Happy National Poetry Month! Thanks for dropping by my Poem Starter Video party.
Today’s poem comes from A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play?(Clarion, 2012), by Marilyn Singer.?Marilyn is the queen of fun poetry
book concepts, and she and librarian Barbara Genco created and coordinate the ALA Poetry Blast! This collection is all about kids, the outdoors, and movement. I’m sharing the poem “Jump!”, about an activity that is so cool to watch but that I was never much good at:>) The layout of the poem on the page is wonderful, but I couldn’t recreate it here!
Jump!
In the town
town
town
there are noises all around.Come on, listen
listen
listen
to my favorite sidewalk soundIt’s the slap
slap
slap
of two jump ropes when they touch.It’s a snap,
snap,
snap!
Watch me do it! Double Dutch!–by Marilyn Singer, all rights reserved
And here is my Poem Starter Video:
[wpvideo NGX7bOei]
Irene Latham (have you been following this year’s Progressive Poem?) at Live Your Poem has today’s Poetry Friday Roundup. Enjoy!
Marilyn Singer is one of my favorite poets, and this is a wonderful book! Thanks so much for sharing from it today.
Have you read both her reverso books, too? Mirror Mirror and Follow Follow? They are genius–but their format doesn’t work for this video poem starter series. Check them out if you don’t already have them…
Marilyn Singer is one of my favorite poets, and this is a wonderful book! Thanks so much for sharing from it today.
Have you read both her reverso books, too? Mirror Mirror and Follow Follow? They are genius–but their format doesn’t work for this video poem starter series. Check them out if you don’t already have them…
I enjoyed this book very much, and yes, this poem reminds me of my jump rope days… and hopscotch and marbles and monkey bars. Really fun stuff. Thanks, Laura!
It does kind of take you back…
I enjoyed this book very much, and yes, this poem reminds me of my jump rope days… and hopscotch and marbles and monkey bars. Really fun stuff. Thanks, Laura!
It does kind of take you back…
Loved that jump rope poem. Such a distinctive sound it makes! I remember it well!
Glad you liked it!
Loved that jump rope poem. Such a distinctive sound it makes! I remember it well!
Glad you liked it!
TORN REDEMPTION
Thursday afternoon, sunlight’s melting away
over our sandlot. Score’s tied 10-10. My brother
Josh’s on 3rd base. Angela steps up to the plate,
if one kick can pierce this defensive shield, that’s it,
ballgame’s over. “Angela, time to come in.” A voice
yells out. “In a second Mom.” She screams back.
“No, it’s a school night, come inside NOW!” Angela
walks away. “Sorry.” she says. “Who are we going to
use?” someone shouts out. I’m the only one who hasn’t
played. I’m the mascot. Josh’s baby brother, they call
me Nerdman. “How about Nicholas?” Josh asks. A
cacophony of complaints ensue. “No.” “What!” “Have
you lost your mind?” “Nerdman couldn’t kick a stone.”
“Well I’m not going to end this in a tie.” Josh says. “C’mon
Nicholas, you can do it.” I walk up to the plate. Last time
I tried kickball I tripped over the ball and broke my glasses,
along with my pride. The pitchers name is Felix, he’s the one
who first called me Nerdman. It lead to Josh beating him up
but the name stuck. “This is going to be the easiest out in the
history of neighborhood kickball. Don’t break your glasses
again.” He says then rolls the fuchsia colored globe in my
direction. As it’s rollicking toward me I imitate Josh’s
technique, sprinting toward the ball and kicking it with all
my might. It explodes off my foot like a pink comet hitting
Felix right in the face, he falls down as Josh runs to home
plate scoring the winning run. I’m so shocked I haven’t moved.
Josh picks me up, screams out “Way to go baby
brother!” I watch Felix stand up, dust himself off
and walk home, feeling sorry that he will now carry
the burden I once had.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 alll rights reserved.
Beautiful last sentence–and I love the title, which really reflects the dichotomy here. I thought the ending might have more weight if someone actually called Felix a name right away…but maybe your subtler approach is better.
