Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week we are hosted by Bridget Magee, Here.
Thank you Bridget for hosting. Also, I’d like to congratulate Bridget on the release of her new poetry anthology for kids, 10*10 Celebration 10 in 10 Different Ways. In it, you will find the work of many poets who write for kids, including many Poetry Friday friends.
Two of my poems about science, about the phenomenon of surface tension, are included. One is about the Water Strider, which is, as many know, a bug that can walk on water. I found the photos below free on Pixabay. This picture actually shows visually what surface tension is. The water looks like a trampoline.
Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week we are hosted by Irene Latham Here. Thank you, Irene, for hosting. Be sure to stop by and see what’s cooking.
Cooking?
It’s on my mind. I visited a good friend today who loves to cook. I was also thinking about cinquain poems and let food inspire me to write one.
What is a Cinquain? Five lines. Syllable count 2,4,6,8,2. Check out Kenn Nesbitt’s wonderful video Here. He recommends starting with something you like in the first line.
Considering it’s Birdtopia month, here’s a cinquain about the Great Blue Heron I wrote after reading they eat fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, insects, birds and rodents. What a menu!
Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Catherine HERE. Thank you, Catherine for hosting! Be sure to stop by to see what she has for us this week.
What is Poetry Friday? Find out more about it HERE.
Today’s Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis vaccines given together
The hesitancy surrounding the Corona Virus vaccine is discouraging as is the lack of understanding and respect towards our public health officials who are trying to get America well and out of our hospitals. No one wants to be in the ICU, but too many people end up there when they could have been vaccinated and out and about living their lives.
No one today remembers when Diphtheria was a plague in the United States. But in 1735, Noah Webster wrote, that from a town in New Hampshire, the disease “Gradually travelled southward, almost stripping the country of children . . . Many families lost three or four children–many lost all.”
“Throat Distemper” as Diphtheria was called, created a thick crust in the throat of children and slowly suffocated them as parents watched.
Having seen this horror, one day in 1894, there was shouting and applause, hats tossed in the air at a convention of Doctors in Budapest. Dr. Roux had presented certain research findings: the discovery of an antitoxin that could save the lives of children with Diphtheria! It wasn’t a vaccine, but a treatment that saved a high percentage of children.
A vaccine was later developed that would stimulate in children antibody formation against the disease toxin and totally prevent the disease.
Diphtheria was essentially eradicated in America and those who created it were celebrated. Most doctors today have never seen a patient with diphtheria, but as of 2017, children in war-torn countries such as Yemen who are who not are getting preventive health care and vaccination, die from this disease.
The scientists who, through painstaking work, developed vaccines that prevent horrible suffering and death, need to be remembered. They need to be thanked. Gratitude for those to those who risked their own lives fighting disease is appropriate. Dr. Fauci lived through several epidemics and should be listened to.
Young people today have been educated by the pandemic. I hope they might be inspired by their experience to study science and public health. I know some will.
This week I began the Anthology 201 course by poets Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell. What does it take to create a poetry anthology? I signed up to find out. They are smart and generous teachers.
As and example of a well written anthology, I happened to have Sylvia’s 2020 anthology, A WORLD FULL OF POEMS. These poems are for young children, 187 in all, from almost as many poets. Many are well known, some you will recognize from Poetry Friday. But the book is not just poems. The back matter in this book is quite useful.
For parents, teachers, and curious children, you will find:
1) Poetry activity suggestions, such as reading aloud, ending each day with a poem and more.
2) Poetry Activities such as a treasure hunt tips on reading out loud.
3) Easy tips on how to have a conversation about a poem.
4) How to begin writing poems.
5) Different kinds of poems such as list poems and haiku.
6) How to add art.
7) How to get better as a poet.
8) It also includes clever ways for a family to put poetry into daily life. For example, keeping a book of poems in the car, ending each day with a poem and more.
A WORLD FULL OF POEMS is a beautiful book, an anthology full of wonderful poems, and a useful resource for all ages.
Thank you, Laura Purdie Salas for hosting. Have a good weekend everyone and stay well!
Welcome to Poetry Friday, hosted this week by Denise HERE. Thank you, Denise, for hosting!
What is Poetry Friday? Find out more about it HERE.
I learn so much from reading the Poetry Friday blogs each week, about poetry forms, about poets I have never read, and more. Last week, I learned about the ghazal.
What is a ghazal? It’s a poetry form that is not easy to write. The Poetry Foundation describes it HERE. And Catherine Flynn, and others have recently written and posted ghazals.
The form isn’t easy, and my first attempts failed. Actually, it seemed impossible, but poetry writing requires feeling stumped. I needed the right subject and I stumbled upon . . . .fried chicken.
My ghazal is about my mother who was the chief chef at our family restaurant. I think if she were here she might like it. The restaurant is long gone, and this is one of the few photos I have. Here I am in the 1990’s with my two boys, Phil and Matt.
