Poetry Pleasure

          Jama Rattigan, at Jama's Alphabet Soup, is hosting Poetry Friday this week.  Thank you for all the "pleasure" you serve us each week Jama, always tasty, thoughtful, and beautiful to see!

Upon Reading A Book of Poetry

Poems

     please me

     tease me

     invite the pleasure

     of their company - easily

with china cups  

of sweetened tea

I settle in for

my word party

Poems

     choke me

     change me

     their lettered lines

     rearrange me

Placemats are set

the way they should be

complete with words

created freely 

Linda Baie©  All Rights Reserved

          I wrote last week that I have been finding poetry books nominated for this year’s Cybil’s award, to read ahead so I can be somewhat prepared for my work as a second round judge.  It’s going to be a challenge to choose the finalists for those first round judges this year!

          The poetry I’ve read this year is marvelous and creative.  As a literacy coach, the writing has made my work a pleasure because I can share poems and poets that both show the possibility and the joy of poetry.  I always find poems to copy and share with teachers and students from the youngest to the oldest, kindergarten through 8^th grade.  If you haven’t discovered the poetry published this year for children and teens, go to the Cybil’s blog here, and look at this wonderful list!

Life's Lessons apply in many places

Visit Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life!
                       Tweet at SLICE2013!   Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna, and Elisabeth for all the work you're doing!

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention." ~ Thick Nhat Hanh

       See this cute little rabbit, like so many rabbits everywhere, in my garden, in a nearby park, in my car!!  He is cute, isn't he, yet now I must call him, Ravenous Rabbit!  He, at least others like him, has cost me close to two thousand dollars so far.  You see, I have a Honda, and the Honda company in these last years have made changes to 'go green'.  The covering that coats the wires in certain parts/bundles are now soy based, and bunnies, cute little bunnies, like to eat that coating, snapping the wires in two.  Where some of the wires reside there actually is a flat place that is an excellent platform for the bunnies to snuggle down and chomp away!   Last Thursday I had a third repair, I added moth ball bundles, sprayed "critter ridder", and left my car for the night.  Friday morning the wires had been eaten again!  

It's Monday!

       Another book reviewed by Jacqueline Wilson and another chance for an IPad Mini!

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Jen at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS, and shared with Ricki and Kellee at UNLEASHING READERS.   

         And, also visit Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS for more reviews. 

 Tweet! at #IMWAYR

I finished some terrific books this week, and also am reviewing one more by Jacqueline Wilson, a British author being introduced to the US.  Hope you will enter for the chance to win an IPad Mini!

novels:

Code Name Verity – written by Elizabeth Wein

          Why did I wait so long?  I've had this book for a long time, even loaned it a couple of times!  Just couldn't get started, but when I did, WOW!  How can I write anything without giving too much away.  This is historical fiction, about, and told by, two different girls fighting in WWII for the British.  One is a pilot; one is a spy.  They become friends, they have crazy and wonderful adventures, and they have terrible, heart-wrenching experiences.  Written in two strong voices, it is an extraordinary story that one does not want to end.  This is how good the writing is for the quite subtle hints of future events:  "Incredible to think what an ordinary day it was for her, to begin with." I loved every bit!

Good Celebrating

Celebrating A Few Good Things

            Thanks to Ruth Ayres at DiscoverPlayBuild,  for beginning this Saturday tradition, to reflect upon the week previous, and to celebrate something, or some things special to you personally.  It's a good time reading what others share.  Tweet at #celebratelu.

       I receive e-mails from a potter I met years ago and sometimes attend his shows if they are close. Last Saturday, after I published my post about my writing group, I went to a small showing where this potter was selling his art.

Enjoying Cybil's Nominees

     Find out what Diane Mayr at Random Noodling writes that she's finally learned when you visit her as our Poetry Friday host.  Thanks for hosting, Diane, and for telling about the 'aha' moment!  

     Special Note:  My friend and colleague at school, Suparna Kudesia, is Amy L-V's guest today on The Poem Farm.  Please welcome her and her class to Poetry Friday!  They are crazy about poetry!

       I have the honor of being a round two Cybil’s judge in poetry again this year, and have been reviewing the poetry books I already own, and ordering others that I haven’t read yet.  I don’t really have to participate yet, but am enjoying reading the nominees.  What an array of wonderful ones on the list, including those written by some of you who share on Poetry Friday!  Congratulations!

            I recently found Cat Talk at my library.  It is co-authored by Patricia MacLachlan and her daughter, Emily MacLachlan Charest, and illustrated by Barry Moser. Each page shows a lovely image of a particular cat and poetic text that describes its special personality. For those who love cats, this would make a wonderful gift, and for those who teach, I can imagine having students use this example to spark their own poems about a particular favorite pet, not necessarily a cat.