Showing posts with label postcards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label postcards. Show all posts

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Poetry in Action: Poem Movies and a Postcard for My Pocket


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"You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket."
              – John Adams, in a letter to his son John Quincy at the University of Leiden


One of the silver linings that has come of all of us being stuck at home for National Poetry Month is the number of folks who have taken to reading their work aloud on YouTube. While I have not braved those waters yet, I'm grateful for those who have, and to two poet friends in particular who have shared poems from The Best of Today's Little DittyRobyn Hood Black and Margaret Simon. It's been such a treat to hear their poems in their own voices!

So today, on the last day of National Poetry Month, I would like to share those four short videos, with a heart full of dittylove and appreciation.

Paperback and Kindle versions available for purchase at Amazon.com.


From the first volume of The Best of Today's Little Ditty (2014-2015), "I turn" by Robyn Hood Black was inspired by Bob Raczka's November 2014 challenge to write a haiku about a monster. The poem is short, but packs a wallop. Make sure to watch all the way to the end for a special surprise. But don't be scared—it's just a video.



From the second volume, The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016, Robyn shares a beautiful poem titled "Blank," inspired by Douglas Florian's January 2016 challenge to "write a poem about nothing."



And from the most recent volume, The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2017-2018, we have two poems. The first is a performance of Robyn's "Epitaffy" that's good, spooky fun! It was inspired by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen's February 2018 challenge to write an epitaph poem.



The second selection from the same volume comes from Margaret Simon—"Window Impressionism." It's a gorgeous, mindful poem inspired by Julie Fogliano's May 2018 challenge to write a poem that comes from staring out the window and writing what you see.



Finally, since today also happens to be Poem in Your Pocket Day, I'd like to share a postcard I recently received from the Poetry Project, under the supervision of Jone MacCulloch.

Isn't Rylee an impressive first grade artist? Wow!


I do hope Coco doesn't get up to too much mischief in my pocket!
You can read more student postcards I received in past years by clicking HERE.


If you missed last week's wrap-up celebration of poems inspired by My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice by Patrice Vecchione, you can find it HERE. Leave a comment on that blog post by 5pm today for a chance to win your own copy!

Monday, April 30, 2018

Poetry Postcard: "The snowy wind blows"



From the Silver Star Elementary Poetry Postcard Project, Vancouver, WA, April 2018
























Closing out National Poetry Month with a special postcard I received in the mail this weekend.   
  
Doesn't Jaedyn paint beautiful imagery with words and imagination? 
What a talented 5th grader!

Thanks to Jone Rush MacCulloch for this wonderful postcard project, and to the students at Silver Star Elementary in Vancouver, WA for sharing their hearts and words. 


Apparently, I never posted last year's postcard on the blog (?!) . . .

Ode to Spring

Flowers blowing in the wind
Quietness everywhere
I feel at home where it feels nice
I taste the wind in the air
I wonder how it is so beautiful
Because of the world

Bentley C.
Grade 2

The postcard I received in 2016, about sadness, can be found HERE.
The postcard I received in 2015, about a preposterous panda, can be found HERE
The one I received in 2014, about a fantastic frog, can be found HERE.
 
 

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Poetry Postcard: "Sadness is black & blue"



From the Silver Star Elementary Poetry Postcard Project, Vancouver, WA, April 2016

























Ciara has done a phenomenal job of capturing sadness with all her senses,
don't you think?  Such a talented 5th grader!


Thanks to Jone Rush MacCulloch for celebrating National Poetry Month with this wonderful postcard project, and to the students at Silver Star Elementary in Vancouver, WA for sharing their hearts.

The postcard I received last year, about a preposterous panda, can be found HERE
The one I received in 2014, about a fantastic frog, can be found HERE.



Monday, May 4, 2015

A Perfectly Preposterous Panda Postcard



From the Silver Star Elementary Poetry Postcard Project, April 2015 (click to enlarge)

I am in love with this perfect panda poem and artwork by Julia Rose! 
It arrived in my mailbox this weekend and I've been smiling ever since. 


Thanks to Jone Rush MacCulloch for sponsoring this wonderful project to celebrate National Poetry Month, and to the students at Silver Star Elementary in Vancouver, WA for spreading poetry joy, one postcard at a time. 

The postcard I received last year, about a fantastic frog, can be found HERE.



Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Postcard from a Young Friend



From the Silver Star Elementary Poetry Postcard Project, Vancouver, WA, April 2014


With thanks to Breeana for the fantastic poem and artwork, and to Jone Rush MacCulloch for sponsoring this wonderful project to celebrate National Poetry Month.