Howdy, Campers! Happy Poetry Friday! I’ve been OUT AND ABOUT. But before I tell you about IRA in Chicago and ask for your advice about my poem, don’t forget to enter both of our contests:
In addition, you can enter our SEPARATE autographed book giveaway: win Guest Teaching Author's Karen Schreck's brand new book, WHILE HE WAS AWAY.
Spring, spring, spring--as I said, I've been out 'n about! The trees were green-leafing, the flowers a-blooming along the slick avenues in rainy Chicago , (our own Esther’s beloved hometown) this past week. She and I were honored to have taught in a full-day Institute at the International Reading Association there.
Our Institute was birthed, developed, structured and nurtured by Albuquerque author and educator Carolee Dean. The other authors Carolee pulled on board were: Kersten Hamilton, TeachingAuthor EstherHershenhorn, Kimberley Griffiths Little, Carolyn Meyer,
Uma Krishnaswami, Caroline Starr Rose, Lisa Schroeder, et moi. (For details and our handouts, click here.) I’d only met most of them online; it was a delicious pleasure to meet each in person.
Uma Krishnaswami, Caroline Starr Rose, Lisa Schroeder, et moi. (For details and our handouts, click here.) I’d only met most of them online; it was a delicious pleasure to meet each in person.
Here are a few snippets from IRA:
Someone in our group said, “Reading is the inhale, writing is the exhale,” which I’d never heard before, though when I Googled it, it’s all over the web, without an author. I love this quote.
At another session, Jane Yolen said that a child asked her,
“Did you write a Christmas book?”
“Yes,” said Jane.
“But I thought you were Jewish,” he said.
“I write murder mysteries, too,” Jane replied.
On my final day in Chicago , the skies cleared. One last breakfast with Esther, one last walk past fast pedestrians along Michigan Avenue .
Bright orange and magenta tulips, in cement boxes lining the bustling streets, which were just blooming when I arrived, were no longer bright, tight blooms—instead they were faded and splayed open, like unmade beds.
Bright orange and magenta tulips, in cement boxes lining the bustling streets, which were just blooming when I arrived, were no longer bright, tight blooms—instead they were faded and splayed open, like unmade beds.
I was thinking about how short their stay is...Bingo! I found my topic for this day’s poem!
Here are three drafts of the eight or nine I’ve written so far…I need your thoughts! I’m thinkin’ I went overboard in the last one draft..it needs to be more condensed, right? Just get in, get out—bam! What do you think?
1) AN AUTHOR TO A TULIP
by April Halprin Wayland
Nice bloom.
Fading fast.
When’s your next?
Books…er, blooms don’t last.
2) AN AUTHOR TO A TULIP
by April Halprin Wayland
I saw you flower in spring.
Good red.
When’s the next one due?
Next June?
Don’t you know
you’re only as good
as your latest book...er, bloom?
3) AN AUTHOR TO A TULIP
by April Halprin Wayland
I saw you flower this spring.
Great read…er, red (nice bling.)
So…when’s your next one due?
Uh-oh, you say next June?
If you’re not on some list,
you simply don’t exist.
You must create one soon
so rush to publish…er, bloom.
poems © 2012 by April Halprin Wayland—all rights reserved
WRITING WORKOUT
I love Chicago ! I love fellow authors! I learned so much this week! I’ll leave you with a writing prompt Uma Krishnaswami taught us, inspired by her wonderful picture book, OUT OF THE WAY! OUT OF THE WAY!
In her free downloadable activity kit for this book, Uma writes: “The tree in this story became a meeting place for the people of the village, a spot where children could play and grownups could talk…Do you know of a special tree that holds a story for you? A tree that you climbed? A tree that provided shade for picnics? Write your tree story.”
I found this to be an extremely evocative prompt. Do you? Try.
Poetry Friday's at Wild Rose Reader this week--thanks for hosting, Elaine!.JPG)
P.S: If you've read this far, you deserve a bonus. Check out Amy Goldman Koss' blog post this week, "Why Write?" (Warning: you will become addicted to her blog posts, so watch out.)
P.S: If you've read this far, you deserve a bonus. Check out Amy Goldman Koss' blog post this week, "Why Write?" (Warning: you will become addicted to her blog posts, so watch out.)
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