Filling the Well: Lucille Clifton, Anthony Howe, and Akeboshi

 

"Zanzibar: Dhows" by R. Boed

 

may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back

 

– Lucille Clifton 

from the poem "blessing the boats" 

 

 

"Sculpting the Wind"

Kinetic wind sculpture by Anthony Howe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIbk4AKFMTc

Step inside Howe's studio to learn how the awe-inspiring works are created HERE.

Akeboshi

"Wind" from his self-titled debut album

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

(Read the lyrics HERE.)

 

April 1: Michelle H. Barnes and Cosmo Sheldrake

April 2: Hans Christian Andersen

April 3: Guy Finley, Anneke van Giersbergen and Árstíðir 

April 4: Joseph Campbell and Fabien Weibel

April 5: Salvador Dalí and Pilobolus

April 6: Jacob Nordby and Talking Animals

April 7: Aileen Fisher, XTC, and Takarazuka Ballet

April 8: Amit Ray and Yehuda Amichai

April 9: Frances Hodgson Burnett

April 10: Frank Lloyd Wright, Stéphane Grappelli, and Django Reinhardt

April 11: John Burroughs and Stunts Amazing 

April 12: Beverly Cleary 

April 13: Lee Bennett Hopkins and Judy Collins 

April 14: X. J. Kennedy, Godfrey Reggio, Philip Glass, and Ron Fricke 

 

If you're here for Poetry Friday, I'd like to draw your attention to two other poetry-related Filling the Well posts this week—one inspired by Lee Bennett Hopkins and the other inspired by X. J. Kennedy. 

 

Matt Forrest Esenwine hosts this week's roundup at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme, along with a terrific interview featuring Leslie Bulion's latest science poetry book—Serengeti: Plains of Grass. Also, don't forget to submit your poem to Matt's #PoetryCUBED writing prompt contest this month! You'll find the National Poetry Month kidlit events roundup at Jama's Alphabet Soup.

DMC: "Ode to Wind" by Linda Baie

ODE TO WIND

I feel your power when fireplace ashes stir;
smoke puffed in stings my nose.
Window-tapping of the tree branches
accompanies dog growls and cat yowls.
I shiver-run for the news, taste snow in the wind.
Why not the breeze of yesterday?
Winter conceit.

© 2017 Linda Baie. All rights reserved.


Helen Frost has challenged us to write an ode poem this month, following these instructions: 

Choose an object (a seashell, a hairbrush, a bird nest, a rolling pin). It should not be anything symbolic (such as a doll, a wedding ring, or a flag). Write five lines about the object, using a different sense in each line (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Then ask the object a question, listen for its answer, and write the question, the answer, or both.

Click HERE to read her sample poem, "Ode to a River."

Post your poem on our March 2017 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, March 31st, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her latest novel-in-poems from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux/Macmillan:

DMC: "What Does the Wind Know?" by Sydney O'Neill

WHAT DOES THE WIND KNOW?

What does the wind know?
     That daunting peaks will weather low.
     Roots resist the gusting snow.
     Updrafts lead to vertigo.

What does the wind know?
     To blow seeds off so they may grow.
     Falling leaves still do-si-do.
     Playful breezes make hearts glow.

© 2015 Sydney O'Neill. All rights reserved.


Joyce Sidman has challenged us to write a "Deeper Wisdom" poem this month. What's a Deeper Wisdom poem, you ask? Click HERE for details.

Send your wise words to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on January 30, 2015, and one lucky participant will receive an autographed copy of Joyce's gorgeous new collection of children's poetry:

Haiku Garden: Robyn Hood Black

I'm so excited to be able to spotlight the talents of Haiku Garden's special guest today: children's author, poet, and artist Robyn Hood Black.  Robyn is a versatile writer, having published fiction and non-fiction children's books, as well as a variety of poetry in anthologies, magazines and top-notch journals.  She is also an accomplished artist with a penchant for "literary art with a vintage vibe."  I highly recommend her Etsy shop, artsyletters, as a great place to start your holiday shopping!

Robyn describes haiku as a "sparely crafted poetry which offers endless depth."  Not only do I admire her talents in this elegant and economical genre, but I benefit from her gifts as a teacher, as well.  On her website, she encourages visitors, "poets and readers of any age," to explore their own haiku journeys with online resources that include a haiku resources list, how-to guides for children, and inspiring samples of her own haiku.

On Robyn's blog, Life on the Deckle Edge, she provides even more inspiration.  Currently she is running a series called "We Haiku Here."  The series, which will continue into December, introduces us to several outstanding haiku poets from The Southeast Chapter of The Haiku Society of America.

Today, however, is all about Robyn, and with that, I give you today's little ditty:

              cold front –
              an urgent wind
              at my back

                                      -Modern Haiku, Winter/​Spring 2012

                   (c) Robyn Hood Black.  All rights reserved.

Robyn let me have my pick of haiku on her website and I selected this one because it hits me where I live.  Not only does it reflect the sudden shock of late autumn in North Florida, but it also mirrors my state of mind at this time of year-- that sense of urgency always at my back, breathing down my neck and giving me cold shivers.  Sort of like this Wind God by Japanese painter, Ogata Kōrin.

Ogata Kōrin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Thank you, Robyn, for spending time in the Haiku Garden today.  I look forward to your continued lessons in the art of haiku, so that I, too, can condense life into potent nuggets of truth.