The United States of America has reached a defining moment. On July 4, 2026, our country attained the age of 250. The Second Continental Congress wrote the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, and established the fact that the US government was officially breaking ties with Great Britain. Our ancestors formed a new republic which included thirteen colonies. However, the Constitution of the United States was not written until 1787, and George Washington did not become president until 1789. This year on our semi-quincentennial, that is our 250^th year, the United States has a population of more than 340 million and includes 50 states. The United States of American has become a global power and hopefully will remain a force for good.

Personally, I am proud to be an American. We are a people with the high ideal that our government is for the people and by the people. However, a democracy can only continue to exist if voters are selective and put forward and elect only candidates who understand and support democracy. Candidates and elected officials should have pristine records with no hint of illegitimacy, sexual misconduct, or fraud. Be careful when you vote. Be aware of candidates’ records and their financial, moral, and legal status.

My Writing Goals for 2026

Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets:

BWA Poetry Circle: The BWA Poetry circle does not meet in June, July, and August.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: In June, I did not attend the session.

Columbine Poets: I missed the June 13 session but I attended an event Julie Cummings hosted on June 20. I also attended Anita Jepson-Gilbert’s informative workshop about slant rhymes on June 27, 2026. Additionally, I submitted work to the Columbine Poets’ contest. On July 4, I attended a poetry critique session on Zoom.

Colorado Poetry Center: In June, I attended a BMoCA and Lighthouse Writers Workshop in-gallery poetry workshop inspired by Tres Voces, Un Corazón, and co-sponsored by the CPC at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

Continue to make progress on my draft novels: 

In June, I did not work on my novels.

Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing:

Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2026:

Today is July 7, 2026. I am posting my seventh blog for the year 2026. This year, I have been focusing on a specific poetic form for each month. In June, I focused on learning about and writing sestinas, a particularly complicated and challenging poetic form which often focuses on themes of obsession, grief, meditation, and the passage of time. Learning to understand the sestina form and write a sestina of my own was a significant challenge.

The Poetry Foundation defines a sestina as “A complex French verse form, usually unrhymed, consisting of six stanzas of six lines each and a three-line envoi. The end words of the first stanza are repeated in a different order as end words in each of the subsequent five stanzas; the closing envoi contains all six words, two per line, placed in the middle and at the end of the three lines. The patterns of word repetition are as follows, with each number representing the final word of a line, and each row of numbers representing a stanza.” Interestingly, Elizabeth Bishop’s poem in this format is named Sestina, a title that depicts the form rather than the content of the poem which describes a grandmother and grandchild.

While attempting to learn to write a sestina was difficult and not for the weak of heart or mind, my first stab at writing one follows:

Sestina for the Yampa Valley

My childhood was filled with minutes, hours, and days of joy.

I had siblings and friends with whom I shared my joy.

We played together in our beautiful valley.

We shared the closeness of friendship and of warmth.

Our personalities were molded and softened by the gentle hills.

We enjoyed riding and often rode double on a horse.

We picnicked in the cool shade of trees overhanging the river.

In the wide, green valley, we watched the gentle flow of the river.

The beauty of the surrounding mountains brought us joy.

While I had several of my own, my friends wished they could have a horse.

I loved to ride my favorite horse high on the mountain and observe the valley.

Our town was surrounded by gentle, rounded, green hills.   

In the winter, snow covered the houses, but homes were filled with warmth.

Our community was close and friendly and filled with warmth.

Our city park was positioned along the edge of the river.

Our valley was surrounded by rounded, green hills.

Community members celebrated holidays with evident joy.

When I was small our town covered exactly one mile in the valley.

I became familiar with the hills and valley riding my horse.

My father taught me to love to travel on the back of my horse.

My father was a strong, loving man whose smile radiated warmth.

My father grew up in and lived until his passing in the valley.

My father always warned me in spring to be careful of the river.

In summer, I was able to wade and play in the river with joy.

In winter, I skied on snow-covered trails that passed through the hills.

During the nighttime, I often dream of riding through the hills.

In my current living room stands a bronze sculpture of my horse.   

As an adult, long gone from the valley, I remember my childhood with joy.

The hours I spent with my father taught me about human warmth.

I learned about tiny bugs and minnows swimming in the river.

Now living in the Foothills of the Rockies, I will never forget the valley.

