Thursday, February 19, 2015

Poetry Friday Is Here!


               I'm giving a large shout-out to Laura Shovan this Poetry Friday because it's her birthday month, and this year her challenge of writing to a prompt each day is filled with sound! I've written with Laura each February since 2013 when she had us writing to picture postcards, and find myself unable to stop no matter how busy I am. It's interesting to me that most of my students insist they don't want any kind of prompt, but this year they're going to be blogging every day in March with me. Perhaps a few "ideas" will suddenly become helpful. 
             I love poetry, and am rarely sure that I've written something worthy, but it gives me joy, and Laura is supportive and admiring to every one of us who share. Here are the words from her invitation: The point of this exercise is to practice the habit of writing regularly, even if it's just for one month. I post the responses as they are sent in so that we can focus on generating ideas, rather than on polishing for publication. 
             It feels good that I am able to write and contribute, and the added bonus is to read all the other marvelous poems others share. If you'd like to join in for at least a few days, check out Laura's blog, Author Amok.  A few weeks ago I also thanked other PF bloggers who host poetry challenges, and I love writing for their posts too when I can. You can read about those others I thanked here.  I learn so much by reading others' work, especially today, Poetry Friday.

          Here are two favorite poems I've written to the sound prompts from Laura. 

Feb. 3rd - sound here


Audition

He’d been sharpening
his voice all the day,
as actor after actor
auditioned.
No one made the cut.

Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved

Feb. 13th - sound here

A Different Kind of Noise

No screech from eagle owls at night,
they do not need such noise,
not quite a hoot, but smallish huffs
while flying with the boys.
They’re on the prowl to dine at dark,
use eagle eyes for spying.
Their talons’ reach proves deadly quick
and means some creature’s dying.
Some fear the eagle owls at night,
and cower with their noise,
not quite a hoot those smallish huffs
while flying with the boys.
Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved

        Because it's winter, and has been quite a challenging one in the past few weeks for those in the eastern and southeastern US, and because we here in Denver are supposed to have our first 'big' snow on Saturday-12 to 18 inches (it's 60 degrees here now), I give you "sound" to warm your hearts, Billie Holiday singing "I've Got My Love To Keep You Warm". Happy Poetry Friday!







59 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for hosting, Linda, and for sharing a couple of your wonderful sound poems, and for pointing us to Laura's blog. (I'm way behind but aim to go remedy that....) We've been iced down in the Southeast; thought of you today as I saw that forecast for the Rockies!

    I have a "Pre-Preview" of Lee Bennett Hopkins's LULLABY AND KISSES SWEET - Poems to Love with your Baby. Today I feature my poem, "Milk," and next week we'll enjoy a full interview with Lee about the project. http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm?post=985756

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crazy weather. Hard to believe you are way down there, and cold! My son is on business in Orlando & says it's colder there than it was here today! I've heard of this new book by Lee Bennett Hopkins for babies-sounds like a wonderful gift!

      Delete
  2. I like your poems, Linda - especially "not quite a hoot those smallish huffs!" Thanks for hosting. Today I'm sharing my newest poem, which I've been bouncing around in my head for a month or more and finally put to paper: http://wp.me/p2DEY3-19F (link goes live shortly after midnight)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrific, Matt. You've really been writing a lot & getting those poems published. Makes me excited for you!

      Delete
  3. Hi Linda! I love that you're a sound poem project participant, too! We been having a good time so far! I hope you enjoy your snowstorm. If I could, I'd ship all NH's snow to you! We've had more than ENOUGH!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know all of you have really "had it", & watch the news faithfully thinking about you. I almost didn't mention our storm-seems rather paltry in comparison. Yes, the sound poems have been wonderful. I am always in awe of what everyone does with the prompts.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for sharing your wonderful poems, Linda! Laura comes up with such interesting prompts for her birthday month. Appreciate the Billie Holiday video too -- we need all the warmth we can get!

    At Alphabet Soup I'm featuring Nadine Bernard Westcott's Never Take a Pig to Lunch, an anthology of food poems I only just discovered though it's been out awhile. (my link goes live at 6 a.m. EST)

    Thanks for hosting this week and "enjoy" the snow this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm excited to read about your anthology, Jama. I love having students write food poems-always a foodie adventure. Thanks!

