Poetry Friday – A Diminishing Poem of Presence

Today is Poetry Friday and Jama Rattigan at Jama’s Alphabet Soup is hosting today. She has a sweet post that includes smiles from Helena Nelson.

Last week I spent the week in Minneapolis and one of our many adventures was to visit an independent bookstore called Paperback Exchange. We had so much fun browsing, and we each chose all the books we wanted. My daughter was recommending titles to us. The store owner was chiming in. I found the poetry section, and the first book I picked up was this Poetry of Presence volume.

Look at that partial list of contributors

The editor Phyllis Cole-Dai writes a poem in the introduction: “On How to Pick and Eat Poems”. Two lines from her poem:

So put a poem upon your lips. Chew its pulp.
Let its juice spill over your tongue.

Read the whole poem at Phyllis’ web page here. Listen to her read it here.

Reading that poem at the store sold me on the book. After we got back to my daughter’s house with all our books, I was sorting through my books, looking for the poetry book. After a few minutes, I found it in my husband’s pile, where it’s been ever since. Yesterday, I came home and he was copying Sifter by Naomi Shihab Nye into his journal. It begins with:

When our English teacher gave
our first writing invitation of the year,
Become a kitchen implement
in 2 descriptive paragraphs,
I did not think
butcher knife or frying pan,
I thought immediately
of soft flour showering through the little holes
of the sifter and the sifter’s pleasing circular
swishing sound, and wrote it down.

Find the rest of the poem on page 30 in Poetry of Presence.

Weeks ago, I made a note that the Poetry Sisters’ challenge was a diminishing poem in September. I’m giving it a rough try, inspired by Nye’s poem. (I have no idea what that last line means, haha! I’m going to have to try that again!)

Be a tender sifter
of time. Just sift
the bad and sit
with the good–it
weighs on we, then I

Poetry Friday – Flying Reverso

Today is Poetry Friday, and our host is Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink. She has an invitation for us!

We hiked today around a lake under the flight path
Flights leaving Minneapolis airport

After reading Rose Cappelli’s Reverso poem last week about the love and hate of fall and Patricia Franz’s poem about two opinions of an empty nest, I thought I would give a reverso another try. They shared some good hints by Marilyn Singer. I borrowed phrases from Rose to help make the opposites, like “don’t think” and “I prefer.”

I did cheat with the YES and NO for the last words. I’m going to try this again!

Since we flew to my daughter and son-in-law’s town this week, I thought I’d use flying as my topic. I’m not opinionated either way on what kind of travel I prefer, but I know folks who really are! We are having a grand trip, so I won’t get to be online much this weekend.

Flying

Flying!
This form of travel for me!
Don’t think that I prefer
walking and biking and driving!
That is a no. How about more
flying, not
Anything else! Please!
Flying!!! Yes!

Flying?
Anything else! Please!
Flying! NOT!
That is a no! How about more
Walking and biking and driving!
Don’t think that I prefer
This form of travel for me–
Flying…? No!

Ready to board our Southwest flight to Minneapolis

August 2023 Open Write

August 19, 2023
Hands with Denise Krebs

Pre- and Post-Retirement Hands

Yesterday’s hands
Shuffle 53 papers (3 haven’t turned theirs in yet)
Pour cold cereal for dinner again
Pump air as they move rapidly to my next class
Take notes in meetings (sometimes one after another)
Key boatloads of emails (while poetry sinks before starting)
Grade and record assignments (regardless of what I really believe about grading)
Strive to stay human to nurture connections with my students
Yesterday’s hands sacrifice in the name of indispensability
They always keep moving, spinning plates that threaten to drop
Yesterday’s hands produce, juggle, contribute, spill, repeat…
repeat…

Today’s hands,
Today’s hands
Hold a cup of tea, patiently
pausing as I watch the leaves steep.
Steeping is a slow word
and today’s hands take time.
Today’s hands pause the book and wait
while that idea steeps deep inside.
Today’s hands crochet a baby’s toy,
turn to the next page in their daily poetry book,
and make seedy peanut butter sandwiches for the birds.
Today’s hands hold, thrive, create, make, wonder.

