Welcome! Welcome to Poetry Friday and today I have the honor of hosting. It’s a busy weekend for me with family visiting but over the weekend read and comment on everyone’s post. Please check in with Mr. Linky at the end to add your name to share your blog.
What is Poetry Friday? Find out here.
I have been thinking about storms this week. I love watching a storm in progress, the changes in the sky, the air and the trees. I love the sound of rain and wind as long as I feel safe. I know I’m not the only one who likes to think about storms. Many writers have written and write about dramatic weather. I’ll recommend a picture book and a few poems out the very many that have been inspired by weather.
CLAP! CLAP! BOOM!: The Story of a Thunderstorm, by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Elly Mackay, takes us into the heart of a storm, the sights and terrific sounds. It is written in rhyming verse that will definitely appeal to kids. It would also be fun for parents to read aloud.
We learn of a storm from it’s suspenseful onset, where we feel something is about to happen. Below, three children sense a storm is coming when they see clouds, just as we all do. We hear what they see in Purdie Salas’ lyrical verse. . . and the storm builds.
Starting low, they grow and grow-- white above, now gray below. Rustling, murmuring rush begins or whispering leaves in newborn winds.
The climax of the storm is shown inside the book and also on the cover of the book, seen above, featuring the roiling sea and lightening bolts lighting up a craggy mountain. It’s a lovely illustration.
The storm ends with the world quiet and “shining.” Storms have satisfying arcs.
ZAP! CLAP! BOOM! is a wonderful picture book capturing stormy excitement that all humans, young and old, can share.
Besides ZAP! CLAP! BOOM!, I bought another book, a new poetry collection, with gentle rhymes and lovely art work.
I enjoy the humor and voice in THE FATHER GOOSE COLLECTION OF POETRY, by Charles Ghingha and illustrated by Sara Brezzi. I love the subtle humor, for instance, in the following short fun poem.
THUNDER BUGS By Charles Ghigna On stormy nights I often wonder, Do Lightning bugs Make the Thunder?
What a wonderful question!
In books new or old, there is an endless number of poems for those charmed by weather. Here’s a gentler poem by Langston Hughes:
Langston Hughes 1901-1967
April Rain Song By Langston Hughes. Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops Let the rain sing you a lullaby (The rest HERE)
And other by Elizabeth Coatsworth who was born the same year as my grandmother:
Elizabeth Coatsworth 1893-1986
SUMMER RAIN by Elizabeth Coatsworth What could be lovelier than to hear the summer rain cutting across the heat as scythes cutting across grain? Falling upon the steaming roof with sweet uproar, Tapping and rapping wildly at the door? (The Rest HERE)
Even with the inconvenience, I love the changes in weather within each week and within each day.
Below is a poem I wrote last year. An earlier version was published in an on line journal. But that version seemed overdone to me. I really didn’t like it. I have since cut most of it, eighty percent!, realizing that shorter is in this case much better.
AFTER THE RAINSTORM MATINEE We stand in the quiet, shivering, awed, as high in the balcony rainbows applaud. © Janice Scully (draft)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Love your theme this week. So fun to read Charles’s and Laura’s poems, as well as new to me poems by Hughes and Coatsworth. Your poem with rainbows applauding is just delightful! Must confess that although I don’t mind rain, thunder and lightning, I don’t like high winds!! I always fear trees falling onto our house (and last year, one did!). Thanks for the good reads and for hosting this week.
Janice, what a marvelous theme! Your poem is delightful and nestled into such good company. 🙂 Thanks for hosting this week!
Wow! What a great post. Lots to read and respond to. Thank you! And, thank you for hosting.
Thanks for hosting and for all the weather related goodness. I didn’t see the original version of your poem, but the one here is a good length. I love thinking of being at a matinee with the rainbows in the balcony.
Terrific selection of poems, Janice! You made me wonder who was born the same year as my grandmother. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks for hosting!
Bring on the rainbows! Love all your storm offerings this week Janice– I like a good rain, seems to clear all. And wonderful poems by Hughes, Laura, Charles, and Coatsworth—I’m hoping for rain tonight. Thanks for hosting and have fun with your family!
