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Thursday, October 10, 2019

Poetry Friday - BOO!

            Catherine Flynn at her blog, Reading to the Core, hosts today on Poetry Friday. She's sharing a poem that comforts and celebrating gratitude, a post like a hug! Thanks, Catherine!

             This is quick but fun. I'll try to read everyone's and comment when I can. I'm excited and thrilled to be headed to Highlights on Saturday to work with Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard for a poetry week, AND to re-connect with a few poets I've met there before! I come home, then fly to visit my grandson for parents' weekend at his college. Thus, I won't post until the day "after" Halloween!





          There is a street a few blocks from me that we call Halloween Street. For some of you on social media with me, you know I share photos from there all during this month. Many of the houses do some kind of decorating, but there are three whose creativity is amazing. Some things are the same every year, but most rearrange or add to what they have stored until OCTOBER! Here is one favorite and a poem I've shared with students in the past and still love. It is both haunting and sweet, perfect for a spooky October 31st.



Halloween

                 Mac Hammond

The butcher knife goes in, first, at the top
And carves out the round stemmed lid,
The hole of which allows the hand to go 
In to pull the gooey mess inside, out -
The walls scooped clean with a spoon.
A grim design decided on, that afternoon,
The eyes are the first to go,
Isosceles or trapezoid, the square nose,
The down-turned mouth with three
Hideous teeth and, sometimes,
Round ears.        
                                Read the rest HERE, on Poetry 180.


27 comments:

  1. Oh, I love fingers of leaves.....yes. This is such a great poem to share with kids! Sometimes, the Poetry 180 is a little above my students. But, this one is perfect! Thank you.

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    1. You're welcome, Linda. Yes, Poetry 180 was great for my middle school students, but isn't for the younger ones most of the time. I'm glad you enjoyed this one.

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  2. OH, you are busy with such lovely things! Enjoy every second, Linda, and soak up the inspiration. xo

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    1. Thanks, Irene, it will be a wonderful next couple of weeks.

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  3. Wow, you're going to be busy for a while, Linda! The best kind of busy, though—writing and enjoying friends and family. Enjoy every moment. And BTW, thanks for your terrific monster poem on the padlet. I was delighted to be able to share it today. :)

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    1. You're welcome to the poem, Michelle, such a fun challenge for October from Rebecca! Yes, a good kind of busy! Thanks!

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  4. Halloween Street looks amazing! We have one neighbor who throws an annual Halloween party and fills his entire yard (back, front, sides) with all kinds of spooky displays. Enjoyed the (new to me) poem. Have fun at the Highlights poetry workshop and enjoy your visit with your grandson! Busy girl. :)

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    1. Wow, your neighbor sounds like our Halloween street! These people are quite inspired every year. Thanks, Jama, the next weeks will be wonderful, I'm sure.

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  5. What a wonderful poem, I love the ending message the warlock leaves us with. Have a wonderful time at the poetry workshop–hope to fit one in one of these days… Thanks Linda!

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    1. It would be great to hear that you'd been to Highlights, Michelle, a special place for sure. Yes, I love the poem, too, quite a few layers in it! Thanks!

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  6. Have a wonderful time at Highlights, Linda! I have such special memories of our time there with Rebecca and Georgia. Thank you for sharing this fun poem today. We are in the final stages of our renovation, so there won't be any decorating or pumpkin carving going on at my house!

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  7. I would love to be going to Highlights with you! I know you'll have an amazing time. You'll have to let us know all about it. Have fun seeing your grandson!

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  8. I remember our times together well, Catherine & Linda. Wishing you would be there again! Thanks for your wishes. I'm glad to hear your renovation is nearly done, Catherine. It's been a long time, but will be gorgeous, right? And Linda, it will be such fun to see my grandson in his new life.

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  9. I can't wait to hear about your trip to Highlights. Enjoy! Love the Halloween decorations and the poem :)

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  10. I just love this poem and am tucking it away for future use with my young readers. I wish I could take them to Halloween Street, but will definitely share your photos with them.

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  11. You definitely are in with the treats for this Halloween season. A trip to Highlights and then off to see your grandson at college!! Wow!! Enjoy, and thanks for sharing both photos and poem.

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  12. Enjoy your poetry pals and your grandson, Linda! All treats and no tricks this season! =)

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  13. I hope Highlights brings you all kinds of new tricks and treats! I'm wondering what college you'll be visiting after--somehow I thought all your grandchildren were small. Your poem choice reminds me of this one that I always used in K-2:

    Pumpkin

    After its lid
    is cut, the slick
    Seeds and stuck
    Wet strings
    Scooped out,
    Walls scraped
    Dry and white,
    Face carved, candle
    Fixed and lit,
    Light creeps
    Into the thick
    Rind: giving
    That dead orange
    Vegetable skull
    Warm skin, making
    A live head
    To hold its
    Sharp gold grin.


    Valerie Worth

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  14. Thanks, everyone. Am at this special place, Highlights! Heidi, thanks for the poem; Worth is always wonderful! My daughter has the two young girls, but my son has a son just starting college, at the Univ. of Kentucky.

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  15. Enjoy the Highlights week! I took a couple of online courses with Georgia Heard that were amazing. I love the Halloween poem. Now I'm inspired to go carve a pumpkin or two.

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    1. Yes! When I return, time for the carving and creating! Thanks, Kay!

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  16. I had my eyes on that Highlights retreat, Linda, but couldn't sign up because of our move. I'm hoping to do it next time it's offered. The last few lines of this poem are my favorite -- only the children are real.

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    1. That would be awesome to have you here, Laura. We're having a grand time. Glad you enjoyed the poem a few layers there!

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  17. I hope you're enjoying your time at Highlights. It's a fantasy of mine to go there someday. And enjoy visiting your grandson, too. I enjoyed your Halloween poem. The description of carving is just right. It really evokes the feeling of Halloween and trick-or-treating,

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    1. Hi Susan, Yes, the time here is very special. I hope you have your wish come true some day. And, I'm glad you liked the poem. Hallowween's on its way! Thanks!

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  18. It took me a while but I finally got to your post and still have many more to read through. Life has been busy. Halloween Street sounds like a great block to cruise through. My town is lit up for Halloween each year. There are so many weird, gorgeous, and bizarre decorations ready to delight or frighten visitors. I never read this poem before and really do like it. Thanks for sharing, Linda.

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    1. Wow, Carol, thanks for coming by. You are sweet to comment before this NEXT Poetry Friday. Happy that you enjoyed the poem. And yes, Halloween decorations will be everywhere by the time I get back home this coming Sunday.

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