I will always remember the beautiful hills and summer’s warmth.

My favorite memories recall my horse and riding her in the river.

My life has been blessed with the joy of growing up in a lush green valley.

Did you know that there is a National Upsy Daisy Day? I didn’t know about this special day until recently. Upsy Daisy Day is observed annually on June 8 in the USA. It is a lighthearted holiday during which people are invited to gloriously, gratefully, and gleefully express a positive and humorous attitude—even though we all face daily challenges. It sounds like a good day to celebrate on an annual basis to spread a little good cheer.

Of course, one could take Upsy Daisy concretely and stand on one’s head. Or one could practice writing upside down or take the time to find all the items in the house that are already Upsy Daisy and turn them right-side up.

My plan for Upsy Daisy Day is to be deliberately positive and funny. I want to enjoy myself— even though I have been facing some personal health challenges. Perhaps, I will attempt to do something entirely new. I will call friends and express my gratitude to them. If friends seem confused, I will tell them about Upsy Daisy Day and wish them a Happy Upsy Daisy Day. With luck, they will share the news and many folks will have a happy Upsy Daisy Day.

Luckily, today, I had a non Upsy Daisy Day. I received news that one of my poems, “Forbearance,” is being published in the IWWG Something Inside So Strong Anthology; and a second poem, “Ode to the Yampa Valley,” was published June 5, 2026, in the Steamboat Pilot, the local newspaper in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

So, I wish all my readers a Happy Upsy Daisy Day! Enjoy yourselves tomorrow and do something fun and original!

My Writing Goals for 2026

Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets:

BWA Poetry Circle: In May, I hosted a workshop led by Lynne McNamara who presented her on her approach to poetry and read from her book, Paths Not Paved: Collected Poems.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: In May, I did not attend the session.

Columbine Poets: I attended an informative workshop led by Anita Jepson Gilbert on May 9, 2026. And, on May 23, Julie Cummings presented handouts on literary terms  and discussed their usage. I also attended the Columbine Poets online critique group and received feedback on a poem that I submitted to the group. The members of the group are fun to work with. They provide excellent feedback and support to everyone.

Colorado Poetry Center: In May, I did not attend the session, but in June I plan to attend a poetry presentation at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

Continue to make progress on my draft novels: In May, I did not work on my novels.

Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing: I have met so many interesting and talented individuals over the last few years. I truly enjoy attending all the poetry events that are available in this area. I have particularly enjoyed the sessions offered by the Columbine Poets.

Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2026: Today is June 7, 2026. I am posting my sixth blog for the year 2026. This year, I have been focusing on a specific poetic form for each month.

In May I focused on the elegy. An elegy is a form of poetry that mourns the loss of someone or something, characterized by expressions of grief, sorrow, and reflection. An elegy is usually written “for” or “to” someone. Elegies are deeply personal, often focusing on the speaker’s internal journey through grief, rather than just the facts of death. They are known as a “howl of grief” or a “study of what is wept for.” While most elegies are quite long, for example, the word count of In Memory of W. B. Yeats by W. H. Auden is 458 words, I decided to write a short elegy to my beloved (deceased) dog, Marieke, whom I miss every day. Marieke was a large, strong, black, and beautiful Bouvier des Flandres.

Elegy for Marieke Amantine de Bruges

She was a brave heart.

Her bright eyes missed nothing.

Her eyes sparkled with sense of humor.

She knew the names of her 50 doggy toys.

Her presence and warmth were a comfort.

I still reach for the roughness of her black coat.

My sorrow at her passing was deep.

Her absence is a constant heartache.

But, she went where good doggies go.

And, her place in doggie heaven assured.

Memories of her still tug at my heart…

But always bring a smile to my lips.

The Merry Month of May

The name of the  month of May is derived from the Roman goddess of fertility—Maia. It has always been a happy month for me: the end of the school year, the blossoming of flowers, and the beautiful soft days of spring—sometimes punctuated by a deep wet snowfall. It was also the occasion of my late husband’s birthday so we always had a party on Memorial Day. Of course, my town celebrates the annual Bolder Boulder, founded in 1979, on Memorial Day which has been named “America’s All-Time Best 10 K. Around fifty thousand individuals of all ages descend on our town to compete, some against other runners, but many who just try to beat their own best time. I watch the race on television.