TORN REDEMPTION
Thursday afternoon, sunlight’s melting away
over our sandlot. Score’s tied 10-10. My brother
Josh’s on 3rd base. Angela steps up to the plate,
if one kick can pierce this defensive shield, that’s it,
ballgame’s over. “Angela, time to come in.” A voice
yells out. “In a second Mom.” She screams back.
“No, it’s a school night, come inside NOW!” Angela
walks away. “Sorry.” she says. “Who are we going to
use?” someone shouts out. I’m the only one who hasn’t
played. I’m the mascot. Josh’s baby brother, they call
me Nerdman. “How about Nicholas?” Josh asks. A
cacophony of complaints ensue. “No.” “What!” “Have
you lost your mind?” “Nerdman couldn’t kick a stone.”
“Well I’m not going to end this in a tie.” Josh says. “C’mon
Nicholas, you can do it.” I walk up to the plate. Last time
I tried kickball I tripped over the ball and broke my glasses,
along with my pride. The pitchers name is Felix, he’s the one
who first called me Nerdman. It lead to Josh beating him up
but the name stuck. “This is going to be the easiest out in the
history of neighborhood kickball. Don’t break your glasses
again.” He says then rolls the fuchsia colored globe in my
direction. As it’s rollicking toward me I imitate Josh’s
technique, sprinting toward the ball and kicking it with all
my might. It explodes off my foot like a pink comet hitting
Felix right in the face, he falls down as Josh runs to home
plate scoring the winning run. I’m so shocked I haven’t moved.
Josh picks me up, screams out “Way to go baby
brother!” I watch Felix stand up, dust himself off
and walk home, feeling sorry that he will now carry
the burden I once had.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 alll rights reserved.
Beautiful last sentence–and I love the title, which really reflects the dichotomy here. I thought the ending might have more weight if someone actually called Felix a name right away…but maybe your subtler approach is better.
Very fun!
I agree–wish I could DO double dutch, but it’s fun to read about it, at least:>)
Very fun!
I agree–wish I could DO double dutch, but it’s fun to read about it, at least:>)
Hi Laura. It’s been a while since I’ve had opportunity to stop in, so it was really nice to see you in your video, reading your poem selection. You’ve reminded me of one of my favorite sidewalk games when I was a kid, The Stick Game, where you set two sticks parallel to each other on the ground and jump over them, widening the space between the sticks each round. Eventually, you need a good running start to clear the sticks. It’s a good one for a group waiting for the school bus. Hadn’t thought about that game in a while! Hope you’re well. Happy Poetry Month!
Hi Martha! This points out one of the many things I adore about poetry: It can connect so easily to our own lives. We’re reading about someone else’s thoughts, words, opinions, and suddenly, there we are with something in our own life front and center.
Thanks for stopping by–I hope your writing is going great!
Hi Laura. It’s been a while since I’ve had opportunity to stop in, so it was really nice to see you in your video, reading your poem selection. You’ve reminded me of one of my favorite sidewalk games when I was a kid, The Stick Game, where you set two sticks parallel to each other on the ground and jump over them, widening the space between the sticks each round. Eventually, you need a good running start to clear the sticks. It’s a good one for a group waiting for the school bus. Hadn’t thought about that game in a while! Hope you’re well. Happy Poetry Month!
Hi Martha! This points out one of the many things I adore about poetry: It can connect so easily to our own lives. We’re reading about someone else’s thoughts, words, opinions, and suddenly, there we are with something in our own life front and center.
Thanks for stopping by–I hope your writing is going great!
I haven’t even thought about Double Dutch in years. It sure was fun when I was a kid. I love the repetition in the poem. Thanks for sharing it.
It is, Rosi (though I always stunk at double dutch!) :>)
I haven’t even thought about Double Dutch in years. It sure was fun when I was a kid. I love the repetition in the poem. Thanks for sharing it.
It is, Rosi (though I always stunk at double dutch!) :>)