Poetry Friday: H is For Haiku

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Elizabeth Steinglass. When you've finished here, be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

This week, I had the pleasure of reading H is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z by Sydell Rosenberg. Though Sydell Rosenberg is no longer with us, her daughter, Amy Losak, gathered Ms. Rosenberg's poems into an anthology. The anthology was published by Penny Candy Books in 2018, and lucky for us, Ms. Rosenberg's work lives on for all of us to read and enjoy.

This book introduces young readers to the Japanese form of poetry, haiku. It includes helpful notes by both the author and her daughter. The author had an eye for seeing the poetry in everyday experiences. Her work encourages readers to slow down and pay attention to the world around them. This anthology is a lovely introduction to haiku and a superb addition to any poetry bookshelf. Below, are a few of my favorite moments that Ms. Rosenberg's words and Ms. Chalabi's illustrations captured so beautifully.

Holding umbrellas
Children like rows of mushrooms
Glisten in the rain


Neon wings of moth
Exploding into headlights
On a country road


See what I mean? Those little/big moments are captured so vividly.

Hi For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku From A to Z
Written by Sydell Rosenberg
Illustrated by Sawsan Chalabi
Published by Penny Candy Books
40 Pages
ISBN: 0998799971

In other news this week, I contributed a writing workout to the Teaching Author's blog.
Also, in STEAM Powered Poetry news, Heidi and I are looking for a high school senior or college class that would be willing to create 1-minute videos for our poetry vlog. Cash prizes are awarded for the best, and all videos of good quality will be published. If you teach a high school or college class and think you might want to participate, please email me at kimberlyhutmacher at gmail dot com as soon as possible. This would be a great class project leading up to National Poetry Month, and we would love to work with your group.

Poetry Friday: Today's Little Ditty 2017-2018

Welcome to Poetry Friday. This week's round up is hosted by Rebecca Herzog at Sloth Reads blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

Look at what came in the mail this week!

I'm so excited to have a print copy of this anthology co-created by our little community. Michelle Heidenrich Barnes hosts these monthly challenges, blog guests issue the individual challenges, and we accept the challenges and contribute. Michelle assembles a group of judges who carefully read and consider every poem. It was an honor and a pleasure for me to help choose the included poems this year (though I must say several tough decisions had to be made along the way). Michelle organizes final choices and puts them into book form. Michelle's daughter creates a beautiful cover. And voila! A treasured keepsake is born. 

Michelle dedicated this anthology to the memory of Lee Bennett Hopkins, "with utmost gratitude for his guiding light."
Today, in honor of Lee and Michelle, I share this poem from the book:

Don't Ask a Hopkinsaurus
for Lee Bennett Hopkins
by Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

The L.B. Hopkinsaurus
is a rare and noble breed--
a prince among the wordivores,
he always takes the lead.

At feasting "dino"ccasions
when poetry is served,
his taste for inky gobbling
is robust and unreserved.

He might appear well-mannered
but once he's on a roll,
he holds the Guiness record
for collections swallowed whole!

The L.B. Hopkinsaurus
wears a venerable crown.
Don't ask him to retire,
or even to slow down.

This Energizer Dino
with his charismatic roar
says when it comes to Poetry,
we all should eat much more!

Thank you, Lee! Thank you, Michelle! Thank you, Poetry Friday community! If you don't already have a copy, treat yourself. This book is a gem!

 

Poetry Friday: Dear Poet

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness. 

A few weeks ago, Jama introduced us to Charles Ghigna's new book, Dear Poet: Notes To A Young Writer. After reading Jama's post, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the book. I quickly ordered it. It arrived this week, and this book did not disappoint!

Through a series of poetic reflections, Charles shares a bounty of crafty wisdom, inspiration, and thoughts about what exactly poetry is. The book is short. The first time I read it, it took me all of 10 minutes, but you will want to read this book over and over and over again. And don't let the title fool you. It's my only complaint about the book. It's not just for young writers. Every poetry lover will resonate with and learn from this tiny but powerful treasure of a book. 

And now I'll share a few of the treasures with you.

VIII.
by Charles Ghigna

Style is not
how you
write.

