NOTE TO SELF: Lainie, when you come across someone’s post that you want to try out, remember to note whose blog you found it on so that you can easily give them credit and you don’t spend a random half hour looking for a link.
All right, friends. Ideally, I’d link you up with my inspiring author -here,- but seeing as I must have been too preoccupied at the time, I’m unable. Just know, whoever you are, that you challenged me and made me smile.
My post for today comes from a poetry prompt from none other than Naomi Shihab Nye. The original poster looked at them and wrote a poem in 5 minutes. I’ll attempt to do the same, and you’re invited to do so, as well!
1. What do you do first when you get home
2. How have you used your home differently (Covid years)
3. What would you ask your house?
4. What would you tell your house?
5. Look out a window from your home and write 5 things you see.
6. Make a comparison (any comparison)
Here I go…
I’m home! I’m home! I’m home!
I shout,
Shoes off, backpack to the side,
Arms full of dog ears
And butts
And tails
As they get their sniffs
And wags
Home now
Hasn’t much changed, it is
Still
Refuge, shelter,
The place I am
Most comfortable,
Happiest
House, what do you need?
What parts do you wish I’d
Spend more time on,
Spend more time in
Love on
Just a little more?
House,
I can feel my way around you
By heart
There’s so much I know of you
By heart
Just look out your window
Can you see it?
The black walnut tree,
The stacked firewood,
The aging deck,
The old watering can,
The herb garden, brown.
Maybe…maybe you need more love.
Maybe you’re just like
Those dogs,
Wanting, needing
Requiring, demanding
Attention as
Needed and necessary,
Asking me to take care of you,
So you can take care of me.
Well. There it is. I have a feeling I’m going to come back and work craft on this one, but the rules did say five minutes. So, I’ll go by that old chestnut: “Bless and release.”
Interested in learning more about the March Slice of Life Challenge, or wanting to read more great posts? Head over to the Two Writing Teachers site!
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 
Lovely! The idea your house needs love and attention like your dogs honestly hadn’t occurred to me. It sort of makes caring for it less of a task and more about loving on your safe space. Well done!
Thanks! And also…dogs are really good about letting their needs be known at less-than-ideal times…
I love it – the prompt and your poem. I may have to give this a whirl. I often go back and tweak poems or sometimes take sections and make a whole new thing – but in five minutes here you have managed to paint living pictures of your home as a real entity in a relationship. Asking the house what it needs – oh my, what would mine say?? Speaking of neglect (I will make it right, House!) – I have also neglected to note blogs that I wanted to go back to and that is SO frustrating. Thank you for pressing on anyway to share this.
Thank you! I’m working on getting better at that “bless and release” model. Doing Slice of Life over the past few years has really helped with my perfectionist tendencies. I guess the next step will be taking stock and figuring out when I need to spend *more* time in the crafting of my work…
Beautiful. My favorite part has to be the dog ears and tails and butts! But I love the warmth and love you shared in this poem.
Thank you! I’d like to think of my home as a warm, inviting place – so that means a lot.
Your house is truly a home in every possible way! You truly brought it to life with your words. I can see the trees, feel the dogs welcoming you home… and I can feel your desire to be around more for the house. (Don’t we all feel that way?)
Absolutely! I think the house is like teaching, or our kids – it will suck up every bit of time and attention we feel the desire to give it!