Hello Poetry Friday Friends! Poetry Friday is hosted by Tricia-Stohr-Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect this today. Thank you, Tricia!
Teaching Authors’ topic this round is “favorite historical
fiction or nonfiction related to American history.”
Esther starts us out with Those Red, White, and Blue oldies but goodies!
Carmela Martino is Recommending a new novel for America 250
Zeena asks, Who Writes History?
Bobbi writes about how All History is a Story
Mary Ann addressed The Dark Side of Historical Fiction
I was hoping I could write about a book I’ve read this year for NCTE's Poetry Awards Committee. But it
can’t be one of this year’s books, as we’re not allowed to post about
books we’re currently judging until the awards have been announced at the
conference in Philadelphia this November (which will be my 3rd and last year on
this committee)
Note: neither of the two books below are in print, so they're not listed on BookShop.org, and I refuse to link them to the big A, so I've linked them to AbeBooks.com
I tried writing two posts...one was about the powerful
influence the book THE GREAT PEACE MARCH by Franklin Folsom and Connie
Fledderjohann had on me.
The other was about the huge influence this book had on America and on me, personally: SUGAR BLUES by William Dufty .
I tried, folks...I really did. But in the end, nothing came
together.
Why? Because I've raised all 12 of my hands and am over committed, doing too much for the upcoming election and other causes, because, to be honest, I want people to like me. (Please raise your hand if you can relate.)
Last night I listened to a gentle, calming mediation on the
free Insight Timer app: https://insig.ht/7tL1nMyCC6b called "You Don't
Have To Be Strong" taught by Tairo Mundawarara.
At the end, he suggests thanking your furrowed brow, your tight shoulders, and your clenched jaw.
When I did, I relaxed…and realized that if I just posted a poem, that would be enough.
YOU CAN’T ORDER A POEM!
by April Halprin Wayland
I’m standing above it,
pointing right at it,
determined to pry this
stubborn little poem loose
from its cardboard carton…
but it’s no use.
“OUT!” I shout
but it grips the sides,
squinching its eyes,
this sour, dour,
fierce little thing
disappears down the box.
I sigh.
Close my eyes.
Then I step in.
The little thing is shivering.
I gingerly offer a memory—
a play dough morning when I was three.
The poem smells it warily
then slowly shuffles next to me.
I hold it,
rock it,
warm it.
We sit,
just sit.
Then,
in time,
I rise
and slowly lead
this trembling poem
out of the box.
poem (c) 2026 April Halprin Wayland. All rights reserved.
If you're on Instagram, my handle is @aprilwayland
Posts
16 comments:
April, posting a poem is MORE THAN enough! I especially love these lines:
The little thing is shivering.
I gingerly offer a memory—
a play dough morning when I was three.
The poem smells it warily
then slowly shuffles next to me.
Thank you for sharing!
April, this is wonderful! Overcommitted, please-like-me kids and grown-ups alike can relate--me, too!
April, I am with you in the overcommitted department and love, love your poem! I can smell the playdough on your hands. Good luck with all the reading for the awards. I will, sigh, sigh, not be at NCTE this year. I fondly remember spending time with you last year.
Thank you, Marti ~ and I REALLY appreciate you reaching out about the links that weren't working. I've changed the Big A links because I found both books on AbeBooks.org. You are the best!
Thank you, Laura...we're not alone, are we? Can't wait to read your post!
Margaret, thank you for stopping by. I loved spending time with you, too! Until we can get the orange guy and his allies out of office, I won't raise my hand to be on another committee. (But I suspect that one election is not going to clean up our government. So, I won't be at NCTE until our nation is a good resident in the global neighborhood of nations. :-)
Margaret ~ I loved spending time with you, too! I'm not sure I'll be at future NCTEs, either. *sigh* Take care!
April, thanks for all! I have been an Insight Timer listener for YEARS, thanks to your recommendation! I remember sitting in a poetry workshop when we were supposed to write a poem that included a certain 6 words and thinking, "I cannot write on command." But you know what? I have learned that I actually CAN write on command! Life is funny. xo
Thank you, April. Your poem feels so personal. I will look into the Insight app.
All kinds of truth here...including that wonderful doggy-kiss at the end!
"Because I've raised all 12 of my hands" — ha, yes, this says it all.
I love the gentle coaxing of the poem that you've described. Patience, and gentleness, and ... more than enough.
I love that little poem that needed love...that you gave and it grew courage to come out of the box. Beautiful!
I'm going to carry that sweet metaphoric poem with me all week -- what a gift you shared! And THANK YOU for all that you are doing with those 12 hands!!
Oh this! "determined to pry this
stubborn little poem loose
from its cardboard carton…
but it’s no use." I have experienced this recently. I had to step back and let it simmer.
Gosh, I feel you. This is such welcome humanness, April...
April. I am so glad I stopped by and saw your post. It is wonderful. Raising my hand— relating to the feelings you shared. The challenge of getting that poem out of the box when your head is swirling with all the other stuff is so true. You expressed it so beautifully that it welled me up. Your personification of the poem is so moving. It felt like th poem was our hearts, needing rocking, holding, and reassurance. One of my most favorite poems. Thank you.
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