Spring into Spring

Spring into Spring

I park in the lot at the park.

Grab my camera

and head for the path.

My head is full of ideas

for pictures I will take.

I have a spring in my step

as I notice the changes

that happen in early spring.

I watch a goose sit on its nest

and look forward to what

I may see in May.

This poem was written for Day 8 of the 2023 Poem-A-Day Challenge.

Click here for audio

Links

Buttonwood Art Space Artist Profile-View My Art

From the Earth April 3- 23, 2023 at
Buttonwood Art Space

core.issue7 

Veterans' Voices Spring 2022

Veterans' Voices Fall 2022

Reach Out

Reach Out

Create connections.

Even though we cannot touch,

we can still reach out.

Links

Her Art: Who Does She Think She Is? Virtual Gallery Tour

Sandra Moran Book Club-Leona Beasley April 11

National Poetry Month

Natural Companions Video

Kansas Time + Place

Poetic Asides

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

When I Walk in the Park

When I Walk in the Park

When I walk in the park,

I never know what I'll see.

A heron rousted from

under a dock.

A family of geese

out for a walk.

Ducks diving for lunch

or preening on rocks.

When I walk in the park,

Mother Nature ensures that

some surprises pop up.

Animal was the Day 3 prompt for the PAD Challenge.

Links

Her Art: Who Does She Think She Is? March 15-April 19

Her Art Artists: Who Do They Think They Are?

Sandra Moran Radio Book Club--Head-Aptaker April 13

Natural Companions Video

Art of Improvisation Video Aug. 31

Jazz Improv and Poetry Video April 5 

Kansas Time + Place

Poetic Asides

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

Morning Routine

April is National Poetry Month and that means Robert Lee Brewer's Poem-A-Day Challenge is taking place on the Poetic Asides blog. I wrote the following poem for the Day 1 prompt--morning:

Morning Routine

 Are you an early bird?

Awake to greet the sun?

Out the door for a walk or run

while peace outweighs commotion?

A fan of the natural songs

that fill the air until

the noise pollution starts?

Moving at your own pace

before you get swept up

in the motion all around you?

Links

Her Art: Who Does She Think She Is? March 15-April 19

Her Art Artists: Who Do They Think They Are?

Sandra Moran Radio Book Club--Head-Aptaker April 13

Natural Companions Video

Art of Improvisation Video Aug. 31

Jazz Improv and Poetry Video April 5 

Kansas Time + Place

Poetic Asides

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

So Gray

So Gray

The days have been so gray.

I think we've lost the sun.

Has it gone away to stay?

The days have been so gray.

I have no energy to weigh

the consequences for everyone.

The days have been so gray.

I think we've lost the sun.

This poem was written for the Poetic Asides Poem-A-Day Challenge. The form is the triolet.

Links

InterUrban ArtHouse Photography Group Show

Sandra Moran Radio Book Club

Poetic Asides

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

Author Page

Follow me on Twitter or click the blue Follow Button to follow this blog.

I Challenge You

April is National Poetry Month, a celebration that was started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets.  The Academy has a 30 Ways to Celebrate list on its website that provides a variety of ways to engage with poetry.

For poets, this month is a special time to practice their craft. There are many writing challenges available to get the creative juices flowing. I participate in the Poem-A-Day Challenge on Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides blog. 

As I was getting ready to write this blog post, it occurred to me that the writing challenges could also be valuable to people who say they don't understand or can't connect to poetry. You won't quite get to look over the poets' shoulders as they write, but you'll be pretty close.

For the PAD Challenge, first read the prompt. This is the starting point for each of the poets. Next, you will be able to read hundreds of poems that are the result of this same prompt. I think you will be surprised by the variety of the poems both in form and subject. Some poets will submit multiple poems for the same prompt that are very different from each other. I bet that you will find several to which you relate because they are talking about an experience similar to one you have had, something that happens every day.

I challenge you to participate in a poetry challenge this month either by writing or reading. If you have links to other challenges please feel free to leave them in the comments.

Links

Johnson County Library Poem-A-Day Program

Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day

Author Page

Follow me on Twitter or click the Join this Site link to follow this blog.

Get Ready for Poem in Your Pocket Day

This Thursday, April 24, is Poem in your Pocket Day. This day began in New York City in 2002 as part of the city's celebration of National Poetry Month. The Academy of American Poets turned the day into a national initiative in 2008. Schools, libraries, bookstores and parks are some of the venues where poetry is shared on this day.

Here are some ways that you can participate:

• Carry a favorite poem with you and share it. It may be in a book, on a card, bookmark or electronic device.
• Surprise people with poetry. Hand it out, post it on a bulletin board, or leave it on a table in a waiting room or restaurant.
• Share a poem on social media. If you tweet one, use the hashtag #pocketpoem.
• Write a poem on your driveway in chalk.
• Put a poem in the window.
• Include a poem in your email.

