Five for Friday: Celebrating Mom

Anders Adermark

Not all of us can do great things. 

But we can do small things with great love.

Although this quote has been widely misattributed to Mother Teresa, it certainly embodies motherhood, don't you think?

I'm quite sure I'm not the only one devoting today's blog post to Mother's Day. In fact, I predict I'm not the only one sharing "The Lanyard" by Billy Collins either. It's a popular favorite for good reason!

But first I wanted to mention how honored I am that Michelle Kogan is featuring one of my original mother-inspired poems at her blog. You'll find "Mother's Heart" along with four others from The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016—poems by B.J. Lee, Heidi Mordhorst, Charles Waters, and Michelle, herself. She's done a wonderful job presenting each one with some backstory and a photograph. I hope you'll stop by and say hello to 13-year-old me with my beautiful mom!

Now where was I? Oh yes, Billy Collins. I think my mom will really like "The Lanyard." She'll appreciate its message, of course, but also its accessibility and humor. In the words of poet Stephen Dunn, "We seem to always know where we are in a Billy Collins poem, but not necessarily where he is going."

"The Lanyard" by Billy Collins 

(read by the poet)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khQ9e0QpEM8

Read the poem in its entirety HERE.
Explore teaching tips and support materials for this poem HERE.

I've made the kind of lanyard Collins talks about, though I'm not sure I've ever presented one to my mother. I have given her a number of potholders from my camp days, however. Does that count? Either way, it's the thought that matters.  Love you, Mom. xo

Watch a do-it-yourself video on how to start your own box stitch lanyard HERE.


Now since we're in DIY mode anyway, how about a Five for Friday celebration?

Today's theme is to write about a specific gift you have given to, or received from, your mother.

It's been a while since our last Five for Friday party, so for those who are new or would like a refresher, all you need to do is come up with five words (plus title if you wish) on today's theme.

Please don't think too hard about it! Off the top of your head is fine. Leave your 5-word ditty in the comments, or email it to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com. I will move your contribution to the main body of the post.

I'll start us off. Hmmm... okay, here's one. (See how long that took me? Not long at all!) This is based on a Mother's Day poem I wrote for Laura Purdie Salas' cinquain challenge in 2014.

SOGGY KISSES

mommy waters me—

her flower

– Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

* * *

HEARTFELT ART

tenderly tied
by paint tubes.

– Michelle Kogan

* * *

LIFELINE

states away,
our daily visits

 – Linda Baie

* * *

MADE AT CAMP

Sloppy potholder
Neatly transmits love.

– Karen Edmisten

* * *

FOUND IN MOM'S NIGHT TABLE DRAWER

Fifty-year-old card
drawn by me.

– Buffy Silverman

* * *

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

Can't miss a
plant sale

– Tabatha Yeatts

* * *

FROM A PLASTIC LOOM

Potholder,
stretchy strips
hugging tightly

– Laura Purdie Salas

* * *

TRAIN RIDE TO SCOTLAND

Time together
one on one.

– Jama Rattigan

 

* * *

FLIGHT

Freedom to spread
my wings.

– Kay Jernigan McGriff

* * *

PLANTED VINE

Twists around
both our hearts.

– Margaret Simon

* * *

MOTHER’S KNITTING

Handmade sweaters
warm, comfort, love

– Dianne Moritz

* * *

Wedding pearls
love to celebrate

– Linda Mitchell

* * *

A GIFT FOR MOM

Popsicle-stick box
holds my love.

– Rosi Hollinbeck

 * * *

ANOTHER MOTHER'S DAY...

Another card-bouquet,
delivered late.

– Brenda Davis Harsham

* * *

Favorite poems shared lovingly together.

– Christie Wyman 

* * *

KNITTED BY HAND

sweater worn well
mamma-warm s t i l l

– Cory Corrado

* * *

homemade
cake chunks,
frosting soup...

– Donna JT Smith

* * *

GRANDCHILDREN

She met all three.

