Welcome to Poetry Friday to all nature and poetry lovers, and Happy National Poetry Month!
First, if you are not familiar with Poetry Friday and want to know more, find out HERE. Also you’ll find Mister Linky at the end of the post, so please add your blog if you have one to share.
This week I am the host and I am thrilled to share my interview with David Elliott, author of At the Pond. His new picture book is due to be on bookshelves on April 12/2022.
At the Pond, by David Elliott, illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford, is written for children who love the beauty and drama of animals and nature. These read aloud poems, filled with clever language and stunning images, will entertain and awe readers of any age. They awed me.
Two of Elliott’s previous titles that I read, In the Wild, and In the Sea, feature fun, stand alone, rhyming poems about wild life. But At the Pond, feels more like a story than a collection of individual poems about a particular animal. It does this by providing us a time frame: One day at the pond from morning to night. The poems are all untitled which makes it feel like a story. The first poem is set in early morning featuring a red-winged blackbird:
The red-winged blackbird spreads his tail and sings his hello morning song; he has sung it since the bright and misty world began. The bullfrog leaps! and there among the reeds, the water ripples like a fan unfolding on the surface of the pond. It springs to life! Another day has dawned.
Morning on the pond is a gentle time as reflected in the picture and poem. I love the subtle sounds and rhyming in the above poem: The rhyme of began/fan, and the “f” alliteration in fan/unfolding and the “d” alliteration in the last two lines: pond/day/ dawned. Also the shape of the poem evokes water ripples and the blackbird’s feathers.
And so, the story begins with a blackbird in the morning. What will happen? Well, a lot will happen because we are, after all, at a pond. We encounter a snapping turtle about to dine on a minnow. We meet a dragonfly, a water strider, a beaver and deer at the pond and others from in and around the pond. The language and tone of each poem match the subject. Schimler’s amazing artwork adds to the magic of what we discover in this book.
One of my favorite poems is about the Great Blue Heron. Notice Elliott’s word choice:
The pond’s nobility, the great blue heron wades in the shallows with ancestral dignity both majestic and absurd. The fish do not doubt it: The heron is a striking bird.
Nobility, ancestral dignity, majestic, absurd, striking, are words that resonate with the idea of a heron. The author does this throughout, choosing just the right words to create an image and mood around a creature or element of pond life. The word choice in ON THE POND challenges the reader and listener. The poetry is clever, fun and imaginative.
The last poem is set at night and it creates the lovely arc of this pond-story, anticipating the morning to come.
Cattails whisper through the night Until the morning’s welcome light Finds the pond’s expectant shore and the blackbird sings once more.
I loved this ending! As a poet interested in craft involved in a poetry collection, I was impressed how David Elliott and Amy Schimler-Safford tell a story about wild life at the pond using individual poems embedded in the arc of a day.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity to ask David Elliott a few questions about On the Pond and his creative process.
INTERVIEW WITH David Elliott
JS:
When in your creative process did you know the book would be structured within a day at the pond, starting in morning and ending at night? Were the poems always untitled?
DAVID ELLIOT:
With the exception of On the Farm, each of the other books in the series covers a wide range and variety of habitats. With In the Wild, we travel to all seven continents. On the Wing includes poems about the Andean Condor and your friendly neighborhood cardinal. In the Past adds the element of geologic time to the mix. Yikes!
But the poems in At the Pond observe and celebrate a singular biome. Often, we can see the perimeter of a pond in a single glance. In other words, a pond is intimate. It’s also quieter than say, the ocean, or the jungle, or even the woods. I wanted the book to convey some of that intimacy and stillness, and so very early on I decided to structure the book around a single day, which, to my way of thinking at least, is also intimate and can be, if we’re lucky, quiet, too.
I have to say that I’m not sure I made that decision as logically as I’ve tried to explain it here. I work so much by intuition, but in retrospect, I think in part, at least, this is what was going on. By the way, it made me so happy to learn that you felt like the book was more of a story than some of the others. It’s what I was hoping for, the story of a single day at the pond. I wanted it to read like one long piece, which is why there are no titles for the individual poems.
JS:I admired how skillfully you found the right language for each poem, for instance, the elevated diction for the graceful Great Blue Heron. What does your research involve? Do you make word list to help spark poems?
DAVID ELLIOT:
In general, I dislike research. I’m impatient. I want to get to the poems right away. But, of course, you can’t write about a seahorse, or a fisher cat, or a Great Blue Heron, unless you know something about a seahorse, or a fisher cat, or a Great Blue Heron. I do begin by making a list, but not a word list. I start by jotting down all the possible animals I could choose from. (You can imagine how long that list was for In the Wild.) With At the Pond, I made sure I included those that were in the water, on the water, around the water and over the water.
Next, I read as much as I can about each creature, and watch as many films-both professional and backyard—as I can find on youtube. But the real work comes in trying to discover how I feel about the animal — what is the creature saying to me? — which is why my research involves spending a lot of time staring out the window. There is a great deal to be said for indolence in the creative process.
