Thursday, July 24, 2008

Poetry Friday -- Round Up Is Here!


Thought for the day: don't judge a book by its cover; don't assume you understand stone.







Stone
by Charles Simic

Go inside a stone
That would be my way.
Let somebody else become a dove
Or gnash with a tiger's tooth.
I am happy to be a stone.

From the outside the stone is a riddle:
No one knows how to answer it.
Yet within, it must be cool and quiet
Even though a cow steps on it full weight,
Even though a child throws it in a river;
The stone sinks, slow, unperturbed
To the river bottom
Where the fishes come to knock on it
And listen.

(the rest of the poem is here)

Leave your Poetry Friday link in the comments. We'll round up at various times throughout the day. Happy Friday! Happy Poetry Friday!

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The early birds are in!


Andrea and Mark, at Just One More Book, have a review of a "snazzily illustrated" rhyming book that was an instant hit in their house. It's the kind of book that will inspire you to start rhyming!

cloudscome, at a wrung sponge, has a poem for her boys, accompanied, as always, by her fabulous photography.

Jamie, at AdLit.org, is joining us for the first time with a review of a book of poems by a Canadian author.

Tiel Aisha Ansari, at Knocking from Inside, has a haunting original poem based on a short story by Ursula LeGuin.

Eisha, at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, has again received inspiration from The Poets Upstairs (who apparently are also cooks). She's introducing us to a poet who needs more attention, and sharing a poem that is not for the queasy.

Sara, at Read, Write, Believe, shares one of her favorite poems this week. It's a poem that makes you vow to stand up a little taller.

writer2b has her head in the stars today. She shares a whole constellation of poetry and images.

Mme T, at Destined to Become a Classic, has been critter-watching in her jungle-garden. She found a kindred spirit (and a new favorite poet) in Roethke.

jama, of jama rattigan's alphabet soup, has her head not in the stars, but in her refrigerator today. I dare you not to open your fridge after you read her post!

(Excuse me for an editorial aside here. Did I ever mention how much I love Poetry Friday? When I describe it to non-bloggers, I tell them it is like a party. You get to go and "hang out" with your "friends" (who could be the bloggers or the poets/poems that are shared that week), but you are always guaranteed to meet some "new friends" every week as well. As the hostesses of this "party," we have the added fun of watching patterns and connections emerge in the poems everyone chooses. It's a little like time-lapse photography.

Okay. That's all. Back to the poems.)

At Wild Rose Reader, Elaine has a review of J. Patrick Lewis' World's Greatest: Poems, along with some insider information about how this book came to be (and a sad-but-true connection to one of the poems in the book.)

At Blue Rose Girls, Elaine
shares a poem that will make you reflect back on all your summer jobs, and perhaps also on all of your mentors.

Laura Salas has a great picture from camp and this week's 15 Words or Less Poems.

& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &

It's been a busy and productive morning! How about some more poetry now?!?!

Sylvia, at Poetry for Children, has a book review for us today.

Linda, at Write Time, shares her contribution to Lee Bennett Hopkins' new collection HAMSTERS, SHELLS, AND SPELLING BEES.

(The quote of the day on my iGoogle page: "There is no reciprocity. Men love women, women love children, children love hamsters." - Alice Thomas Ellis)

alotalot, at A Little of This, A Little of That, has pioneers on her mind today.

Sherry, at Semicolon, has a poem by Spencer and a question for you.

Little Willow, at Bildungsroman
, features upbeat lyrics to an ABBA song.

Tabatha has links to some poetry games and shares an original poem, too!

Charlotte, at Charlotte's Library, writes about a time when a book she liked led her to a poem she liked and inspired her to go read more. She, too, has a question for you.

Kelly, at Writing and Ruminating, shares a tribute to Randy Pausch, of THE LAST LECTURE fame.

Becky, at Becky's Book Reviews, reviews BECOMING BILLIE HOLIDAY. Mark your calendar for its October appearance in bookstores.

Michele, at Scholar's Blog, is taking comfort in Shakespeare when all else seems to be going wrong.

Susan, at Chicken Spaghetti, shares some Ralph Covert song lyrics, and she's doing a GIVEAWAY OF THE RALPH'S WORLD CD FOR CHILDREN. Get over there by 8:00 tonight and get your name in the drawing!

