I am so lucky to be part of the Poetry Friday community – poets and poetry lovers from all around the world who post poetry goodness especially on Fridays. I am especially lucky that there are not rules in this community about the regularity of postings. Every week since my return from Hanoi I promised myself this would be the week I finally posted something. But life has been busy – a wedding (my son’s), a new baby (different son), Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, swimming training. And that’s just the personal stuff. Professionally, I have been busy teaching online, and preparing for a return to oncampus teaching in February, as well as preparing for a new book baby out February 1, running picturebook workshops, and trying to work on the things I drafted in Hanoi. Phew.
This week, however, I have been espousing the wonders of poetry to my students (future teachers), so it seemed to be the week that I HAD to make the extra effort to get on here and post for Poetry Friday. Then Friday rolled around and I still hadn’t written anything new and really didn’t know what I would post. Lucky for me, when I went out to water my plants this morning, I found the very inspiration I needed. There, nestled in the branches of my jade plant, was a wasp nest. I grabbed my camera, and took some snaps, and almost instantly had an idea – based on the very reason the jade bush is on my front verandah. It’s supposed to be lucky!
So, here you have it – a little bit rough , because it’s hot off the press – my first Poetry Friday poem for 2019.
And, because the orange font is a little hard to read, here is the text version:
A Lucky Home
Ancient wisdom says
If you plant jade bushes
at your front door
and your back door
good luck will come your way.
But if you are a wasp
and you fix your home
right in the midst
of jadey treasure
all your doors
and all your windows
even your attic
and basement
have lucky views.
And if that jade bush
is on my front porch
you are doubly in luck
as I will let you stay.
(Poem and Image Copyright Sally Murphy 2019)
Now, lucky for me, I get to go and see what my fellow Poetry Fridayers have been up to. You can too, by starting at the round up on Tricia’s Blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect. Trica’s post is a lovely tribute to Mary Oliver, who will be sadly missed by poetry lovers everywhere.
Your poem is delightful Sally, so full of good luck, and having a jade plant sounds like a dashing way to begin the New Year! Love the image too. Sounds like you have many pots percolating–good luck with all that’s moving forward.
Welcome back and congratulations on the many blessings that have come your way, Sally. It was lucky that you found your inspiration. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your students and PF friends. That wasp nest looks ominous so beware of what awaits you, Sally.
I’m glad you made time for writing a poet this week, Sally. Those wasps are very lucky to have found a patient host in you!
Thanks Laura. Just so long as my waspy visitors don’t advertise my garden on Air Bee and Bee I’ll be fine 🙂
Welcome back! It sounds like you’ve been busy with lots of good things. Those are some lucky wasps (the ones on my front porch weren’t so lucky–especially once they stung me).. I love that yours have such lucky views every way they look.
Thanks Kay. Hopefully my visitors will keep their stings to themselves.
As you say, lucky wasps to have set up their house in the midst of the jade located on your porch! It’s fun to “see” you here again. It surely sounds like there’s lots of good luck going on for your right now, with your busy buzz of personal and professional activity.
Welcome back, Sally! I was away from the community as well while I was completing my master’s degree. It’s so good to be back, and you’ve come back with a bang as well! This is such a great poem. They are lucky indeed!
Congratulations on completing the Masters, Kiesha. A big achievement. And thanks for dropping by.
Welcome back! You’ve had a busy time of it!!
I was so glad when I got to the end of your poem that the wasps will be allowed to stay. You’re my kind of nature lover!
Thanks Mary Lee. I do love nature – though, when it comes to things that bite and sting, I tend to be pretty cautious.
Wow! I’m tired just reading about your busy schedule! I agree with others that I may not be as generous as you about letting the wasps stay, although having the opportunity to watch wasps building a nest is a rare treat. I love all those “lucky views.” Happy New Year, Sally!
Thanks Catherine. Now that I’ve photographed and written about them I feel a sense of ownership of the wasps and go back to check on them every time I am out the front.
I still remember the screams from my pair when they had a close encounter with large paper wasps similar to those. And the very painful sting area! One copped it on the head and the other on the rear – numerous stings each, and I don’t know who made the most noise! (Equal parts shock and pain.) Needless to say, I’m not sure I’d be as benevolent as you… Lucky wasps, indeed. 🙂
Ouch, Kat. I’m hoping that the wasps realise how lucky they are and stay away from me. I might not feel so generous if they turn on me.
Love the poem (and great photo!). Jade plants remind me of my mother; I think she mentioned how they were good luck too.
Sounds like you’re already in the thick of things for the new year. Lots of fun projects to keep you busy. Enjoy all!
Thanks for dropping by, Jama. Busy is good when it’s full of such good things.
I totally understand those moments when posting doesn’t happen. And it seems to be after trips…you need to recharge. Love this photo and poem.
I have jades as houseplants. They were from starts from my childhood home.
Thanks Jone. I remember jades from my childhood, too, and have rarely had a home without one.
Wow, you do seem very busy this first month of 2019, and nice to see you back after your adventures, Sally. I do love that idea of the many doors and the luck spreading, even to wasps! Happy New Year!
And Happy new Year to you, too, Linda. Thanks for dropping by.
Glad to have you back, Sally — wow, you have so much going on! You have a very generous attitude toward your wasps. I especially like “all your doors/and all your windows/even your attic/and basement/have lucky views.”
Thanks Tabatha. I was fascinated by the ends of all those tubes – so many entries and exits.