August 20, 2023
Nestlings: Hidden Poems with Gayle Sands

A found poem from “Decoded” by Jon Sands:Decoded White Fear You \ silence: take \ lose your \ the emptiness \ moon. & danger– \ Blood undress \ white your \ reached skin \ for the reality. \ gun. repeat \ Black lawlessness \ reality. Nestling poem after “Decoded” by Jon Sands

August 21, 2023
Ode to a Poet with Wendy Everard

Oh, Emily Elizabeth — Quiet and Elusive
Did you want her to burn everything?
The 1,800 – Poems – we now enjoy?
Hills, Sundowns, and Carlo made you Sing

As — Nervous Prostration — kept you Home
to Bake and Garden and tend the ill.
When your mother finally joined the Dyings
“Home is so far from Home” you distilled

your raw emotions. What would you think
About this Home today? Would you be upset
To see Thousands of volumes opining on you
Or your Wikipedia page on the Internet

Goodbye! Dear Somebody!
They’ve advertised, you know.
But under the field of buttercups
You can keep your sweet repose

August 22, 2023
Embodying Art with Scott McCloskey

Ellen

In 1881, a lot happened—like,
Tunisia became our French protectorate.
And the Statue of Liberty got its first rivet.
And Hubertine Auclert started La Citoyenne because, yes,
of course, women are French citizens,
and we should have the vote.

And we posed for Pierre-Auguste outside of Paris.
In the U.S. in 1881, the President was shot and later died.
Barnum and Bailey joined forces, and
Booker T. started Tuskegee Institute.

And we sat at the Maison Fournaise Restaurant
holding still, pretending to party.
Do you see our smiles and the
eyes we’re making at those men?
It’s all staged.
In my line of sight I had to watch Aline eyeing that little pup.
She never tired of kissing him right on the nose.
And he may have licked her too.
That boor, Charles, thought he was all that.
I was sitting behind him,
but I could hear every word of his pompous talk.
I couldn’t get my wine glass full often enough.
I had to hold it up for hours, it seemed.
At least the wine was real.
And we never even went out on the boat.
And don’t get me started on the fact that
a “luncheon” should have more to it
than grapes and wine.

The next year Pierre sold our painting,
without so much as asking our permission.
Years later he married dog breath Aline.

And now we’re all helter-skelter,
spending most every one of our hours
in a triangular box in the game cupboard.
How absurd.

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Renoir 
Ellen still drinking her wine

August 23, 2023
Self-Perception: Concrete Poetry with Ashlyn O’Rourke

I don’t think anyone sees me as focused and single-minded, steadfast…wait…I want to visit Zumbo, the talking dog, where can I find him…Maybe in this pile of library books here. Oh, this one is short, I’ll read it now and think about my poem later. The author is fascinating. Look, she had all these famous musicians in her home when she grew up. Now she’s a professor. No, actually, Wikipedia says she died in 2018. Do you think that bridge is going out and will make it impossible to get to your doctor appointment on Friday? Maybe I’ll work on this blog post for Friday. Those bikes are looking ready for a ride on this unseasonably cool day. First some Grape-Nuts. Then a game of Bananagrams. Yes, no one sees me as focused-single-minded. But I do play all the games.

Poetry Friday – Sealey Challenge Update

It’s Poetry Friday. Molly at “Nix the Comfort Zone” is hosting today. She shares photos of Maine and a gorgeous bouquet of haiku in celebration of the nature of summer.

Here are the poetry books I read this week:

August 11, 2023The Land of Counterpane by Robert Louis Stevenson

August 12, 2023One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Dinosaur Dance! and dozens more board books of poetry and prose that my baby grandson sat and listened to. Or sometimes crawled around while I finished.

“Tiny little dino goes deedly dee.” So cute!

August 13, 2023What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer – This is a wonderful anthology in three parts (dating, marriage, and children). Kate is beautiful and brutal in her honesty. It was a gift of poetry from my daughter. Follow Kate at @KateJBaer (If you haven’t heard of her, you won’t be disappointed.)

I found these A. A. Milne books at a  library sale, and realized I hadn’t read them for decades, so they were two of my books this week.

