A Halloween Riddle-Ku [Poetry Friday]

Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

Howdy, everyone–thanks for your warm thoughts last week. My sister was briefly out of the hospital but is back in 🙁 The yo-yoing back and forth is wearing her down. Anyway, your kind thoughts here and other social media really touched me and my sisters. And thank you for the birthday wishes, too:>)

This week, I’m sharing a riddle-ku from Lion of the Sky. Isn’t Merce’s menacing pumpkin awesome?

And speaking of Lion of the Sky, I’m tickled pink (or red) that it’s a Vermont Red Clover nominee! Whee! So if you’d like a tiny bit of background on the book, here’s a two-minute video I made for teachers and students.


And for lots of delicious poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with Jama Rattigan!

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29 Responses

  1. Your haiku captures Jack’s (of the O’Lantern clan) inner light perfectly, Laura. Congrats on your Red Clover nomination and all my best to you and your sister. 🙂

  2. Congrats on the Lion of the Sky nomination! Thanks for sharing this Halloweeny riddle-ku.
    Glad your sister’s back from the hospital. Sending strength and healing vibes for her good health.

    1. Thank you, Jama :>) And for the healing vibes, as my sister’s back in the hospital :>(

  3. Hi Laura,
    Love your Halloween haiku and your book has always been a huge favorite. So glad to see it honored at Red Clover! Thinking of you and your sister.

  4. Congratulations on the nomination! I like your riddle-ku!
    Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

  5. So much lovely alliteration, internal rhyme, and perfect pumpkin word choice!

  6. I have it, but must be honest, haven’t read it in a while, Laura. I’ll get it out so I can share the fall & Halloween poems with the girls! Congratulations for the honor, too!

    1. Well, of course you haven’t! There are a zillion NEW beautiful books to discover all the time. But happy to have provided a holiday nudge ;>)

  7. Laura, the video snapshot of your book is delightful. I love the riddle-ku and the menacing pumpkin poem. Congratulations on your accomplishments.

    1. Thanks, Carol–I’m trying to get better at video, but…sigh. Live virtual is fine, but I stiffen up when recording!

  8. Love the poem! A lot of us hide behind a smile even when we have a fire burning inside! Congratulations on being a Vermont Red Clover nominee. It’s a beautiful book. xo

    1. Very true, Linda. Makes me think of the Billy Joel song, The Stranger. Thanks for the kind words:>)

  9. Hi Laura, my best to your family. Sorry your sister has to be in the hospital. Hope not for long.
    Congratulations on your nomination. You deserve it. It’s a wonderful book.

  10. Laura, Rylee and I red the autumn poems in Lion on Friday and wrote a sugarcane riddle-ku. She’s working on the illustration. I’ll post and tag you when she’s finished. Riddle-ku is such a great way to teach metaphor and imagery to my kiddos. Thanks!

  11. Your poem and Linda B.‘s poem make great partner-poems, and both are reminding me of Robert Frost’s “Tree at My Window” with the lines
    “Your head so much concerned with outer,
    Mine with inner, weather.”

    1. Such great connections. I love it when that happens as I browse PF posts over the weekend.

  12. Congratulations on the Red Clover nomination! “Perch on the porch” is perfection, and I agree about Merce’s illustration. It’s just the right amount of spooky. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts, dear Laura.

  13. Fun mix of opposites in your poem Laura, and congrats on your Red Clover nominee!
    Thinking about your sister, hope she’s doing better.

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