It is how
you do not
write

like 
anyone
else.

XXIII.
by Charles Ghigna

A poem
is a whisper, a shout,
thoughts turned inside out.

A poem
is a laugh, a sigh,
an echo passing by.

A poem
is a rhythm, a rhyme,
a moment caught in time.

A poem
is a moon, a star,
a glimpse of who you are.

I really couldn't pick favorites. Every page is just as good as the last. This book would make a great stocking stuffer for your favorite poetry lover.

Over at STEAM POWERED POETRY, we've added new videos, and we're giving away a copy of Laura Purdie Salas's new book, SNACK, SNOOZE, SKEDADDLE: HOW ANIMALS GET READY FOR WINTER. Click over and scroll down to enter for your chance to win!

Poetry Friday: Walnut Tree

Welcome to Poetry Friday. Laura Purdie Salas shared this for her Thursday 15 words of less poetry challenge. Laura's photo got the ball rolling, but I found myself thinking more and more about the walnut tree and its tendency to lose its leaves in early autumn. We've had a few nights that have dipped below the freezing mark, and I can't help but feel for the almost naked tree. 

Walnut in Autumn
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Tree arms shiver
Naked of their shrug
Reaching, stretching, pleading,
for a hearty warm-up hug.

Copyright October 2019

We are giving away a copy of Patricia Toht's Pick A Pumpkin over at STEAM Powered Poetry this week. Be sure to click over and scroll down to enter to win.

This week's round up is hosted by Karen Edmiston. You'll want to head over and enjoy all of this week's bounty of poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: It Feels Like Fall

Welcome to Poetry Friday! The leaves are turning vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red. The air is crisper, and as you can see from the photo above, my porch is bursting with cororful blooming mums and an array of pumpkins. It feels like fall y'all, and it is my absolute favorite time of the year!

This week I'm sharing a few autumn-themed poems from my friend and vlog partner, Heidi Bee Roemer's collection COME TO MY PARTY AND OTHER SHAPE POEMS (Henry Holt 2004). 

Dancing Leaves

Crimson and coral and yellow as butter--

We reach up to snatch waltzing leaves as they flutter.

Hip, hip, hooray for fall's festive confetti!

Let's-- Heap the leaves up and jump!

Are you ready?

Pumpkins for Sale

Rumple dimple dumplin' pumpkin patch!

Buy a perfect pumpkin- mix and match.

Riddle diddle rumpkin pumpkin spree.

Pick one you can carry...

and your pumpkin is free!

I believe this was Heidi's first published trade book. It is full of delightful poems for all seasons, and it's one that has lasted the test of time. It was a favorite of my children, and now my granddaughter is enjoying it, too!

Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core blog is hosting this week's round up. Click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: Hot Air Balloons

I had this post ready for last Friday, and then we lost our internet for four days. Technology is wonderful- when it works! Thankfully, a tech had us up and running again by the end of the weekend. So, we're back in business.

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Carol at Beyond Literacy Link. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

We have an annual hot air balloon festival in our region every fall. Images of festivals past inspired this week's poem.

Balloon Magic

Zigzags, checks, and polkadots,

Rainbows flickering across the sky.

Dancing with clouds, kissing sun,

Bouquets of happy- summer's last sigh.

Copyright 2019 Kimberly M. Hutmacher

We've been giving away books galore over at STEAM Powered Poetry. Click over and scroll down to enter to win this week's giveaway, GIVE ME BACK MY BONES written by Kim Norman. And Congrats to Angel and Cassandra who each won a copy of my picture book, PAWS, CLAWS, HANDS, AND FEET.

Poetry Friday: What Kinds of Seeds Are These? Giveaway

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong at the Poetry For Children Blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness!

I've spent the last month completing three books in a series for a nonfiction publisher. It's been fast, educational, and fun, and I'll share more on that when I can. I've tried to read as many of your posts as I could, but I have missed posting myself, and I have missed all of you!

Over at STEAM Powered Poetry, we are hosting several book giveaways in the month of September. The first book to go to a lucky entrant is, WHAT KIND OF SEEDS ARE THESE? written by my vlog partner, Heidi Bee Roemer. 

