2016 Progressive Poem

It all started in the year of 2012. Irene Latham 's idea to celebrate National Poetry Month ( April), with a blog hop from one exciting blog to the next. Across oceans and back we visit each other's blog to see what the next line will be.
This year has been an exciting odyssey  and today I humbly add my line.

First I counted all the syllables in each line to find a pattern besides the obvious rhyme. Then I read and re-read to get the feel of where this has been going. To me the theme seemed to be welcoming Spring. What could be better than a picture of new life in the Spring. I took this picture at the Homosassa State park and even though the line said Yet I fear I am no kite or bird– There were a lot of references to flying, soaring things that birds do. So maybe this little fellow doesn't realize he is a bird yet and can fly and soar, but he definitely looks like he is dancing!

West Wind Dreams of Taking Shape

A squall of hawk wings stirs the sky.
A hummingbird holds and then hies.
“If I could fly, I’d choose to be
Sailing through a forest of poet-trees.”

A cast of crabs engraves the sand
Delighting a child’s outstretched hand.
"If I could breathe under the sea,
I’d dive, I’d dip, I’d dance with glee."

A clump of crocuses craves the sun.
Kites soar while joyful dogs run.
"I sing to spring, to budding green,
to all of life – seen and unseen."

     Wee whispers drift from cloud to ear
     and finally reach one divining seer
     who looks up from her perch and beams —
     "West Wind is dreaming May, it seems."

"Golden wings open and gleam
as I greet the prancing team.
Gliding aside with lyrical speed,
I’d ride Pegasus to Ganymede."

To a pied pocket, the zephyr returns.
      Blowing soft words the seer discerns
     from earthbound voyage to dreamy night,
     "The time is now.  I give you flight!"

"Yet I fear I am no kite or bird–
I lift! The world below me blurred

by tears of joy.  I spiral high,

I hum, I dive, I dip, I hive!"

Behold, Spring is but a dance away

Donna will have the difficult post of putting the last line down at Mainley Write. I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with.

If you missed any of the poem and want to see where it started and follow along; here is the list of contributors and comments of how they came up with their line.

2016 KIDLITOSPHERE PROGRESSIVE POEM

April

1  Laura at Writing the World for Kids

2  Joy at Joy Acey

3  Doraine at Dori Reads

4  Diane at Random Noodling

5  Penny at A Penny and Her Jots

6  Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink

7  Liz at Elizabeth Steinglass

8  Janet F. at Live Your Poem

9  Margaret at Reflections on the Teche

10  Pat at Writer on a Horse

11  Buffy at Buffy's Blog

12  Michelle at Today's Little Ditty

13  Linda at TeacherDance

14  Jone at Deo Writer

15  Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme

16  Violet at Violet Nesdoly

17  Kim at Flukeprints

18  Irene at Live Your Poem

19  Charles at Charles Waters Poetry

20  Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a Godforsaken Town

21  Jan at Bookseedstudio

22  Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge

23  Ramona at Pleasures from the Page

24  Amy at The Poem Farm

25  Mark at Jackett Writes

26  Renee at No Water River

27  Mary Lee at Poetrepository

28  Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe

29  Sheila at Sheila Renfro

30  Donna at Mainely Write

 

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Cry of the Sea by D.G. Driver

Cry of the Sea by D.G. Driver is a story about a girl,

Juniper Sawfeather ( love that name), who didn't want to be like her environmentally fanatic parents. She did care about the environment, but didn't want to be in the publicity that followed her parents. Instead she chose to go to a college far enough away that she wouldn't be bothered with the news magnetic parents she had.

She did care about the environment, though, so when there's an oil spill she goes to help her father save what marine animals she can.

But what they find there no one would believe! She didn't  believe it could be possible- Mermaids! Three of them, almost dead by the oil covering the water and their skin. Two of them died, but she was able to save the third one. The mermaids were not like story book mermaids, These looked more mutants fish with human like heads.

At the beach she meets Carter, who helps her and her father get the fish and other animals to safety. While she is trying to move the mermaid, her father is videoing the rescue to use as ammunition against the Affron company responsible for the oil spill.

"June" wants to help her friend Haley in her quest to be popular, but when June doesn't show up to help with a presentation, Haley will not speak to her.

In desperation, June emails the video of the mermaids to Haley to explain. The video goes viral, but the mermaids have been stolen!

June, Carter, Haley and popular group gets together to find and rescue the mermaids.

I truly loved the this story. It was realistic in that you feel that "it could happen".

D.G. Driver has a sequel out Whisper in the Woods. I can't wait to find out Juniper finds in the woods!

