Hello, my friends.
Some disappearing act, huh!
I might have been gone an entire year if it weren't for National Poetry Month and a serious hankering for more well filling.
Creating daily inspirational posts gave me so much pleasure last April, I decided to give it another go this year—well filling for well being. Even if I don't manage a post every day, there should be enough of them to make a difference in my world. Hopefully in yours, as well.
In lieu of an explanation for my absence, perhaps this excerpt from Naomi Shihab Nye's "The Art of Disappearing" will suffice?
If they say We should get together
say why?
It's not that you don't love them anymore.
You're trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.
say why?
It's not that you don't love them anymore.
You're trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.
Read the poem in its entirety HERE, or watch this two and a half minute clip from Naomi Shihab Nye's conversation with Bill Moyers. She reads "The Art of Disappearing" at the end.
Despite my own "new project" that will never be finished, I have missed you all and am grateful for those who have reached out in various ways to say hello.
Let me also take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks for two books that were published during my hiatus:
For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day (Eerdmans, 2021) is an engaging collection for ages 4-10 that recently received an Honorable Mention for Children's Books of the Year from World Magazine. Arranged from waking up to falling asleep, this anthology about the day and its delights gathers classic selections, modern prayers, and new poems from multiple cultures and faiths. From Emily Dickinson to Amma and from Kenn Nesbitt to Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, fifty-one voices encourage children to be present and thankful at all hours. I am thankful to June Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling for including my poem "Be."
10.10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 Different Ways is
Bridget Magee's anthologist debut. It includes poems in 10 categories
based on "TEN": TENtative, TENderness, TENacity, TEN More Minutes,
TENsion, I Wouldn't Touch That With a TEN-Foot Pole, TEN Little
Fingers/TEN Little Toes, Take TEN, TENth _____, and I TENd To. I'm
smitTEN with this collection and delighted to have my poem, "Stray,"
included. Word has it Bridget has another anthology in the works if you
care to submit two truths and a fib.
Lastly, in honor of World Poetry Day, I'm tickled to be included on Twinkl's 2022 list of Top 10+ Children's Poetry Bloggers. Many thanks to Saemi Jung for the lovely write up!
Looking forward to sharing another National Poetry Month together!
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