Poet Jane Hirshfield said "... the feeling I have about poem-writing (is) that it is always an exploration, of discovering something I didn't already know. Who I am shifts from moment to moment, year to year. What I can perceive does as well. A new poem peers into mystery, into whatever lies just beyond the edge of knowable ground."

I bring a different poem to the writing classes each week, not only to inspire but to introduce new poets to the group members.

streaked minnows and music by Miriam Margles

                streaked minnows and music know
	        each other as
	     gold and darting
             before either knows what for—
             which is for swimming and which is
             for swimming

she swims toward her heart upon her bed
  a splashing that turns to broad,
  strong strokes
as sleep falls
as schools of minnows flash

	  Let’s imagine it possible—
              that we can have clean palms and a 
              pure   something
	  heart or rest
	      maybe   a bold strong stroke

she won’t know until she’s sleeping
how pure and falling
how the something of her music is
how answered is praying

                    let’s let it be possible
		that cherries can know spring when
		    they’re deep in their trees,
		believe they will turn something,
		    flashed and unsleeping,
		more than the dream of a snow-weighted branch

~ reprinted with the permission of the author