With the books in this series, it’s been especially important to be mindful of the illustrator. I do my best to choose animals which vary in form, color, and size, hoping to give the artist as much range and possibility as I can. I feel so grateful and so much admiration for the work each of the illustrators has contributed. Holly Meade (On the Farm, In the Wild, In the Sea), Becca Stadtlander (On the Wing), Matthew Trueman (In the Past), Rob Dunlavey (In the Woods) and now Amy Schimler-Safford (At the Pond) have each brought something that makes them shine. I’m amazed at the luminosity of Amy’s work. I can’t stop looking at it.
I’m not quite sure what to say about the language except that the language of the poem –and by language I don’t just mean vocabulary. I’m talking about syntax, word choice, rhythm, meter, even punctuation, all of it — anyway, the language of the poem must come from the poem and not the poet. Think of each poem as a well into which you are dipping your bucket. Pay attention. See what comes up.
JS: Did you set out to write about a particular setting, such as a pond, or did poems you had already written lead you to focus on a setting?
DAVID ELLIOTT:
Actually, it was the series editor, the fabulous Liz Bicknell, who suggested the setting for this one. At first, I wondered if there would be anything to say about something so humble as a little pond. Then I started reading and daydreaming and remembering and suddenly an entire new world opened before me.
JS: For aspiring children’s poets, any advice?
Well, my first piece of advice would be not to listen to my advice. But having said that, I would say that maybe the most important thing you can do is to develop your ear. Language is sound. It’s music. Try to hear the music. The rhythms. The way the vowels and consonants are harmonizing. Or not. Is the comma doing its job or do you need a full stop to create that beat of silence? Train your outer ear to hear.
But equally, or perhaps even more important than hearing is listening, listening to what the poem is trying to tell you, what it wants to say. I try never to think of myself as a poet. Rather, I feel much more aligned with those medieval monks who sat in their scriptoria copying classical texts. In my work, I am trying to listen to what is already there.
Finally, I would add that persistence is the name of the game. Until very recently I was a faculty mentor in Lesley University’s MFA in Creative Writing, A former student, who graduated at least ten years ago –long enough ago to have had three children –just wrote to tell me that her middle grade novel is under contract. She kept at it. She prevailed. There’s a lesson there for all of us. Hooray!
THE END
I would like to thank David Elliott for the interview and would like to recognize, as he did, the talent and artistry brought to At the Pond by illustrator Amy Schimler-Safford. Beyond the poetry, the art on every page adds something special to this lovely book.
Janice, this is a great interview. Thank you for giving us some time with David Elliott. I so appreciate how you spotted precise language and he discusses hearing and listening. They really are different and uniquely special. My family has a pond that is our gathering place. I think this book might need to live in the cabin there. Thanks so much for the review! And, thank you for hosting the round=up this week. I’m in with some thoughts on writing from letters and of course, some star shenanigans, on the star padlet.
Thanks so much for the review and interview with David. Enjoyed the sample poems you shared and the peek at the art, which looks gorgeous. All the books in this series are wonderful, and I like what the different illustrators brought to each, creating their own visual poems to enhance David’s lyrical words.
Thanks so much for hosting this week. At Alphabet Soup, I’m celebrating the release of Things We Eat, the new Vardell-Wong ABC anthology. 🙂
What a wonderful interview, Janice! I loved David Elliot’s IN THE WOODS and can’t wait to enjoy IN THE POND! Thanks for hosting!
At the Pond looks good! Thanks for telling us about it and for sharing the interview.
Wonderful interview! I’m adding At the Pond to my to read list now!
Wonderful interview to read and relish, Janice. I have other books in this group so look forward to this one, know it will be lovely. Thanks for hosting, too!
Janice, This was such an enjoyable and informative post! Thank you for hosting this week and for the showcase you gave this book and its author! I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and the author’s response to your questions. The language Mr. Elliot used in the Great Blue Heron poem was inspired. I thoroughly enjoyed everything you wrote this week. I especially like his advice about becoming a listener
and developing your ear. Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing this review and interview, Janice! And congratulations on your new book, my friend! It looks and sounds beautiful. I’ve never read a book that feels like it was written about my personal experiences (other than my own books), but as I read this I feel like I’m sitting on my front lawn, watching the heron and blackbirds at the pond across the road. Nicely done.
I gobble up any and all interviews with David Elliott, and this one is no exception! Thank you, Janice and David. Reading it today reminded me of how much I love this series. I had the pleasure of interviewing David back in 2015 for On The Wing. https://michellehbarnes.blogspot.com/2015/02/spotlight-on-david-elliott-dmc-challenge.html Thank you, also, for hosting Poetry Friday this week, Janice. Happy Poetry Month!
Michelle, your 2015 interview covered so much about David Elliott’s life and I got to know so much more about him and his process. You are a master at interviews!
