Wow!
Coming out of NCTE and ALAN, I knew that hosting a Poetry Friday Roundup would be exciting. During my stay in Washington, D. C., I had the joy of being the room with Janet Wong, Sylvia Vardell, Irene Latham, Pat Mora, Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, and Laura Purdie Salas and others (please forgive me, I am still coming down off of the awe if I didn’t list you specifically here).
But, I didn’t think I would be this excited about hosting Poetry Friday Roundup. I mean. . .I would get a little excited, to be sure, but then I took a look at some of the other Poetry Friday Roundup posts via Google.
And I found a HUGE community of poets doing this thing each week. Like. . .I knew. . .but I didn’t know. So, here I am. Hosting this thing YOU already do, and it is epic for me here in southern Indiana.
Of course, I’ll be the lead learner in Room 407 today, so I will try to round all of you up this afternoon or early this evening. Leave your poem’s title, a brief description of the poem, and the link to your blog and I will put it all in this post.
I don’t know that you need a writing invitation, but I can offer one. I’ve been thinking a lot about shapes lately. Or even the idea of something taking shape. Like this holiday season. It’s beginning to take shape. What is the shape of this season? December? Winter? The holidays and how you spend them. They are all taking shape. . .perhaps we could play with concrete poems or poems that naturally take a shape like a diamante.
Oh. . .you poets you. . .you already know what to do.
Here is my poem on the fly. . .
“Square Thirty-1”
these are rectangle days
seem wider in the middle
the sun knows a border
a morning from night.
the windows are still,
snug-square in frames,
reflecting a day’s passing
an end-of-year slideshow.
each panel’s numbered
and they stand in rows
waiting to be checked
for the coming season.
that they would be enough
to hold a memory-maybe two,
until we reach our thirty-one
and look with hope toward new.
…………………….and now the roundup……………………………………………………..
Joy Acey gives us our first poem today: “Lizard.” Joy also promises pictures from her safari trip in Kenya. Visit Joy’s blog site:
www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com
Tara Smith offers “How Is It That the Snow?” by Robert Haight at her blog, A Teaching Life:
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater shares a familiar scene with a familial connection. This poem reminds me of a friend who collects Nativity scenes of all types:
http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2014/12/our-nativity-stories-in-daily-pictures.html
Mary Lee Hahn shares from her favorite Haiku-a-Day poems and sends an invitation to be a host for the Poetry Friday Roundup in the New Year!
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-sneaky-cat.html
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-call-for-roundup-hosts.html
Tabatha shares a favorite New Years poem by Oksana Lutshyshyna:
http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2014/12/how-i-was.html
Heidi Mordhorst is a poet I met at NCTE (and I have been enjoying her books since returning from that trip).
http://myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot.com/2014/12/almost.html
And now I am off to do some lead learning in Room 407. . .I will be back at about 9:30 to capture some more of these wonderful poems.
At 9:30, I came back to see that so many had posted their comments with their links, so I added as I went along. Of course, with each posting, I was looking forward to a time when I could go and look at what was being offered to the community.
The end of the school day offered another chance to see just how many people participate in the round-up. What a joy this has been.
More than any of this, I was over-joyed to see so many positive responses to the poem I had to offer this morning. It was a quick-write for me, wanting to have something to offer to all of you on the day of the round-up. I’ve already gone back to do some revision. Perhaps looking at the way the piece might take shape upon the page.
Of course, my students in Room 407 are vetting out some cinquain formatted pieces as they work on their literary analysis piece. I have found that asking a student to move from the poetic form to the paragraph formal loses nothing in translation as the ideas remain intact and bring the poetic language with all of its figurative devices into the writing. You can find a post about this approach here at this blog.
It’s been a wonderful day of poetry and I look forward now to visiting all of the posts you have left today in the comments.
And now, I look forward to attending and offering some verse to the next poetry round-up.
The very best of the season to all of you. . .
Paul W. Hankins
Oh, Paul…I love those waiting windows “square and snug in their frames” – so perfect.
Thank you for rounding us all up today. I’m so glad you’re here, and over at The Poem Farm, you’ll find a free verse poem about a (our) Nativity set.
http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2014/12/our-nativity-stories-in-daily-pictures.html
Happy Poetry Friday!
Thanks for hosting Paul! Wishing you a fat rectangle day full of good memories today!
