Out and About with Poems and Selfies

I've had a busy couple of weeks Out and About, beginning with a poetry reading on March 8 at Mount Mary University, where I used to teach graduate writing classes. I was happy to meet poet Paulette Beete and catch up with former students and colleagues. My sister Eileen accompanied me and also took photos. Thank you, Eileen!

Earlier this week, I traveled way up north to spend two days at Tomahawk Elementary School in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. I'm always happy to work with such attentive, enthusiastic poetry lovers! Here I am, ready for my last presentation.

Can you detect a smirk? I feel a little foolish taking pictures of myself and a little uncomfortable posting them. But I'm trying to get used to tooting my own horn, so here I go. At least I'm in a comfortable place.

I did manage to take a few photos of the icy Wisconsin River from the Hiawatha State Trail.

I'm much more comfortable posting landscape photos.

On Thursday, I visited Parkview Elementary School in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, where we discussed acrostic poems, including this one by Avis Harley from  African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways.

Above All

Celebrate these
Long-standing giraffes,
Opening
Up clouds and eaves-
Dropping on the wind!

Far
Removed
In airy
Elegance,
Nibbling on high, they
Decorate the
Sky.

Avis Harley,
African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways 

We all enjoyed imagining giraffes eavesdropping on the wind and thinking about what the wind might say.

No selfies on that trip, though. Here are my thoughts this morning:

I cannot take a selfie
no matter how I try.
I always look like I'm asleep
or just about to cry.
My hair sticks out all over
or there's something in my eye.
I cannot take a selfie.
I sure wish I knew why.

Remember to enter our Book Giveaway! You could win your own copy of Teaching Author April Halprin Wayland's MORE THAN ENOUGH—A Passover Story. The giveaway ends on March 31, 2016, and is open to U.S. residents only.

Robyn Hood Black has the Poetry Friday Roundup (and some inspiring student haiku) at Life on the Deckle Edge. Enjoy!

JoAnn Early Macken