You may search for poems at the Academy's website, or download a pocket-sized PDF.

In the Kansas City Metro area, the Johnson County (KS) Library posts a Poem a Day in April. These poems are printed on bookmarks for Poem in Your Pocket Day. You may pick one up at the Central Resource Library or The Writers Place. Maybe, if you are lucky, a friend will give you one on Thursday!

Follow me on Twitter or click the Join this Site link to follow this blog.

Explore Poetry

Today is the first day of April and that means it's the first day of National Poetry Month. The Academy of American Poets started National Poetry Month in 1996 as a vehicle to spotlight the art, poets past and present, and poetry publications.

This year, I'd like you to think about exploring poetry this month. How? Here are a few ideas:

1. Search for poetry about subjects that interest you. I think you will be surprised to see what turns up. In February, I was asked to read a classic love poem at an event. I did a search for jazz love poems and found my way to this beautiful piece by Langston Hughes:

Juke Box Love Song   

2. Look into the history of poetry in your community. Perhaps you will find a connection to a well-known poet or simply a local poet whose work you enjoy. I found out that Lucille Clifton was born in a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y., as was I. There is about a 14-year span during which we lived there at the same time.

3. Check out your current local poetry scene. What are the literary organizations in your area? What venues hold poetry readings? Do bookstores or libraries carry books by local poets?

4. Is National Poetry Month celebrated in your community? In the metropolitan Kansas City (Mo) area, the Johnson County (KS) Library and The Writers Place partner to present a Poem-A-Day on the library's website in April. Here is the link to the program:

Johnson County (KS)  Library Poem-A-Day Program

This is just one of the ways National Poetry Month is celebrated in my area. Find out if there are any activities in your area, then join in!

Related Links

30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month

Poetic Asides 2014 April PAD Challenge

How do you like to explore poetry?

Follow me on Twitter or Click the Join this Site link to follow this blog.

Poem in Your Pocket Day

Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day, a part of National Poetry Month. It is a day designated for sharing poetry.

 

  The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

 

I remember watching John Kennedy's inauguration and hearing Frost read. He was a well-known poet and he was still alive! As it turned out, he and President Kennedy died in the same year-1963.

 

Frost was from New England and I lived in Buffalo, New York. I knew what birch trees were and fences and neighbors and definitely snowy evenings.

 

Most people probably know this poem or at least the last few lines. I love that it is about making choices and in particular, different choices. Don't follow the crowd. Make your own decisions.

 

I chose this link because it includes audio of Frost reading the poem. I love both doing and attending poetry readings. It gives me the opportunity to give voice to my words the way I would like them to be heard and to hear other poets do the same. Listen to the audio and start going to poetry readings if you don't already.

 

If you are a poet and  you don't do readings, think about it. I know it can be scary, especially in the beginning.

 

What I found to be most surprising and rewarding is that people will come up to you afterward and tell you a story that your poem elicited. You get to hear many different ways that individuals connect with what you have written.

 

It's all about sharing. Just like Poem in Your Pocket Day. 

 

Connect with me on Twitter or click the Join this Site link to follow this blog.

Celebrating Poetry

It's here! April is National Poetry Month and The Academy of American Poets has put together a list of ways to celebrate.

 

I have picked out five items to discuss. I think they are both a little different and fairly easy to do.

 

1. Revisit a poem-Whether you consume poetry on a regular basis or not, you have probably been touched by it at sometime. Even if you couldn't wait for the poetry unit in English class to be over with, you still may have had strong feelings about something you read. Go back and read that poem again. Do you still feel the same way about it? What memories does it bring back?

 

2. Put poetry in an unexpected place-Take your favorite poem and leave a copy in a waiting area at a hair salon, doctor's office or auto repair shop. Maybe you could leave it on a table in a restaurant or put it up on a community bulletin board. You never know who may read it and how it may affect them.

 

3. Play Exquisite Corpse-This is a collaborative game in which a group creates a poem. Each person contributes to the piece without knowing what the others have written. I played this game at a workshop. It only takes a few minutes, and  it is surprising how the piece comes together.

 

4. Listen on your commute-I'm going to expand this one to say simply listen to poetry. You may find audio or video of poets reading/performing their works. You get a different feel for a piece when you hear it rather than read it, especially if it is delivered by the author.

 

5. Integrate poetry and technology-Whether it is an all out blog post, a status update or a tweet, share poetry on social media. How about adding a quote from a favorite poem to your email signature or sending the whole poem to friends or family members. Search youtube and you can hear poets reading their works or talking about writing poetry.

