Hello, Poetry Friday people! My post this week is over at Teaching Authors, where I share a poem from one of my “unmarketable poetry collections,” and I share a bit about what I’m going to do with them. Hope to see you there.
The Birth of Old Man River, plus Unmarketable Manuscripts
By Laura
Just read the poem you were referring to – it’s a mighty verse about a mighty work of nature. I love the rhyme, rhythm and the way you built on the river and it’s function from small to large.
I’m no expert on critique, but am puzzled as to why the poem is considered unmarketable. Maybe you should do a poetry book entitled “Unmarketable Poetry.” Bet that would be received by markets far and wide. Rivers are fascinating to me. I was surprised at the width of the Jordan River (very narrow) while in Jordan and Israel. The French Broad River flows behind my subdivision in Western NC. Those who do not know about that river think the name refers to ladies of the night. My dad worked at a textile plant that was situated on the Yadkin River in the Piedmont of NC. Oh, one of my monikers is Chatty Cathy. Sorry!
Thanks, Martha–the collection isn’t all about rivers. It’s one poem from every state, and Lee Bennett Hopkins has a wonderful anthology that came out 14 years ago called MY AMERICA (which I hadn’t seen when I started writing this collection). Lee’s is a fabulous book. Sadly, many editors, because the poetry market is so small, think that once a topic has been done once in a poetry book, it is done forever. Two editors specifically mentioned Lee’s book and said the topic was already covered. Others just didn’t think there was enough of a market for poems about states (though I think 4th or 5th grade teachers would really like it in conjunction with studying regions, doing state reports, etc.). Yadkin River–great name! And I love the idea of an “Unmarketable Poetry” book. Kind of a “Don’t Read This Book” thing. Could work! Thanks for your thoughts.
Just read the poem you were referring to – it’s a mighty verse about a mighty work of nature. I love the rhyme, rhythm and the way you built on the river and it’s function from small to large.
I’m no expert on critique, but am puzzled as to why the poem is considered unmarketable. Maybe you should do a poetry book entitled “Unmarketable Poetry.” Bet that would be received by markets far and wide. Rivers are fascinating to me. I was surprised at the width of the Jordan River (very narrow) while in Jordan and Israel. The French Broad River flows behind my subdivision in Western NC. Those who do not know about that river think the name refers to ladies of the night. My dad worked at a textile plant that was situated on the Yadkin River in the Piedmont of NC. Oh, one of my monikers is Chatty Cathy. Sorry!
Thanks, Martha–the collection isn’t all about rivers. It’s one poem from every state, and Lee Bennett Hopkins has a wonderful anthology that came out 14 years ago called MY AMERICA (which I hadn’t seen when I started writing this collection). Lee’s is a fabulous book. Sadly, many editors, because the poetry market is so small, think that once a topic has been done once in a poetry book, it is done forever. Two editors specifically mentioned Lee’s book and said the topic was already covered. Others just didn’t think there was enough of a market for poems about states (though I think 4th or 5th grade teachers would really like it in conjunction with studying regions, doing state reports, etc.). Yadkin River–great name! And I love the idea of an “Unmarketable Poetry” book. Kind of a “Don’t Read This Book” thing. Could work! Thanks for your thoughts.
Wail I rely enjoyed your poem Laura and both of your comments I have lived near a river my hole life as a child I spent my summers out in a little blue row boat fishing
I’ve never lived within walking distance of a real river, though they’ve always been pretty close. But I’ve always been within walking distance of a lake, except for about a two-year period. Spending time in, on, or near water is an essential thing for me, too:>)
Wail I rely enjoyed your poem Laura and both of your comments I have lived near a river my hole life as a child I spent my summers out in a little blue row boat fishing
I’ve never lived within walking distance of a real river, though they’ve always been pretty close. But I’ve always been within walking distance of a lake, except for about a two-year period. Spending time in, on, or near water is an essential thing for me, too:>)