– Diane Mayr 

* * *

squishy hugs
limited by geography

– Bridget Magee

* * *

HER GIFT TO ME WAS MY GIFT TO HER

Vicariously lived:
a happy childhood.

– Mary Lee Hahn

* * *

MY MEME

bathing
grandbabies
with
tender
TLC

– Dani Burtsfield

Sharon Soberon

This month's DMC challenge from Julie Fogliano is to write a poem about what you see outside your window. If you missed last Friday's interview, you'll find it HERE. Off to a splendid start, this week's daily ditties included poems by Lana Wayne Koehler, Janice Scully, Michelle Kogan, and Jessica Bigi. Catherine Flynn is sharing her window poem today at Reading to the Core. Leave your window poem on our May 2018 padlet.

Happiness has landed at Jama's Alphabet Soup! Join Jama for a beautiful selection of bluebird poems and art, as well as this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016 (YAY!) + Five for Friday: Giving Thanks

Nick Saltmarsh

The writing's on the wall.
It looks a bit like chicken scratch, but it's there.

It says . . .

JUST BE THANKfull for WHAT YOU GOT.

I sure am!

©2017 Teresa Robeson

See? 
This is me.




And this is what I've got . . .

Happy Day! Volume 2 has arrived!

The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016 is available 

 in paperback for $9.95 or as a Kindle ebook for $5.95.

Click HERE to purchase at Amazon.com. 

Truth be told, I'm not only thankful, I'm relieved. You may have noticed my hit-or-miss (mostly miss) Poetry Friday rounds over the last several weeks. That's because of this baby... well, plus a few college visits for my son and a series of workshops I've been involved with at the same time. (Read my poem inspired by teaching poetry to juvenile offenders here.)

But we did it! We reached the finish line! 

I say "we" because I couldn't have managed this project without the support of some incredible people. First, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Renée LaTulippe. She was invaluable throughout the process with advice, suggestions, Photoshop expertise, editing, proofreading, and reality checks when needed. Thank you, Renée!

When I asked Teresa Robeson if she'd be willing to do the cover, I knew she'd do a brilliant job. (Read my interview with Teresa here.) What I did not know at the time was that she would also provide such fun spot illustrations for inside the book! The grateful penguin at the top of this post is an example. Thank you, Teresa, for giving this book such delightful character.

Hugs of appreciation to this year's super-duper ditty committee:

          Linda Baie
          Jesse Anna Bornemann
          Matt Forrest Esenwine
          Lana Wayne Koehler
          Michelle Kogan
          Jone Rush MacCulloch
          Maria Marshall
          Diane Mayr
          Sydney O'Neill
          Margaret Simon
          Donna JT Smith
          and Tabatha Yeatts.

Because of their dedication, 350 poems were carefully reviewed and whittled down to the 75 that appear in this volume. A few excellent poems were left out for one reason or another, but I think you'll agree that the final result is impressive nonetheless.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to Jane Yolen, Linda Mitchell, and Janet Wong for their wonderful blurbs for the back cover. And last but not least, thank you to the eight incredible authors and one amazing editor who came up with such terrific challenges in 2016:

          Douglas Florian
          David L. Harrison
          Diana Murray
          Kenn Nesbitt
          Ann Rider
          Laura Shovan
          Marilyn Singer
          Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
          Jane Yolen

and to the 50 talented poets who permitted me to feature their work in this book:

Today's Little Ditty has become something so much larger than li'l ol' me. Whether or not your work is included in this volume, practicing writing together has always been, and will continue to be, a fulfilling, heart-happy part of my life. Thank you.

But you know me—I never like to celebrate alone! So let's join together for a Five for Friday party.  Now that you know what I'm thankful for, with only a week until American Thanksgiving . . .

Carla Arena

It can be something small—a sunset, the kindness of a stranger—or something larger... say, a new book! Don't think too hard, just describe one thing you're thankful for in five words (plus title if you wish) and leave it in the comments or email it to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com.  I will move your 5-word ditty to the main body of the post.  Here's mine to start us off:

SECOND HELPINGS

Please pass the ditty pie!

– Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

DITTY POETS

Thank you, Michelle Heidenrich Barnes.

– Kate O'Neil

Awww... thanks Kate! xo -MHB

CAR RIDE WITH TEEN

Briefly bonding; ticking time bomb.

– Rebekah Hoeft


THE INTERNET

Finding friends the world over!

– Diane Mayr


AFTER THE READING

Poets gather around good conversation.

– Sarah Grace Tuttle


POETRY!

all I want for Christmas

– Linda Baie


POET PIE

Love gathers around the table.

– Jama Rattigan


GRANDKIDS

The joy of lingering hugs

– Janie Lazo


SMILES ALL AROUND

My first school visit - Success!

– BJ Lee


SUPPORT SYSTEM

Related or chosen, always there!

– Maria Marshall


POEM ARRANGEMENT

A beautiful bouquet of words.

– Penny Parker Klostermann


SMOKEY BEAR

My kitty, purring beside me.

– Dianne Moritz


PERSEVERANCE

Thanku unwavering web of support!

– Michelle Kogan


POETRY FRIENDS

Words weave in and out

– Kay Jernigan McGriff


BUDDING SUCCESS

Two poems published this year!

– Karen Eastlund


HOLIDAY SEASON

cool weather and warm hearts

– Sydney O'Neill


FROM WILDFIRE ASHES

this Phoenix
fashioned
a home!

– Michele Krueger


PROMISE KEPT

Morning
dewdrops in the desert.

– Juanita Havill


THANKS TO MY SISTER

My plucky Lucky Chicken cup!

– Julie Larios


Poetry in all I see.

– Sally Murphy


Each sunrise is paintbox poetry.

– Brenda Davis Harsham


BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTERS

Alphabet's versatility =
messages for posterity

– Donna JT Smith


MY EYE SURGEON

now I see
ants
stars

– Helen Zax


MENU CHANGE

I won't miss school lunches.

– Kathryn Apel


INSPIRATION

the zest that says, Create!

– Robyn Hood Black


POETRY COMMUNITY

feeling connected despite the distance

– Bridget Magee

Although we're only midway through November, next Friday, the 24th, will be our end-of-month wrap-up celebration for Carol Hinz's DMC challenge. This week's featured poems were by Keri Collins Lewis, Cindy Breedlove, Laura Purdie Salas, and myself. Post your poem that finds beauty in something that's not usually considered beautiful on our November 2017 padlet.

Thanks to Jane Whittingham for hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Raincity Librarian.

Five for Friday: Pleas for Peace, and the Poetry Friday Roundup

Reaching Out – Joining Hands
A mosaic mural by public artist Carien Quiroga, on Flickr Creative Commons.

“In joined hands there is still some token of hope, 
  in the clinched fist none.” 

                                                 – Victor Hugo, The Toilers of the Sea

2017 Peace Day Theme:  
Together for Peace: Respect,
Safety and Dignity for All.
(Learn more HERE.)

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") is observed around the world on September 21st.

Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.  (InternationalDayOfPeace.org)


How you can take part:

Margarita Engle, our Young People's Poet Laureate, and children's poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater have led the way by promoting an opportunity for authors, illustrators, and teachers to share writing or art projects related to peace.

1. Post peaceful books, poems, images, classroom activities, and websites on the "International Day of Peace" padlet that Amy created HERE. It's a resource for all.

2. You are invited to use this beautiful image of a peace dove, cut from paper by artist Dylan Metrano for Peace Day 2017. Share it widely and/or use it as your social media profile picture to show your support.

3. On September 21st, post a peace-related poem on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. We're hoping to saturate social media with images, words, and other positive messages of peace. (I've already written my abecedarian poem for the occasion, but you'll have to wait until next week to read it!) The UN's hashtags for this day are #peaceday and #jointogether.


Until then...

