Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

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The Country, by Billy Collins [Poetry Friday]

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Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I was lucky enough to attend a Billy Collins event a couple of weeks ago for my birthday. I love his work, and he’s an excellent reader–wry, understated, and funny. My husband compared his delivery to Bob Newhart’s. He (Collins, not my husband nor Bob […]

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“Forgetfulness” by Billy Collins

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Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Last week, I talked about how little I remember of the books I read. I was so grateful for those of you who chimed in and confessed similar experiences. And thank you, too, to Jane Heitman Healy, who shared this wonderful quote with me: “I […]

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[poetry friday] “Bathtub Families” (by Billy Collins)

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I usually share a kids’ poem, but today I’m sharing one by Billy Collins from his forthcoming Aimless Love. It’s available on Kindle now and in print next month. It includes selections from many of his collections, including Nine Horses, The Trouble with Poetry, and more, including new poems not collected before. Most Billy Collins […]

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It’s Like Billy Collins Read My Mind!

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I mentioned recently that I had ordered Billy Collins’ Picnic, Lightning and a couple of other poetry books as my own Christmas gifts. And in a separate post, we chatted about writing in books and whether it’s a sign of love or a desecration (most, but not all, people vote the former). So I laughed […]

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Poetry Friday: Picnic, Lightning (Billy Collins)

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  I felt like sharing a Billy Collins poem this morning, and "Picnic, Lightning" won the Poetry Friday lottery. I really love the tiny dark unmoored ship and the ending images of immersing yourself in the now, the ordinary moments that make live so vivid. Picnic, Lightning "My very photogenic mother died in a freak […]

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Poetry Friday: Evasive Maneuvers (by Billy Collins)

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  I headed to southern Minnesota for two days of school visits, which went great. Part of my presentation involves sharing with kids how I was always reading as a kid, even when my parents insisted I go outside to play and get fresh air. I share a picture of me sitting up in a […]

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Poetry Friday: A Billy Collins Poem

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I wrote a summer poem for this week’s Poetry Stretch, and I decided to also post a summer poem today for Poetry Friday. Fishing on the Susquehanna in July     by Billy Collins   I have never been fishing on the Susquehannaor on any river for that matterto be perfectly honest. Not in July or any monthhave […]

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Poetry Friday: A Billy Collins Poem

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  For Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a CD of Billy Collins Live, a performance from 2005. He did this even though we don’t make a big deal over Valentine’s Day (our anniversary is the week before it) and we had agreed to do nothing more than cards. Oh well:>) I happily listened to […]

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