Laura Purdie Salas

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[poetry friday] “Woolly Rider” (by Nancy Bo Flood) & Giveaway!

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I’m sharing a poem from a new-to-me poet, Nancy Bo Flood. This poem, “Woolly Rider,” is from Cowboy Up!: Ride the Navajo Rodeo?(Wordsong, 2013). When I did a young authors conference for a week recently, the theme was hooking your reader with a great beginning. So we started by looking at the first two lines from a bunch of kids’ poems and seeing which ones really caught their
attention and made them want to keep reading. A number of kids picked “Woolly Rider”‘s opening because of the unexpectedness of an angry sheep. (I have mixed feelings about rodeos, but these poems really put me inside the whole experience–always a good thing.).
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Woolly Rider
Sit on top–
sheep’s kicking mad–
fingers curled tight,
one hand held high.
Ready…set…
Ya-a-a-hooo!
1 second????? We’re flying! Whole world blurs by.
2 seconds???? Stomach up my throat. Crowd cheers. I’m holding on.
3 seconds???? Sheep swerves. Oops, sliding off. Yank back up.
4 seconds???? Hand hurts. Need to pee.
5 seconds???? Fingers numb. Eyes shut. Still on.
6 seconds???? Arms ache. Knees shake. Legs squeeze.
7 seconds???? Sheep bucks. Starts to roll. Slipping, sliding. Gotta hold…gotta hold…
8 seconds???? On!
Roll off, stand up, crowd cheers.
I grin.
Yes, sirree, I’m a?mutton-bustin’ woolly rider, me!
–by Nancy Bo Flood, all rights reserved
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[Review copy of Cowboy Up!: Ride the Navajo Rodeo?provided by the publisher]

I have a second copy of this book that I’m giving away to someone in the continental U.S.! Just leave a comment and let me know you want to enter the giveaway. And if you could share this giveaway notice via social media (your own blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.), I’d really appreciate it. Thanks! I’ll be accepting entries until Wednesday night, June 19 (midnight, Central Time). I’ll post the winner on Thursday the 20th, and once the winner sends me a mailing address, I’ll get it into the mail within a week.

.Margaret?at Reflections on the Teche?has?today’s Poetry Friday roundup?at her Poetry Blog– enjoy!
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Comments

  1. What a fun poem, Laura. Thanks for sharing. I’ll see if the library will order it.

  2. What a fun poem, Laura. Thanks for sharing. I’ll see if the library will order it.

  3. I can see why the kids would like the poem, Laura. Exciting action! Yes I’d love to enter for a chance at the book. Thank you!

  4. I can see why the kids would like the poem, Laura. Exciting action! Yes I’d love to enter for a chance at the book. Thank you!

  5. Thanks for sharing Nancy’s poem, Laura. Nancy is an Arizona poet that I’ve been privileged to meet a few times. Her poetry is amazing! =)

  6. Thanks for sharing Nancy’s poem, Laura. Nancy is an Arizona poet that I’ve been privileged to meet a few times. Her poetry is amazing! =)

  9. I see why this was a top pick. Such a great experience to ride with the poet. I’d love to join the giveaway. I’ll tweet and FB it too!

  10. I see why this was a top pick. Such a great experience to ride with the poet. I’d love to join the giveaway. I’ll tweet and FB it too!

  11. I love the way Flood pairs the thoughts of the rider with the time passing. I can’t imagine having a single thought in 8 seconds while trying to stay on a sheep!

  12. I love the way Flood pairs the thoughts of the rider with the time passing. I can’t imagine having a single thought in 8 seconds while trying to stay on a sheep!

  13. I love this book! Just came from Jama’s post about a bilingual Spanish book of poetry — here’s one for an even MORE underrepresented group in children’s literature: modern day Native American children! (I already own the book, so exclude me from the drawing.)

  14. I love this book! Just came from Jama’s post about a bilingual Spanish book of poetry — here’s one for an even MORE underrepresented group in children’s literature: modern day Native American children! (I already own the book, so exclude me from the drawing.)

  15. I first became aware of Nancy Bo Flood from Greg Picnus’ 30 Poets 30 Days. Please put me in the contest, I’d love to have this book. BO FLOOD and SALAS POWER!!!!!!!

  16. I first became aware of Nancy Bo Flood from Greg Picnus’ 30 Poets 30 Days. Please put me in the contest, I’d love to have this book. BO FLOOD and SALAS POWER!!!!!!!

  17. I love that “mutton-bustin’ woolly rider.” This book sounds like a winner! And although I’m rarely a winner (the only drawing I recall winning was for circus tickets when I was about 8!) please put my name in the hat. Thanks!

  18. I love that “mutton-bustin’ woolly rider.” This book sounds like a winner! And although I’m rarely a winner (the only drawing I recall winning was for circus tickets when I was about 8!) please put my name in the hat. Thanks!

  19. Fun find, I have three granddaughters who have a “Cowboy Fashion Show” regularly — think this book would be a perfect introduction to them regarding the versatility of poetry. Thanks for sharing the poem (and the book’s information)

  20. Fun find, I have three granddaughters who have a “Cowboy Fashion Show” regularly — think this book would be a perfect introduction to them regarding the versatility of poetry. Thanks for sharing the poem (and the book’s information)

  21. No need to enter me in the. drawing since I already have this book. I love Nancy’s poetry , and love Nancy – – a good soul, a kind heart, a fine poet. Cowboy Up is full of this kind of poetry: energetic, great control of sound, crisp images, sensory detail, excitement. In addition, the photographs by Jan Sonnenmair are dazzling. The end papers (smiling close-ups of all the kids) are reason enough to buy the book, along with the poems. Lucky person who wins this one!

  22. No need to enter me in the. drawing since I already have this book. I love Nancy’s poetry , and love Nancy – – a good soul, a kind heart, a fine poet. Cowboy Up is full of this kind of poetry: energetic, great control of sound, crisp images, sensory detail, excitement. In addition, the photographs by Jan Sonnenmair are dazzling. The end papers (smiling close-ups of all the kids) are reason enough to buy the book, along with the poems. Lucky person who wins this one!

  23. Having just blogged on hooks, this was a timely discovery. Having spent time with the Navajo children at a food run for the Adopt-A-Native-Elder program in Winslow, Arizona, I can see that child on the back of the sheep. I’d love to have the book to join the one you signed for me this weekend.

    • Cool! Thanks for stopping by, Nancy! You’re #9 in the drawing. Hope you’ve recovered from the action-packed weekend:>)

      • Laura, I’m busier than ever trying to apply some of what I learned from all of the marvelous faculty, including you. What a grand start to a new tradition!

  24. Having just blogged on hooks, this was a timely discovery. Having spent time with the Navajo children at a food run for the Adopt-A-Native-Elder program in Winslow, Arizona, I can see that child on the back of the sheep. I’d love to have the book to join the one you signed for me this weekend.

    • Cool! Thanks for stopping by, Nancy! You’re #9 in the drawing. Hope you’ve recovered from the action-packed weekend:>)

      • Laura, I’m busier than ever trying to apply some of what I learned from all of the marvelous faculty, including you. What a grand start to a new tradition!

  25. what a great hook! it’s true — that poem really does grab you! i’d love to win a copy of this book, Laura, if you would kindly enter me in the drawing. thank you! L

  26. what a great hook! it’s true — that poem really does grab you! i’d love to win a copy of this book, Laura, if you would kindly enter me in the drawing. thank you! L

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