DMC: "Rivers" by Juanita Havill

RIVERS

Writing,
You swim in a river of words.
Word by chosen word,
The delta nears.

Reading,
You stand in the same river twice,
Seeing deeper as
The water clears.

© 2017 Juanita Havill. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

You have until the end of today, May 31st, to join in! Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet and I will add it to the wrap-up presentation HERE. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.

DMC: "Elevation" by Teresa Robeson

ELEVATION

A book is often likened to
a doorway, a window, a mirror.
But for me it’s
a ladder, a stepstool, a platform
taking me higher,
making me higher
than I was
before it raised
my morals, my outlook, my spirit.

© 2017 Teresa Robeson. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

You have until tomorrow, May 31st, to join in! Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet and I will add it to the wrap-up presentation HERE. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.

Monday Musing: Memorial Day

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kim Browne, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.

        

– Washington Irving

May DMC Wrap-Up + Giveaway

A Book...                                  Delphine Devos

Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.

                – Virginia Wolff, A Room of One's Own

At the beginning of this month, Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books, challenged us to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

"Convince me!" she said.

You never know what you're going to get with a DMC challenge.

"Let Me Tell You a Story" by Deb Noggle

Not until you open it up...

"Library of Alexandria," Abecedarian Gallery

and let it loose.

"Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" by Carol Vey

By the end, you may feel sea-tossed . . .

"Octopus at Sea" by Annette Sujo

or windswept . . .

"Listen to the Wind Blow" by Malena Valcárcel, on Etsy

but the journey will undoubtedly be memorable.

I don't know about Melissa, but I've been convinced many times over this month! Thank you to everyone who contributed a poem or followed along, and thanks especially to Melissa Manlove for setting us on our way.

Scroll through the poems below, or, for best viewing, CLICK HERE.

Inspired to write your own poem that compares writing or a book to something else?

Add it to our May 2017 padlet by Wednesday, May 31st, 2017, and I will move your poem to the wrap-up presentation.

Participants in this month's challenge will automatically be entered to win a copy of LOVING VS. VIRGINIA or LOVE IS, both published by Chronicle Books earlier this year.

(One entry per participant, not per poem.) Alternatively, you may enter the giveaway by commenting below. Comments must also be received by Wednesday, May 31st. If you contribute a poem and comment below you will receive two entries in total.

The winners will be determined by Random.org and announced next Friday, June 2nd.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As for last week's giveaway, Random.org has determined that the winner of TOO MANY FRIENDS by Kathryn Apel is . . .

LAURA PURDIE SALAS — congratulations, Laura!

Join Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

DMC: "Writing is like Parenting" by Kathleen Mazurowski

WRITING IS LIKE PARENTING

Writing is like parenting.
Dreams, questions, joys, doubts,
You have to let go.
Release your best efforts to the world.

© 2017 Kathleen Mazurowski. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration tomorrow, Friday, May 26th. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.

DMC: "Science is like Writing" by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

SCIENCE IS LIKE WRITING

In science I held up a prism.
The sun made a rainbow
on my book.

Our teacher explained 
about bending light.
My friends all came to look.

Science is like writing.

A poem takes white light in me
and breaks it into colors 
for everyone to see.

© 2010 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. All rights reserved.
(from The Poem Farm archives)


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, May 26th. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.

DMC: "A Perfect Storm" by David McMullin

A PERFECT STORM

The weatherman's predictions are unclear.
I venture forth with pencil in hand.
Balmy prose are expected, but I prepare for inclement choices.
My umbrella is a well researched outline.
Writing is a breeze.
Idea clouds swirl above.
The sky opens up.
Lightning strikes.
I throw aside my umbrella, letting myself be drenched in inspiration.
Words flood my mind.
A flurry of letters pelt my paper.
Drifts of pages accumulate by my side.
Then,
As quickly as it came, the storm gives way to clear blue.
All is still except one fresh draft.
A draft carrying with it the promise of sunny skies.

© 2017 David McMullin. All rights reserved.


Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, May 26th. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.