      Delete
  5. Linda! I love-love-LOVE "Audition"--what a wonderful leap you made from the sound prompt to this punny, razor-sharp poem!

    At TeachingAuthors we're each taking a turn talking about fiction and non-fiction. Since facts scare the bejeebers out of me, it's a challenge to write non-fiction poems for anthologies.

    My post goes live at 3:30am CST
    http://www.teachingauthors.com/2015/02/just-facts-mam-fiction-vs-non-fiction.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks April, the sound prompts push me into new territory for sure. When I write an n-f poem, I always want to put it all in, & then just end up with prose some of the time. Can't wait to read your advice!

      Delete
  6. These are terrific, Linda! I esp like the full circle-ness of the eagle owl one. Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Laura, I'm always happy to have Poetry Friday!

      Delete
  7. Though it's chilly outside (even in Florida it's getting down into the teens tonight!), the sun is surely shining at TeacherDance! Thanks for hosting, for Billie Holiday's warm vibes, and of course for sharing your crazy good poems! I've already told you how much I love "A Different Kind of Noise," but I think I missed Audition on Laura's blog-- love that wonderfully wicked play on words!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank very much Michelle, wish I could get to your "letters", maybe during the snowstorm!

      Delete
  8. Hi, Linda! So happy you are hosting today. I love those sound poems!
    Today I am sharing one I wrote about Solitude and Loneliness...but it isn't all sad and dreary...or serious. It goes live at midnight Eastern.
    http://mainelywrite.blogspot.com/2015/02/solitude-or-loneliness.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrific, Donna, you've been writing quite a lot lately. Maybe it's called "time because of being snowed in"? Will look for your poem!

      Delete
  9. Love your Audition poem, Linda! It resonates close to home as my 17 y/o daughter is an actress - she has been auditioning for several acting programs at colleges. I hope she makes the cut! Thank you for hosting! Keep warm and enjoy your snowstorm - sending you some warm AZ sunshine. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bridget, and best, best wishes to your daughter & her auditions. Don't show her the poem!

      Delete
  10. Hi, Linda. Thanks so much for featuring this year's poem-a-day project! It took me a minute to remember that "Audition" was written in response to the sound of a knife being sharpened, not the ballet clip.

    Okay. I know a stairwell seems an odd choice for a sound clip, but head on over read the amazing poems people contributed today. (P.S. We have passed the 100 poem mark and still have a week of writing to go!) http://authoramok.blogspot.com/2015/02/2015-sound-poem-project-day-19-stairwell.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome, Laura. I've enjoyed every word! Looking forward to what others have done with these stairwell sounds.

      Delete
  11. Hi Linda! Thank you for hosting Poetry Friday. Over on my Still in Awe Blog, I've checked in on my poem-a-day for February project with a few of my February poems. http://karinfisher-golton.com/2015/02/19/february-poems/. These include a sound poem inspired by Laura Shovan's Author Amok project.

    I love the direction you took the "cut" in "Audition," and also loved the rhythmic visit with the owls in "A Different Kind of Noise." "Smallish huffs" is great onomatopoeia--hearing the sound was secondary to that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for adding your February poems, Karin. Don't forget to link up above, too. I appreciate your comments!

      Delete
    2. Thanks for leading me to the linking up. I was all ready to miss that.

      Delete
  12. Love the sound poems.They're wonderful, Linda. Laura has a great idea there. It will make for a great habit of writing regularly. Wonderful!

    I have a haiku today (love writing them). http://robyn-campbell.blogspot.com/2015/02/yay-for-poetry-friday.html Thanks for hosting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Robyn. Don't forget to link up above, too.

      Delete
  13. I love both of your poems, Linda, especially that sly take on the knife being sharpened. I admire your dedication to this project. I've worked on a few sounds, but have been too busy with other projects to devote enough time to them. Thanks so much for hosting today, and sharing a little warmth! (It's 0 here at the moment.) Stay safe during the snow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Catherine, hope you stay warm too. The 'sound' project has been a delight!

