March 2017 archive
Poetry Friday: My America
Poems new and old explore the vast wonders and hidden treasures from around the United States of America in My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States. Lee Bennett Hopkins has selected poems that take readers on a tour of our country, from New England lighthouses and the mighty Mississippi to Grand Canyon and the California redwood. The poems invite us to pull up a rocking chair on a quiet front porch, explore a sagging ghost town, and hustle down a city sidewalk. Lush illustrations by Stephen Alcorn add to the already vibrant images within each poem.
While not every state gets its own poem, each region of the country is represented. The poems are grouped by geographic region, starting with New England and winding its way through the Capital, Southeast, Great Lakes, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, and Pacific Coast. Each section begins with a map of the states in the region and a fact box of information about each state. Poets include some of my favorites–Carl Sandburg, Lee Bennett Hopkins, Myra Cohn Livingston, X.J. Kennedy, Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes–and introductions to the work of many more poets.
As I read, I eagerly revisited places I have lived and traveled through (though I may have to write a tribute to my home state of North Carolina, which didn’t have its own poem). I dreamed of places I would like to see one day. Most of all, I thought of places I wanted to capture in a poem of my own.
What place would you like to remember in a poem?
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Catherine has the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Reading to the Core. Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.
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Poetry Friday: Lenten Reflections
This season of Lent I have been (somewhat unsuccessfully) taking part in a photo challenge. For each day of Lent, I am challenged to take a photo to represent the given word. In addition to the photos, I have added a short poetic response as well. Even though I’ve missed a few days, I appreciate the time to slow down and notice what is around me and connect those images to larger themes. Both the photography and the poetry help me to notice. Here are a few of the ones so far from my journey.
Human, unclench your fists.
Stretch forth open hands
to pray and serve.
Begin your journey
with God to light your way.
Each step moves toward love.
When life drains all hope,
I wait, empty and desolate,
for love to reign once more.
Silence blooms
in peaceful waiting.
Listen now.
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Robyn has the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Life on the Deckle Edge. Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.