For me personally, May is when I plant my flower gardens once the danger of frost is past. This year, our area has been suffering from a drought but we just had a solid rainstorm which turned into snow and dumped a foot of snow on the garden. Colorado really needed this moisture as 97% of the state is currently defined as being under draught conditions.

My Writing Goals for 2026

Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets: I read and edited an introduction to a poetry book for a friend whose book is being published.

BWA Poetry Circle: In April, the BWA Poetry Circle presented Crisostos Apache who was appointed as the new Colorado Poet Laureate by Governor Polis on January 28, 2026. Crisosto Apache is from Mescalero, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache reservation and is Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache, and Diné (Navajo). Apache’s clanships are the Salt Clan, born for the Towering House Clan. Apache attended and earned an MFA at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and is an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing. Crisosto is editor-at-large for The Offering magazine. Crisosto Apache’s books include GENESIS and Ghostword. Apache is a part-time multimedia artist and two-time Pushcart Prize nominee who also continues to be an advocate for the Two-spirit/Indigiqueer community. Participants enjoyed Crisosto’s delightful presentation, and discussion. We all felt that we had just made a new friend.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: In April, I did not attend a session with this group.

Colorado Poetry Center: The CPC presents monthly poetry events at the Boulder Bookstore. In late, April, I attended a presentation with Wendy Videlock and Art Goodtimes, who each presented their own work. Interestingly, the work they presented was complementary. The following day, Wendy presented a workshop on writing poetry and producing artwork which I attended and enjoyed.

Continue to make progress on my draft novels: 

I have had no energy to work on my novel drafts lately. I will get back to them when I have healed up.

Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing: 

Columbine Poets: Jordana Pilmanis presented a workshop for our Columbine Poets group on April 19. She discussed Tess Gallagher’s elegiac poetry from her book Moon Crossing Bridge (1992). She interspersed her presentation with individual writing time and we each drafted a total of three poems. At the second in-person meeting this month, Julie Cummings presented a session on Maggie Smith. I also attended an online critique session and received feedback on a draft that I was working on.

Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2026:

Today is May 7, 2026. I am posting my fifth blog for the year 2026. This year, I have been focusing on a specific poetic form for each month. In April, I studied the ode and practiced writing one.

An ode is a formal, ceremonious lyric poem that celebrates or praises a person, place, thing, or idea. Odes originated in ancient Greece as musical performances to celebrate victories. Subsequently, the Pindaric, Horatian, or Irregular ode forms evolved into a structured verse form focused on intense emotion or reflection. An ode celebrates, glorifies, or contemplates a subject and may be written from a formal or amusing point of view. Topics covered may be profound as in “Ode to a Nightingale,” address everyday subjects, such as Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market;” or be humorous as in Ellen Bass’s “Ode to Fat.” A classic ode has a tripartite structure: a strophe (movement) is followed by an antistrophe (countermovement), and the poem ends with an epode (standstill). The word “epode” is derived from the Greek epōidos which means “sung after,” so the epode is an “after-song.”

My first attempt at writing an ode follows.

Ode to the Yampa Valley

Oh, rounded, blue-toned mountains cradling an impressive valley,

You delight me.

Oh, groves of quaking aspens with your rattling leaves,

Your sounds enthrall me.

Oh, thickets of Gambel oak which sport vibrant oranges in the fall,

Your colors beguile me.

Oh, subalpine firs mingled with pine trees,

Your rich depth enchants me.

Oh, rare wild river passing through green fields,

Your cool flow entrances me.

Oh, natural springs draining sulfur-tinted water into the current,

Your aroma tickles my nose.

Oh, mineral laden bubbles floating over moss-covered stones,

Your lightness thrills me.

Oh, trout, chubs, and suckers swimming below the waves,

Your fluidity mesmerizes me.

Oh, ranches spaced out in luxuriant meadows,

You beckon me home.

Oh, sapphire blue skies extending into infinity,

You remind me of my fallibility.

Oh, Yampa Valley, at present when I close my eyes;

I recall a childhood resplendent with beauty.