Through rhyming text and clues, Heidi introduces nine different seeds. Her language is positively delicious- angel-winged maple seeds and hitchhiking burdock burrs are just a few examples. The riddle form works perfectly! Heidi provides several activities at the end of the book to keep the fun and learning rolling along.

Here are the giveaway details:
Enter for a chance to win WHAT KINDS OF SEEDS ARE THESE? at www.steampoweredpoetry.com (home page) to enter on Rafflecopter. Share our link to the giveaway on Twitter or follow us @steampoweredpo1. Tweet once per day for extra entries! ENDS Sat. 9/7/18. Thank you for your friendship and support! (U.S. entries only, please.)

If you happen to read this post after the deadline for this giveaway, no worries. Once this giveaway closes, the next giveaway will immediately begin.

Have a great week!

Lee Bennett Hopkins: Good Books, Good Times

Welcome to Poetry Friday. This week's round up is hosted by  Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone. Please click over to savor all of this week's poetry goodness.

I had originally planned something else for today's post, but then I heard that the world lost Lee, and everything else seemed less. I never had the pleasure of meeting Lee in person. We conversed a bit on social media, but mostly I was just a huge fan. Today's post is for celebrating the life and work of the greatest poet I've ever known. Lee's talent was immeasurable and his prolific work seems boundless. How lucky are we to have such an incredible legacy of expertly weaved words and wisdom. Today, I simply share one of my favorites that seems oh so perfect. He put so much GOOD into this world. 

Good Books, Good Times

by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Good books.

Good times.

Good stories.

Good rhymes.

Good beginnings.

Good ends.

Good people.

Good friends.

Good fiction.

Good facts.

Good adventures.

Good acts.

Good stories.

Good rhymes.

Good books.

Good times.

Poetry Friday: A Found Spider Web Haiku

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Margaret Simon at Reflctions on the Teche blog. This week, Margaret shares a lovely poem she created as a result of an exercise from the book, STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST. Be sure to click over to enjoy that poem and all of this week's other poetry goodness.

My post this week is in response to Linda Mitchell's Today's Little Ditty Challenge to create a "found haiku" from phrases taken from an article that fascinates us. I recently wanted to learn a bit more about spider webs, so I read this article. I pulled three phrases from the article with just the right syllable counts to create my new "found haiku." This web on some bushes in my front yard also served as inspiration.

                             Half as strong as steel

                      Silk produced from spinnerets

                              All done by instinct

           Copyright 2019 Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Be sure to check out Michelle's padlet with all of the contributions that have been made to this month's challenge.

One last thing! We've added a few more videos and support materials over at STEAM Powered Poetry. Be sure to pop over and check it out, and thanks again for all the likes, shares, and love you've given to our new endeavor. We truly appreciate it.

Poetry Friday: Be changed

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

A few weeks ago, Linda, at A Word Edgewise, not only hosted poetry friday, she also hosted a clunker swap. Linda shared a list of poetry lines that didn't go anywhere for her (clunkers). Those participating, were asked to take a clunker and leave one behind. One poet's clunker can be another's treasure. I chose the line, Be changed. 

Some of you know that I babysit my granddaughter while my daughter works and goes to school. When she's with me, I try to plan preschool lessons for us revolving around specific themes. It just so happened that this week's theme was butterflies. Butterflies provided the perfect inspiration for a Be changed poem.

Be Changed, Be You

by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Be changed

tiny egg

perched upon that leaf.

Your time as an egg

will be so very brief.

Be changed

furry caterpillar,

eat and eat and eat.

Your time as a caterpillar

will be so very sweet.

Be changed

snuggled chrysalis

wrapped in your coccoon.

Your time as a chrysalis

is ending very soon.

Be you

beautiful butterfly

billowing in the breeze.

Don't change beautiful butterfly-

please, please, please!

Copyright 2019

One last thing! If you happen to have a subscription to Children's Book Insider, check out this month's issue and the article I contributed, "Challenge Accepted."

Poetry Friday: Be Grateful

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Buffy Silverman. Be sure to check out her lovely review of "Hello, I'm Here!" by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder.

