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!
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!