August 14, 2023When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

August 15, 2023Now We are Six by A.A. Milne

Look at those sweet dirty knees! Milo helped me keep on track this week in the Sealey Challenge.

August 16, 2023E. E. Cummings Selected Poems edited by Richard S. Kennedy.

I love this children’s rhyme. Be sure to read it aloud.

August 17, 2023Tree of Codes by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Oh, my. I missed this beauty when it was published in 2010. It’s really a long found poem, created from the author’s favorite book of all time: A short story collection called The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz. The Author’s Afterword is fascinating and heartbreaking, and I cannot do it justice in summary here. Suffice it to say, the story of this book includes the Holocaust, the Wailing Wall, along with Schulz’s senseless killing and most of his creative work being lost during the war. In the Afterword, Foer writes: “At times I felt that I was making a gravestone rubbing of The Streets of Crocodiles, and at times I was transcribing a dream that The Streets of Crocodiles might have had.”

Here are two pages transcribed, which I think show the typical  poetic gems in  this book:

The earth was covered
with a tablecloth of winter
The hours of darkness
hardened with boredom
One cut them with blunt knives

August has passed,
and yet summer continues
by force to grow days.
They sprout secretly
between the chapters
of the year,
covertly included
between its pages.

For one who can’t imagine how the book was designed, like me, Tree of Codes is a feat of paper engineering magic.

 

August’s Ethical ELA Open Write begins this weekend. I will be hosting on Saturday, so I hope you’ll come and check out the prompt and join us with a draft of your own to share.

Poetry Friday – So Much Poetry Goodness

Today is Poetry Friday, and the roundup is happening over at The Opposite of Indifference blog with Tabatha Yeatts hosting. She shares a funny poem “Prof of Profs.”

Look what I got from Australia! Thank you Kat Apel for this beauty. Look at that cactusy font she used, and I love the metaphors throughout. “Remember your soft centre / is sweet and refreshing, so… / Grow your heart!” is my favorite.

Kat also shared other poems about cactus and this, my favorite, about the arid land in her Queensland. It reads like it came from a blockbuster musical filmed out on the bush. I so love the form she used in this poem, which is an echo of “On Kiley’s Run” by Banjo Paterson. I’m sharing the first stanza below. Do read the rest of the poem here.

This Land
By Kathryn Apel

Horizons stretch forever ’cross
This sunburnt land.
The shimmer of a heatwave’s gloss
That melds with parched and tufted grass,
As hot winds blow and dust storms pass,
While brittle, yellow tumbleweed
Is swept along with careless heed
Across the land.

Continue…

Thank you, Kat, for sending
your beauty across the world
landing in my heart

On Wednesday, I went to the virtual book launch that Patricia told us about in July. Earlier, on Poetry Friday she shared the poem, “The Big Box of Books”, she wrote during a Mindful Poetry Moment; it is one of two of Patricia’s poems included in the anthology. I had first learned about the Mindful Poetry group from Patricia last February on this post. In April I got busy with other poetry opportunities, and I didn’t participate in any of the activities. However, after spending some time with these mindful poets on Wednesday, I will definitely check out The Well for April 2024.

Patricia reading one of her poems at the Mindful Poetry Book Launch

My Sealey Challenge Update (with some photos of favorite poems)

August 4 – Where the Deer Are by Kate Barnes (a gift from Linda Baie)

I love this poem by Kate Barnes “In the Pasture”

August 5 – Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me and You by Lin-Manuel Miranda

From Gmorning, Gnight! by Lin-Manuel Miranda

August 6 – Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney and (ill.) Brian Pinkney

From Martin Rising by Andrea David Pinkney

August 7 – I Offer My Heart as a Target by Johanny Vazquez Paz

From I Offer My Heart as a Target by Johanny Vazquez Paz

August 8 – Keep a Pocket in Your Poems, Classic Poems & Playful Parodies by J. Patrick Lewis

Keep a Pocket in Your Poems, Classic Poems & Playful Parodies by J. Patrick Lewis

August 9 – No Matter by Jana Prikryl – I had no favorites in this one. It was a tough read. I didn’t like it.
August 10 – The Year of Goodbyes by Debbie Levy

Books for next week and beyond

Peace to all those in Maui. How awful to be on an island with the devastating fires. Praying for all. Here is the organization President Obama shared if you want to help: Hawaii Community Foundation

Poetry Friday – Poetry in Photos

It’s Poetry Friday, and the round-up is over at Mary Lee Hahn’s, where she shares the names of some of her beautiful neighbors.