When this photo was taken, my brother owned Scully’s and my sons thought it was cool to visit Uncle Mike in the kitchen.
When the restaurant opened in the fifties, the first item on the menu was fried chicken. It looked like this:
Scully’s fried chicken looked just like this.
Hungry yet? My mother cooked a tons of it. She’d roast huge pans of chicken halves in tomato juice sprinkled with Alamo seasoning then batter, bread and fry the roasted chicken in a deep fryer, sprinkle it with a touch of celery salt and serve. Here’s my Mom in the kitchen.
The ghazal poetry form is described on the links above. I can’t claim this follows the form perfectly. But here it is. There were days when Mom would have have surely referred to our popular dish in derogatory terms.
Stay well, everyone. My thoughts are with all the brave teachers, children, and health care workers. Thanks, Denise, for hosting. You will find a list today’s Poetry Friday blogs on her blog, HERE.
Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week we are hosted by Tricia Here. Thank you, Tricia, for hosting.
Driving back to Syracuse from the Jersey Shore Friday afternoon of Labor Day weekend, I visited the town where I went to school, Port Jervis, on the Delaware River. I lived three miles away in the small town of Sparrowbush.
I hadn’t been to either place for several years and drove through town to see the Carnegie Library where I had discovered books. What was it like now? I wondered. On the outside it looked exactly the same.
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish American capitalist who made his fortune in steel, felt the rich had a moral obligation to distribute money in ways that help the common man. He spent 350 million, which was a large portion of his wealth, on philanthropy. He helped build 2,500 public libraries world wide and much more, including Carnegie Hall. You can read more about Andrew Carnegie here.
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY IN PORT JERVIS, NY
Inside my Carnegie Library, it seemed the front desk was frozen in time, unchanged in fifty years. Two librarians were behind it, and the library was otherwise empty that Friday afternoon. I didn’t feel comfortable taking pictures inside because I think the librarians sensed my disappointment at seeing the drab, and frankly, threadbare carpet and the furniture they claimed with pride was “original.” Their funding is through the school and I sensed there is little money available for frills.
Yet, thanks to them, there was an exhibit on Stephen Crane that included a walking tour they were enthusiastic to share. I now know that author Stephen Crane lived in Port Jervis for many years. In fact his relationships with Civil War Veterans there in the 1880’s inspired THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE, which I loved as an adult. It turns out that much of his other writing is loosely based on people and places in Port Jervis. I didn’t have time to take the walking tour, so maybe I’ll have to return. I also hope to read more of Stephen Crane’s writing. Maybe I’ll recognize Port Jervis in his lines.
STEPHEN CRANE
Here’s a quote I found on the above link. (Hartwood was a nearby town, I think.)
“My idea is to come finally to live at Port Jervis or
Hartwood. I am a wanderer now and I must see enough
but – afterwards – I think of P.J. and Hartwood.”
Stephen Crane’s October 29, 1897 letter from London, England, to his brother William in Port Jervis, New York.
As my husband and I had arrived in to Port Jervis as school had just let out. Busses were lining up. Middle school kids were laughing and chatting on sidewalks. I wondered if any would stop at the library. I hoped so.
Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Elizabeth Norton Here. Thank you, Elizabeth for hosting this week!
Often I surprise myself with the topics I find for my weekly posts. I think that is what I enjoy most about writing this blog. It often takes me places I’ve been and have forgotten. Wonderful places. This week it is Sicily. It was beautiful, but, oh, it was hot when my husband and I traveled there in 2016. One day it was 107 degrees F. This dog knew how to stay cool.
So we spent some time indoors at a small, out of the way museum. That was where I discovered artist Antonio Ligabue. You can read details about his life and see some of his work Here. His paintings and drawings were gaining attention in Italy during the early 1950’s. He passed away in the 1960’s.
Ligabue was a genius who suffered from mental illness which is one reason why he has been likened to Van Gogh. Another reason is his work. Below is a still life that charmed me. I love his whimsical flowers that dwarf the table. I love the ornate setting.
Below is a signed self portrait. I was taken by the playfulness in his work, personality in his face, suit, and hat!
This is a quote from Mr. Ligabue, likely at a time when he felt frustrated or unable to make ends meet, was posted at the museum:
Io sono un grande artista, la gente
non mi comprende, ma bu giorno I miei quadri costeranno tanti soldi e allora tutti capiranno chi veramente era Antonio Ligabue.
I am a great artist. People don't get me, but one day my paintings will cost a lot of money, and then people will truly understand what kind of man was Antonio Ligabue.
I don’t know what his work would cost now. But no matter what price, I think he was a wonderful artist, not to mention self-confident in his abilities.
Last week I mentioned listening to children’s author Melissa Stewart’s work shop on picture book biography. She discussed writing about historical figures who are not widely known. To catch a publisher’s eye, the author needs to find something in this past life that still resonates today.