Creating Poetry by John Drury

I don't claim to be a poet. I'm a closet poet. In other words I have a journal that I write poems down in, but they are not for the public eye. Not because they are obscene or anything like that, but because for me it is exposing my soul. Saying that, I would like to learn to write some fun poems that aren't so serious. Which is why I love to join other poets (yes they let me) in the Progressive Poem that Irene Latham hosts each year. She's one of my favorite poets and she is letting me give two of her books away on my blog. (Don't forget to register to win).

So getting back to why I chose Creating Poetry by John Drury.
First, I like the musical cadence of reading poems out loud. You find then in nursery rhymes, in picture books, in magazines, pretty much ever where. He goes over every pattern, form, style, you name it.


Second, not only does John Drury tell you about the different forms, but also has suggestions of where to submit your poetry. How cool is that!


Third, I love the way he has broken down the sections for quick references: Preparing, Language, Sight, Sound, Movement, Shaping, Patterns and Traditions, Voice, Sources of Inspiration, Things to Write About, Other Art Forms and Finishing. There is also an Appendix which includes: Submitting Poems- Another Exercise, Index and an Index to Exercises.


So after reading this book I would have to say what my writing teacher Dr. Hardy always said, "Even if you don't write poetry, writing and studying it can help improve your writing."


John Drury gives several examples of this and I like what he says about his book, "If you feel intimidated by a topic-, you could skip over it, but you might do better to tackle it head-on."


So if you're like me and would like to "tackle" writing poetry "head-on". Leave a comment or enter through the rafflecoptor.
Must reside in the USA.


See you next week when I announce the lucky winners!

Fresh Delicious by Irene Latham illustrated by Mique Moriuchi

I love going to the farmer's market located in Ocala, Fl. There is pretty much everything you can think of from fresh milk to baked goods.

Arts and crafts, eggs, vegetables and fresh seafood from the Atlantic coast! Who doesn't love going to the Farmers' Market?

Fresh Delicious reminds me of our farmers market and all the fun, good things to see and do.

I never thought of cucumbers as submarines before!

I love strawberries. Here is a little poem about them:

Strawberry Jamboree

So many strawberries

costumed in red-

they carry green parasols

to shade their heads.

Tasteless, or tasteful?

You decide.

They wear their seeds

on the outside.

 (see recipe at end of book for strawberry ice cream)

There are puzzles to solve too! Summer Squash as Punctuation anyone?

This book will get the imagination going. See what you can find at your Farmers' Market and come up with your own poems and quizzes.

Includes kid friendly recipes. While at the market, pickup some fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and milk and then enjoy making some good wholesome food.

Remember to enter the rafflecoptor or leave a comment to be eligible to win this book and others.

Must reside in the USA.

See you next week when I do a book review on Creating Poetry in celebration of National Poetry month. Also follow along on the 2016 Progressive Poem



When the Sun Shines on Antarctica written Irene Latham & illustrated by Anna Wadham

This month I'm giving away two picture books by Irene Latham. The Sun Shines on Antarctica is the first one.

This is a unique picture book because it is both fiction and nonfiction. Antarctica is a real place, one of the seven continents. I always think of Antarctica as a cold barren, lifeless place. But was I in for a surprise!

One of my favorite poems is Beware the Brinkle

Like a frozen

lightening rod

or a jagged

magic wand,

it daggers

down-

zap-

to cast

an icy spell

on the sea

floor,

entombing

all it touches.

What is a brinkle? It's part brine and part icicle. It forms when the ice melts and drops into the cold water. Like an icicle falling from the eaves of house, brinkle sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor. When it hits the bottom, it traps whatever life-forms there are in ice.

How cool is that?

Anna Wadham  illustrations capture the playfulness of the animals as they frolic in the summer light.

Leave a comment or enter through the rafflecoptor for a chance to win this book.

More poetry fun here:

Patricia Weaver's day for the 2016 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem

March Book Giveaway Winners Announced and April Books

Patricia Weaver is the winner of Hoodoo by Ronald L Smith and Darren Gannuch is the winner of Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella

Congratulations to the March  winners. But if you didn't win, here's another chance for you to win. In honor of National Poetry month I will be giving away the following books:

Irene Latham has donated her two newest books: Fresh Delicious and When the Sun Shines on Antarctica.

I would like to have teachers enter the giveaway for these two books. They are so good I want to get them into the hands of children. So if you are a teacher here's your chance! Enter using the Rafflecoptor or leave a comment. You must reside in the USA to be eligible.

The other book I'm giving away this month is Creating Poetry by John Drury. If you ever wanted to learn how to write poetry or just brush up on the different forms, this is your chance!You must reside in the USA to be eligible.

I will be reviewing each of these books this month so stay tuned.

See you next week!

P.S. follow the 2016 Progressive Poem today at Dorie Reads