Holy smokes, Janice! Thank you for sharing your interview with David Elliot and his amazing new book. I will be back to ‘ponder’ the brilliance here. Thank you for hosting as well! 🙂
Thanks for this texturally rich interview and review of David Elliott’s new poem book Janice, and David for sharing your thoughts with us ! I connected with David’s comment when he talked about “the language of a poem” and said, “the language of the poem must come from the poem and not the poet.” This reminds me of when working on a painting how it helps to give yourself over to the painting for its success. I also like his comment on listening for the music in our words and poetry. I’m particularly fond of this book and will be reviewing it on my blog on April 22nd. Thanks also, Janice, for hosting the roundup!
Janice, your interview is so beautifully laid out. Your questions were interesting and David did an amazing job of responding with detailed thoughts. Thank you for hosting this week and providing us with an in-depth peek into David’s new book prior to having it on bookshelves.
Janice, your interview is so beautifully laid out. Your questions were interesting and David did an amazing job of responding with detailed thoughts. Thank you for hosting this week and providing us with a peek into David’s new book prior to public viewing.
I love ponds! We visit one most days on our walks, so this was a delightful book to preview. I’m always interested in the creative process of other writers! Thanks for hosting today and for this interview and preview.
Thank you very much for hosting with this great interview, Janice. I am a fan of David Elliot’s poems and this series of books, and he is so funny and wise and humble. It was a treat to read this and to think about walking around my neighbor’s pond with her and her dog. The great heron as “the pond’s nobility” is fabulous and true. Happy spring! xo
I am a great fan of David Elliott, Janice, so thanks for offering this conversational peek into the process for AT THE POND–although I object to the idea that a poet staring out the window discovering how they feel about the poem, listening for the music to bubble up, is indolent in any way! What a great post, and thanks for hosting.
Fantastic interview, Janice! You asked all the right questions. I LOVE David Elliott’s poetry and I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
Thanks for hosting us! Happy Poetry Month!
Mary Lee, thank you for introducing me to Eidelweiss. You were very helpful.
Absolutely lovely! Thank you, Janice. I love that David follows his intuition and that he was open to writing intimately about the pond. I’m fascinated by the choice not to title the poems and seeing this as one long work rather than individual poems. Beautiful!
I enjoyed Jone’s interview about Africa Town. It’s waiting for me on my desk. What an undertaking, Irene. What an accomplishment!
What a great interview! I’m looking forward to reading this book!
Thank you so much for this post and interview, Janice and David. I’m a huge fan of this whole series, and this does sound like a new approach. I love the excerpts you shared, especially that striking heron (whose prey know it is a striking bird indeed). I’m also copying out several little quotes on the writing process and on poetry. David has so much to share! And thank you for hosting, Janice 🙂
Thank you for this thought-provoking interview! I especially enjoyed the concept that “the language of the poem must come from the poem and not the poet.” I will definitely find this book!
Yes, that is a good concept, a way to approach a poem, listen as you write it.
Fabulous post, Janice! I love the poetry, and I believe I will have to find this book. Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing this jewel, and for hosting today. My best to you…
Janice, thanks for hosting and for sharing such a marvelous interview with David Elliot. The book looks gorgeous. I just love writers who respect children so much that they create beautiful works for them. ❤️ I’m reminded of a C.S. Lewis quote: “A children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last.”
Thanks, Janice!
I agree! It’s discouraging to think so many adults won’t pick up a picture book, thinking it’s not for them.
Thanks for hosting — and sharing this insightful interview, Janice!
Thank you both for this wonderful interview. We have great blue herons here in Maryland and I love this description of them, “The pond’s nobility…wades in the shallows with ancestral dignity.”
Fabulous interview. Thanks so much for sharing. And for hosting!
So much to ponder (I know I’m not the first to bad-pun!) here, Janice. I’ve ordered At the Pond and can’t wait for it to arrive. My Kindergarten naturalists will LOVE it, I am sure. And what a wonderful interview with David. It’s so fun to hear about his process and inspiration. Thank you for such goodness!
Janice, I have enjoyed reading about At the Pond and the interview with David Elliott. My favorite was that before research David didn’t know if the pond would be enough of a topic, but then realized there was so much there, noble as well as humble. (Sorry, I realized that I didn’t submit my previous comment yesterday!)
I echo what everyone else has said here. I love hearing about others’ writing processes, and this was wonderfully done! I have also ordered the book! Thank you for sharing it and for hosting.
Loved reading your interview and especially the poem about the heron. I’m requesting the book from our library now and will explore some of his other titles too, all new to me. Thanks for hosting and for sharing At the Pond and David with us through your interview.
What a wonderful interview, I loved hearing more about David’s thoughts and process and your excellent observations. Clearly I was provided with lots of inspiration from David’s poems to “draw” from in tackling illustrating this book. He led the way with creating a mood, which is exactly how I love to work. I am so glad you enjoyed “At the Pond.” Thanks for your kind words about the art.