I’m sharing my favorite of my Haiku-a-days this week:
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-sneaky-cat.html
It’s also time to sign up to be a Poetry Friday Roundup host for Jan-June 2015.
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-call-for-roundup-hosts.html
I love New Year’s poems! Thanks for yours, Paul, and for hosting the round-up! I have a poem by Oksana Lutsyshyna:
http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2014/12/how-i-was.html
Hey, Paul–
It was great to meet you at NCTE, and you seem to be all over this hosting gig! Coincidentally, we both have calendar poems today–mine from the kindergarten point of view. I like “seem/a little wider in the middle” (the perfect description of school days, for sure–too thin on either end of that bulging busy middle”–and your last stanza is a gem!
Here’s my link, and thanks for rounding up!
http://myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot.com/2014/12/almost.html
Nice to “meet” you, Paul, and visit your blog for the first time. 🙂
Enjoyed your perfect end-of-year poem.
At Alphabet Soup, I have a review of A Cookie for Santa with the author’s favorite Gingerbread Man cookie recipe:
http://jamarattigan.com/2014/12/12/friday-feast-noshing-on-a-cookie-for-santa-by-stephanie-shaw-and-bruno-robert/
Thanks so much for hosting today!
Hi, Paul. Thanks for hosting. I love the slideshow in your winter windows — what a beautiful image.
As 2014 winds down, I’m thinking about gift-giving. Today, I’m starting a series called “The Gift Shift,” highlighting the literary organizations on my holiday list. I’m featuring two non-profits this week, both committed to social justice in literature. Poems, too!
http://authoramok.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-gift-shift.html
Welcome Paul, to hosting Poetry Friday. I love this vision of December. I think my favorite line is how the sun “knows the borders between morning and night.” Such a perfect description of these ever shortening days. I’ve been writing haiku all month with Mary Lee, so I’m sharing a couple of those today. http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday_12.html
Hi Paul. Got some neat things to share on my Poetry Time Blog.
http://www.charleswaterspoetry.com/#!POETRY-TIME-BLOG-#19/c23vc/D609F83E-0A28-4087-A602-D3BAF22DA4A9
Thanks for hosting today, Paul! We met briefly at the Wonderopolis breakfast, and I agree, the energy from NCTE is still going strong! I love your windows, “looking toward the new.” I’ve been thinking about snow this week and have two original poems to share.
http://readingtothecore.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/poetry-friday-snowpiaries/
I like the idea of using a shape to frame a poem. Each of your stanzas create a nice shape as well. This may be easier than trying terza rima with elementary gifted kids which is what I am presenting on my blog today. Thanks for hosting.
http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/terza-rima-after-robert-frost/
What a lovely poem to share on Poetry Friday – perfect! NCTE seems so long ago now, but what a grand time it was. I’m in with a poem about winter…since it has arrived at last!
https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/poetry-friday-how-is-it-that-the-snow-by-robert-haight/
Happy Poetry Friday, Paul – Thanks for rounding up! I’m in with my “Student Haiku Poet of the Month” for December, Carson Race:
http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm?post=978771
Paul, I love the thinking about math and time passing while capturing memories! Today I am trying some Haiku out myself. I didn’t know you had this little blog and I’m happy to discover it. Thanks for hosting.
http://enjoy-embracelearning.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-trying-haiku.html
Paul! It was SO GREAT to see you at NCTE! And your poem!! You had me at “rectangle days.” Wonderful. I also love how you refer to yourself as “lead learner.” You teachers inspire me every day.
I’m in with a post about ON THE WING by David Elliott — poems about birds! Happy day to you, and thank you so much for joining in the PF fun.
http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2014/12/on-wing-by-david-elliott.html
And thanks for giving “shape” to Poetry Friday today! Love the idea of a rectangle day. No profound offerings from me at the moment, though I’m eyeing our portly old dachshund mix; my son just home on college break has been calling him “the sphere”….
Hi Paul! I love the calendar aspects to your poem. Well done!
Today I have some ekphrasis at Random Noodling. http://randomnoodling.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-double-shot-of-ekphrasis.html
And at Kurious Kitty we’re celebrating ugly Christmas sweater day! http://kuriouskitty.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-its-sweater-poetry-day.html
KK’s Kwotes has a quote by Douglas Florian. http://www.kkskwotes.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday_12.html
Hi Paul, it was so nice to meet you at the poetry party. Thanks for hosting today. I’m in with a post about getting into the holiday spirit at http://lindakulp.blogspot.com
Happy Friday!