The origin of the English word “April” lies in the Latin word meaning to open—aperit. In most areas of the northern hemisphere, April does feel like the first month of spring. For those born in April, the birthstone is the diamond which represents strength, eternal love, and purity. Sadly, I recently lost the diamond ring which my mother gave to me. Daisies are associated with April and stands for innocence, loyalty, and new beginning. I plant daisies in my garden each year because they are such cheerful flowers. The bird of the month for April is the duck, a cheerful and amusing creature. When I was a child, I had a duck named “Duckie” who had quite a personality and followed me wherever I went. As the energy of April brightens our days, may I begin to feel a sense of transformation and joy as the weather brings us the colors of spring. I have a large flower garden and look forward to its explosion of blossoms which—given our climate—usually occurs toward the end of May. At the moment, a few red, white, and yellow tulips are brightening my day.

My Writing Goals for 2026

Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets: Our area has a vibrant poetry culture with local readings, contests, and meetings. I participate in a critique group and attend as many readings as possible. I am pleased that I have been able to continue to expand my knowledge of and connection to more local poets.

BWA Poetry Circle: In March, the  BWA Poetry Circle presented Valerie A. Szarek, an award-winning performance Poet, Native American Flute player, Artisan, and Shamanic Practitioner. Her poems are healing, accessible, present and political, and cross effortlessly between the seen and unseen worlds. She has published several books of poetry and a CD and has others in progress. Valerie also teaches monthly, soul-centered, writing workshops.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: I was unable to attend this group this month.

Continue to make progress on my draft novels: 

Finish my first novel and query agents (IW): No progress

Finish my second novel (G):  No progress

Continue to work on my third novel (PW):  No progress

Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing: 

Columbine Poets: I attended the March 13 in-person session and the April fourth online critique session. It is a fine group of poets. We present solid poems and provide each other with excellent feedback and encouragement.

Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2026:

Today is April 7, 2026. I am posting my fourth blog for the year 2026. This year, I have been focusing on a specific poetic form for each month. I study the form and practice learning to write poems according to the form. I worked on sonnets in January, ghazal in February, and the villanelle at the end of March. A villanelle is a 19-line poetic form composed of five tercets (ABA) and a concluding quatrain (ABAA), characterized by strict repetition and two rhyming sounds. The first and third lines of the opening stanza alternate as refrains, closing stanzas 2, 3, 4, and 5, and ending the final quatrain. Here is my first attempt at writing a villanelle.

Winning Horses         

Cold freezes my face; the racehorses neigh.

Their breath forms clouds in the frigid air.

Sunshine and shadow delight the day.

I enter the stalls to feed them their hay.

They snort and they stamp and throw me a glare.

Cold freezes my face; the racehorses neigh.

While they munch on oats, I brush down the bay.

I carry water and pat down the mare.

Sunshine and shadow delight the day.

We walk two miles along the way.

The team needs blinkers to cut down the glare.

Cold freezes my face; the racehorses neigh.

December is cold; I wish it were May.

I’d prepare my team for a show at the Fair.

Sunshine and shadow delight the day.

A halter class for each, if they would obey.

When they snort and stamp, it gives me a scare.

Cold freezes my face; the racehorses neigh.

Sunshine and shadow delight the day.

February is the last month of meteorological winter, thank goodness, because I am looking forward to spring. Since I enjoy learning the derivation of words, I looked up the meaning of “February.” It is derived from the Middle English feverer and from the Old French feverier, which were based on the Latin februarius, which was derived from februa, the name of a traditional purification feast held at this time of year. Thus, the name represents purification, love, and awareness. Our current Valentine’s Day emphasizes love more than purification or awareness.

March on the other hand was named after the god Mars who was the god of war (many wars were begun in the spring) but also the god of agriculture because farmers begin planting at this time. Because the spring equinox occurs around the middle of the month, March marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Interestingly, the Anglo-Saxons called March “the loud or stormy month.” This March in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where I live, we have had loud winds, snowstorms, and a wildfire—all in the first week of the month. The wind and snow have certainly purified the landscape, but so far, the only sign of spring that I have observed is the twittering of birds who have returned to nest in the hedges in my yard.

My Writing Goals for 2026

1.  Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets: I am developing a network through in-person workshops and workshops on Zoom.

• Continue to make progress on my draft novels: 

• Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing: 

Bardic Trails: Because I am recovering from a fall, I forgot to attend the March 3, 2026, Zoom presentation of Bardic Trails.