 

How are you celebrating National Poetry Month?  Is there an item on the list that you would like to try?

 

Related Links

 

Johnson County Library Poem-A-Day Program

 

Robert Lee Brewer's 2013 April Poem-A-Day Challenge

 

Follow me on Twitter or click the Join this Site link to follow this blog



Spotlight on Poetry and Jazz

April may be best known for jokes and showers, but it also is a month in which two art forms are highlighted. April is both National Poetry Month and Jazz Appreciation Month.

National Poetry Month was started by the American Academy of Poets 17 years ago. It is a time to celebrate poetry and the place it has played and continues to play in our culture. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to celebrate.

Click here for some suggestions from the Academy. One of the suggestions that jumped out at me is "Take a Poem Out to Lunch". Of course my first thought was "or, you could take a poet out to lunch!"

Here in the Kansas City metropolitan area, we are fortunate to have a Poem-a-Day Program sponsored by the Johnson County Library. Go to the library's homepage beginning April 1 and there will be a link to the program. Poems are posted everyday in April and archived on the site. If you go to the archive, you also will see poems from previous years. The poems for this program are supplied by The Writers Place. 

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has led the Jazz Appreciation Month initiative. The purpose is to learn more about jazz history and the current jazz scene in our country.

Click here for some suggestions on how to celebrate JAM.  This is not on the list, but I think in fairness I have to suggest that you take jazz or a jazz performer out to lunch!

One suggestion is to visit a jazz city or museum. Of course, I am going to suggest Kansas City. By visiting the American Jazz Museum and The Blue Room, you can learn about jazz history and hear contemporary performers.

I hope you will take some time in April to explore both poetry and jazz. It will be both a fun and enriching experience.

Follow me on Twitter or click the Join this Site link on the right.

Poetry by Prompt-That's the Challenge

We often talk about being inspired to write poetry. Sometimes, we only need to be prompted.

Monday, I completed the Poem-A-Day Challenge that began April 1 on Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides blog. The prompts were words or phrases, fill in the blank and one great device that I plan to use again (take a line or image from one poem and create another poem).

The challenge was to write 30 poems in 30 days on the topics given.  I would say I ended up with some poems, some poemettes that may be nurtured into poems and some words on paper that are never destined to reach full poemhood. Following is one example:

Something Borrowed

A violin handed down from you.
Not my first choice.
(I didn't know about Blue Grass then.)
I never played as well as you did.
Who wanted to practice with a bow
instead of playing with a ball?

What I really took away from this exercise is a new willingness to write. As you might expect, I had different reactions to the various prompts: that's easy,   that's interesting, I can't write about that and I think the stress of putting together two challenges (See My Name is Not Bob April Platform Challenge) is getting to him. But, if I let myself start to write, interesting things happened. Sometimes the journey was straight forward, sometimes it had detours and sometimes it had U turns. I made the most progress when I stopped thinking my way through the process and started writing my way through.

Did you do a poetry challenge during National Poetry Month?  What was your favorite prompt? Did you learn anything about your poetry or how you write it?

I have a list of ideas that have remained a list of ideas because all I have done is re-read them or think about them. I have never let myself simply start writing about them.  They are my new challenge. I can't wait to see where they take me.

****
Connect with me on Twitter. Click on the link at the top right to receive free email updates of this blog.

National Poem In Your Pocket Day

Today is National Poem in Your Pocket Day. This day was created in 2002 in New York City as part of the city's celebration of National Poetry Month. In 2009, the Academy of American Poets promoted the idea nationally.

The idea is simply to share poetry. Print out or write out your favorite poem, make copies and hand them out throughout the day. The Johnson County (Kansas) Library, which partners with The Writers Place to post a Poem-A-Day in April, prints bookmarks with those same poems for Poem In Your Pocket Day. Or, if you prefer to take advantage of today's technology, text, tweet, email or post your favorites. And, don't forget the art of spoken word.

See if there are any special celebrations in your area. Most importantly, share some words you love today.
Here is Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken", read by the poet himself.

****
Subcribe to email updates of this blog by clicking on the link on the top right.

April is National Poetry Month. Johnson County Library (Kansas) and The Writers Place (Kansas City Metro area) are partnering to present a poem a day on the library website during this month. Go to www.jocolibrary/poetrymonth to see the featured poem. Click the more link near the featured poem to see the poems that already have been featured. One of my poems, The Women's Interstate Network, was featured Saturday, April 3. This poem was inspired by my memories of the way my mother and my aunts kept in touch by writing letters.

The library and The Writers Place also are promoting Poem in Your Pocket Day, which is Thursday, April 29. The idea is to share a favorite poem with co-workers, family and friends on that day.