Poetry Friday (and why I love it)

I'm thrilled to be hosting Poetry Friday this week, not only because it's a way to connect with the kidlit bloggers out there, but because I really, really love poetry.  I love reading it and talking about it.  I used to teach my kids about poems and poets on an almost daily basis.  The opportunity to collect all of these posts about poetry is amazing -- doing this has given me the chance to really think about how wonderful it is that Poetry Friday exists.  Thank you to everyone who participates this week!

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Please leave a link to your post in the comments and I'll add it to the round-up over the course of the day.  I'll be back to update around lunch time, dinner time and bed time -- all on the early side for me!

Enjoy with a cup of coffee...

Julie over at The Drift Record is in with a poem by John Malcom Brinnin.  I didn't know this poem before reading this post, and am glad that I've gotten the chance to read it.

Cloudscome, of A Wrung Sponge, offers up a poem about a quilt by Sandra McPherson.  To say that this is a simply "a poem about a quilt" is an insult to the poem -- I found this to be a breathtaking poem, one that I couldn't wait to read all of.

Mary Lee from A Year of Reading shares a poem about bees, which resonates with me right now as I try to teach my son that bees are lovely to look at but not so nice to touch...  

Laura Salas shares some wonderful 15 words or less poems based on the image of a tall ship "skeleton."  I'm amazed, as always, by the images just 15 words can create. 

Sara, of Read Write Believe, is in with A Slice of Wedding Cake by Robert Graves.  She chose this poem in celebration of her anniversary -- Happy Anniversary, Sara!  

Janet over at Findings shares an original poem about coloring with her daughters.  I love this poem -- the last stanza seems to be a truth that anyone who loves or works with young children will understand. 

Andy from The Write Sisters talks about the journey from a poem to a picture book.  The poem is fantastic (in my opinion!) and the story of getting this poem published is one that's sure to inspire anyone hoping to do the same! 

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Enjoy with a cool summer treat... ice cream, perhaps?

Sylvia, of Poetry for Children, starts off my afternoon with a fantastic poem about a principal by J. Patrick Lewis, as well as a review of his new book.  The poem is a perfect back to school piece!

Lisa from A Little of This, A Little of That shares a review of The Poetry Break.  This sounds like a great book for teachers, parents or anyone interested in helping kids understand and create poetry.

Ruth over at There Is No Such Thing As a God-Forsaken Town has an interesting post about Breaking Dawn, music and the pack mentality.  I loved reading this post -- it gave me a lot to think about! 

Deborah from Jumping the Candlestick gives us a lovely original called "At The Beach".  This is an ideal end-of-summer poem.  Though it does make me want to walk away from my computer and head to the beach... or at least sit outside for a while!

Andrea of Just One More Book is in with a conversation with Jillian Jiggs.  It's a good one!

Michele over at Scholar Blog gives us a book review and an Edgar Allan Poe poem.  I enjoy Poe's poetry and reading this post also has me interested in the fiction Michele recommends here. 

TadMack of Finding Wonderland shares a Keat's poem and some thoughts.  This is another post that caused me to stop and think... and I loved it!

Stacey over at Two Writing Teachers is in with a poem she wrote for a student's birthday.  What a great way to help kids love both school and poetry!

Michele from Semicolon shares "Time Goes by Turns" by Robert Southwell.  This is an interesting post and a thought-provoking poem.

Annie, of Crazy for Kids Books, gives us a review of "This is Just to Say".  The book sounds great -- and the poem she shares is all about brownies...

Little Willow over at Slayground shares an excerpt of "Rain at the Zoo".  The stanza she shares will make you eager to keep reading!

Melissa from Here In The Bonny Glen shares a Scots ballad.  She also posts some links to audio recordings of the song -- I listened to them all and thoughts they were quite beautiful.

Barbara, of Stray Thoughts, shares a poem and some thoughts about Anne Bradstreet.  Ahhh... another great post on this Poetry Friday! 

Karen Edmisten gives us a number of Billy Collins links.  I love Billy Collins and am grateful to Karen for sending this link in! 

Kelly over at Writing and Ruminating shares a The Human Seasons.  As another Jersey girl, I see how Kelly is beginning to think about autumn...

MotherReader shares some lyrics from Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog.  I'm not sure if this really counts as a Poetry Friday entry, but I enjoyed this post so I'm including it!

Becky, of Becky's Book Reviews, is in with a review of the new book of poetry by Adam Rex.  After reading the review, I want to read the book!

Tricia from The Miss Rumphius Effect shares a back to school poem.  On a personal note -- reading all of these back to school poems is making me miss teaching!

Yat-Yee shares a wonderful poem called Memory As a Hearing Aid.  My guess is that you'll enjoy this one, too... 

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The posts are getting slower around dinner time, so enjoy these with a glass of wine...

Jennie from Biblio File is in with a fall poem by Emily Dickinson.  I love Dickinson, so reading this post was a treat for me!