So happy to see new books from our friends – thanks for sharing these, Janice, and for hosting! Love the selections you shared, as well as your pared down poem, which I think is perfect as-is. Good job!
I appreciate that, Matt. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for hosting this week and sharing the revision of your poem. I would be interested in seeing the original poem as it appeared in the journal.
Thanks, Dave. You can find “Play” in Tiny Seed Literary Journal and decide if you like the revised version:)
Oh, Janice, certainly a spring post! I love Laura’s book and have read part of Charles’ new one, not all yet. Thanks for sharing so much beauty from spring and I especially applaud your revision to “rainbows applaud”. Wonderful!
What a lovely post; I feel refreshed and new just reading it.
The words “as high in the balcony rainbows applaud” are just beautiful.
And the lightning bug/thunder question made me laugh out loud.
Isn’t it true that storms have their own thrilling story arc, as do many things in nature?
Thank you for hosting!
Thanks for reading,Lou!
Janice, you reviewed the books of two wonderful authors, Laura Purdie Salas and Charles Ghinga. I am glad that you shared their work. Your poem on weather has a fabulous title. I think the shortness of this poem is just right. Your photo is a great accompaniment to the poem. I always love a rainbow. Thank you for hosting also. Have a wonderful time with your family this weekend.
I am enjoying my son and my soon to be daughter-in-law. I feel so lucky. Have a great weekend! Xxoo
Like you, I love the changes in weather and feel thankful to live in a place with four seasons. This is such a rich post, and you have me wanting to pay more attention. I so adore Laura’s “newborn winds” and your “rainstorm matinee.” Thank you for hosting us all. xo
Thank you so much! Enjoy your summer.
Janice, yay for those applauding rainbows! Such gifts from all these poets…thank you! Especially appreciate this stormy roundup, as we’ve been in a summer-like weather pattern in the deep south, including a quick and hearty hailstorm earlier this week. I’ll be looking for rainbows today. xo
I hope you find some! Xxoo
Thank you, Linda!
Thank you for hosting, Janice. Like others, I’ve enjoyed your theme. I especially liked your poem. The words are just right for the storm being a show – one that awed and was appreciated. I have always enjoyed a good thunderstorm.
So much delight in this post. April Rain Song is one I loved sharing with students. I used to find a YouTube video of a child playing in the rain with the words of the poem. I don’t know if it’s still available. Love your “After the Rainstorm Matinee.” That makes me remember the evening show storm when we were visiting family in Oklahoma. We all pulled up chairs to watch the spectacle until the wait staff in the restaurant asked us to leave so they could go home.
Two new titles to request from the library now!
Gosh you picked some great books for this storm-themed post. I just got my copy of ZAP! CLAP! BOOM! and am in love with the lyrical text. Also love rainbows in a balcony applauding – such a unique personification. Thanks for hosting, Janice.
Thank you for hosting this week, Janice. “April Rain Song” has long been one of my favorites. I haven’t read Zap! Clap! Boom! yet, but your preview makes me want to run to the library tomorrow to check it out. I love your applauding rainbows!
2 favorite books by 2 favorite poet friends! I own multiple copies of both. Armed with gifts for new babies and older, too. I thought Laura’s rhymes plus back matter were wonderful and the art and poems stunning. He is a masterful poet. Langston Hughes’ poem is one my students recited and I love to say when it rains. I would love to compare your first poem and your newer, shorter one. Wow, eighty % cut. Bravo and your poem sings!
I love Laura’s books and the way she is so generous to us educators in the classroom. My students know her name. Thanks for hosting and for such a rich post of old and new poems.
I love how the poem begin in the title, Janice!
Thank you, Janice, for showcasing ZAP! CLAP! BOOM! alongside works by Ghigna, Coatsworth, Hughes, and you! What gorgeous company to be in! I was out of town teaching at a young authors conference last week and didn’t see this until this morning. What a lovely way to start a week. <3 I love your balcony rainbows!