Launching the Poem-a-Day challenging this April 1, we begin with celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Na/GloPoWriMo this April. Today’s prompt from the NaPoWriMo is below:
“And here’s our own prompt (optional, as always) for the first day of Na/GloPoWriMo. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but they never said you can’t try to write a poem based on a book cover — and that’s your challenge for today.”
What are the chances that I would be visiting my sister on a south Georgia lake covered with Gallinules and reading a book of poetry to review for The Polish Review titled Yours, Purple Gallinule? Because of this serendipity, I chose for my prompt the cover of this beautiful book of poems by Ewa Chrusciel, Omnidawn Press, 2022.
So here’s my poem today!
Goodbye Gallinule
Once a river before the dam,
this wide slate water now a lake,
today runs upstream.
In the fast moving current,
bobbing Gallinules, like a carnival game,
pick one and win a prize.
The Bald Eagle plays the game
each white head disappears in deep blue
to avert the death beak and talons one more time.
In a floating cluster, against the wind,
the birds swim, splash, fly, cry in unison
until a lone Gallinule cries out having
lost its tribe as dark clouds cast
shadow threats on the fast rolling river,
push the Gallinule gaggle upstream,
out of my sight, now and quiet
as if to say upon departure,
Yours, Gallinule.
Jacquelyn Markham (April 1, 2023)
Poet Voice 
That’s a BIG gaggle of Gallinules. You amaze me with your ability to write so well so quickly and so aptly! Great poem.
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Thank you, Estelle! Actally, a gaggle is usually a “gaggle of geese,” but why not a “gaggle of gallinules?” (the poet thought!)
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Can’t wait to share this one with Bill!
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