Lisa, at Under the Covers, reviews a book of treasure hunt poems.

TadMack, at Finding Wonderland, shares a poem that ponders mental health.

Sarah, at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering, today is pondering the power of the right poem at the right time.

Diane, at The Write Sisters, is another Poetry Friday newcomer. Welcome ladies! Thanks for sharing the link to one of your favorite sources for pictorial inspiration for writing poetry!

Laurel, at Laurel Snyder
, has mythology on her mind today, thanks (or no thanks) to Percy Jackson.

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Almost time for bed. Let's finish this round up (until tomorrow morning, when I'm sure I'll wake up and find a few more).

Jim, at Haunts of a Children's Writer, has a famous 15 minute sonnet, and his own 15 minute poem.

::Suzanne::, at Adventures in Daily Living, has a poem by Seamus Heaney, her literary hero.

Ruth, at There Is No Such Thing As A God-forsaken Town, has been patiently waiting since 7:45 this morning to be rounded up. Please accept my apology, Ruth, for inadvertently skipping you! Everybody, make sure you check out her review of a Kristine O'Connell George book I've never seen -- one that folds together poetry and origami. Very fun!

Kimberly, at Lectitans, has a poem that could be a lullaby. Perfect timing!

Stacey, at Two Writing Teachers, pays homage to her home state, Indiana, with the state's poem. Does your state have a state poem? Does mine?

MNOSAL is our third Poetry Friday first-timer this week, with a poem about thunderstorms and a picture of a very fine looking cat who is not always brave during thunderstorms.

Erin, at Miss Erin, has one of my very favorite Shel Silverstein poems.

Cuileann, at The Holly and the Ivy
, has the last word (at least for now) with a cat poem that is also very final.

Okay, one more. MotherReader wrote a rhyme to help us remember not to judge her first attempts at virtual booktalks (check YouTube in the near future) too harshly.

40 comments:

  1. Franki & Mary Lee,

    I'm adding my comment now because I have a habit of forgetting to add it when the post is finally published.

    Our contribution to Poetry Friday this week is a quick chat about the snazzily illustrated rhyming book: The HICCUPotamus by Aaron Zenz. If this book doesn't give you an intense urge to write your own playful, semi-nonsensical poems, nothing will!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oops! Didn't mean to press "publish"
    http://www.justonemorebook.com/2008/07/25/contagious-wordplaygious-the-hiccupotamus/

    Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've got a poem for my boys up here. Thanks for hosting!

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Anonymous10:22 PM

    Yay! My first Poetry Friday! It's at http://www.adlit.org/mashup/25595 and I'm featuring the collection Black Stars in a white Night Sky.

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  6. Original poem inspired by a short story by Ursula Le Guin: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

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  7. I love this poem, Mary Lee! Especially the bit at the end with the secret moonlight and star charts.

    7-Imp is in with "Veal" by Phyllis Janowitz.

    http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=1377

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  8. I'm in with The God Abandons Antony, one of my favorite poems. (I don't know why; it should be depressing, but it inspires me!)

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  9. Anonymous6:41 AM

    I enjoyed that voyage into stone! Especially the ending with the star charts... We all encase surprises, don't we?

    I'm thinking about the stars today too in my post: http://writer2b.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/poetry-friday-stargazing/

    Thanks for hosting!

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  10. Hey Mary Lee,
    I have just discovered Roethke and so I have a poem titled The Minimal over at http://destinedtobecomeaclassic.blogspot.com/.
    I see we were both thinking nature this week.
    Mme T

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  11. I'm being brave today and looking inside my refrigerator, with poems by Shel Silverstein and Gary Soto: http://jamarattigan.livejournal.com/154348.html.

    Love the stone poem!

    Thanks for hosting, Mary Lee :).

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for doing the roundup this week!

    At Wild Rose Reader, I have a review of J. Patrick Lewis's book THE WORLD'S GREATEST POEMS.

    http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/2008/07/worlds-greatest-poems-book-review.html


    At Blue Rose Girls, I have a poem by Richard Hoffman entitled "Summer Job."

    http://bluerosegirls.blogspot.com/2008/07/poetry-friday-summer-job.html

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous7:57 AM

    Wow--I love that Simic poem. It's mind-opening. Thanks for sharing! And for rounding up!

