I’m sharing a poem today by Kurt Cyrus, the poet and illustrator of one of my top five poetry collections, Hotel Deep (which I blogged about here). This one is from Your Skeleton Is Showing: Rhymes of Blunder from Six Feet Under (Disney-Hyperion, 2013, illustrated by Crab Scrambly). It’s a funny, morbid collection, and I’m sure you know some kids who love funny, morbid stuff!
Your Skeleton Is Showing, by Kurt Cyrus
I used to have a terrible fear of public speaking, so this is one of my favorites from the book:
Lem Tremolo
Once upon a podium
a public speaker died
from sweating so much sodium
he shriveled up inside.
Terror frozen on his face,
body fluids leaking.
Just another routine case
of death by public speaking.
–Kurt Cyrus, all rights reserved
Here I am reading “Lem Tremolo,” by Kurt Cyrus.
Poet Buffy Silverman has the Poetry Friday Roundup today?at Buffy’s Blog–enjoy!
“Death by public speaking” I’m sure many of us can relate. You just know that the sweat is showing and everybody sees your hands trembling. This is a hilarious poem as I’m sure the whole collection must be. A delight for young ones.
You know, I don’t tremble and sweat TOO much anymore, but I get cotton mouth, even though I’m not really nervous. Oi. These are really fun poems–this one just hit a little too close to home:>)
“Death by public speaking” I’m sure many of us can relate. You just know that the sweat is showing and everybody sees your hands trembling. This is a hilarious poem as I’m sure the whole collection must be. A delight for young ones.
You know, I don’t tremble and sweat TOO much anymore, but I get cotton mouth, even though I’m not really nervous. Oi. These are really fun poems–this one just hit a little too close to home:>)
SO true about speaking the subject of this book is something I’m not wanting to think about right now
How was your week teaching
I used to be TERRIFIED of speaking to big groups! My week has been a chaotic mix of students, summer school, poetry, and dealing with family medical stuff (my daughter’s fianc? has been in the hospital since Sunday and just had surgery today).
SO true about speaking the subject of this book is something I’m not wanting to think about right now
How was your week teaching
I used to be TERRIFIED of speaking to big groups! My week has been a chaotic mix of students, summer school, poetry, and dealing with family medical stuff (my daughter’s fianc? has been in the hospital since Sunday and just had surgery today).
Baa ha ha ha ha… thanks for sharing! (& that art looks fantastic, too…!)
So glad you like it–the art is perfect for the subject matter: a little weird, a little disconcerting… 🙂
Baa ha ha ha ha… thanks for sharing! (& that art looks fantastic, too…!)
So glad you like it–the art is perfect for the subject matter: a little weird, a little disconcerting… 🙂
Love the dreaded sentiments in this and the brilliant rhymes: podium/sodium!!
Isn’t that rhyme awesome?!
Love the dreaded sentiments in this and the brilliant rhymes: podium/sodium!!
Isn’t that rhyme awesome?!
HA! My students will LOVE this book!
It goes well with the pet epitaphs, too, LAST LAUGHS, by Pat Lewis and Jane Yolen. :>)
HA! My students will LOVE this book!
It goes well with the pet epitaphs, too, LAST LAUGHS, by Pat Lewis and Jane Yolen. :>)
How fun! I’ll have to remember that podium-sodium rhyme.
Isn’t it awesome? So unexpected, and then somehow so obvious:>)
How fun! I’ll have to remember that podium-sodium rhyme.
Isn’t it awesome? So unexpected, and then somehow so obvious:>)
Oh, this looks like a fun fun book! I have a thing for moribund themes. Loved your reading of the poem too, dearest Laura.
I do, too:>) Thanks, Myra!
Oh, this looks like a fun fun book! I have a thing for moribund themes. Loved your reading of the poem too, dearest Laura.
I do, too:>) Thanks, Myra!