Francis Perkins is not currently widely known. She was nominated by FDR to be the first woman cabinet secretary. She ran the Department of Labor.
She was a compassionate woman who didn’t blame the poor who suffered during the depression as some did. She chose to help them. She was the social justice voice behind the 1935 New Deal legislation.
Francis Perkins, behind FDR
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE PHOTO: Francis Perkins and Her New Deal for America, is a picture book biography by renowned author Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by the talented Alexandra Bye.
There have always been figures in American history who felt that it is not the responsibility of taxpayers to help the poor. This debate is still going on today. Some continue to believe that if the poor should simply work harder, they wouldn’t be poor.
But Francis Perkins knew that there were “unnecessary hazards to life” and “unnecessary poverty.” The elderly who cannot work are only one example. The New Deal is why Social Security, unemployment insurance, and a minimum wage exist today. It was the beginning of a safety net for Americans and this book is a reminder of the suffering in America that inspired it.
Francis Perkins is relevant today because of her passion for social justice. I am grateful for her service to the country.
Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week Christie is our host HERE at Wandering and Wondering. Thank you for hosting, Christie!
To start off, a shout out to Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell. This afternoon I attended their workshop on poetry anthologies, entitled Anthologies 101. It was inspiring and informative. It was also everything anyone needs to know on how to find submission opportunities, how to begin indie or self publishing, and advice on how to get your poems into the hands of a publisher. Though the workshop was just a beginning and there is much to know, I have a clearer idea how to move forward and I hope get more poems into books.
When I sat down today to decide what to share this week, I pulled from my stack of picture books, I AM FARMER, a 2019 book written by Baptiste and Miranda Paul and gorgeously illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.
Why this book? First of all, it’s August and I have been getting deliveries of home grown produce from my neighbor. I love carrots, beets and onions that are still covered in soil because they were picked that morning.
In addition to receiving such bounty, this week I listened to Melissa Stewart’s excellent workshop on picture book biographies. She discussed how to choose a topic. This is crucial if you want to publish a picture book biography.
I AM FARMER is an appealing topic to a publisher because, although it’s about an obscure living person, a man named Tantoh Nforba from Cameroon, his life and work is acutely relevant today to people everywhere, including the U.S.. One theme is about respecting the land and protecting water because our lives depend on it. The book also tells a story about a diverse people and a diverse culture not widely known by most people who live in the U.S..
Miranda and Baptiste Paul are both poets and the lyrical writing shows that. The Book begins with a poem:
THIS IS NORTHWESTERN CAMEROON
Green
Wet
Alive
The rainy season has begun.
Check out the colors in Zunon’s illustrations.
We meet Tantoh as a boy who is smart and inquisitive. He will face many obstacles in his life.
At school, he wants to know everything there is to know about farming, though this will not earn him respect. Only the poor are farmers. They call him “Farmer” which is considered disrespectful, but not to him. He persists in his interest. I love this spread which shows his determination.
The page begins: “Tantoh wants to learn more. He wants to learn everything.
And though his intelligence and talent as a farmer are finally recognized, his struggle is to over. His personal encounter with drinking bad water and subsequent illness, shows him the importance of water conservation in his community.
The book begins with ends a short poem, and ends with another, but I won’t spoil it by posting it. I hope this book finds its way into classrooms everywhere to inspire kids to follow their dreams.
Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Mary Lee, here. Thank you, Mary Lee for hosting. She’s changed up her blog, it’s got a different face, so check it out.
I’ve taken a month off in an effort to focus on my WIP, a novel in verse. I want to share some poems at a Highlights conference in September. I’m making progress, so I thought I’d return to my blog and see what everyone else is up to and find some poetry inspiration. I hope everyone is enjoying summer.
For me it’s not summer without daisies, and with the rain and sun this past month in Syracuse, we’ve had plenty.
But one of the very best things that happened this July was the arrival of a package from Jone Rush MacCulloch, part of Tabatha’s summer poetry swap. I thought it was a book, but no. It was Jone’s artwork! I knew it was coming, but that day it was a wonderful surprise.
I apologize for the lack of clarity. It’s hard to reproduce with my I-phone. But maybe you can glimpse the whimsical feel to the collage, full of trees, birds, musical notes, the moon, and an interesting, mysterious landscape and sky. I’ve reproduced the poem, which is full of sensory images, below.
INTO THE MOONRISE
by Jone Rush MacCulloch
Robins
singing night vespers
in the trees.
Fragrant breeze
of raspberry copses
Against purple clouds
as they sail into the moonrise.
Who remembers?
I used her poem as a mentor and wrote this in response:
Have a wonderful August. Things could be better in terms of the pandemic and we will all have to be careful and make the most of the situation. One thing I’ve done this last month is watch less news. One time hearing the important events is enough. More time for poems. It’s been a relief.