Hi Paul, it was so nice to meet you at the poetry party. Thanks for hosting today. I’m in with a post about getting into the holiday spirit at http://lindakulp.blogspot.com
Happy Friday!
I met you in Indiana at the All-Write Conference, Paul-lovely to see you hosting on Poetry Friday. When I drive to work, I see the sun reflecting in quite a few windows, just that perfect time as the sun rises. Your poem reminded me of that, those squares holding memories–the slide show. Love the ending too. I am newly back in the classroom, & today sharing a poem I wrote with my new class in our workshop: http://www.teacherdance.org/2014/12/poetry-friday-appreciating.html
Thanks again for hosting!
I love your excitement! And your poem is a geometrical goodie!
For today, I have Episode 8 of A Great Nephew & A Great Aunt. My 5th grade nephew illustrates my poem Crumbled.
http://wp.me/p22d5X-12S
Thanks so much for hosting this week, Paul! The language and “shape” of your poem is wonderful! This week I am celebrating Emily Dickinson at my blog: http://beckyshillington.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-celebrating-emily.html
Thanks for hosting, Paul! It’s exciting to have you join the party. I like all of the metaphors in your poem. Nicely done. I’ve been away for a while and I’m trying to get back into the swing of things. I’ve posted a poem I wrote, “Opening Night,” at http://kerirecommends.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-and-opening-night/
Thanks so much for hosting! I have a poem by Gary Johnson this week, and it’s here.
I posted A Zoo of Human Emotion by Caitlin Siehl at my blog, Bildungsroman: http://slayground.livejournal.com/797464.html
I like the poem, Paul – very well done. The first 2 lines set the whole thing up nicely, and the rhymes at the end wrap it up beautifully. Today I have a winter haiku and some news about why the poem I wrote last week is wrong, wrong, wrong! http://mattforrest.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/poetry-friday-a-correction-a-poem-and-a-nice-problem-to-have/
Paul, thank you for hosting today. I think I was in a session or two with you at NCTE. What a treat to meet and learn from so many poets. I love your poem of numbered boxes holding a memory or two as we march toward “Square Thirty-1.”
I’m continuing my nativity love from Tuesday’s SOL with a haiku for today
http://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday.html
Thanks for hosting, Paul. I love the fact that you challenged yourself to write a poem this week that “fit the shape” of things you’ve been thinking of. Nicely done. I have a little Cottleston Pie for people over at The Drift Record today, to go with some musings of mine about unanswerable questions (the best kind, of course.) Here’s the link: http://julielarios.blogspot.com/2014/12/why-does-chicken.html
Thanks for hosting! Here’s my contribution: http://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-mark-doty.html
Sorry I’m coming here a little late. I tried to finish this morning, but it just didn’t happen. I’m featuring a beautiful 2014 NYT Best Illustrated book of poetry…http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday_12.html
Hi Paul!
It was so good to meet you at NCTE. I’m so happy to see you here at Poetry Friday. Today I’m sharing a poem in honor of Owl Count 2014.
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2014/12/poetry-friday-snowy-owl-near-ocean.html
Thanks for hosting!
Tricia
Talking haiku books: http://maclibrary.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/poetry-friday-haiku-books/
Thank you for hosting! I’m late to the party, but I hope not TOO late. I have a post about the new NCTE Poetry Award Winner, Marilyn Singer.
http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2014/12/new-ncte-poetry-award-winner-marilyn.html
Paul, thank you for leaving a spot for me and for hosting Poetry Friday. My offering is at
http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2014/12/waiting-in-silence.html.
I captured a scene in Albany that marks the end of the fall season and then penned a poem to accompany it. I am contrasting my poem with Chanson de l’Automne by Paul Verlaine, written in French with an English translation by Arthur Symons in Poems. Accompanying this is a reading by Marlene Dietrich in French.
I wanted everyone to know that I am not ready to showcase the Finding Fall Gallery yet, my hope is to offer an unveiling of the collection as my Christmas gift.
Thank you for hosting. I love the first line, ‘these are rectangle days.”