I thought we could warm up for the big day with a Five for Friday party. Here's how to play:

Come up with five words (plus title if you wish)

that express what PEACE means to you.

It might be a feeling, an image, a wish for the future... I'll contribute three ideas of my own so you can see the range of possibilities. Your participation is voluntary, of course. You can:

1. come up with 5-word ditty on the spot,
2. leave your Poetry Friday link now and come back to add your 5-word ditty,
3. choose not to participate in the Five for Friday at all, or
4. participate in the Five for Friday without a link. 

Leave your five words in a comment or email them to me at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com. I will move them to the main body of the post.

I'm deliberately posting early for the Poetry Friday roundup so you'll have time to ponder, but promise me you won't overthink it.  Like I said, this is just a warm-up for next week!


Now who's ready for a Peace party?

From Michelle at Today's Little Ditty:

Nested

In the heart,

a feather.

* * *

Eclipse

All the world goes 

quiet.

* * *

World Peace:

The unimaginable

imagined.

~ Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

From Linda at A Word Edgewise:

Peace for me
Peace to you
Morning star at Dawn
A full day's yawn
Supper at six
All of us there
Holding hands

5 words:
Star
Dawn
full
supper
hands

~ Linda Mitchell

This week I am sharing the feeling of September.

From Linda at Write Time:

connecting

us

heart to heart

~ Linda Kulp Trout

My post for this week is an original "dot"poem.

Hope's Seeds

planting Ones
Heart Enriching
Lives 

~ Jessica Bigi

From Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference: 

My 5 for peace: 

tenderly
sun coaxes
blossoms
open

~ Tabatha Yeatts 
 

I'm sharing a math-y poem for Poetry Friday.

From April at Teaching Authors:

REFUGE
 

dinner, blankets,
bear hug...
thanks

~ April Halprin Wayland 

At Teaching Authors we're writing about lessons learned from our students and/or from teaching.

From Jama at Alphabet Soup:

PEACE WISH

Reverence and love
for humanity.

~ Jama Rattigan

 

This week I have an interview with Matt Forrest Esenwine about his debut PB, Flashlight Night. Giving away a free copy to one lucky commenter. And yes, Matt's sharing a yummy recipe!

From Laura at Writing the World for Kids:

I'm in with What Is a Dot? for Dot Day.

From Diane at Random Noodling and Kurious Kitty:

peace:
everyone living
without fear

~ Diane Mayr

At Random Noodling I have a response to my response in a Spark challenge.

Kurious Kitty shares "High School Picture Re-Take Day" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

From Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town:

I have been thinking a lot lately about forgetting....

From Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme:

Today, I'm sharing a tiny little poem about a colossal subject! 

From Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge:

Getting my car serviced this morning, and I live in the South, so I have already had multiple conversations with folks I don't know. (One exchange including cell phone pictures, even.) That's how we roll around here. So here are my five words today:

— a total stranger's warm smile —

~ Robyn Hood Black 

I'm sharing the poems I swapped for the Summer Poem Swap.

From Irene at Live Your Poem:

I'm featuring an interview with Amy Ludwig VanDerwater about her newest book READ! READ! READ!

From Rebecca at Sloth Reads: 

Serenity

Both kids
Asleep in bed

* * *

Harmony

Comfortable
In each other's
Stillness

* * *

Empathy

Leading first
With the heart

 * * *

Diversity

Grasp hands
Across the line

 * * *

Humanity

It takes all
Working together

~ Rebecca Herzog

Things have been so hectic recovering from Irma that I was having a hard time coming up with something to write!

From Charles Ghigna:

I'd like to share "Quiet Days." I hope it brings a little peace to the party.

From Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink:

Kindness Dove

Soaring-
a beacon
of peace.

* * *

WANTED

only
peaceful,
quiet,
restful
serenity

~ Carol Varsalona

I got the abecedarian fever and took on another challenge of yours. At Beyond LiteracyLink you'll find both new abecedarian poems and peace poems with my kindness dove that I created. It has been sent around the globe via Twitter many times and will make its way straight to International Peace Day. 

