Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
When I heard Michelle Heidenrich Barnes at Today’s Little Ditty was putting together an anthology, I was skeptical. What an enormous amount of work! The logistics alone of gathering poems from many poets published on her blog, gathering permissions, organizing the poems, laying everything out, designing a cover–eeeesh!
But what Michelle does on her blog each month is amazing, featuring an interview with a poet or editor and then a poetry challenge based on a form or topic or theme. Readers write poems to the challenge, and Michelle features those poems on the blog all month. Then…on to the next interview/challenge. It’s very cool. So, I was happy to donate a couple of poems. And when my copy arrived…wow!
This is an excellent anthology! I have had so much fun reading through the poems, and I am completely impressed with the range of poems, styles, moods, voices. This would be wonderful to use in the classroom, since it’s divided into the challenges (water cinquains, monster haiku, clerihews, kindness poems, etc.) and features a nicely varied selection of poems written to each challenge. It would also be fun for a poet to work his or her way through the book, analyzing what you like or don’t like about each poem and then writing your own poem for the challenge. But most of all, and most surprising of all to me, it’s just good reading.
Here are just a few short poems from this anthology. (There are some longer ones, too.)
From the zeno challenge:
First storm of autumn: drenching rain,
leaves tumble down.
Branches
sway.
Morning quiet,
darkness
stays.
Changing season
shortens
days.–Jone Rush MacCulloch
From the monster haiku:
hollow eyes, grave grin
click, clatter-rattle–
bony escapee–Joyce Ray
And from the deeper wisdom poems:
What Does a Seed Know?
What does a seed know?
To reach for sun, the warmth and light
to wait until the time is right
to send shoots through the earth.What does a seed know?
That germination takes some time
that soon enough the stem will climb
that flowers mark rebirth.–Tricia Stohr-Hunt
Aren’t those lovely? There are many more excellent poems–some funny, some silly, some beautiful, some heart-breaking. You can order it on Amazon (in paperback or Kindle), and make sure to head over to Michelle’s blog to check out her poetry challenges:>)
And for lots more wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with Violet Nesdoly.
Love these poems and will definitely be buying this anthology. Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely surprise, Laura! Thank you for this wonderful write-up and for sharing Jone’s, Joyce’s, and Tricia’s poems. Between you and me, I was a little skeptical that I could pull it off, too, but I’m glad that didn’t stop you from being a part of it. xo
I love this anthology, too. Great selections.
Fantastic review! Michelle is an absolute inspiration to me. When I started following her blog I started being more mindful and purposeful about writing poetry. I stopped thinking of poetry as silly and something that I’m wired to do and enjoy. I’m so thankful for Today’s Little Ditty! A wonderful review for a beautifully executed and loving project.
Thanks for sharing this, Laura! You picked 3 of the best to feature…loved those! Have a great weekend!
It’s a pleasure to pick the book up and read more poems, Laura, and you’ve chosen some lovely ones. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a treasure & I am so grateful she went to the trouble!
Such a beautiful collection, and a true labour of love!
Laura, my copy of the anthology sits proudly on my glass table in the living room for all to read. Thank you for showcasing the book, your review, and those wonderful poems. Now off to read Michelle’s post for PF.
Yes, these poems are beautiful! And I will be heading over to Michelle’s blog to check out the challenges. What a great way to meet new poets and to challenge myself.
Of course it is my favorite poetry book! My first published poem is in that book. I find the format so inspirational. I would have definitely used it when I was teaching fifth grade. Thank you Laura and Michelle.
Laura, thanks for featuring this little gem of a book today. I am so proud of this whole project.
Really enjoyed reading your reaction to this book that has garnered so much excitement within the Poet Friday crowd, understandably. Another one for my “wish list’!
Hi Laura, thank you for this overview of Michelle’s anthology. We–her crit group (Scribblers and Doodlers)–are very proud of Michelle for the hard work she did in accomplishing the publication of this charming book.
I’m so happy that you featured Michelle’s anthology. I’m reading through mine and really enjoying it. She does do amazing things on her blog. Her posts have inspired many a poem from me. The challenges take my mind in new directions. Sometimes I don’t polish a poem for the challenge but I always learn.
I agree, Laura — Michelle really outdid herself!
Yes, it is all kinds of wonderful. So proud to have one of mine in there! (Bring on the next challenges, Michelle!)
Thank you for highlighting Michelle’s amazing anthology and for sharing these poems.
Like you and Michelle, these three poets are mining words a mastery level, Laura. Appreciations for your featuring them. And applause to Michelle, for her massive work to anthologize Today’s Little Ditty contributors. I am going to enjoy reading it.