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Day 29: A Special Day? (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Well, it’s a strange time to launch a book, isn’t it? I’ll be honest. Book publication days are typically mostly normal work days for me, anyway. Because a book launch party doesn’t usually happen on the publication day itself, the day itself is kind of anti-climactic, you know? But we usually go out for a
Day 28: Secrets of the Loon Book Birthday (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Whee! It’s the book birthday for Secrets of the Loon (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2020)! So for today’s poem, I’m sharing the opening quatrain of this rhyming picture book. I’m thrilled to welcome this book into the world. Loons are fascinating, and I think this loon chick’s survival story will inspire readers. Also, Jena Benton
Day 27: Today I Took a Walk (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Hi, poetry friends! It’s the final stretch of Poetry Month! I actually took this walk and wrote this poem Saturday morning, but I had other poems to share the past couple of days. I’m writing LOTS of poetry this month–how about you? (And teachers, I added a bunch of single-poem #readalouds to my readalouds page!)
Day 26: A Bridal Shower Equation Poem: (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Not all my poems are based on real life. My warbler poem last Friday? I just needed a specific bird, that’s all. But this one is definitely real life. Our older daughter’s tropical-themed bridal shower happened on Zoom yesterday. And you know what? It was good. :>) Like most everybody else, I’m experiencing lots
Day 25: Seeing Mom Today (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
April is drawing to a close. Are you exhausted? I am! But I’m also grateful for the intense whirlwind of creating poems daily (besides just the book project I’m working on). Now that Laura Shovan’s awesome #WaterPoemProject is over, I’m looking around, seeing which other prompts catch my eye. Goodness knows there are tons of
Day 24: Daily Party — a Skinny Poem [#NationalPoetryMonth2020]
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was a skinny poem with the theme or spring or looking ahead. I love skinnys…sometimes. They’re one of those forms that for me either work right away…or don’t work at all. I wrote one earlier this
Day 23: These Are the Hands (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Today’s poem comes from a prompt at Michelle Heidenrich Barnes’ Today’s Little Ditty. This is from the first week of April, and I’m just finally getting around to it…better late than never? I’m also finally reading Michelle’s The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2017–2018 anthology, and it’s lovely. And her posts have made me want
Day 22: Staying Calm in a Storm, by a Sea Goddess (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
It’s the final #waterpoemproject poem. Thank you, Laura Shovan and all the contributing prompt writers! Like most everybody else, I’m experiencing lots of upheavals lately! I have no huge National Poetry Month plans–just hoping to share an imagepoem here each day (or as often as I can). I’m participating in Laura Shovan’s awesome #WaterPoemProject the
Day 21: Grocery Store Heroes (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
The theme of today’s #waterpoemproject is gift poems, and before I share mine, I want to share a gift I got recently. Snowman-Cold=Puddle is a nominee for the Minnesota Youth Reading Awards (Star of the North picture book category). This is Minnesota’s version of the kids’ choice awards, and this is my very first book
Day 20: An Oil Spill Diamante (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Today’s #waterpoemproject prompt resulted in a sad poem. I prefer to celebrate water and focus on the positive, but in thinking about “dirty water,” I couldn’t help thinking of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Here’s my diamante: Like most everybody else, I’m experiencing lots of upheavals lately! I have no huge National Poetry Month
Day 19: Spindrift Definito (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Here’s today’s #waterpoemproject poem–a definito prompt from Heidi Mordhorst via Laura Shovan’s lovely project. I love definitos–this is my second one, and I’d love to write some more. Like most everybody else, I’m experiencing lots of upheavals lately! I have no huge National Poetry Month plans–just hoping to share an imagepoem here each day
Day 18: Puddle Is a Word (#NationalPoetryMonth)
Here are today’s #WaterPoemProject poems. Each morning, I’m waking up and dragging myself into a poem. But then I get into my draft and the world drops away for 30 minutes. A lovely way to start today. Also, don’t miss the lovely article on poetry’s calming effect during these times. I was happy to contribute:
Day 17: I Am From…by Water (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
Happy Poetry Friday! Today’s prompt for the #WaterPoemProject was awesome but challenging. How do you show the universality of water but still stay specific? Here’s my attempt: Like most everybody else, I’m experiencing lots of upheavals lately! I have no huge National Poetry Month plans–just hoping to share an imagepoem here each day (or as
Day 16: Drip from My Fingertips (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
I’ve been participating in Laura Shovan’s fabulous #WaterPoemProject, and it’s the best decision I made for National Poetry Month. With only a few exceptions over the past several weeks, it’s been the first writing I’ve done each day. I check out the prompt, spend about 30 minutes writing a poem draft and creating a Canva
Day 15: Spring Peepers (#NationalPoetryMonth2020)
I haven’t heard spring peepers yet, though some of my local Minnesota friends have. Not sure if it’s because I’m in the city and not near any ponds or marshes, or because we have had snow several days the past week! Ha! Anyway, I’m going to try to get outside at dusk the next few
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Are You Looking For?
Go to my Poetry page for:
- National Poetry Month projects through the years
- Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
- Introductions to several favorite poetry forms