote an entire haiku before I remembered verse 2 is only fourteen syllables and two lines… I’m not totally unhappy with the edits.

Poem and Illustration copyright Michelle Garren-Flye 2022

National Poetry Month Renga Day 1, Verse 1

Y’all, snow and ice is harder to draw than you’d think.

Illustration and poem copyright Michelle Garren-Flye 2022

Poem for the spring equinox: Stay

The spring equinox actually slipped past me yesterday. I spent a lot of time outside, though, so I guess I celebrated by soaking up some of that spring sunshine.

I’ve felt spring coming for sometime for me. I’m thawing in many different ways. In the process, I wrote a poem that’s sort of a love poem, though it’s written to multiple different people. So not the steamy kind of love poetry. (Sorry, but maybe I’ll write some of that at some point, too.)

Anyway, I wanted to share it here. It’ll probably become part of my next book of illustrated poetry.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 by Michelle Garren-Flye