Reflections of Flight

"South for the Winter" by tdlucas5000

This year has flown by, hasn't it?

It certainly has for me.  

I announced my intentions and defined my plans at the beginning of 2014. My goal: to fly. Revisiting these posts, I respect their honesty and love them for their hopefulness.  Fast forward to today, and I'm touching down to reflect on the year's journey. 

"Bird landing on balcony, Barbados" by Berit Watkin

As I predicted back in January, it hasn't always been easy. I've had my share of botched take-offs, miscalculations, fatigue... I've even crashed into a few window panes. But with the help of family, friends, and writing partners, I've managed to shake out my wings and keep going.

I've also had my successes. Looking back on the places my "one little word" has taken me, I'm especially proud of the way Today's Little Ditty has soared and inspired.  I'm grateful for the insight of my TLD contributors, for my featured guests in the Haiku Garden and Limerick Alley, for the outstanding authors who trust me with their interviews and book reviews for the Ditty of the Month Club, for the lively bunch of DMC participants and commenters, and for my silently supportive followers as well. I'm also thankful for Poetry Friday, the KidLitosphere, and my growing flock of poetry-loving friends – those I've found and those who have found me.  

Today's Little Ditty will be taking a brief hiatus for the rest of December, but don't fret, DMC fans! I have more fabulous children's poetry and picture book stars lined up for next year, beginning in January with...

                                     wait for it...

                                                   Joyce Sidman!

I'm delighted that Joyce will be joining me next month, and look forward to seeing you all as well, rejuvenated from the holidays and ready to spread ditty joy.

Thanks again to Bob Raczka for being my featured author in November and to everyone who participated in his fun haiku challenge!  For those who missed last week's wrap-up, you can find it HERE.  Random.org has determined that the winner of SANTA CLAUSES: Short Poems from the North Pole, by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Chuck Groenink is:

CAROL WILCOX – congratulations Carol!

I'd like to leave you today with the Golden Shovel that I wrote in response to Laura Shovan's invitation this past October.  The Golden Shovel is a poetic form that takes a line from a favorite poem and uses those words, in order, as the end words of a new poem.  I based mine on a line from Adelaide Crapsey's "November Night": "Like steps of passing ghosts." I then superimposed my poem onto a public domain image I found on pixabay.com so that Carol Varsalona could include it in her Finding Fall Gallery.  Keep your eyes peeled for Carol's gallery opening in the next week or two.

(click on image to enlarge)

Wishing you the gift of poetry this holiday season, beginning with today's Poetry Friday roundup. Anastasia Suen is our host at Booktalking #kidlit.