Happy National Poetry Month! Thanks for dropping by my Poem Starter Video party. It’s the last day of April, and it’s been quite an adventure doing these Poem Starter Videos. I’ll share more about the process later, but I have to say it was very intimidating! I so appreciate all the fabulous poets who gave me permission to share their work, and it is with excitement and a bit of relief that I share the very last Poem Starter Video of the month.
Today’s poem comes from When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders?(Chronicle, 2012), by J. Patrick Lewis. I’ve talked loads about J. Patrick Lewis here on my blog (just type his name into the Search box to’read for yourself), so it feels fitting to end National Poetry Month with one of his poems. I’m sharing “The First” on the last (day of NPM)!
The First
I run down
the line, eight feet,
nine…and feint to feel
the rush between the third
baseman’s brush back and home.
Whitey Ford stares through me, a sneak thief
playing on his disbelief, a phantom blackbird hopping
on and offthe dare, flinching,
inching along the ledge
to legend. I time the windup,
my pistons primed to shovel under
Yogi’s glove. Yankee Stadium is stunned!
But you can hear the cheering all the way from Harlem.[Jackie Robinson
First African American baseball player in the modern era
1919-1972]–J. Patrick Lewis, all rights reserved
And here is my Poem Starter Video:
[wpvideo u0NF7l6r]
That is an amazing poem. Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful poems, Laura and your fun poem starter videos.
Thanks, Catherine, and thanks for helping to share them through FB and stuff. I really appreciate it!
You’re welcome, Laura. I hope to get my poetry board on Pinterest updated with all the great poetry month posts.
That is an amazing poem. Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful poems, Laura and your fun poem starter videos.
Thanks, Catherine, and thanks for helping to share them through FB and stuff. I really appreciate it!
You’re welcome, Laura. I hope to get my poetry board on Pinterest updated with all the great poetry month posts.
Laura,
It was a pleasure doing the poem starter for everyday this month. I now have 30 new poems in total. This would not have happened without your prompting. PLEASE CONTINUE THE POEM STARTERS. They are awesome and so are you. SALAS POWER!!!!!!
MEDAL CEREMONY
I rub my fingers over the medal I received,
Caressing the number 1st then sliding down
Tracing over the word place. Dad puts his arm
Around my shoulders, “No one in our family has
Ever won anything, until now.” He says. Mom
Rockets toward me, arms outstretched, “My baby!
My baby!” She shouts. Grandpa and Grandma
Stand there not saying a word, their smiles
However, say everything.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Way to go, Charles! I hope to continue doing a few a month. They will probably be my Poetry Friday posts. It was fun (but exhausting) to get a whole group of them up in such a short period. Love that ending! And Mom rocketing…
Laura,
It was a pleasure doing the poem starter for everyday this month. I now have 30 new poems in total. This would not have happened without your prompting. PLEASE CONTINUE THE POEM STARTERS. They are awesome and so are you. SALAS POWER!!!!!!
MEDAL CEREMONY
I rub my fingers over the medal I received,
Caressing the number 1st then sliding down
Tracing over the word place. Dad puts his arm
Around my shoulders, “No one in our family has
Ever won anything, until now.” He says. Mom
Rockets toward me, arms outstretched, “My baby!
My baby!” She shouts. Grandpa and Grandma
Stand there not saying a word, their smiles
However, say everything.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Way to go, Charles! I hope to continue doing a few a month. They will probably be my Poetry Friday posts. It was fun (but exhausting) to get a whole group of them up in such a short period. Love that ending! And Mom rocketing…
This has been an incredible series, a double bonus every day of an amazing poem and a fresh idea to write one. I believe you deserve an award!
This has been an incredible series, a double bonus every day of an amazing poem and a fresh idea to write one. I believe you deserve an award!
I have rarely commented, Laura, but I think I’ve read & listened to each video & loved them, shared them with colleagues, know I will return again & again for just the ‘right’ poem for students. You’ve created quite a wonderful resource for us here. Congratulations on a wonderful April!
I have rarely commented, Laura, but I think I’ve read & listened to each video & loved them, shared them with colleagues, know I will return again & again for just the ‘right’ poem for students. You’ve created quite a wonderful resource for us here. Congratulations on a wonderful April!