Boulder Writers Alliance: Larry Laverdure read from his collection of unpublished poems. Larry ran the Canon Mine Poets group in Lafayette for 15 years. A transplant from New England, Larry has become a committed Coloradan.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: Martin Balgach read for the group. Martin is the author of Too Much Breath (Main Street Rag). His writing has appeared in The Bitter Oleander, Cream City Review, Fogged Clarity, Phantom Limb, Rain Taxi, and Verse Daily, among other journals. He holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives with his wife and son in Erie, Colorado. I also read several of my poems during the Open Mic.

• Columbine Poets: In February and in March, I attended Columbine Poets Zoom sessions. Julie Cummings presented some new forms and gave some writing prompts for contests. Today, we did a critique of each other’s poems. I learn a lot from our critiques.

• Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2025:

Today is March 7, 2026. I am posting my third blog for the year 2026. This year, I am focusing on a specific poetic form each month and practicing how to write each of the forms. In February, I planned to work on the haiku, but instead I worked on the ghazal, a form which originated in seventh-century Arabia and flourished in Persian and Urdu literature. The ghazal was introduced in the USA during the  mid-1990s. American poets who have published ghazal include John Hollander, W. S. Merwin, and Elise Paschen.

The ghazal is a challenging form which calls for some study before attempting to write an original poem. They are often performed to music. Both Rumi and Ghalib wrote in the ghazal form. Ghazals focus on themes of melancholy, love, longing, and metaphysical desire. The rules for writing a ghazal are quite formal and require:

• A minimum of 5 stanzas, a maximum of 15
• Each stanza contains a single couplet (two lines only)
• Each stanza must be completely autonomous in terms of structure, theme, and emotional content
• Each line must be the same syllabic length but the meter may vary
• The first couplet must end with the same word or short phrase that is then repeated
• Each additional couplet must also end the second line with the same word or phrase used in the first couplet
• The last couplet must include either the author’s or the subject’s name (or a derivation of its meaning

Here is my first attempt (which required attention, rewriting, and carefully checking each rule) at writing a ghazal:

A Lonely Mourning Dove

Perched on a branch cooing, a mourning dove

Evokes, in a plaintive tune, it’s lost love.

The dove’s melody rings through the air.

I wonder if the bird is singing of love.

Is it singing because it is alone?

The dove bemoans the loss of its dear love.

It recalls its partner that has since flown.

Teary eyes surveil the dark skies with love.

Does the lonely bird hope to be loved?

Does its discontented soul seek solace?

Melancholy pervades its heart and soul.

It honors how this poet sings of love.

Now that I have managed to write a ghazal, during the rest of the month of March, I will study the villanelle form which is made up of 19 lines, five tercets, one quatrain, and has repeating lines and rhymes. Then, for my April blog, I will attempt to write a villanelle.

January is known as the sloggiest month because, in North America, its thirty-one days occur in the coldest and darkest part of the year. Because it follows the holidays, people are often short of cash. Plus, the short dark days can cause some folks to suffer from seasonal affective disorder. In my part of the world, the month of January lived up to its reputation for being dreary and frigid. While we enjoyed several afternoons that reached into the 50s and 60s, we had a couple of weeks with nights where the temperature dropped to or below zero.

Nevertheless, it was a suitable month for writing and attending writing events. I attended a friend’s book launch party, enjoyed multiple poetry events, and presented a workshop on Goal Setting for Writers for our local library. I also searched online to identify poetry contests that I might enter this year. In January, I entered one contest but did not place in the top five. However, I enjoyed the experience of writing an ekphrastic poem based on a painting.

In January, I focused on being practical and set my own writing goals for this year. I also started working on the humdrum of yearly life—my income taxes, and began a new exercise routine under the guidance of my physical therapist.

My Writing Goals for 2026

1.  Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets: This month, I entered several poetry contests, attended a poetry presentation on writing sonnets, and another on writing epistolary poetry.

Bardic Trails: I forgot to log on to the February presentation.

Boulder Writers Alliance: Michele Battiste presented for the BWA Poetry Circle and discussed The Elsewhere Oracle, her oracle deck and guidebook.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: I missed the January meeting.

Columbine Poets: I presented a workshop on Anne Bradstreet, the first American poet, for the Columbine Poets. And I submitted poems for critique and participated in two critique sessions with the group. The participants are all excellent writers and informed poetry critics.