Cuileann, of The Holly and The Ivy, is in with another Emily Dickinson poem.  For me, this submission and the one before it are the perfect way to end my day!

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Well, looks like the two Emily Dickinson poems bring us to the end of Poetry Friday.  If there are any late-night submissions I'll post them first thing in the morning.  Otherwise, thanks again to everyone who participated this week!

Comments

[Mary Lee]

Thanks for hosting! I, too, love Poetry Friday for the infusion of fresh poems, poets, and poetry books I get each week!

I'm in with a poem about bees.

http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-bees.html

[Laura Salas]

Thanks for hosting, and for reminding us how lovely Poetry Friday is!

I'm in with 15 Words or Less poems (this week based on an image of a tall ship "skeleton") at http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/88114.html. Everybody come join in!

And I also posted on "Constantly Risking Absurdity" (the life of a poet) by Lawrence Ferlinghetti at http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/87700.html.

[Sara]

Yes, how wonderful PF is!

I'm in today with a post celebrating laughter and cake. http://saralewisholmes.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-cake.html

[Janet]

Mine is an original this week -- a poem about coloring with my daughters: http://writer2b.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/poetry-friday-kaleidoscope/

Thanks for hosting. I love Poetry Friday too!

[Diane Mayr]

So much poetry, so little time! Andy at The Write Sisters talks about one of the Sisters' poems and how it ended up as a picture book. Thanks! --Diane
http://thewritesisters.blogspot.com/2008/08/poems-turned-picture-books.html

[Sylvia]

Thanks for hosting. Sorry if this comment duplicates, but I had difficulty with the last one.

My posting today includes an original poem by the always generous J. Patrick Lewis as well as a review of his new renga poem collection, BIRDS ON A WIRE.

[LisaC]

I am in with a poetry book review. http://alotalot.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/poetry-friday-poetry-break/

[Ruth]

I'm in with Abstraction.

http://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-abstraction.html

[Deborah Diesen]

I'm a children's book author relatively new to the blogosphere, and though I have many doubts about myself as a poet, I've been using Poetry Friday as a writing prompt for myself, to stretch my writing and try new things.

I always enjoy the scope and variety of Poetry Friday. It's a great day to get lost in cyberspace, chasing the words around.

My own effort this week is beach-related. Not sure if it's the sort of thing you want to include in the round-up, but it's at:
http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday_22.html

[Andrea of JustOneMoreBook! KidLit Podcast]

Thanks for rounding us up today!

Our contribution is a chat about about the much loved, rhyming Jillian Jiggs series series:

http://www.justonemorebook.com/2008/08/22/life-is-good-jillian-jiggs/

[Michele]

I'm in with a poem and a brief book review: http://scholar-blog.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-24.html

Thanks for rounding up!

[TadMack]

I'm in with Keats' Ode on Melancholy... Thank you for rounding us up!

[TadMack]

http://writingya.blogspot.com/2008/08/imperfectly-depressing-poem.html
Here's the link...

[Stacey: Two Writing Teachers]

Thanks for hosting this week.

Here's a link to my Poetry Friday Poem, which is my favorite birthday card I created for one of my incoming students:

http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/poems-for-kids-birthdays/
SAS

[Sherry Early]

I'm featuring Catholic poet Robert Southwell.

http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=2630

[Annie]

Thanks for hosting today. I wrote a poetry book review that features an ode to chocolate brownies.Check it out at http://crazy4kidsbooks.blogspot.com/

[Little Willow]

Hi there! Thanks for hosting.

I've posted Rain at the Zoo by Kristen Tracy.
http://slayground.livejournal.com/409482.html

[Melissa Wiley]

Thanks for hosting! I'm in with "The Water Is Wide."

http://melissawiley.com/blog/2008/08/22/poetry-friday-the-water-is-wide/

[Barbara H.]

Thanks for hosting! I highlighted Anne Bradstreet today, especially "Verses Upon the Burning of Our House" here:

http://barbarah.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/poetry-friday-anne-bradstreet/

[Karen Edmisten]

I'm in this week with a Billy Collins link-fest.
http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday.html

Thanks for hosting! I feel the same way about Poetry Friday. :-)

[Kelly Fineman]

Thanks for hosting!

I'm in with Keats - The Human Season. Here's the direct link info: http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com/325834.html

[MotherReader]

I'm probably breaking a Poetry Friday rule, but I'm going to add lyrics to Laundry Day from Dr Horrible's Sing-Along blog.

http://www.motherreader.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-dr-horrible.html

[Becky]

I'm in with a review of Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex.

http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-adam-rex.html

thanks for hosting!

[Tricia]

I'm in today with a back-to-school poem by Bobbi Katz.
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-back-to-school.html

Thanks for rounding us up!

[Yat-Yee]

Thanks for hosting. Mine is posted here: http://yatyeechong.blogspot.com/