    I have everyone's 15 Words or Less poems today, written yesterday to a photo I took at camp last week. Stop by, read, and add your own, too!

    http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/83418.html

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  14. Thanks for hosting! My post this week is a review of JonArno Lawson's poetry book, Black Stars in a White Night Sky.

    http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/

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  15. I have a brief review of Hampsters, Shell, and Spelling Bees and my poem which appears in the book at
    http:ldkwritetime.blogspot.com
    Thank you!

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  16. Anonymous9:16 AM

    I'm thinking about pioneers today...
    http://alotalot.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/poetry-friday-pioneers/

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  17. My Poetry Friday poem is by Edmund Spenser.

    http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=2596

    Thanks for hosting.

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  18. Anonymous10:29 AM

    I've been enjoying perusing everyone's Poetry Friday contributions! This week, I have links and info about some poetry games. My family and I might try "Exquisite Corpse" the next time we are waiting at a restaurant. Poetry and food go so nicely together :-)
    http://www.threeleggeddragon.com/tabatha/poetryfriday.htm

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  19. I'm in with a post about fictional girls writing poetry, a brief look at Undercover, by Beth Kephart, and "One Art" by Elizabeth Bishop, plus a bonus challenge!

    http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/2008/07/girls-in-books-who-writing-poetry-plus.html

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  20. Here's mine for today: a picture book called Fold Me a Poem. Thanks for rounding up!

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  21. Anonymous12:07 PM

    I'm in with a tribute to Randy Pausch in the form of Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night. Here's the link: http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com/320261.html

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  22. I'm in this week with a review of Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford. Thanks for hosting!!!

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  23. I'm in, finally, with my favourite poet Shakespeare...

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  24. Anonymous12:59 PM

    Hey, y'all! Thank you for rounding up.

    I'm in with a giveaway of "Ralph's World Rocks!" and a quote of some lyrics.

    http://tinyurl.com/6ledd7

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous1:28 PM

    Thanks for rounding up! I've posted a brief review of Keepers: Treasure-Hunt Poems, by John Frank at Under the Covers.

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  26. Thanks for rounding us up. I'm in with a poem called Join the Club.

    I think I'd like to be a stone, too.

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  27. I so agree with your editorial aside...back when I hosted, I felt just that way! :)

    Here's mine:
    http://snoringscholar.blogspot.com/2008/07/all-it-takes-is-right-touch.html

    Thanks for hosting!

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  28. I'd like to offer The Write Sisters' "Pictorial Inspiration" at http://thewritesisters.blogspot.com/2008/07/poetry-friday-pictorial-inspiration.html

    We're Poetry Friday round-up virgins, so be gentle!

    --Diane Mayr

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  29. I'm late!

    But I'm in with some Greek-myth inspired water poetry by Molly Bendall. Over here:

    http://laurelsnyder.com/?page_id=4

    THANKS!
    http://laurelsnyder.com

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  30. I'm in with Leigh Hunt's half of the 15 minute sonnet contest (Lisa Chellman posted John Keats' half earlier in the month).

    Also, in with my own 15 minute original (which makes me wonder if 15 minutes was a lot longer when Hunt and Keats wrote their sonnets).

    Jim Danielson

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  31. Opps.

    I'm at http://jdwriteskids.blogspot.com/

    Jim Danielson

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  32. Hi again,

    I think you missed my contribution, because you skipped over it in the roundup. Here it is again:

    http://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2008/07/poetry-friday-fold-me-poem.html

    Thanks! :-)

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  33. Here's my post:

    http://lectitans.livejournal.com/63061.html

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  34. Anonymous5:38 PM

    I'm in with a poem about Indiana since I just visited there this past week:
    http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/poetry-friday-an-hommage-to-my-co-bloggers-home-state/.

    THANKS for hosting this week!

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  35. Anonymous6:23 PM

    My first contribution to Poetry Friday is a poem by James Stevenson about summer storms. Thanks for hosting.

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  36. Here's my contribution!
    http://misserinmarie.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-many-how-much.html

    Thanks so much for hosting :)

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  37. Oh, I was wondering where the round-up was!

    I've got Franz Wright's "On the Death of a Cat." Thanks for hosting!

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  38. New to this site, but not new to the blog world this is my contribution http://poetrysoundbites.blogspot.com/2011/07/this-is-me-defined.html

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