2. Continue to make progress on my draft novels:  Finish my first novel and query agents (IW): I decided not to rejoin the WWW critique group.
   Finish my second novel (G):  No progress
   Continue to work on my third novel (PW):  No progress
   
3. Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2025:

Today is February 7, 2026. I am posting my second blog for the year 2026. I am relieved that February is in swing—happily, spring is on its way. I enjoy observing Imbolc, an Irish tradition that marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolc celebrates the return of spring and the lengthening of daylight. I celebrated Imbolc this month with a display of red, white, and green candles, crafting a St. Brigid’s cross, and doing some spring cleaning.

4. Writing Specific Forms
This year, I will focus on a specific poetic form each month and practice learning to write each of the forms. In January, I experimented with writing a sonnet, which was challenging. Here is my first attempt:

A Sonnet for An Artist

My dear husband, you are still here with me.
I feel your touch; I hear your voice each day.
I smell the clean scent of your aftershave.
I taste the warm sweetness of your full lips.
Your studio is resplendent with art
Colorful paintings decorate its walls
Windows look out on our lovely garden
Sun streams through the windowpane on the east wall
Your barren easel sits against the wall
Your workspace and cutting board are forsaken
Your stool stands alone, unused, and forlorn
The pendulum of your Shaker clock is stilled
But inspiring paintings impress the eye
Singing silently of days filled with love

During February, I will work on haiku, a Japanese form that often addresses nature and consists of three lines of 5-7-5 syllables.

The year 2025 will always stand out in my memory for being a year of extremes. It was a year where survival was on my mind more than once. I live in an environment downwind from the Rocky Mountains. We have had extreme winds and some fires. The overall temperature this year has been higher than usual, so it is dry. I keep the car full of gas and a suitcase packed in case there are orders to evacuate. Fortunately, before Christmas, a friend sent a gorgeous and huge white poinsettia to cheer me up. Christmas Eve was lovely as I spent it with friends. And, it was a relief to have snowfall on December 29^th.

On the personal level, I have had a good year. I have enjoyed meeting with my various groups. I have particularly enjoyed participating in the Columbine Poets because my knowledge and understanding of poetry have expanded. I have enjoyed hosting the BWA Poetry Circle because I have met a diverse group of poets. Additionally, I even managed to submit a poem to a poetry contest. I recently facilitated a workshop on Goal Setting for Writers at the local library and connected with an interesting group of writers.

I always spend the dead time between Christmas and New Year’s working on my goals for the upcoming year. This year, I will focus on a specific poetic form each month and practice learning to write each of the forms. I will also write about the forms in this blog. I will work on sonnets in January, ghazal in February, villanelle in March, ode in April, elegy in May, sestina in June, tanka in July, sijo in August, ballad in September, haiku in October, rondeau in November, and finally the cinquain in December.

My Writing Goals for 2026

1. Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets:

BWA Poetry Circle: The December Poetry Circle featured Julie Cummings. She focused on how to write a contrapuntal poem. The workshop was well attended and attendees wrote drafts of original contrapuntal poems.

Cannon Mine Poets Group: Valorie Szarek presented on her new book and played music with some friends during the meeting in December.

• Continue to make progress on my draft novels: 

Finish my first novel and query agents (IW): No progress

Finish my second novel (G):   No progress

Continue to work on my third novel (PW):  No progress

• Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing: 

Boulder Writers Alliance: I missed the Happy Hour in December.

Columbine Poets: I attended three meetings in December. Unfortunately, I missed the holiday party.

• The Sonnet: A sonnet is a poem of 14 lines. Sonnets are often written in iambic pentameter and have a specific rhyme scheme, but vary in slight ways. Shakespearean sonnets differ from Petrarchan sonnets. A Shakespearean sonnet typically has three quatrains, that is, four-line stanzas that develop a theme or a problem. A Shakespearean sonnet concludes with a two-line couplet which may conclude with a summary, a resolution, or a shift in perspective known as a “volta” or a “turn.”

Example of Shakespearean Sonnet

A Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet is a 14-line poem in iambic pentameter, split into an eight-line “octave,” which uses the rhyme sequence ABBAABBA and presents a problem. The octave is followed by a six-line “sestet,” which may rhyme CDECDE or CDCDCD and offers a resolution to the problem.

