“So Much Love” — A Definito

Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

Okay, friends, here’s another definito to go with Finding Family (coming in March from Lerner). I’m having a blast with these!

Also, I’m wondering if anyone else has had a sneak peek at Billy Collins’ new collection, Musical Tables. I’m usually such a fan of his work, but I admit this one doesn’t do it for me. Most of these uber-short poems (and y’all know I adore short poems!) left me shrugging. Many are the equivalent of dad jokes, where you just give a faint, polite chuckle. A few are allusions to works or artists I don’t know, so I just feel dumb. And a handful (but not nearly enough) make me feel something. I completely support an artist’s right to explore new forms, genres, etc. But…isn’t it disappointing when you look forward to a work by one of your favorites and then find it’s missing everything you love about their work? I’ll be interested to hear other Poetry Friday folks’ thoughts on this new collection.

Meanwhile, Jama is dishing up a delicious post and the Poetry Friday Roundup today! Happy Poetry Friday, everyone!

(I have a few more Finding Family F&Gs to share with bloggers who might want to feature the book on their blog. If you’re interested, will you put your info here? I have about five more to give away, I think.)

19 Responses

  1. Laura, thank you for your Billy Collins review. I haven’t read the book yet. Short poems are so tough! I have your same reaction to a lot of haiku, even ones by the old masters. But when one DOES makes me feel something, it’s usually pretty darn special. xo

  2. Thanks for the definito! Looking forward to the release of this book. 🙂

    Sorry to hear the new Collins book is a disappointment. Haven’t seen it yet.

  3. Love this image and your definito… the DOTE really hit me. Thanks, and have a wonderful warm Minnesota Thanksgiving!

  4. Laura, thanks for sharing, and for highlighting the word “dote!” This poem was so sweet. Happy Poetry Friday!

  5. Your poem and image is one big hug from top to bottom and all around, it’s just beaming with “dotism”
    and I ???? it. I’ll have to look at the Billy Collins book… Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Laura!

  6. Laura, your definito poems have prompted me to dig back into these poems in the last week or so. So thanks for that. Enjoyed ‘Dote.’ I’ve been doing a bit of that of late…

  7. I am just thrilled that so many people are enjoying my lil’ ol’ definito! It’s interesting to me that you are responding to and expanding on your own work using poetry–but I guess besides being fun for you it can become a resource for readers and their teachers. Smart!

  8. Awwwwwww, how sweet! I love this. And, I like seeing definition poems. I see so many students pretend to know what words mean instead of actually knowing. It’s poetry to the rescue!

  9. Your doting poem is adorable, Laura. (A‑dote-able?) 🙂 I haven’t read the newest Billy Collins yet. Thanks for your take on it. I’m curious to see what I think as I do normally love his stuff.

  10. Somehow I missed your post yesterday, Laura. I’m looking forward to your new books, know they will be terrific! The poem of love seems like it’s needed for everyone, all over the world, lately. Thanks for it & “DOTE”, haven’t thought of that word in a long time, super fun!

    1. Thanks also for the query about the new Billy Collins. I have it requested from my library so will see. I’m reading The Rain In Portugal right now. The poems are not short, offer a lot to ponder every time.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,547 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."