“L” is for Lauds and Loons

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Submitted to Leo’s Z to A Challenge: http://leonnyes.wordpress.com/

“L ” is for Lauds and Loons

In a former life
I chanted Lauds
soon upon awakening:

morning prayer,
quiet time and
praise of the Creator.

Now I join my voice
to songs of birds,
early morning joy.

In winter dark
when hearts are cold
I go within,

remember how it was
when not so stark.
Listen to the call of loons.

Note: Lauds is the morning prayer chanted in Catholic monasteries and religious communities comprised for the most part of a varying selection of psalms.

You may enjoy a visit to this link to hear the “wail” of the loon. http://blog.syracuse.com/indepth/2008/07/audio_hear_the_calls_of_the_co.html

Leonnyes Z to A Challenge–O is for Osprey and Owl

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Osprey

Feathered predator
eyes wide-open, posed to kill,
grasp your prey in flight.

Owl

Wise one, great horned owl,
teach me the secrets you hold
through years of watching.

I spent four hours at our museum today (Nevada Museum of Art) where the feature exhibit is John James Audubon, a collection of 50 prints from his original watercolors.  The tour I led was for Senior Citizens and included an art component. I incorporated poetry into the tour, reading from Mary Oliver, one of my favorite poets who has written a lot of poetry on birds. We discussed metaphor, simile, haiku and cinquain. I gave the participants time to write their own poems using whatever form they wanted to. After the tour they did an art project (pastels/feathers) and I had them include their poems on their picture with some really great results. At the end of the class, one of the women came up to me and thanked me for helping her face her fear of poetry! These poems were two I wrote using O-birds in the exhibit.

Submitted to Leo’s Z to A Challenge: http://leonnyes.wordpress.com/

The image is the one I used for owl!