From Michelle Kogan:

PEACE

pursue planet
dialoging
nuclear
free

~ Michelle Kogan 

I'm sharing a golden shovel poem, FREE, inspired from a Langston Hughes poem, I DREAM A WORLD–that I read on Kay McGriff's blog last week, and new I had to do something with it!

From Kathryn Apel: 

My five words for peace:

kindness from everyone, for everyone

 

For PoetryFriday I'm sharing penguins - both art (not mine!) and poetry. (Could this be the most fun I've had with shape poetry?) 

From Sylvia at Poetry for Children:

I need to get ready for next week! My post is about reading poetry aloud---- AGAIN!

From Jane at Raincity Librarian:

This week on my blog I'm sharing a little fall poem.

From Molly at Nix the comfort zone:

I'm sharing two Leonora Speyer poems.

From Catherine at Reading to the Core:

Today I'm sharing David Whyte's "What to Remember When Waking".

From Donna at Mainely Write:

PEACE Acrostic

Palpable
Enduring
Abiding
Created
Eternal

~ Donna JT Smith

My link is a followup on the line trade by Linda Mitchell a few weeks ago.

From Margaret at Reflections on the Teche:

Combining challenges here. Jennifer Laffin is tweeting a daily word to jumpstart writing with #DWHabit. Today is Flutter.

Fluttering

hummingbird wings

pronounce peace

~ Margaret Simon

Today we are celebrating Dot Day with two collaborative class poems in response to Laura Purdie Salas's What is a Dot?

From Laura Shovan:

Speaking of PET CRAZY (congrats to the giveaway winners), I have my poet-poem from Pet Crazy today. Global Read Aloud author Victoria Coe and I partnered on a mini-poetry workshop pairing her book Fenway and Hattie (the GRA early reader selection for 2017) and my poem "Lost and Found." If you're doing GRA with students, stop by!

From Robert Schechter:

I just started a blog in the last week. Have a look, if you like. My last post shares a nursery rhyme about Mrs. Bond and her ducks.

From Amy at The Poem Farm:

At The Poem Farm, I share my latest SPARK 34 collaboration with artist Jonathan Ottke.

From Mary Lee at A Year of Reading:

My Five For Friday is inspired by being out in the country away from light pollution. There is peace in the constancy of the stars.

Darkness

Milky
Way
flows
on.

~ Mary Lee Hahn
 

At A Year of Reading I have a third Bike Ride Blessing poem--a counting out rhyme.

From Penny Parker Klostermann:

It's Basic Math

loving acceptance = tranquil coexistence

~ Penny Parker Klostermann

I have guests on A Great Nephew and a Great Aunt. Tim McCanna and his son Nate are collaborating with a poem and art. Their collaboration highlights their shared love for Dungeons & Dragons.

From Brenda at Friendly Fairy Tales:

Hmm, five words on peace.... To me, war brings starvation, homelessness and poverty to a country's people. Peace is the opposite. Peace is the when things go well:

Fields planted, crops ripened, harvest.

~ Brenda Davis Harsham 

I bring a haiku this week and an excerpt of the abecedarian you featured.

From Kay at A Journey Through the Pages:

Pray
 

everywhere always—
create eternity.

~ Kay McGriff

I took up the abecedarian challenge for today's post with a Taste of Fall.

From Little Willow at Bildungsroman:

I posted Evening by H.D. (Hilda Doolittle).

From Elaine at Wild Rose Reader:

I have a memoir poem about my maternal grandfather titled SUMMER RITUAL.

From Linda at TeacherDance:

"Beginnings" 

Peace starts
with a smile 

~ Linda Baie

My post today celebrates Amy L-V's new book: Read! Read! Read! 

From Tara at A Teaching Life:

My contribution for Poetry Friday is a poem by Mary Oliver, which my cat reminded me of today. :)

From Heidi at my juicy little universe:

Peace:
seeing the pink
underneath

~ Heidi Mordhorst

I'm so laaaaaate today! My post is a work in progress but I hope to be done by 3:30! 

