Welcome to Poetry Friday. This week's round up is hosted by Karen Edmisten. Karen shares a beautiful poem by John Ashbury. Be sure to click over and savor every drop of poetry goodness.
A few weeks ago I entered to win a book on Jone's blog, and lucky me- I was chosen the winner of IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT: POEMS FROM A WIDE-AWAKE HOUSE written by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Angela Matteson (Wordsong, 2019).
Have you ever wondered what all of the stuff in your house does when you're fast asleep? This fun collection takes readers on a middle-of-the-night adventure around an ordinary house, spying on ordinary objects engaged in not so ordinary adventures. A fruit rollup turns into a racetrack for toy cars. Leftover spaghetti becomes a pair of shoelaces. After a day of being bounced and dribbled, an aching basketball soaks in a sink full of ice. Here is one of my favorites:
Empty Pocket
by Laura Purdie Salas
I'm an empty spot-
a vacant lot.
I'm alone
with nothing to do.
Come button, toothpick, pebble, gum-
I'm nothing without
you!
I'm a treasure chest
or a robin's nest.
You are jewels
or eggs, bright blue!
Come nickel, sticker, piece of string,
I'm nothing without
you!
This is a great bedtime read for home, and a wonderful read aloud for school. Children will have fun imagining what the objects in their own homes do while they sleep. They'll enjoy coming up with their own imaginative poems about their object's adventures. Readers will joyfully get lost in Matteson's stunning illustrations.
Laura's collection made me think about where I spend my middle-of-the-nights, and that is in my comfy cozy bed. This poem isn't really an adventure poem, but rather an ode. It's a thank you for what it does for me.
My Bed
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher
A pillowed nest
To relax and rest
When I'm feeling stressed
And not at my best
It soothes and grants sleep
Collects tears that I weep
Dreams and secrets it keeps
A place to lay my weary head
My comfy cozy peaceful bed.
Copyright 2019
Jama Rattigan has a list of all blog activity surrounding National Poetry Month. It's a treasure. Thank you, Jama! Part of that list is this year's Progressive Poem. I contributed earlier this week. It's evolving nicely. Be sure to follow along! A link to the full schedule is in the sidebar.
I have Laura's book and have not shared it yet, but it is wonderful, I agree. Love that 'empty spot/vacant lot' and then that you wrote a poem about your bed. It has the kind of rhythm where I can almost imagine that it slows down so you.can.be.asleep.at.the.end in your "comfy cozy peaceful bed". Wonderful, Kimberly!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda!
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading this book -- it does sound like so much fun. Love your ode to your bed (I feel the same about mine). :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, jama! The book is a delight!
DeleteThe pocket poem made me think of this: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sweet-photo-series-reveals-whats-in-a-preschoolers-pockets_n_56fbdde3e4b0a06d58041b04
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your poem about your bed! Makes me want to go home immediately to mine!
Thanks for sharing that link, Ruth. It's great. While doing laundry, I think I found most of those items in my kiddos' pockets when they were little :) I'm glad you enjoyed mypoem as well. Rest well in your pillowed nest.
DeleteOh, yes. I love my bed....and actually my bed that I love it on a regular basis. What a great ode. The line about 'tears that I weep' gets me. So many of us hold our tears in until bedtime. My bed has caught a few tears as well. Fortunately, it's more of a pillowed nest. Ah! The Progressive Poem! Thanks for the link. I need to go visit.
ReplyDeleteYes, Linda, whenever I need a good cry, it's off to my bed I go! I'm glad you enjoyed the poem :)
DeleteCongratulations on winning Laura's book! Love your middle stanza of "My Bed."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alice!
DeleteI love Laura Purdie Salas' poem from the perspective of a pocket. I also love your poem about your bed. I am almost inspired to write a similar poem about my recliner!
ReplyDeleteA recliner poem would be great! Link over to it if you decide to write it. I'm glad you enjoyed both poems.
DeleteLovely. Am so glad the book arrived. I thought I lost the 4th grade poems but they resurfacwd. I hope to get my act togther and get them posted
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading them, Jone.
DeleteThank you, Kimberly! What a lovely review--and poem! I especially love your second stanza. That feeling of your bed being a soother and comforter and encourager really comes through. I love my bed, too. When I get home from traveling, one of my first thoughts is, Yay, I get to sleep in my very own bed tonight, with my just-right pillow:>)
ReplyDeleteYou're so very welcome, Laura! I'm glad you enjoyed the review and my poem. I know what you mean about getting to sleep in your own bed again after traveling. It's nice to get back to familiarity and comfort.
ReplyDeleteSo as a Kindergarten teacher, all my pockets become the repository of stuff. Sometimes a wee voice asks, "Will you hold this for me?" Other times my teacher voice chimes, "May I have that please?" Either way, LOL! I love how you used Laura's poem as a mentor text. Yes, what "dreams and secrets" our beds keep, especially our pillow. Perfect! -- Christie
ReplyDeleteChristie, Ruth shared this link above. I bet, as a teacher, your pockets often look like this, too :) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sweet-photo-series-reveals-whats-in-a-preschoolers-pockets_n_56fbdde3e4b0a06d58041b04
DeleteThat's one of my favorites for IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, too, Kimberly. I love that the collection inspired your own bed ode. I should probably write one of those—I give thanks for my bed most every night!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! My bed is my absolute favorite piece of furniture :)
DeleteCongratulations on winning Laura's book. It is such a wonderful children's book. You created your own poem that is "A place to lay my weary head." I am sitting on my bed and ready to nod off after reading your entry. My cozy bed is waiting for me, Kimberly. Time to take a short nap.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol, and enjoy your nap! :)
ReplyDeleteLucky you for winning Laura's book! Thanks for sharing that empty pocket delight--and glad that it inspired a little treasure of your own!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Buffy!
Delete