Friday, February 20, 2026

A Palindrome Birthday

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Susan at Chicken Spaghetti for Roundup.

It's almost my birthday, and it's a palindrome year—55. (I keep thinking: "I can't drive 55.":) Hooray! And happy birthday to my birthday twin Ruth and the many other Poetry Friday friends who have birthdays this time of year.

In other news, Tuesday 2-Minute Writing Tip 27 is about "Writers Who Give Me Courage." I'm so grateful to so many writers, and in this episode I mention a few.

Who are the writers who give you courage?? 

Also, in honor of Year of the Fire Horse, I wanted to share a few "horse" poems from ye ol' blog:

Anatomy of a Horse

Wild Horse

When a Horse Writes a Poem

Before the Race

This week's ArtSpeak: WOMEN is after a piece by one of my favorite artists Frida Kahlo. A dream of mine is to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum (La Casa Azul) in Mexico City. After last week's poem about a newborn, this poem is about death. It's also a Golden Shovel, featuring watermelons and a quote from Frida's journal just a few days before her death. Normally I would steer clear of choosing a striking line with awkward ending-line words like "the" and "is." But it's Frida! And I love the quote. So I decided to roll with it. Thanks so much for reading.


Watermelon, you


are sweet, and I

am red with hunger and hope.

You crack yourself open while I fold into the

corner of wanting. Won't you show me the exit?

Teach me how to hold the sun when the day is

anything but joyful.


- Irene Latham


p.s. Question for the hive: Do you prefer the striking line to be in bold, or not?

4 comments:

  1. Love your poem, which feels so timely, and I love the bolded striking line!

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  2. "the corner of wanting" and "teach me how to hold the sun" are such poignant phrases. Thank you, and I do like the striking line in bold.

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  3. Moving poem, and as Mona said, so timely (agree with preference for bold striking line). Always enjoy your Tuesday Tip videos and have been meaning to ask if the little green baby dress was yours? Beautiful cello too (still waiting for a video of you playing it). :) Many writers have given me courage, but two stand out because of their innovative styles and what they taught me about breaking grammar rules -- Hopkins and Cummings. :D

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  4. Happy almost birthday! As you know, I can't get enough of your birthday :) Your poem is delicious and I'm glad you didn't let "is" and "the" keep you from writing it. I can't decide about bolding the last word. xo

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