Christie at Wondering and Wandering:

I'm in poetry love with Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's Read! Read! Read!

From Buffy Silverman:

No post for me, but I'll give you Floridians five words.

kindness surges
with the storm

~ Buffy Silverman

From Jone at Deo Writer:

waves splash droplets of peace

~ Jone Rush MacCulloch

It's been a week. First full five days of school.

What the world needs

What I need

What we all need

is a little more

kindness.

~ Joy Acey 

From Rebekah at OLIO-LI-O:

BE STILL

discord
greed PEACE grief
discontent

~ Rebekah Hoeft 

A concrete-ish version can be found at my blog.

Actually understood a German word. 
(on the bus this morning!)

~ Bridget Magee (in Switzerland) 

Nurture the heart, peace within

~ Kiesha Shepard

"Peace" by Rachel Kramer

The Poetry Friday roundup is closed to links now, 

but 5-word peace-ditties are still welcome.

Click here for more information.

CONGRATULATIONS

Jesse Anna Bornemann,
Brenda Davis Harsham,
Rebekah Hoeft,
Linda Mitchell, and
Jane Whittingham!

You've won a copy of PET CRAZY: A Poetry Friday Power Book (Pomelo Books, 2017). Please send me an email at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com with your addresses.

Have you written an abecedarian poem yet for Carole Boston Weatherford's DMC challenge? To add yours, post it on our September 2017 padlet. Featured daily ditties this week included poems by Maria Marshall, Tabatha Yeatts, and Mindy Gars Dolandis.

Five for Friday: What is Poetry?

Felix E. Guerrero

What is poetry? 

I'm still learning the answer to that question... and that's okay. If I spend a lifetime pondering, it will be time well spent. 

Here's one thing I do know:

Like any art, poetry needs space and time to breathe. It can pop up when you least expect it, but you have to be present to notice and available to answer the call.

"We find poetry" by Vida Dimovska

Back in January, I announced that my one little word for 2017 is Change. I talked about building up my core and balance, and trusting that the chaos I felt at the time was exactly where I needed to be.

Six months later, how am I doing?

Well, I still feel like that fearful girl on the ski slope more than I'd like. The difference is that I'm old mature enough now to recognize that hiding out is probably not the best alternative. Instead, I've focused on saying yes to Change.

"Birth of a butterfly" by Pat Ronan

Dr. Elif Akçali taught me the value of saying yes when I heard her speak at the Convening Cultures conference earlier this year. By the way, I almost didn't go to that conference... I had to push myself to say yes. How could I afford NOT to go? It was taking place in my home town, for goodness sake. If nothing else, I get to step out of my routine for a couple days. And who knows? Maybe I'd find poetry there, or an opportunity I wouldn't have otherwise known about.

On the second day of the conference, after a transformative keynote with Lily Yeh, I sat at an empty lunch table waiting to see who might join me. As it turns out, it was some local folks (the first locals I had met in two days) who ran a theater company and did educational programs with children. I asked if they ever included poetry in their programs. Their eyes lit up. No, they didn't have the skill set for that, but they'd like to. We exchanged numbers.

I'm thrilled to be conducting seven different poetry workshops with them this summer! This is something I've pursued again and again through the schools with no luck. Apparently it took opening myself up to something new, and allowing the opportunity to come to me the way it wanted to. Isn't life amazing?

"Street Poetry" by Julen Ruiz Luzuriaga

There will be other "firsts" for me this summer as well, like the first time attending ILA in Orlando. (Anyone else going to be there on Sunday, 7/16?) Also, the first time we'll be visiting prospective colleges for my 17 year old. (Can anyone recommend a great resource for finding scholarships?)

Plus, my new ditty committee is already hard at work choosing poems for THE BEST OF TODAY'S LITTLE DITTY, 2016!

Change has told me in no uncertain terms that this is going to be my last blog post for a while. I'll be taking the summer off to be present with these new endeavors. Maybe I'll even write some poetry—what a novel idea that is!