      Delete
  14. Hi Linda:

    Thanks for hosting. I finally figured out the whole link up deal. Hooray! To cover my basis, here is the link to my Poetry Time Blog:

    http://www.charleswaterspoetry.com/#!POETRY-TIME-BLOG-21/c23vc/D3939B79-AED3-4781-89C4-B67CE723261A

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you figured it out, Charles! Thanks for linking!

      Delete
  15. Thanks for rounding us up and sharing some of your sound poems. You are such an inspiration -- no matter how busy you get, you always write along with prompts that are put out there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mary Lee. I remember that you give us a challenge during poetry month, too.

      Delete
  16. Thanks for hosting. I am writing today about participating in challenges, too, but the other Laura as in Purdie Salas. But I love Laura Shovan's challenge and enjoy writing alongside you and the others. I can see growth in your poetry offerings this year. Practicing is so important. I have let go of my worry over is it good enough and compose quickly and hit send. Otherwise I would never make the deadline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping that my students learn that practice helps, too, Margaret. It is fun, isn't it?

      Delete
  17. Thanks for hosting, Linda, and for sharing your poems and sources of inspiration. Sounds like a really cool challenge! I am doing a daily blogging challenge right now for the second half of Feb. and it is really motivating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great, Katie, I'll check it out when I visit your blog. Thanks!

      Delete
  18. Thank you for hosting, Linda!!! I think writing every day is such a great way to strengthen those muscles! I like "sharpen" and "cut" in audition...you can feel it happen in a very physical sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have auditions at our school in a very 'real' way, always a week of challenges for the teachers! Yes, hope my students feel change in their writing next month! Thanks!

      Delete
  19. Lovely post. Thank you for hosting! Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I just love Billie Holiday so thank you for sharing it on this very cold 2 degree morning. I love poetry, but i'm not a talented poet so I really enjoy reading other people's original works. Thank you for sharing your with us today. I sure hope you don't get all that snow - it is no fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the wishes, Alex, but I think this time we really are going to get it! I love Billie Holiday too so when I looked for this song, found her version-hope it added some warmth to your 2 degrees! Thanks!

      Delete
  21. Wow, I never thought to use sounds as prompts, perhaps because I'm such a visual learner. Thanks so much for sharing this idea, and the poems resulting from it. They're terrific!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carmela, I think of myself as a visual learner too, but the sounds have brought beautiful images in a different way.

      Delete
  22. Thank you for hosting and the inspiration! Enjoy the day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lorie Ann, & you're welcome. Glad you enjoyed all the parts!

      Delete
  23. Linda, That actor "sharpening his voice" and those "smallish huffs" - what wonderful sounds of English you have offered back to Laura's sound offerings. Thank you for hosting today...and kind of every day. In a way you are always hosting others with your kindness. Happy Poetry Friday! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Amy, your kind words are appreciated very much!

      Delete
  24. Linda, I really enjoyed your sound poetry. Delightful. The repetition and word choice in A Different Kind of Noise worked well together.

    Thanks for hosting,
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cathy, hope you had a good time yesterday, too!

      Delete
  25. Linda, I just love the idea of a sound prompt, and love your poems, too. Thanks for hosting! I'm in this week with the redoubtable Anne Porter.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi, Linda! I love that "Audition" one, which I can imagine is even better with the sound prompt--but it works beautifully and humorously even without it! Thank you for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Heidi & thank you. I loved that you wrote your own 'sound' prompt for Laura!

      Delete
  27. Love the humor and originality of "Audition", Linda - and thanks for the warmth of Billie's voice this winter day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Tara, love that you enjoyed Billie singing. She's one of my favorites from long ago. Terrific that we can still hear her!

      Delete
  28. Love the sound poetry. Your willingness to accept a challenge never ceases to amaze me. I also enjoyed listening to Billie Holliday's song. Your invitation to come and play with words was irresistible.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm enjoying the posts this week, even though I didn't manage to add one myself. Thanks for hosting! And for posting your sound poem. Nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dori, I always enjoy what you share. Hope you aren't too cold this weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete

Thanks for visiting!