1) Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out, by Ralph Fletcher. All of Ralph’s books are wonderful, but this?is my favorite. He even’signed my worn?copy?at NCTE in 2011–score! “Most people seem to think that writing a poem is like emotional oil gushing from the soul, an expression of our deepest selves…But crude oil is called crude because it has to be refined.”
2) Win a free poetry e‑thology from Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong! Go to PoetryTagTime.com and click on the orange rectanglish at the top. Leave a 12-word comment on any of three e‑thology blogs to enter. Easy peasy!
All of these e‑thologies are great for both personal reading and classroom use. And if you don’t have an e‑reader, no worries. You can read them on your computer! Here are a few excerpts I’ve shared here on my blog.
Charm Bracelet, by Charles Waters
We Are Woven, by Laura Purdie Salas (me)
a few lines from various poems of p*tag
After the Storm, by Laura Purdie Salas (me)
3) Congratulations to one of my favorite poets, Joyce Sidman! She has won the 2013 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children–very much deserved. I was there to hear the announcement, and my whole table was thrilled with NCTE’s choice!
4) My poem for today is going to be a thanku. This is for Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, who have invited me to be part of their writing projects, who have invited me to be on panels at national conventions, who have shown through example how to share their passion for poetry and be incredibly generous toward other poets in the process, and who have shared their ideas and knowledge so freely. My poetry life is richer today because of their kindness over the past three years.
For Sylvia and Janet
glowing moon reflects
unseen sun, battles shadows
with poems and friendship
–Laura Purdie Salas
Amy at The Poem Farm?has the?Poetry Friday roundup. At NCTE, I got to chat with Amy and present with her, both of which were treats. And we’re going to be house-mates: her Forest Has a Song comes out in spring 2013 from Clarion! Yay, Amy! I can not wait to get it.
38 Responses
Laura,
I love your NCTE pictures. Thanks for posting this one.
THanks, Joy!
A poem for you laura Called Multi dra
Sharp claws and teeth
evil bedy eyes
fire raging beasts
Laura,
I love your NCTE pictures. Thanks for posting this one.
THanks, Joy!
A poem for you laura Called Multi dra
Sharp claws and teeth
evil bedy eyes
fire raging beasts
Ralph’s book is a treasure and our philosophies and ideas are very similar!!! I used some of the same ideas and when I read his book it made me feel very “smart”!! Poetry Matters and Gift Tag are on the bibliography of books I share with teachers when I talk about poetry. (Of course Laura is on one of my PPT slides!!) Where did you meet up with Joyce? Love her tiara. Love love love her book Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. I have a great story about the power of poetry and that book! And of course your thanku to Sylvia and Janet. A powerful light in our world: poetry, poets, poetryfriends online and in person, poetry bloggers, Poetry Friday and of course Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell, poetry evangelistas and their Poetry Friday Anthology. Thank you, Laura, for all the work you do. You have one generous spirit and approach yourself.
THat’s it, exactly, Janet! He gives so much info but doesn’t make you feel dumb for not already knowing. Joyce and I are in the same critique group, so we foisted the tiara on her (it originated with my Minnesota Book Award, and now we pass it around like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:>) and had a stranger take a quick pic! Thanks for your kind words, Janet. Isn’t it fun being part of a community full of such generous, enthusiastic people? Yourself included!
Ralph’s book is a treasure and our philosophies and ideas are very similar!!! I used some of the same ideas and when I read his book it made me feel very “smart”!! Poetry Matters and Gift Tag are on the bibliography of books I share with teachers when I talk about poetry. (Of course Laura is on one of my PPT slides!!) Where did you meet up with Joyce? Love her tiara. Love love love her book Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. I have a great story about the power of poetry and that book! And of course your thanku to Sylvia and Janet. A powerful light in our world: poetry, poets, poetryfriends online and in person, poetry bloggers, Poetry Friday and of course Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell, poetry evangelistas and their Poetry Friday Anthology. Thank you, Laura, for all the work you do. You have one generous spirit and approach yourself.
THat’s it, exactly, Janet! He gives so much info but doesn’t make you feel dumb for not already knowing. Joyce and I are in the same critique group, so we foisted the tiara on her (it originated with my Minnesota Book Award, and now we pass it around like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:>) and had a stranger take a quick pic! Thanks for your kind words, Janet. Isn’t it fun being part of a community full of such generous, enthusiastic people? Yourself included!
I love Ralph’s book and use it a lot when I teach.
Love the thanku for Sylvia and Janet. You are, of course, the mirror that reflects their spirit.
THanks, Susan. His books are so great for teaching because they speak directly to the kids in such a great way…
I love Ralph’s book and use it a lot when I teach.
Love the thanku for Sylvia and Janet. You are, of course, the mirror that reflects their spirit.