But enough rambling about me.

Here's what I have for YOU today: 

five of my favorite quotes about poetry. 

Poetry is like a bird, it ignores all frontiers.  

~ Yevgeny Yevtushenko

* * * 

A poet is a man who puts up a ladder to a star and climbs it while playing a violin.

~ Edmond de Goncourt

* * *

The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.

~ James Fenton

* * * 

Like a piece of ice on a hot stove the poem must ride on its own melting.

~ Robert Frost

* * * 

If you can’t be a poet, be the poem. 

~ David Carradine

And a few more of your favorites . . .

Poetry is tricky to explain and different each time.

~ Kindergarten students in Christie Wyman's classroom

* * * 

Poetry should be like fireworks, packed carefully and artfully, ready to explode with unpredictable effects.

~ Lilian Moore

* * *

I read poetry to save time.

~ Marilyn Monroe 

* * * 

Poetry is a packsack of invisible keepsakes.

~ Carl Sandburg

* * * 

A good poem can frame agony and hang it on the wall.

~ Charles Bukowski, from "Defining the Magic"

(Read the rest of the poem HERE.) 

* * * 

Always be a poet, even in prose.

~ Charles Baudelaire 

* * *  

Poetry is frosted fire.

~ J. Patrick Lewis

* * * 

Well, write poetry, for God's sake, it's the only thing that matters.

~ e. e. cummings

* * *

Poetry isn’t a profession; it’s a way of life. It’s an empty basket; you put your life into it and make something out of that.

~ Mary Oliver

* * * 

Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.

~ T. S. Eliot

* * * 

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

~ John Ciardi

* * * 

The minimum requirement for a good poem is a miracle.

 ~ John Ciardi

There are so many inspiring quotes about poetry! If you leave me your favorites in the comments, I'll collect them here. That way we can return to them all summer long like a tall, bottomless glass of lemonade.

Brett Davis

Cheers to a wonderful summer!

Many thanks to everyone who contributed a poem for Melissa Manlove's DMC challenge last month. At least seven or eight more poems were added to the wrap-up celebration since last Friday, so I hope you'll have another look.

Random.org has determined that the winners of LOVING VS. VIRGINIA and LOVE IS are . . .

Diane Mayr and Kay McGriff.

Thanks to Buffy Silverman for hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

Five for Friday: Best Things + BIG NEWS!

"Joy of First Rain"                  Photo: Yogendra Joshi

When my kids were younger, we had a dinnertime ritual called "best things." We went around the table and each named positive things that happened to us over the course of the day. Sometimes it was a struggle to name just one; other times there were several. "This lovely dinner" was uttered a few times, though that may have been for brownie points. I'm not sure. Often the children ended with "and basically the whole day!" Can you remember the last time you had a day that was "best" from start to finish? Me neither.

Unfortunately, our dinnertime tradition has all but disappeared, but given recent unrest, perhaps it's time to bring it back. I'm probably not the only one craving positivity, so what do you say we give it a go right here?

Would you help me?
All you need to do is describe, in five words, the best thing that happened to you this week. Don't think too hard about it. It can be anything—from the smile of a stranger to something as momentous as this best thing... (drumroll please)

It's a book!  An honest to goodness book.

There are so many people to thank for helping me with this enormous undertaking. First, I had an incredible ditty committee who pored over more than 400 poems! We ended up with 75 poems in response to 13 challenges. Because I felt strongly that no one, including myself, should have their work appear in more than three challenges, a few excellent poems were necessarily left out, but I think you'll be pleased with the results nonetheless. Here are the 55 poets whose work appears in this collection.