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes asked Charlesbridge editor, Karen Boss, to issue this month's Ditty Challenge. Karen challenged us to write a poem in 2nd person offering advice to a child. Today, I'm sharing my two cents.

Be Grateful

by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

For each new sunrise

that comes your way.

For the opportunities

of each new day.

For family that loves you

more than you could know.

For loyal friendships 

you sew and grow.

For a home that shelters,

keeps you safe and sound.

For your treasures lost

that have been found.

For food and drink

and special sweet treats.

For air conditioning

and furnace for heat.

For the chance to learn

and go to school.

For summers spent splashing

in a swimming pool.

For medicine for when

you're feeling queasy.

For amazing days

when life is easy.

Even on bad days

that are hard and rough,

remember this poem

and all the good stuff.

Copyright 2019

In other poetry news, my S.T.E.A.M. Powered Poetry partner, Heidi Bee Roemer, and I have been busily adding new videos, acitivites, and book lists to the site. Be sure to click over to check it out. We are also hosting a video contest for next year's poems. Here are the details:

EDU Contest CALL: Pre-Service Teachers, Librarians, & Media Specialists

With an offer of cash prizes, Heidi Bee Roemer, children's author/poet and creator of the vlog, "S.T.E.A.M. Powered Poetry Videos for Pk-8," is hosting the Second Annual Poetry-Video Contest for College Students. Heidi seeks to enlist a Professor of English or Education or Information to oversee a classroom contest among their pre-service teachers or school media specialists. Ms. Roemer will provide guidelines and a packet of S.T.E.A.M. children’s poems. Contestants can choose a poem and create a short, core-curriculum based video which will be of use in their future classrooms or libraries. First prize is $100, Second, $50, and Third, $25. All entries of good quality will be posted on Heidi's vlog: http://steampoweredpoetry.com/ For details and guidelines, email Heidi at steampoweredpoetry@gmail.com

We truly appreciate all of the likes, shares, and love you've given us on social media. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Poetry Friday: Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Linda at A Word Edgewise blog. Please click over to read all of this week's poetry goodness.

You may remember several weeks ago I reviewed A SONG FOR GWENDOLYN BROOKS by Alice Faye Duncan. This week, I'm gushing over Faye Duncan's MEMPHIS, MARTIN, AND THE MOUNTAINTOP. This book tells the true story of the last days of Martin Luther King through the eyes of a fictional little girl named Lorraine Jackson. Lorraine's father is a sanitation worker in Memphis, Tennessee. Two of his fellow workers are killed on the job by old equipment that city bosses refuse to maintain and fix. The sanitation worker's union tries to fight for better wages and working conditions, but the mayor refuses to acknowledge the union. Outraged by the deaths of their fellow workers, the sanitation employees agree to strike. The strike eventually gets the attention of Dr. King. He agrees to come to Memphis to walk with protesters. While there, he delivers his famous, "I've Been To The Mountaintop" sermon. Sadly, Dr. King was assassinated outside of his hotel room the next day. His inspiring words carried striking workers forward in protest, and it wasn't long after that the strike was settled with help from the intervention of President Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Alice Faye Duncan's lyrical and vivid language and R. Gregory Christie's illustrations bring this story to life. It's no wonder that this book was chosen as 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, an SLJ Best Book Of The Year, and A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book. If it's not already on your school or library bookshelf, please don't hesitate. It's not only a great addition to any civil rights collection, it's an inspiring story of perseverance- a beautifully written reminder to never stop fighting for what you believe in. I'll leave you with the words on the last page of the book:

MOUNTAINTOP

Dream big.
Walk tall.
Be strong.
March on.
Don't quit.
Never stop.
Climb up the MOUNTAINTOP! 

Poetry Friday: Walls

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by A Year of Reading blog. Please click over to read all of this week's poetry goodness.

