I’m highlighting poetry books?on the CYBILS shortlist–the ones that?I’ve read?but haven’t shared?here yet. Last week, I shared a poem from?Douglas Florian’s UnBEElievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings. These week I’m sharing one from Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems, by Kate Coombs, beautifully illustrated by Meilo So (Chronicle, 2012). I love the ocean. I grew up in Florida, and large bodies of water (here in Minnesota, Lake Superior will do just fine:>) fill me with awe and peace. So I suppose I’m predisposed to love poems about the sea. But even if I hated the ocean, Kate’s wonderful poems would surely change my mind. They range from funny to contemplative, and Kate employs great cleverness as well as stunning imagery.?Here’s one that makes me smile’since it manages to work beagles into an ocean poems book!
Seagulls
Seagulls remind me of beagles?
all that they think of is food.
Yet seagulls can soar through the sky
the minute they get in the mood.
And when seagulls take wing,
they become a new thing,
attaining some dignity.
But beagles are round
and remain on the ground,
pretty much dignity-free.
–Kate Coombs, all rights reserved
And here’s our dignity-free beagle, Captain Jack Sparrow, with a Busy Bone.
Violet Nesdoly has?today’s Poetry Friday roundup?– enjoy!
Popular choice today. Kate writes beautifully!
She does! I haven’t made it around the PF posts yet–this weekend!
Popular choice today. Kate writes beautifully!
She does! I haven’t made it around the PF posts yet–this weekend!
Hey, this just arrived in my mailbox yesterday, along with BOOKSPEAK. Hooray! I can’t comment on the poem right now, but I will say that there is nothing quite so freeing as being dignity-free. Just ask the beagle! 🙂
That is an excellent point, Renee! Ooh, have fun with your books:>)
Hey, this just arrived in my mailbox yesterday, along with BOOKSPEAK. Hooray! I can’t comment on the poem right now, but I will say that there is nothing quite so freeing as being dignity-free. Just ask the beagle! 🙂
That is an excellent point, Renee! Ooh, have fun with your books:>)
I loved Kate’s book and this is a great selection!
Thanks, BJ. Did you have a favorite poem?
I loved Kate’s book and this is a great selection!
Thanks, BJ. Did you have a favorite poem?
What fun! Who but Kate would have thought to combine seagulls and beagles?!
Exactly. If you had to pick an animal that would NOT be in an ocean book, especially one illustrated in breathtaking watercolors, it would be a beagle. And yet…there it is.
What fun! Who but Kate would have thought to combine seagulls and beagles?!
Exactly. If you had to pick an animal that would NOT be in an ocean book, especially one illustrated in breathtaking watercolors, it would be a beagle. And yet…there it is.
Love this book so much. Fun to see this poem today, and Jack Sparrow!
Hi Jama! It’s a beauty, isn’t it?
Love this book so much. Fun to see this poem today, and Jack Sparrow!
Hi Jama! It’s a beauty, isn’t it?
Lovely choice from Kate Coombs book! And I love that Captain Jack Sparrow is getting some help to “take wing” and be like a seagull. Dignity free indeed! Happy Friday =)
So many terrific poems to choose from! But I couldn’t resist the beagle:>) Happy Friday to you, too!
Lovely choice from Kate Coombs book! And I love that Captain Jack Sparrow is getting some help to “take wing” and be like a seagull. Dignity free indeed! Happy Friday =)
So many terrific poems to choose from! But I couldn’t resist the beagle:>) Happy Friday to you, too!
What a great poem! I’ll have to look for that book…
It’s beautiful, both in text and art–enjoy!
What a great poem! I’ll have to look for that book…
It’s beautiful, both in text and art–enjoy!
Oh gosh, Laura. I don’t even know where to begin when I saw your post. Love, love, love this poetry collection. I discovered it by accident in a thrift store. Beautiful poems, every single one of them. Thanks for highlighting this one!! =)
It’s wonderful, isn’t it? So whimsical but full of this authentic ocean love that comes through in every poem.
Oh gosh, Laura. I don’t even know where to begin when I saw your post. Love, love, love this poetry collection. I discovered it by accident in a thrift store. Beautiful poems, every single one of them. Thanks for highlighting this one!! =)
It’s wonderful, isn’t it? So whimsical but full of this authentic ocean love that comes through in every poem.
Dignity free, but oh so adorable!
Thanks, Tara–he is cute but smelly!
Dignity free, but oh so adorable!
Thanks, Tara–he is cute but smelly!
Fats Suela reviewed this book too. I’m wanting it more all the time! Thanks for highlighting the work of others, Laura, and linking this to Poetry Friday.
Thanks for hosting, Violet! I had planned lots of blog-reading this weekend, but my 20yo daughter has the flu and is camping out here. So, sadly not much reading yet!
Fats Suela reviewed this book too. I’m wanting it more all the time! Thanks for highlighting the work of others, Laura, and linking this to Poetry Friday.
Thanks for hosting, Violet! I had planned lots of blog-reading this weekend, but my 20yo daughter has the flu and is camping out here. So, sadly not much reading yet!
I just have to buy this one.
You do!
I just have to buy this one.
You do!
Laura, I just saw this–thank you so much! I will tell you that I used to dog-sit a couple of beagles, which is how I know about their relationship with food. Your beagle is darling!
You’re welcome, Kate! Not surprised you dog-sat beagles–your poem rings so true:>)
Laura, I just saw this–thank you so much! I will tell you that I used to dog-sit a couple of beagles, which is how I know about their relationship with food. Your beagle is darling!
You’re welcome, Kate! Not surprised you dog-sat beagles–your poem rings so true:>)