I am profoundly grateful to Carrie Clickard whose first suggested the idea of a "best of" series, and who came to my technological rescue more than once at crunch time; to Renée LaTulippe who was with me every step of the way with her encouragement and editorial expertise; and to Michelle Kogan for a cover that surpassed all expectations! I'd also like to give a shout out to J. Patrick Lewis, Margaret Simon, and Sylvia Vardell for their wonderful blurbs on the back cover. But most of all, I owe a debt of gratitude to the 2014-2015 Spotlight authors/editors who inspired us with such terrific challenges, and to ALL OF YOU for filling my life, my blog, and this book with poetry. Thank you. I'm so proud of what we've accomplished together!

The Best of Today's Little Ditty, 2014-2015 is available 
in paperback for $9.95 or as a Kindle ebook for $5.95. 

(As of the writing of this blog post, the two avenues for purchasing are not yet linked to the same page on Amazon, but don't let that stop you from grabbing the version of your choice!)

Photo: Garry Knight

For those who would like to contribute to my Five for Friday party, please come up with a five-word ditty (plus title, if you wish) about the best thing that happened to you this week. Leave it in the comments or email it to me at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll move it to the main body of the post.  Here's mine to start us off:

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

Sitting pretty with 75 ditties!

– Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

NO SURPRISE

smiles shared with the granddaughters

– Linda Baie

A VERY SPECIAL WEEK

(Family Friends laughter ditties love)

– Jessica Bigi

FORMERLY FERAL FELINE:

Almost allowed

a belly rub

– Tabatha Yeatts

BLISS

in the wee hours,
inspiration

– Matt Forrest Esenwine

CHECKUP

Got weighed—and no change!

And to make it yin yang

WHAT?

Got weighed—and no change?

– Diane Mayr

BEAMING WITH GRATITUDE

Book bliss with the best!

– Michelle Kogan 

finding community with fellow poets

– Liz Steinglass

Son's soccer team- still undefeated!

– Corey Rosen Schwartz

SERENITY

In the company
Of poets

– Kathleen Mazurowski

At NCTE! ( that counts as five words, right? )

– Irene Latham


HE'S STILL HERE

My dad turned 102 yesterday.

– Jama Rattigan

Giving and receiving unexpected gifts. 

– Rebecca Colby

SUPER-WHOO

Moonlit fall
night owl's call

– Donna JT Smith

Found solidarity

with kidlit community

– B.J. Lee

STILL SURREAL

My poem found a family 

– Maria Marshall

MIGRATION TIME

Watching geese fly in formation.

– Jone Rush MacCulloch 

fall weather is finally here

– Kristi Dee Veitenheimer

FAN GIRL TIME

Naomi Shahib Nye—
in person!

– Buffy Silverman

Teaching my students every day.

– Ruth

(There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town)

FINGERS CROSSED

Pushed send on grant application.

– David McMullin

NOVEMBER NIGHT

biggest, brightest, beaming — heavenly supermoon

– Penny Parker Klostermann

Our tree gave us lemons!

– J.G. Annino

Sweet letter from sweet granddaughter.

– Karen Eastlund

FOUND JOY

Surprising sparks of student poetry 

– Robyn Hood Black

UNEXPECTED

Hugs from a first grader.

– Catherine Flynn

alarmless saturday
slow warm waking

– Rebekah Hoeft

Hubby's colonoscopy results are good.

LOL! TMI? How about: 

Honored to be included here!

– Teresa Robeson

FRIDAY NIGHT

Both my girls home together.

– Bridget Magee

ANGEL SMILES

Smitten by this sleeping child

– Doraine Bennett

Meeting Poetry Friday friends — joy!

– Laura Shovan

VACATION

Cleaning,
rewarded by
Consuming
Novels-in-verse.

– Carol Wilcox

We're heading into the final stretch of Ann Rider's challenge to write a poem about a place of refuge and solace. I featured my own poem this week, as well as ones by Suzy Levinson, Linda Mitchell, and Linda Baie. Post yours on our November 2016 padlet, then come back next Friday for our end-of-month wrap-up!

Brenda Davis Harsham has a beautiful tribute to Leonard Cohen for this week's Poetry Friday roundup. It's her first time hosting—why not stop by Friendly Fairy Tales and be friendly?