Linda gave us our Inkling challenge for this month, suggesting that we “Honor someone’s April Poetry project in some way with a poem in the spirit of their project, a response poem, or some way that suits you.”
I am honoring Amy, who wrote poems in response to proverbs. I’m also honoring Tanita, who did the same, with a few twists. I didn’t dig into the history of the proverb, the way Tanita did, but like her, I wrote short enough to put my poem on a sticky note (also honoring Laura PS) along with a sketch.
MORNING WALK
one deer
pair of mallards
hawk on the outfield fence
unseen bird chorus in the woods
coal train
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2022
Today’s proverb is “Rain does not fall on one roof alone.” The contrast between the vibrant urban wildlife and the seemingly endless coal train reminded me that every human action has consequences that reverberate well beyond the point of impact. We must learn to be less myopic.
Here’s how the rest of the Inklings interpreted the challenge:
Linda@A Word Edgewise
Heidi @my juicy little universe
Molly@Nix the Comfort Zone
Catherine@Reading to the Core
Margaret is spending time with family this weekend.
Jama has this week’s Poetry Friday roundup at Jama’s Alphabet Soup.
A(nother) Year of Reading 
Thank you for sharing this week! I like the proverb that you shared. It made me think of a poem I was working on a while ago about rain and loneliness. The statement that we must learn to be less myopic really resonated with me.
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I had never heard that proverb, but it works wonderfully with your poem!
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A ‘three-in-one’ makes a winner, Mary Lee. I hope you didn’t mean that we are replacing the ‘bird chorus’ with the ‘coal train’? I love the proverb, an unfamiliar one to me, but full of empathy. Thanks!
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Not at all, Linda. What I hoped to communicate was that the beauty of the morning was marred by the coal train — the “rain” that was falling not just on my “roof,” but on the land in Southern Ohio where it was mined, and the air in our atmosphere when it is (likely) burned for electricity as well.
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I love all the connections within your poem, Mary Lee – to amazing poets and their NPM projects, to this new to me proverb, and to nature’s relationship with humans (or vice versa). Thank you for honoring us with your words. 🙂
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Oh – I didn’t know this proverb but it’s a goodie, and your poetic response is perfect. I love that you honoured not one but three fellow poets in the process 🙂
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I do love how you gals all rise to meet challenges! (I do sometimes get inspired and write alongside here… and meet the challenge – but somehow, the deadline passes before I get it posted.😔) You’ve succinctly demonstrated that proverb with your poem.
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Wow! So few words but you got the whole scene covered by that coal train. I like the proverb and how it ties us all together and how your poem includes animals too. Nice hat tips to several poets too. Bravo!
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The proverb was new to me too. We are indeed much too myopic. What affects one, affects all.
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So much said in one small poem. A wonderful tribute to all the poets, as well as giving us lots to think about.
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This is SO cute – love the doodle. And I love the proverbs. I tried to stick to American ones, but another time I’m going to focus solely on non-Western ones (if I can nail down the provenance properly). I love the unseen chorus in the woods — somehow that just ties it all together.
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This is a lovely cinquain. And I love the doodle that accompanies it.
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How fantastic–you tripled too! This tiny poem has irresistible rhythm and just when you’re really getting into it, you crash into the coal train. Perfect.
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What a great reminder, Mary Lee! And this proverb backs up the poems you posted in your April series.
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Mary Lee, while your poem is short, it does have a punch to it. The contrast is visible and the wording tight. These are interesting observations for a morning walk.
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I love your ending and the musical notes in your sketch, it makes me think of John Coltrane, such nice rhythm too, and wonderful job of packing so much into so few lines, thanks Mary Lee!
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Wow, Mary Lee, you accomplished so much here! Those final blunt two syllables “coal train” really do bring your point home. Thanks for introducing me to a new proverb and for reminding me again of the power of brevity when craft is fully in play.
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Mary Lee, your poem captures the spirit of this new-to-me proverb perfectly. Well done!
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