Laura Purdie Salas hosts a 15 Words or Less Poetry Challenge each Thursday. Laura posts a photo and asks participants to write a poem- 15 words or less- inspired by what they see. It's meant to be a little poetry warm-up for the day. Yesterday's poem was a mural of Prince. I was inpsired by his eyes and by the brick wall. It made me think about the young person from my small town who took his own life a few weeks ago. He was the third young person to take his life in the last 2 1/2 years in our tiny little town. The sign you see on your way into our town says, "The Little Town With The Big Heart." But right now, we're the little town with the big broken heart. My heart aches for  the pain this young man felt and for the pain his family and friends are left with. I went over the 15 word limit, but here's my poem.

Wall
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

You build your wall,
brick by brick.
Shutting me out.
I know you're sick.

You think I can't see.
You think I don't know.
You think I don't care.
You think I'll let go.

Don't look away.
Look in my eyes.
They see your pain.
Your silent cries.

Take down your wall,
brick by brick.
Let me in.
I know you're sick.

Let me help.
Let me stay.
Let me hold
your hand today.

Copyright 2019

If you know of someone who is in crisis, please share the following information with them and/or their family and friends.

Text HOME to 741741
24 hours a day 7 days a week
for crisis support in the U.S.

Poetry Friday: A Song For Gwendolyn Brooks

Welcome, once again, to Poetry Friday! This week's round up host is Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche blog. Be sure to click over to read all of this week's poetry goodness.

Michelle at Today's Little Ditty blog spent National Poetry Month interviewing a plethora of talented poets. At the end of the month, Michelle randomly chose winners to receive copies of books written by her featured guests. One of those featured was Alice Faye Duncan. Because I'm an Illinois native and grew up enjoying Gwendolyn Brook's poetry at school, I was especially excited to learn that I had won a digital copy of Faye Duncan's A Song For Gwendolyn Brooks.

Although I had read plenty of Brook's work, I really didn't know too much about her early life. A Song For Gwendolyn Brooks takes readers back to her early days growing up on Chicago's south side, a beloved daughter to parents who nurtured and encouraged her love for writing poetry. Brooks was often allowed to skip chores to work on her craft, and when one of her teachers doubted that she had written something sumitted for an assignment, Brook's mother marched to the school and proclaimed her daughter's innocence and talent. The poem I'm sharing this week is one that Gwendolyn wrote in response to this experience:

FORGIVE AND FORGET
If others neglect you,
Forget; do not sigh,
For, after all, they'll select you
In times by and by.
If their taunts cut and hurt you,
They are sure to regret.
And if in time, they desert you,
Forgive and forget.

As the book moves forward chronologically, we see Gwendolyn grow in confidence. We see her study and learn from other great poets of the time. We see her talent explode and flourish and watch her collect the first ever Pulitzer Prize given to a black American.

This lyrical biography is a lovely mix of Faye Duncan's bluesy rhythm with Brook's own poetic voice dotted throughout. This book is an insightful introduction to one of the world's greatest poets, and it should be on the shelf in every elementary school library.

Poetry Friday: Instructions To Wind

Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week's round up is hosted by Elizabeth Steinglass. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week's poetry goodness.

I spent the first seven days of May participating in NaPiBoWriWee- National Picture Book Writing Week, and I promised an update on how I did. I was able to get 5 first drafts completed. I didn't make it to seven, but I accomplished way more in a week than I usually do. Now it's time to start revising :)

Now, for another challenge. Michelle at Today's Little Ditty blog is back with monthly challenges to get our creative juices flowing. This month, Michelle invited Elizabeth Steinglass to lead the way. Elizabeth challenged us to write a poem that gives instructions to an inanimate object on how to do its job. Here is my addition:

Instructions To Wind
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Blow so lightly, a gentle breeze.
Rustle leaves hanging from trees.
Whip and gust. Dry up mud.
Evaporate puddles from the flood.
Play a tune on front porch chimes-
A lullabye for summer times.
Carry kites across the sky.
Help the birds to soar and fly.
Fan the flames for our weiner roast.
Build surf waves along the coast.
Whirl and swirl! Move that air!
Just please try not to muss my hair!

Copyright 2019 Kimberly M. Hutmacher

If you would like to join in on this challenge, you have the rest of May to add your instruction poem to Michelle's padlet.

Last but not least, look for a new vlog post on seeds coming this week from S.T.E.A.M. Powered Poetry!