Laura Purdie Salas

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You are here: Home / Poems for Teachers / Poetry Friday: The House (J. Patrick Lewis)

Poetry Friday: The House (J. Patrick Lewis)

November 6, 2009 By Laura

 

The House (Creative Editions, 2009) is a gorgeous poem/picture book by J. Patrick Lewis, stunningly illustrated by Roberto Innocenti (love that name).

The house, built in 1656, is the main character of this story. The rhyming (but definitely not silly) poem tells the story of what the house experiences in the 20th century–alternating between one quatrain and small illustration per spread and double-spread illustrations.

One of my favorite quatrains is the one for 1915:

Midsummer’s dress is maid-of-honor green.
The hill girl takes her future by the hand–
A mason-soldier from the bottomland.
Life holds its breath when weddings intervene.

–from The House, by J. Patrick Lewis, all rights reserved

Maybe this one strikes me especially because I’m headed to Atlanta in a couple of weeks. My nephew, who’s in the Army, is getting married, and then he ships overseas in February or March. So while we can’t afford the trip in terms of time, money, missed work and school, we’re making life hold its breath so we can go enjoy this celebration.

   

When I received The House in the mail, I was headed out of town. I love Pat’s work, though, and I thought, "Oh, I’ll just give this a quick read before I head out." But then I picked it up. When I really looked at the cover, at all the play of light and shadow, I thought, "Hmmm…this might require more than a skim." When I opened the book and read the introduction, told in first person by the house, and including phrases like, "I hear laughter and guns. I came to know storms, hammers and saws, and, finally, desertion," I set it aside as a treat for when I got back home.

Check this book out, and save it for a time when you have a bit of quiet, a large mug of hot chocolate, and a mood for contemplation.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted by Elaine at Wild Rose Reader, who graciously stepped forward when nobody could find a schedule for today. Thanks, Elaine!

Tagged With: J. Patrick Lewis, Poetry Friday, rhyming picture books

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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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