Happy Fourth of July! I’m sharing a poem today by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, from her wonderful book, Lemonade Sun?(Wordsong, 2001).?
I could take or leave fireworks, for the most part, but this poem makes an explosion in my brain–a beautiful, noisy, poetic burst. When I first started reading children’s poetry, I made little photo albums full of some of the best ones I read. Even though I have the actual Lemonade Sun book, it’s still fun to come across it in my homemade “anthology.”
FIREWORKS
Emerald glitter
fills the sky;
a thousand dashing
dragon eyes
sparkle!?flash!
spiral,
climb —
leaping,
leaving Earth
behind.
Roman candles
sizzle,
shatter,
diamonds dazzle,
rubies
scatter,
spilling silver
stars of fire–
blasting bits
of coper wire.
Sapphires crumble
in the sky,
tinsel tumbles
down to die,
onto city streets
and roads;
CRACKLE–
POP!
The sky
explodes!
–Rebecca Kai Dotlich, from LEMONADE SUN, all rights reserved
Here I am reading “Fireworks,” by Rebecca Kai Dotlich.
Poet and kindergarten teacher (oh, the material!) Heidi Mordhorst has the Poetry Friday Roundup today?at My Juicy Little Universe–enjoy!
What a delightful poem. Such on-target imagery. It really captures the beauty. Thanks for sharing. And Happy 4th of July.
You, too, Nancy! Rebecca’s imagery is always amazing.
What a delightful poem. Such on-target imagery. It really captures the beauty. Thanks for sharing. And Happy 4th of July.
You, too, Nancy! Rebecca’s imagery is always amazing.
Like you, Laura, fireworks aren’t exactly my “thing,” but I do lovelovelove Rebecca’s poem. 🙂 In fact, I do believe I far prefer poems about fireworks to the real thing. Dragon eyes, indeed! Thank you for sharing. xo
Glad you enjoyed it, Irene–happy Fourth!
Like you, Laura, fireworks aren’t exactly my “thing,” but I do lovelovelove Rebecca’s poem. 🙂 In fact, I do believe I far prefer poems about fireworks to the real thing. Dragon eyes, indeed! Thank you for sharing. xo
Glad you enjoyed it, Irene–happy Fourth!
I love that poem and that book. I think for me it’s a mentor text.
Yes! Happy Fourth:>)
I love that poem and that book. I think for me it’s a mentor text.
Yes! Happy Fourth:>)
A poem worthy of celebration even without the holiday! Your description of it: “this poem makes an explosion in my brain?a beautiful, noisy, poetic burst” is spot on as well. Happy 4th, Laura!
Thanks, Michelle–you, too!
A poem worthy of celebration even without the holiday! Your description of it: “this poem makes an explosion in my brain?a beautiful, noisy, poetic burst” is spot on as well. Happy 4th, Laura!
Thanks, Michelle–you, too!
Oh, what fun – now I am looking forward to tonight’s fireworks all the more!
Happy Fourth of July, Tara!
Oh, what fun – now I am looking forward to tonight’s fireworks all the more!
Happy Fourth of July, Tara!
I love fireworks, and Rebecca’s snappy poem captures the excitement. Thanks, Laura, and happy Independence Day!
Snappy–exactly! Happy Fourth!
I love fireworks, and Rebecca’s snappy poem captures the excitement. Thanks, Laura, and happy Independence Day!
Snappy–exactly! Happy Fourth!
Wow – love this! Thanks, Laura.
Glad you love it, Monica–Rebecca’s work is immaculate:>) Happy Fourth!
Wow – love this! Thanks, Laura.
Glad you love it, Monica–Rebecca’s work is immaculate:>) Happy Fourth!
Laura, I am a fan or fireworks and your choice of poem for Independence Day does make “an explosion in my brain.” Thanks for sharing and enjoy your 4th of July.
So glad you liked it, Carol! Happy Fourth!
Laura, I am a fan or fireworks and your choice of poem for Independence Day does make “an explosion in my brain.” Thanks for sharing and enjoy your 4th of July.
So glad you liked it, Carol! Happy Fourth!
Love this, Laura, rhythm and rhyme at its best, I agree. I don’t know the book so will find it quickly! Happy Independence Day!
It’s a lovely older book–still in print (yay!). Happy Fourth!
Love this, Laura, rhythm and rhyme at its best, I agree. I don’t know the book so will find it quickly! Happy Independence Day!
It’s a lovely older book–still in print (yay!). Happy Fourth!
This is a classic, isn’t it! Fireworks are one of those miracles that just don’t lose their specialness, I think–which for many of us privileged Americans is getting hard to come by. I love that you kept albums full of your favorites, Laura!
I love fireworks themselves, but the crowds and events that tend to go along with them…not so much. Happy Fourth!
This is a classic, isn’t it! Fireworks are one of those miracles that just don’t lose their specialness, I think–which for many of us privileged Americans is getting hard to come by. I love that you kept albums full of your favorites, Laura!
I love fireworks themselves, but the crowds and events that tend to go along with them…not so much. Happy Fourth!
Kaboom! Gad, I love a fireworks show. Great poem, Laura – thanks for posting it. And Happy 4th of July!
Hope you had a great Fourth and saw some fabulous fireworks!
Kaboom! Gad, I love a fireworks show. Great poem, Laura – thanks for posting it. And Happy 4th of July!
Hope you had a great Fourth and saw some fabulous fireworks!
I like imagining dragon eyes flashing and I especially like your homemade anthology! What a treat to re-read.
It was funny that at fireworks last night, after a heart and then a smiley face firework, someone yelled, “I want the dragon firework from Fellowship of the Rings!” Put me right back into this poem:>)
I like imagining dragon eyes flashing and I especially like your homemade anthology! What a treat to re-read.
It was funny that at fireworks last night, after a heart and then a smiley face firework, someone yelled, “I want the dragon firework from Fellowship of the Rings!” Put me right back into this poem:>)
I know I’ve seen the poetry book Lemonade Sun around from our library, thanks for highlighting it. Love the poetic eye in fireworks! 🙂
Go grab it, Myra–it’s fabulous. The art is not my personal taste, but the poems–oh, my.
I know I’ve seen the poetry book Lemonade Sun around from our library, thanks for highlighting it. Love the poetic eye in fireworks! 🙂
Go grab it, Myra–it’s fabulous. The art is not my personal taste, but the poems–oh, my.