Good morning on this snowy day in suburban DC! We're marching along briskly in our first week of the Forward...MarCH Poetry CHallenge (read the introduction to this project
here) and our word today is "punCH"--another one with several meanings most delicious to the poet.
I'm posting my one previously published poem for the week, but first I'll share one from Donna of
Mainely Write. You'll see why...
A Punch of Sun
Packing a wallop
Up in the sky
Noontime it reaches
Cerulean;
High
--Donna Smith
Really tight, really strong, really great! And how's this for a coincidence?
Solar-Powered Sun Puppet
the dark side of me
glowers inside
drags at the tips of my toes
it feeds on clouds
on rainy skies
and only my shadow knows:
how heavy
the day is
how low the horizon
how sodden
and sad
I am
then sweet sun punches a hole in the clouds
sizzles and swims in my eyes
my shadow spills out through a hole in my sole
my darker side hung out to dry
howbrilliantthedayis!
howhighthebluesky!
how sudden and mad I am!
I’m sunny-side up
I’m pumped full of light
my silhouette dances on walls
now I can see clearly:
my dark doppelgangerfreed by the sun's high call my demon cast out, my shadow of doubt is the shadow that proves that I am HM 2009Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature (Boyds Mills/Wordsong)I don't know Donna well, but clearly we have sunthing going on. Go visit Donna's blog--there's a LOT going on there!
Diane of
Random Noodling has gone in a different direction with one of her
senryu. Love this marriage of words and image! (Too bad about Punch and Judy's marriage.)
And
Charles Waters is back, too--reminding me of all the "punch buggy, no punch-backs" that I've lived through in the car.
THE GOOD LUCK ALTERNATIVE
I bash my brother on his arm
I did this as a good luck charm
Until he punches my arm, whack!
I then decide to pat his back.
(c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
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Join us tomorrow for "fetCH"!
As announced on Friday, I'm embarking tomorrow on a birthday month poetry challenge inspired by fellow Piscean Laura Shovan's February Poetry Projects (if you haven't, check out three years' worth
here,
here and
here).
I got to thinking about the word "MARCH" and all the other great words that end in -CH. I realized that I have a particular fondness for words that end in -ch; they show up in my poems again and again.
So I'll be stretCHing myself to post five -CH poems weekly throughout March. I'm allowed one previously published per week, but most will be brand-new.
Please join me in this CHallenge, poetry friends! If you can't write with me every day, maybe you'll share your one or two per week, or your five-in-a-row, or your favorite poem by another author including the -CH word of the day....I welcome your participation, however you choose to do it!
I'll post my poem each evening, and you can send me yours by email or by leaving it in the comments for that post. I'll round up as we go and on Sunday mornings, and at the end of the month there will be a PRIZE for the "StretCHiest MarCHer" who contributes the most poems!
To get us started, here's a poem from my first book,
Squeeze: Poems from a Juicy Universe (2005). I'm hoping this will encourage the crocuses that I know are out there straining against two layers of frozen snow!
Launch
Crocuses are rocketing
inch by inch
out of the crumbled earth
the yellows aim for the sun
the purples push toward deep space
and inside
little astronauts in orange suits
cock their ruffled helmets
toward spring
Heidi Mordhorstall rights reservedAnd here is the collection of -CH words, one muscular verb for eaCH weekday of MarCH, that I'll be using to enriCH my little patCH of the Kidlitosphere with as muCH poetry as I can. It should be a cinCh, but if I find I'm parCHed of poems and miss a day, then ouCH--but I'll reaCH in and try again. Don't believe me? Just watCH!
Forward...MarCH CHallenge: Dates and Words
2 march
3 stretch
4 twitch
5 punch
6 fetch
9 preach
10 sketch
11 smooch
12 pitch
13 arch
16 inch
17 lurch
18 botch
19 lunch
20 hatch
23 clutch
24 crouch
25 snatch
26 perch
27 quench
April is National Poetry Month and April 17th is Poem in your Pocket Day. Do you like secret little messages tucked into quiet little places like your pocket or lunch pail? My children love this and today we are sharing with classmates, friends, and neighbors alike a little rolled up poem to keep in their pockets to share with all they meet.
Some Facts About National Poetry Month
Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.
Ever wondered why National Poetry Month is always held in April? In coordination with poets, booksellers, librarians, and teachers, the Academy chose a month when poetry could be celebrated with the highest level of participation. Inspired by the successful celebrations of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), and on the advice of teachers and librarians, April seemed the best time within the year to turn attention toward the art of poetry—in an ultimate effort to encourage poetry readership year-round.
The goals of National Poetry Month are to:
- Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
- Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry
- Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways
- Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum
- Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
- Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
- Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry
Great Poetry Resources:
Keep A Poem in Your Pocket pdf Download Keep A Poem In Your Pocket
Print Some Pocket Poems
Kenn Nesbit’s Poetry4Kids
Giggle Poetry by Meadowbrook Press offers several poetry activities.
Word Mover App for Kids (helps kids form their own poems)
Diamante Poem interactive, kids create verse in the shape of a diamond.
RhymeZone’s Rhyming Dictionary helps kids in their struggle to find words that express their feelings and ideas.
Jack Prelutsky Website for Kids
Shel Silverstein Printables for your pocket
Put a Poem in your pocket
Favorite Poetry Reads
Creative Ways to celebrate National Poetry Month
Take it to the streets: Pick a favorite line from a poem and choose a clean piece of sidewalk or pavement to write on. You can search for a poem on Poets.org or check your bookshelf for an old favorite. Use brightly colored chalk to attract attention to your work, and add drawings or artistic flourishes to create some extra fun.
Hide Poems in Fun Places: Leave a copy of a poem in an unexpected place. Donate some poetry books to your local coffee shop or leave them in your doctor’s waiting room. (All those magazines are probably out-of-date anyway, and poetry doesn’t expire.) Post a poem beside the want ads on your supermarket message board. – See more ideas
here.
Slip a Poem Into your Loved One’s Lunch Box: Putting notes in lunches is always fun, but how how making the note in the form of a poem? Your surprise poem can be one you love, or one you created yourself.
How will you celebrate National Poetry Month?
The post National Poetry Month and Poem In My Pocket Day appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
