Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

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You are here: Home / Poems for Kids / Poetry Friday: Cat-o-Nine-Tails

Poetry Friday: Cat-o-Nine-Tails

August 29, 2008 By Laura

My book of the week this week is Pirates, a picture book poetry collection by David L. Harrison, and illustrated by Dan Burr. I love this book! And I have pirates on the brain anyway, since I’m working on a pirate-related book for an educational publisher. This collection is emotional and sometimes violent and not a "pretty" picture of life as a pirate. I think 3rd graders or so will love it–and many other ages, too. Here’s an excerpt (which should be centered, but I can’t seem to center just the poem):

Cat-o’-Nine-Tails

Why was I such a fool?

Unh!

Why is it always me?
Shouldn’t a broke a rule

Unh!

where everyone could see.
Shouldn’t a picked a fight

Unh!

knowin’ it never fails
ta earn ye the cut and bite

Unh!

of the cat-o-the-nine-long-tails!

–by David L. Harrison


Fantastic!

Also, four other things.

First, if you ever felt left out in high school, check out my triolet called Conspicuously Absent. It was part of Pensieve’s Poetic License challenge.

Second, if you have a book (of any form) in progress, forthcoming, or already published, write a poem about it for your chance to win a poetry book and a DVD of The Nightmare Before Christmas. (Note: Your book/poem won’t have anything to do with The Nightmare Before Christmas.)

Third, if you’re not sick of me yet, check out this nice review of my Capstone poetry books at the Children’s Literature Network.

And finally, the Poetry Friday roundup is at Charlotte’s Library. End your summer with some great poems!

Tagged With: David L. Harrison, poems, Poetry Friday

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March News

Writing Alone Together

Busy times here! I'm working on new picture books and also continuing to invite people to Write Alone Together with me. In March, it's happening on Wed., March 10, at 6 p.m. Central Time. You can sign up here for this free event!

I'm also doing some virtual author visits and Family Literacy Nights this month, and it's lovely to write poems with students again!

Hooray for creativity and connections :>)

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