Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Day Three - Memory Haiku - Shells and a book

Poem
cone shells
ocean-washed collection
Mexican spring
 Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved


          Last month, I read a blog post where the writer highly recommended  
an older book titled I Am The Ocean, by Susanna Marshak and illustrated by James Endicott. It is a lovely example of a mask or persona poem, where the subject of the poem is the speaker. The entire book tells the story of the ocean, in its words, and in the illustrations alive and gorgeously colored, fish and sand and sky and birds, all the ocean. 


         When I can't find a book from one of my Indie stores, I go to a site called BetterWorldBooks.com, a site which has thousands of titles that they profit from selling in addition to funding literacy initiatives all over the world. They had this book, and I received it a few days ago.  While reading it, I connected to time when I traveled to the Sea of Cortez with my students, and we spent a day on a remote island, learning about the habitat, and collecting cone shells, of which there were thousands. It was an experience I won't forget.

                 In the Progressive Poem (on the right), Donna's link is correctly here!

16 comments:

  1. Thanks for linking me here!
    I'm going to have to go check out this book site.
    The illustration on the cover of that book is spectacular! I love it!
    And your "ocean-washed collection" - makes me antsy to get down to the shore and resume collecting!

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    1. You have it very nice to be so near the ocean, Donna. I love seeing and hearing about your time there. Thanks-& do check the site-it's great!

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  2. Oh I would love this book, I am sure. I collect shells. Those are fantastic. I just bought 5 more at the Orange Shop on the highway in Florida as we headed home. I have been away from the computer a lot but happily trying to get back. Are you coming to IRA? Alas was not near the water or shells in not so sunny but not snowing either, Florida. Savannah, though, now that is fabulous. Have you been? I want to go and have a retreat and write poetry!
    Janet F.

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    1. No, no IRA for me, Janet. I'm spending the weekend around that time with my son & family, going to see my grandson's spring concert & to watch him play baseball! I haven't been to their home in a while! And yes, have been to Savannah with a group of women friends a few years ago. It is beautiful, & we had a great time, along the beach & in the old town, too. You have been busy, I know! Thanks for stopping by. The place we found the shells was so beautiful.

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  3. Your haiku, in just 7 words, captured the essence of your Mexican vacation. Fabulous, Linda! = )

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    1. Thanks Bridget, I'm glad you think so. It was a special time!

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  4. Lovely haiku, Linda. And thanks for the heads up about I Am the Ocean. The Sea of Cortez trip sounds amazing -- love hearing about all the cool trips you've taken with your students. We never did anything like that when I was in school.

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    1. Thanks Jama. The students at our school are lucky, I think. I've gone to amazing places with them, far away & here in Colorado, too. And, they're still going, unfortunately I'm not anymore. Good memories. The book is beautiful.

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  5. I love the sound of that book, thanks for sharing Linda!

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    1. You're welcome, Catherine/hope you can find it!

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  6. I love the thought of "ocean-washed." The ocean is one of my favorite places to be - I just don't get there too often. I have jumped in with this poetry challenge. I look forward to learning from you as I go. New adventures are always a little intimidating.

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    1. Are you posting every day, Leigh Anne? I'll look for you! And I agree, the ocean is a magical place! Thanks for sharing with me! Do you need some ideas, or?

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  7. Last year I brought in a collection of shells and they prompted some great poems. We must try mask poems when we get to M or persona poems at P.

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    1. This book would be a great mentor text for that, Margaret.

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  8. Love the ocean and the idea of a mask or persona poem. Have you seen Pam Munoz Ryan's Hello Ocean. Anything that touches the ocean makes my heart sing.

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    1. Thanks Julieanne, I'll look for the book. I'm not sure if I have seen it, lots of ocean books!

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