Poetry Friday - Snow Gators

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out Elizabeth Steinglass's blog to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

________________________________________

After a stint of having a tough time sitting down and writing, I feel like I am finally getting back into the swing of things. I am playing catch up a bit in the February Poetry Challenge, but I am determined to have 28+ poems by the 28th. 

This week I had the chance to share a piece of artwork from my own home. I chose a recent piece that my husband illustrated (you can see more of his work here, if you're interested). It was was so much fun to see everyone's ekphrastic poetry responses. You can see mine below.

illustration (c) John Herzog

Snow Gators

Snowbirds flock

To Florida

Each winter

And relax

On sunny beaches

But some folks

Scamper North

To frolic

In the snow. 

Are they snow gators? 

(c) Rebecca Herzog

Poetry Friday - Cherita

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out Check It Out to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

________________________________________

This past week Carol Varsalona posted the art piece below as prompt for the February Poetry Challenge. The 1st poem is what I came up with originally while thinking of sleep training my son. I changed the last line as I have been pondering the shooting here in Florida (a few hours away from me). I am generally not an angry person and it takes a lot for me to really get upset. But today, I have nothing constructive to say, so I'll just leave you with my meager poems. 

(c) Bessie Pease Gutman

After bringing you home

Snuggles and cuddles

And gentle kisses.

Now its time

To sleep,

Pretty please? 

***

After bringing you home

Snuggles and cuddles

And gentle kisses.

No one should ever

Have to bury

Their own child.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 2/12/18

#IMWAYR

The weekly post where I recap all the KidLit books I’ve been reading. Occasionally, I’ll also review some adult fiction books as well.

Be sure to check out Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to see what other kidlit readers are reading. Because, you know, we can never have too many books in our TBR pile.
                                         

The Cybils round 2 judging has been taking up a lot of my book-reading attention lately--and I'm loving it. I am so excited for the winners to be announced on Wednesday. . Seriously, all the picture book and board book finalists were fantastic! It was hard to just choose one!

Dear Girl, A Celebration of Wonderful, Smart, Beautiful you!
written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal
illustrated by Holly Hatam

A few weeks ago, I read Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It was the first book of hers that I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I decided to read a few more of her books. This one came out just this past December and was brand new at the library. It did not disappoint. 

I think that this is the type of picture book that is appropriate for the entire age spectrum. I could have seen myself reading this to my squirming toddler to begin instilling a positive image early. I fell it is spot on for my daughter, who just turned 8, as she enters these pre-teen years and will soon be dealing with all sorts of inner and outer changes. I can see getting this book for a daughter who is graduating high school and getting ready to head off on her own.

The illustrations are just as beautiful as the text. The black and white characters with the splashes of color are fantastic. It is fun and cute and wonderful.  I would highly recommend this book. 

Poetry Friday - A Woman's Place

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out the lovely Sally Murphy's blog to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

________________________________________

Happy Poetry Friday, everyone! After the stomach bug and then stalwartly sleep training my toddler (I would not wish either on my worst enemy), I finally feel like I have my bearings again. Yay!

I am having an absolute blast participating in Laura Shovan's February Daily Poem Project. Some days, the poems come a bit easier than others, but I am loving the practice and it is slowly becoming a habit. 

Yesterday, I wrote a poem based on this beautiful wood block print by Heather Meloche's grandmother, Thelma Wilson Brain. Heather shared that Thelma had been accepted to the University of Michigan, for Art and Fashion Design, but her father didn't let her go.

Wood block art by Thelma Wilson Brain

  

Originally, I wrote an almost-nonet to go with the piece (the 1st half of the poem below). Then Donna Smith suggested that I expand it into an hourglass-type format. I think it turned into a stronger piece because of her suggestion. I like it enough that I think I may keep reworking it a bit. 

A Woman’s Place

A woman’s place is in the forest

Feeling soft grasses under foot

Conversing with the sky lark

Listening to the world

Tasting ripe berries

Smelling blue bells

Seeing wonder

Existing

Present

Still

Present

Persisting

Seeing progress

Smelling victory

Tasting aspirations

Listening to the voiceless

Conversing with the Dreamers

Feeling the triumphs and sorrows

A woman’s place is in the resistance

(c) Rebecca Herzog 2018

Poetry Friday - Losing My Head

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out the lovely Donna Smith's blog, Mainely Write, to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

________________________________________

I am all discombobulated. Here it is, 10:30 at night and I have a panic. "Oh no! I only have an hour and a half until it's Saturday and it'll no longer be 'Poetry Friday'!" Commence scrambling to get my stuff together. After about 15 minutes of sitting at the computer, I realize that it is still Thursday. Duh.

The stomach bug arrived at our home this past week and it decided to take no prisoners. I think we're out of the thick of it, but, as outlined above, the days have run together and I'm still trying to figure out which way is up. But we managed to get out of the house for a bit today and actually see the sun.

I have been reading through Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Last month, I got to hear Lee Bennett Hopkins speak, and he mentioned Shel and some of his background. It intrigued me. I'd love to read a biography on Shel at some point, but for now, I am going through and rereading some of his poetry.   So I thought I'd share a few of his poems that were fitting for the past week.

(c) Shel Silverstein

Sick

“I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

“I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I’m going blind in my right eye.

(read the rest of the poem here)

(c) Shel Silverstein

The Loser

Mama said I'd lose my head

if it wasn't fastened on.

Today I guess it wasn't

'cause while playing with my cousin

it fell off and rolled away

and now it's gone.

(read the rest of the poem here)