April is a fickle month: she trips
a teetering path through trees
mad with ticking, tuneful birds,
waking butterflies and bees.
She dodges scattered earth
and rocks behind a plough;
sprinkles tender leaves
and shoots with showers;
spreads green foam through
winter’s mud and, in
lengthening evening hours,
plays with last thrills of light.
Kim M. Russell, 19th April 2019

My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Poems in April Day 19 Micro Poetry: “I am my own muse…”
Kerry greets us on Day 19 of this poetry writing month with one of her favourite prompts, the micro poem of between one and twelve lines in a form of our choice and, as it’s Friday, a poem in 55 words would be welcome.
By way of inspiration she has chosen the poem ‘April’ by W.S. Merwin, and she asks whether, like Merwin, we have recurring themes that continue to inspire us to write poetry; have we become, as Frida Kahlo puts it, our own muses?
I love the idea of April being fickle especially if considered in terms of weather changes 🙂 I also adore the images “spreads green foam through winter’s mud and, in lengthening evening hours, plays with last thrills of light.” Gorgeous write, Kim! ❤️
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Thank you so much, Sanaa!
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And it’s at its ficklest up here on Vermont’s Canadian border, where we eagerly await and then immediately hate the arrival of the dreaded Mud Season. Any day now…
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I wish I could send you some of our current sunny 🌞 weather!
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I love your description of April, it’s a wonderfully painted image off her many moods 🙂
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Thank you, Ellece! 😊
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Ellecee – I apologise for the gremlins in my Kindle!
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There is a glorious ambiance in these lines, and i love the complimentary picture of Frieda Kahlo too.
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Thank you, Kerry.
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The last thrills of light…and they are. (K)
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😊
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Yep. She be like dat. 😉
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😊
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This is wonderful … love the alliteration on t, which makes me think how she teases the temptress she is…
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😊
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For me, April has been a real bitch….but am in total agreement that the norm is that April is just as you have described her, and one of my favorite months. Beautiful!!
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Thank you, Corey, and I’m sorry this April hasn’t been your month this year.
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😊 i like how yiu change April from being the cruelest month to the most fickle. The alliteration is excellent in this as well. We have had hot weather then cool weather with tornados. Talk about fickle but all the trees are glorious green!
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Thank you, Toni! 🙂 We have cherry blossom in our garden and the early honeysuckle has buds!
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What a delectable poem! And yes, your recurring theme is certainly your delight in the natural world around you. For which I thank you, as you always give me a vividly sensual experience of it, even though my own surroundings are so different.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Rosemary!
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A lovely description of April’s vicissitudes. She is doing that here, too, very enjoyably, as the new leaves slowly unfurl.
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Thank you, Sherry. I’m pleased you’re getting your fair share of April’s treasures.
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Oh April is so many things…This year she has ran hot and cold. Love the poem!
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Thank you, Susie! At the moment, April is stable over here, with sunshine and blossom!
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