It’s time for summer poetry swapping with Poetry Friday friends. What wonderful fun to participate! I received a package from Carol Labuzzetta with so many fun features.

Thank you, my apple orchard friend,
Cultivating love and hope for learners
at your blog and in the world. Thank you.

Carol sent these sweet photo cards, poems, bookmarks with so much love!

The next poetry swap was with Linda Baie. Another touching and love-filled gift arrived. Here are some photos:

She wrote a poem based on my summer travels
Photos of me during special times this summer
A sweet book of poems, one for the Sealey Challenge this month.
A bookmark
A thank you poem for Linda, made with some words she sent in a decorated box.
One pile of books for the Sealey Challenge this month

Sealey Challenge update:
Day 1: Grandparent Poems, compiled by John Micklos, Jr.
Day 2: Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
Day 3: Animal Ark, photos by Joel Sartorel, and words by Kwame Alexander (with two images below)

Such beautiful photos in this book, published by National Geographic
Kwame Alexander’s words really add to the beauty of this book, Animal Ark.

Poetry Friday – May Days

Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is found here at Linda Baie’s Teacher Dance blog. She shares an “ahhh” poem called “Small Kindnesses.”

May has taken off like a rocket. I’ve enjoyed having our kids here this week. Monday through Friday they worked remotely, mostly from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm, (Central time translated to Pacific). However, we had the afternoons and evenings for eating, fun, and hiking.

So far, I’ve noticed something special about each day in May, so that is my offering for this Cinco de Mayo Poetry Friday. Have a happy day and may you enjoy some colorful and delicious Mexican-American culture this weekend.

May Days

1
Maypole dancing and International Workers’ Day
Here’s to flowers and fair wages for all someday

2
World Tuna Day calls for methods sustainable
Future recovery from overfishing is obtainable

3
Lindsey Graham’s tweet from seven years ago
Predicted the demise of the GOP–truthful blow

4
May the fourth be with you, Star Wars fans
For who doesn’t love Luke, Leia and Han?

5
Cinco de Mayo in Mexico, just a minor celebration
but in the U.S. it has become a new joyful creation

 

Here are a few photos from our time together with my daughter and her husband. Sadly, we have to take them to the airport today.

Poetry Friday with April 27 #Verselove

Not Once
I taught for 22 years after Columbine,
And I have had to witness the gradual horror of
my country becoming
the only nation in the world
that accepts gun violence
as a part of going to school.

In Arizona, not once did we
practice for the inevitable.
We had just two lockdowns–
Once for killer bees in the yard
And again when a VP in a neighboring school
became an urban legend
by talking down an eighth grader with a gun.

In Iowa, there were no lockdowns.
For Austin’s hunting “how-to” speech,
He was asked to bring his rifle
to the principal’s office in the morning
instead of storing it his hall locker.

In Manama, the ancient-by-modern
capital city of Bahrain,
my students worried once
that America was going to bomb Iran,
but they never had to worry about
or practice for gun violence.

But now in this place,
it has become inevitable–
It’s a given:
Some American young people will die in their schools.
But all American young people worry and wonder.

They prepare, they lie quietly,
pretending an active shooter
Is in the hallway trying to kill their teacher
trying to kill their classmates
trying to kill them
with a gun.

Join tens of thousands of others on June 5th.
We are going to Denver to demand action.
We’re #Here4theKids.
Please join us.

Photo by @mrsdkrebs

I’m carrying this poem by Carl Sandburg in my pocket. Click the image to read the poem in text.


Today’s #Verselove prompt is “Place Tells Me to Be” with Chea Parton.

Today Ruth is hosting Poetry Friday at There is No Such Thing as a God-Forsaken Town. It’s her 17th blog anniversary, and she has pulled out a chair for us to sit down and rest awhile.