Poetry Friday: Plant People

Hi, friends. Other than helping with the Winter Poetry Swap, I've been away from Poetry Friday for a few months.I've been busy mentoring a family who fled Afghanistan in August -- a husband, wife, and their two little boys. The good news is, through the writing community, we helped them find housing! This time next week, our Afghan friends will be settling into their new place in northern Virginia. After their long ordeal, the boys can finally start school.The dad of the family is a children's author and poet. If you'd like to learn more -- or if you'd be interested in helping the family -- please read their story at the GoFundMe page I set up for them. Now that their housing is secure, the next goal is to help them buy a used car. That way, the parents can get out and find jobs.Speaking of poetry, I have a book to give away, especially for plant lovers! Leave a comment if you'd like your name entered into the drawing for PLANT PEOPLE: An Anthology of Environmental Artists.I'm was so happy to have a poem selected for this beautiful book. Every piece in the anthology focuses on a specific plant.My entry is the poem "Hibiscus," which I wrote during the 2021 February Poetry Project. The theme this year was "Bodies" and the prompt for this poem was shared by Matthew Winner.HibiscusBy Laura Shovan (page 97, PLANT PEOPLE)Today, another birdsmacked the wide glass paneat the back of the house.A memory fell to the groundgentle as a leaf.My English grandmothercupping a stunned finchin her palms. Its feathers pulsing,afraid, alive.I go out, check behind a pink hibiscus, newly planted,its blossoms flat as teacup saucers.There is the dead oneneck broken, unmoving.An early snow begins to fall.PLANT PEOPLE is planning another anthology. The deadline is coming up soon, so if you'd like to submit work, click on this link!PLANT PEOPLE has been a theme for me this fall. I've expanded my doodle repertoire from robots, to include doodling the faces I see in trees.Here's a gallery of some of my Tree Sprites.  My neighbor's Tree Sprite says, "Pick me, Teacher! Pick Me!"   This white birch in Colorado is a very proper gentleman.         The forest queen of our garden.   Remember to leave a comment if you'd like to win your own copy of PLANT PEOPLE (U.S. only, please.)