Tag: spring

Mantilla Poppy

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Magical Realism, Poetry

Mantilija Poppydisguises herselfas a fried eggsunny side upwith broad white petalscircling a yolky yellow center.You are the very essence of spring, Mantilija.Assertive, persistentyou spread your tendrilsindiscriminatelythrough every unoccupiedinch of dirtin the gardenundermining the innocent annuals,overtaking the low slungperennials.You unrepentant youthyou turn every headattract every honeybeeconvince us you areas large as a star.Why, why, why, Mantilija,Why?You … Continue reading Mantilla Poppy

Harbinger

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Flash Fiction, Magical Realism, Spring

Trudy dreamed that she found three red hens nested beneath the camellia bush that grew outside her kitchen window.  They were serene little birds, chuckling quietly together in the gray light of dawn, but Trudy immediately worried about them.  Where had they come from?  How could she care for them?  Would they be safe back … Continue reading Harbinger

Easter Broom

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Easter, National Poetry Month, Poetry, Spring

Another poem for National Poetry Month The fabric of night unwinds like a bolt of dark blue velvet across a clean white sheet of daylight. At Equinox the corners of the blankets meet the Sun and the Earth stretch together and the moon is swept with rangy branches of Easter Broom. Yellow blossoms scatter across … Continue reading Easter Broom

How to Find the Muse

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Marriage, Poetry

Here's a fun, spring-time poem to finish up National Poetry Month. Think about the sky.It’s a new blue tableclothand a big hipped womanhas carelessly dribbledgobs of whipped creamall over it.There she has set downan orange bowl.Smell cinnamon and corianderas you scoopspicy carrotsand squash from the bowlto your mouth.Bite into a raw cucumberto cool the fiery … Continue reading How to Find the Muse

Rivers, inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s Chama River, Ghost Ranch 1937

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Ekphrastic Poetry, National Poetry Month, Poetry

Because April is National Poetry Month, I've decided to share with you some ekphrastic poems I've written this past year. Ekphrastic poems are written about works of art, most often visual art like paintings and sculpture, but they may be about a performance piece like dancing, acting, or film. This poem reflects on a lovely … Continue reading Rivers, inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s Chama River, Ghost Ranch 1937

The Arrival of Spring in Normandy, 2020, after David Hockney

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Poetry

Hey, it's April!--National Poetry Month--and I'd like to share with you some ekphrastic poems I wrote this past year. I encountered prompts to write ekphrastic poems in more than one lit journal and workshop. It seems ekphrastic poems are having a moment, I guess. You may be wondering what ekphrastic poems are. Ekphrastic poems are … Continue reading The Arrival of Spring in Normandy, 2020, after David Hockney

Adventure in a Labyrinth

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Easter, Magical Realism, Musings

Last week I was generously invited to join a group of friends who have been meeting every year for decades to whale watch at Point Arena Lighthouse. On our third day there, we hiked over to a labyrinth that they remembered from previous visits.  From a distance this labyrinth appeared to be poorly maintained, and … Continue reading Adventure in a Labyrinth

How to Find the Muse

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Poetry

Welcome to April!  It’s National Poetry Month! I started writing poetry nearly fifty years ago, when I was in college.  I started getting published when I was in my 20s, learning to make my way in the world outside my parents’ house.  My poetry and I were young together. Poetry for me was short, intense … Continue reading How to Find the Muse

Hot Tea

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Flash Fiction, Magical Realism

Joey picked up the coffee mug with both hands and took a cautious sip of the hot liquid.  It was early spring 1999.  He sat in the lobby of his father’s office building, looking out a wall of gleaming glass windows, staring at white blossoms from almond trees drifting down to the concrete like snow … Continue reading Hot Tea

While Strawberries Are Still Green

by Nancy Schoellkopf, posted in Flash Fiction, Magical Realism

Written with my Thursday night group with the prompts:  the green ones are strawberries, yearning, simplified, summer, breasts, at my worst, wearing his BAM gear, so luxurious, top ten reasons, shared experiences, two changed their minds, preppers, empty nesters, I asked for a kiss she gave me a___, solar flares He came to my door … Continue reading While Strawberries Are Still Green