HOMESPUN LIGHT: poetry

Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts

Book Review: Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer

This book grabbed my attention with a gorgeous illustration on the front. As we took it home from the library and began to explore, we knew we had found a treasure. Ms. Singer gives us a fun collection of ‘reverso’ poetry. A reverse poem is one that can be read from top to bottom AND bottom to top (line by line). With a few changes of punctuation, the poet tells the fairy tale from two different sides. Here is an example of the first reverso poem she wrote:

A cat

without

a chair:

Incomplete.

Incomplete:

A chair

without

a cat.

Such a fun form of poetry and great for early readers to pick up on the pattern. My girls also loved the illustrations by Josée Masse; so detailed, vibrant and imaginative. If you can find it on your library shelf, be sure to pick it up!

***PS. Mirror Mirror was the CYBILS award winner in the Poetry Category this year!***

Have You Heard? It's all Very Exciting...

The ALA Youth Media Awards were announced this week.

Caldecott Award Winner for 2011:

A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead (You may remember this book from my CYBILS shortlist.)

Caldecott Honor Books:

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill

Interrupting Chicken, written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein (Woohoo! Also on the CYBILS shortlist!!)

Newbery Medal Winner 2011:

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Newbery Honor Books:

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (Also on the CYBILS shortlist for poetry...)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Poetry Friday: Snail by John Drinkwater

This week we memorized the following poem from The Tree that Time Built: A Celebration of nature, science, and imagination.

Snail by John Drinkwater

Snail upon the wall,

Have you got at all

Anything to tell

About your shell?

Only this, my child--

When the wind is wild,

Or when the sun is hot,

It's all I've got.

Cute, huh? The Tree that Time Built reminds us that the earth is a wondrous place that needs to be taken care of. It is filled with poems, both classic and new, that inspire a love of nature. The book comes with a CD so you can listen to some of the poets perform their works. The CD also gives some background info to the poems and the science behind them.

The Wonder Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Review by Emily

This book is like a new (and shorter) Shel Silverstein book,and who doesn't like his poetry when they're feeling silly?

It is, at times irreverent, at times LOL funny, and at times, extremely clever.

Here's part of a word play from the book:

The bicycle couldn't stand alone

(It was two tired)

The TV couldn't sleep

(It was too wired)

And a look at the days of the week:

Sun Day

Money Day
Twos Day

Weds Day

Thirst Day

Fry Day

Sat-on-her Day

You (and your littlies) might enjoy this book if you don't mind the word pee (which I totally do mind, but for the most part, the rest of this clever little book is quite fabulous.)

And me, at the center.

I look in your eyes
and see myself reflected there
surrounded by your love
and trust.
You cannot speak,
but your eyes whisper novels to me
I hear them with my heart...
a Heavenly language of love.
Reflecting
Surrounding
Speaking
Soaking in light
and my love.

Summertime happiness is...

Bubs was feeling afraid in his bed last night, so to cheer him up, we took turns saying things that make us happy. Here are some of our current happinesses...

swimming

warm sand in your toes

flowers

the garden

giggles

kisses

Blacky Bear

Grandmas and Grandpas

backpacking

baby necks

puppies

green

purple

Jesus

a cool summer breeze

library cards

the smell of new books

the way new books crack when you first open them

ice cream

wispy clouds across a blue sky

friends

blankies

jumping in a cold stream

What are your current happinesses? Do tell.

The Girl I Used to Be

The Girl I Used to Be
Author Unknown

She came tonight as I sat alone
The girl I used to be.
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye
And questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans
And hopes I had for you?
The great career, the splendid fame,
All the wonderful things to do?

Where is the mansion of stately height
With all its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you
And the shining jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad,
For I wanted her pleased with me,
This slender girl from the shadowy past,
The girl I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand
And guided her up the stairs
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay,
Innocent, sweet, and fair.

I told her that these are my only gems,
And precious they are to me;
The silken robe is my motherhood
Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love,
And the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls
For the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,
She smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw the woman that I am now
Pleased the girl I used to be.

Late Night Ponderings

I watch you sleep
and wonder

What kind of world will greet you
when you're grown?

You are strong and brave
Will it be enough?

Are you learning all you'll need to know?

Will you be a light for others to follow?

Will you stand firm
despite the winds that are sure to come
and try to force you to your knees?

I kiss your forehead
and hope.