THanks, Susan. His books are so great for teaching because they speak directly to the kids in such a great way…
All the books in this series byFletcher are wonderful to teach with. And it sounds like NCTE was just a wonderful experience.
I bet. I have 5 or 6 and I love them all. And it really was! More anecdotes/tips to come in the next few weeks:>)
All the books in this series byFletcher are wonderful to teach with. And it sounds like NCTE was just a wonderful experience.
I bet. I have 5 or 6 and I love them all. And it really was! More anecdotes/tips to come in the next few weeks:>)
I think I have all the Fletchers too that connect to teaching directly, but I just found that Moving Day one that I posted about last week. He is terrific, & coming to Colorado in February for our state IRA conference. I am excited! Thank you for all the enthusiasm you share, Laura. It’s a gift to show that in words & you do that. Your thanku is wonderfully sweet for those two friends of yours. Nice to hear. I already have all the P*Tag books & have shared & used often. Thanks for all!
Moving Day is wonderful! Oh, have fun in February–Ralph has so much to offer teachers both from his creative writing perspective and his teaching perspective. What a treat that will be.
I think I have all the Fletchers too that connect to teaching directly, but I just found that Moving Day one that I posted about last week. He is terrific, & coming to Colorado in February for our state IRA conference. I am excited! Thank you for all the enthusiasm you share, Laura. It’s a gift to show that in words & you do that. Your thanku is wonderfully sweet for those two friends of yours. Nice to hear. I already have all the P*Tag books & have shared & used often. Thanks for all!
Moving Day is wonderful! Oh, have fun in February–Ralph has so much to offer teachers both from his creative writing perspective and his teaching perspective. What a treat that will be.
Laura, I adored the time we got to spend together at NCTE, and I can’t wait for the next one. Thank you for this generous generous post. I feel very lucky to know you! xo, a.
Amy I loved chatting with you and getting to learn more about what you do, which is very cool! It’s fun to meet a kindred spirit–so excited for your forthcoming book!
Laura, I adored the time we got to spend together at NCTE, and I can’t wait for the next one. Thank you for this generous generous post. I feel very lucky to know you! xo, a.
Amy I loved chatting with you and getting to learn more about what you do, which is very cool! It’s fun to meet a kindred spirit–so excited for your forthcoming book!
A lovely tribute to these poetic friends. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dori!
A lovely tribute to these poetic friends. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dori!
It’s nice to see the friendship, support, camaraderie, and respect between all of you…and this post underscores that!
It is such a terrific community, Matt. Hope you’ll be joining in at various events in coming years…
It’s nice to see the friendship, support, camaraderie, and respect between all of you…and this post underscores that!
It is such a terrific community, Matt. Hope you’ll be joining in at various events in coming years…
1. Love the picture with all you strong, successful talented women.
2. Here’s my thanku about you:
From Seattle to Brooklyn to Dallas
Thank you Laura Purdie Salas
In 25 words or less I’ll say
your writing know-how makes my day.
3. Here’s my thanku about a general subject:
REMNANTS OF A SILVER COOKIE
Stars: Comprised of crumbs
Leftover from moon?s silver
Cookie confection.
© Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved.
4. I had the pleasure of meeting Ralph Fletcher at NCTE ’10 here in your home state. What a wealth of knowledge and a truly nice man to boot!
5. Thanks for name dropping CHARM BRACELET in your blog post. That poem wouldn’t have happened without you. SALAS POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS for the thanku, Charles. That is so cool! And I love your Silver Cookie poem. Such an original metaphor. The moon and stars are always compared to the same old things, and I’m guilty of that, too. But the stars as crumbs from the moon’s cookie…what child would not adore that explanation! And I was happy to share the link to Charm Bracelet. I’m still so proud that that originated here!
1. Love the picture with all you strong, successful talented women.
2. Here’s my thanku about you:
From Seattle to Brooklyn to Dallas
Thank you Laura Purdie Salas
In 25 words or less I’ll say
your writing know-how makes my day.
3. Here’s my thanku about a general subject:
REMNANTS OF A SILVER COOKIE
Stars: Comprised of crumbs
Leftover from moon?s silver
Cookie confection.
© Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved.
4. I had the pleasure of meeting Ralph Fletcher at NCTE ’10 here in your home state. What a wealth of knowledge and a truly nice man to boot!
5. Thanks for name dropping CHARM BRACELET in your blog post. That poem wouldn’t have happened without you. SALAS POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS for the thanku, Charles. That is so cool! And I love your Silver Cookie poem. Such an original metaphor. The moon and stars are always compared to the same old things, and I’m guilty of that, too. But the stars as crumbs from the moon’s cookie…what child would not adore that explanation! And I was happy to share the link to Charm Bracelet. I’m still so proud that that originated here!