Example of a Petrarchan Sonnet

She ruled in beauty o’er this heart of mine,
A noble lady in a humble home,
And now her time for heavenly bliss has come,
’Tis I am mortal proved, and she divine.
The soul that all its blessings must resign,
And love whose light no more on earth finds room
Might rend the rocks with pity for their doom,
Yet none their sorrows can in words enshrine;
They weep within my heart; no ears they find
Save mine alone, and I am crushed with care,
And naught remains to me save mournful breath.
Assuredly but dust and shade we are;
Assuredly desire is mad and blind;
Assuredly its hope but ends in death.

This month, I read a wonderful book by Helen Vendler (1933-2024), Inhabit the Form, which I recommend to anyone who is drawn to writing poetry. Dr. Vendler held the title A. Kingsley Porter University Professor at Harvard University. She was interested in the two indispensable constituents of lyric poems: originality and the embodiment of feelings. In the book, she discusses poets from Yeats to Ocean Vuong.

At my local level, I continue to be involved in multiple poetry groups. I continue to explore books on writing poetry. I am currently exploring how to write different forms of poems. And I continue to read at open mics when I have the opportunity.

My Writing Goals for 2025

1. Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets:

Bardic Trails: The Talking Gourds/Bardic Trails is a monthly Zoom presentation of poets, followed by an open mike, which is broadcast from Telluride, Colorado. On November 4, Bardic Trails featured Beth Franklin, who read from her work. The following open mic session was excellent.

Colorado Poetry Center: Each month, Beth Franklin, the director of the Colorado Poetry Center, hosts poetry readings at the Boulder Book Store. In October, Juan Morales read from his newest book, Dream of the Bird Tattoo. Michelle Battiste, whose The Elsewhere Oracle was just published, handed out oracle cards and read oracles for the audience. Both readings were impressive.

Columbine Poets: The Columbine Poets hold four regular meetings each month, two in-person sessions where a poet reads or someone presents, and two online meetings that are critique sessions. The critique group was helpful with a poem I submitted. I attended the meeting in Lafayette to do a send-off for Diane Rex, who is moving to Nice. Julie Cummings was there. On October 18, I attended a tanka workshop led by Ricardo J. Bogaert-Alvarez. I enjoyed my first attempt at writing in the tanka form and wrote several. On October 25, I attended the Columbine Poets workshop led by Julie Cummings. And, on November 1, I attended the Zoom critique group. Members provide excellent suggestions for improving our work.

Cannon Mine Poets: Abby Seber is now hosting the Cannon Mine Poets group in Lafayette. This month, Julie Cummings, who is a past President of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies and past President of Columbine Poets of Colorado, read from her work. Her book of poetry, Ride of My Life, is available on her website: https://juliecummingspoetry.com/store and on Amazon.

2. Continue to make progress on my draft novels: No progress.

Finish my first novel and query agents (IW): No progress.

Finish my second novel (G): No progress.

Continue to work on my third novel (PW): No progress.

3. Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing: 

Boulder Writers Alliance:  I hosted the BWA Poetry Circle in October. Our speaker was Abby Seber, who presented on the recently deceased poet, Andrea Gibson. Participants also each wrote a new poem and read their new poems aloud.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers:  I read the newsletter.

Women Writing the West: I enjoyed the online conference in October and read the winning short story.

4.  Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2025:

Today is November 7, 2025. I am posting my eleventh blog for this year. As I was searching for a poem to include this month, I realized that many writers view November from a bleak perspective. Personally, November has always been one of my favorite months. I find the fall weather invigorating and the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall stunning against our blue Colorado skies. Plus, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. May we all have something to be thankful for this year!

A Poem for November

My November Guest

Robert Frost, 1874 –1963

My sorrow, when she’s here with me,
     Thinks these dark days of autumn rain
Are beautiful as days can be;
She loves the bare, the withered tree;
     She walks the sodden pasture lane.

Her pleasure will not let me stay.
     She talks and I am fain to list:
She’s glad the birds are gone away,
She’s glad her simple worsted grey
     Is silver now with clinging mist.

The desolate, deserted trees,
     The faded earth, the heavy sky,
The beauties she so truly sees,
She thinks I have no eye for these,
     And vexes me for reason why.

Not yesterday I learned to know
     The love of bare November days
Before the coming of the snow,
But it were vain to tell her so,
     And they are better for her praise.