Laura Purdie Salas

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You are here: Home / Poems for Teachers / Poetry Friday: The Ghoul at the Gate (Jessica Swaim)

Poetry Friday: The Ghoul at the Gate (Jessica Swaim)

January 21, 2011 By Laura

 

I love Jessica Swaim’s Scarum Fair, another one of our Cybils Finalists in the poetry category! I hope it doesn’t get categorized as a Halloween-season-only type book, because chills and scares are fun all year long. (In fact, chills and scares on a -20-degree morning like this morning in Minnesota are guaranteed!)

I’d like to share two poems. First, the introductory poem, which is kind of fun to compare to the introductory poem of Joyce Sidman’s Dark Emperor. These are two collections about two TOTALLY different kinds of nights–both delicious!

The Ghoul at the Gate

Hey, kid,
it’s almost midnight,
and these woods are dark and deep.
What are you doing way out here?
Why aren’t you home, asleep?

Turn back,
or you’ll regret it.
See that sign up on the gate?
What if The Hand should pull you in?
What if…Oh no! Too late!

–Jessica Swaim, all rights reserved

   

Swaim’s poems are full of great language, strong images, and funny poems. Here’s another one I love:

Deadbeats

Let’s all give a hand to the Sleeping Dead Band,
with the flutist who toots as he dozes.
The ghost on bassoon plays a sad, haunting tune,
while the ghoul on the sax de-composes.

–Jessica Swaim, all rights reserved

So fun!

Tara at A Teaching Life has this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup. Enjoy!

Tagged With: Jessica Swaim, poems, poetry books, Poetry Friday

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MAY NEWS

All 3 of my 2023 books are out now! Thank you to everyone who's celebrated with me, shared the books, or read/reviewed them. <3

Right now, I'm recovering from National Poetry Month! I'm also working on 2 tricky picture book revisions, and I'm preparing for a bunch of speaking events and storytimes! Join Yvonne Pearson and I for two loon-themed outdoor storytimes on June 6 and August 1. And on July 14, I'll be storying up a storm at Robert Trail Library! Hope to see you there!

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