Happy National Poetry Month! Thanks for dropping by my Poem Starter Video party.
Today’s poem comes from?Joyce Sidman‘s (click to check out her snazzy new website) amazing Newbery-Honor-winning collection, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night?(Houghton Mifflin, 2010). Joyce is one
of the most fantastic and thoughtful poets writing for kids today, and I am completely thrilled to call her a writer friend and critique group partner. This collection truly evokes the creatures of the night and the mystical mood of the woods, and prose notes deepen the reader’s understanding of the science behind the poems. Since this is a concrete poem, I’m sharing the image of half the spread (note the gorgeous art by Rick Allen).
“Dark Emperor,” by Joyce Sidman, from Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night (Houghton Mifflin, 2010), illustrated by Rick Allen. All rights reserved.
And here is my Poem Starter Video (which includes me reading the poem, so if you’re having trouble reading the picture above, check it out):
[wpvideo QPQ4m8WG]
This is SUCH a great series. I need to go back and listen to them all (thank you for making them bite-sized!) to get ideas for my poetry focus next week!!
This is SUCH a great series. I need to go back and listen to them all (thank you for making them bite-sized!) to get ideas for my poetry focus next week!!
What Mary Lee said. These are perfect little appetizers to get us revved up and writing and sharing.
Thanks, Susan–I appreciate that!
What Mary Lee said. These are perfect little appetizers to get us revved up and writing and sharing.
Thanks, Susan–I appreciate that!
Wow! I have an extensive owl collection and this concrete poem spoken by your dark voice is sublime!
Jeanne Poland
Thanks, Jeanne!
Wow! I have an extensive owl collection and this concrete poem spoken by your dark voice is sublime!
Jeanne Poland
Thanks, Jeanne!
Adding this to my “to read” list, thanks for sharing!
Sure thing, Lauri. This collection (Newbery Honor winning collection, in fact) is outstanding. I hope you love it!
Adding this to my “to read” list, thanks for sharing!
Sure thing, Lauri. This collection (Newbery Honor winning collection, in fact) is outstanding. I hope you love it!
I have this one & love it! Joyce is so talented as are you!
Thanks, Sharalyn:>)
I have this one & love it! Joyce is so talented as are you!
Thanks, Sharalyn:>)
THE BROKEN-HEARTED
I’m playing in the yard with my favorite chew toy
when a Retriever starts barking at me with a fury I’ve
never seen. His nose is pressed to the fence, maple
dipped skin shaking with brio, sunlit eyes with dark
dots plot my destruction. Why would anyone want a
piece of me? My name is Pipsqueak for crying out loud.
Maybe it’s jealousy. I mean, let’s face it, look at me, I’m
fabulous! Coiffed to perfection, bathed in alabaster with
dappled spots sprinkled like a cupcake. Then I notice
something makes my heart hurt. His ears are gnawed
off, he’s missing teeth, there’s a long gash that goes
around the side of his neck. A man then walks up
looks like a human version of the dog, cuts and bruises
Sketched in. “There you are Beast, I’ve been looking
for you.” he says then smacks the side of this broken
creatures head. Beast goes from a killer to a battered
child, whimpering as the owner yanks his neck
Both walking away as it starts to drizzle.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Heartbreaking.
THE BROKEN-HEARTED
I’m playing in the yard with my favorite chew toy
when a Retriever starts barking at me with a fury I’ve
never seen. His nose is pressed to the fence, maple
dipped skin shaking with brio, sunlit eyes with dark
dots plot my destruction. Why would anyone want a
piece of me? My name is Pipsqueak for crying out loud.
Maybe it’s jealousy. I mean, let’s face it, look at me, I’m
fabulous! Coiffed to perfection, bathed in alabaster with
dappled spots sprinkled like a cupcake. Then I notice
something makes my heart hurt. His ears are gnawed
off, he’s missing teeth, there’s a long gash that goes
around the side of his neck. A man then walks up
looks like a human version of the dog, cuts and bruises
Sketched in. “There you are Beast, I’ve been looking
for you.” he says then smacks the side of this broken
creatures head. Beast goes from a killer to a battered
child, whimpering as the owner yanks his neck
Both walking away as it starts to drizzle.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Heartbreaking.