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You are here: Home / Poems for Teachers / Poetry Friday Roundup: Snail at Moonrise (by Joyce Sidman)

Poetry Friday Roundup: Snail at Moonrise (by Joyce Sidman)

January 13, 2011 By Laura

Welcome to Poetry Friday!

Last week, I mentioned that I would feature Cybils Finalists on the next several Poetry Fridays. Who knew that today I would be doing that while celebrating a Newbery Honor for one of the poets I look up to most, and whom I’m proud to be in a critique group with: Joyce Sidman.

Joyce’s collection Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night is full of mystery, darkness, and wildness. I shared a poem from it a while ago, and I hope her publisher won’t be upset that I’m sharing another. (Shhh! Don’t tell.) I love so many poems in it, but I’m going to share this one because not only is it an exquisite poem, but it’s also a wonderful metaphor for what I want to do in my own writing. And it’s what I look for in the books I read, too!

Snail at Moonrise

Each night, Snail
unhooks himself from earth,
climbs a slick trail of silver
up, up
the horizon of log,
up stems of leaves
to their dewy tips,
seeking
with his tiny sandpaper tongue
morsels of green
to mix in his dark, moist body
and spin
into whorls of light.

Shell-maker
Moon-maker
gleaming silver-bright.
Each night:
darkness
     into
          light.

–Joyce Sidman, all rights reserved

I’m elated to see ALA recognizing poetry in its awards (though I echo Lee Bennett Hopkins’ wish that there be an actual poetry category). How can kids NOT be hooked when they’re exposed to fabulous poetry like this?

The roundup is right here today, so leave your link with Mr. Linky. I can’t wait to see what you all have to share and to celebrate the way poems spin darkness into silvery lights.

Tagged With: Joyce Sidman, poems, poetry books, Poetry Friday

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Related

« Newbery Honor for Joyce Sidman!
A Slight Change in the Rules »

JANUARY NEWS

I loved the holidays! And I'm so glad they're over. A quiet, snowy January is just what I need. This month, I'm working on two board book manuscripts, and I'm making materials to go with my 3 spring 2023 books.

I'm also busy prepping for upcoming author visits and setting my goals and priorities for 2023. Wishing you a lovely start to your own new year!

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