Margarita Engle - Chocho Seeds

            Chocho Seeds
An Autobiographical Fairy Tale
                   by
           Margarita Engle

We gathered small red and black seeds,
stringing them into necklaces
of danger. They were poisonous,
but they looked like magical beads.
They made us dream of gallant deeds

by armored knights on massive steeds
in a world of evil spells and greed.
We dreamed that sisters, two of us,
could be magical princesses
in books that we would someday read.

© Margarita Engle. All rights reserved.

---

Can we talk about this poem by Margarita Engle for a minute here? When I first read it, I loved the sound of it, the feel of it, and the story within. Then I noticed a little note above the poem itself - poetic form: Cuban décima mirror. Now, I know some of you reading here will know the décima - a 10 line form created in Spain and found throughout Latin America with local variations - though I didn't recognize it myself. In Chocho Seeds, each of the 10 lines has eight syllables, a pattern that I am guessing is the Cuban form (plus lets me say "octosyllabic!" for the first time ever here). The "mirror" comes into play with the rhyme scheme mirrored stanza to stanza. That's a lot of form packed into a small poem, yet what amazes me is that none of that was apparent to me when I read it - a testament to the poet's craft and the power of the words themselves.

This is no surprise, though, if you've read any of Margarita Engle's novels or individual poems, for that matter. Her books always end up on year-end and award lists (from a Newbery Honor to Pura Belpré Awards and honors to a Sydney Taylor Award and much more), yet it's the sheer pleasure of reading... of being transported to Cuba and discovering new stories there... of devouring details and enjoying words that truly tell the tale. I can't wait to pick up The Wild Book, her newest novel (which she discusses in this interview), and I'm totally thrilled to have Margarita Engle here today as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday, we had Riddle me, Riddle me from Helen Frost. Tomorrow... My Pencil by Robert Weinstock! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Helen Frost - Riddle me, Riddle me

Riddle me, Riddle me
by
Helen Frost

Riddle me, riddle me, what am I?
If you twist my arm
I’ll start to cry.
If you twist too hard
I’ll spit in your eye!
Riddle me, riddle me, what am I?

© Helen Frost. All rights reserved.

---

What??? You want the answer? OK, fine - it's a water fountain! I love this riddle from Helen Frost (part of an unpublished (why???!!!) collection called The Sun is a Golden Peacock). I love the imagery here, the personification, the humor and, yes, the riddlishness of it all, too. Personally, I've always found riddles hard to do, but she makes it look so easy and fun that I'm inspired. And for the record, my answer of "my second cousin when we were 8!" was accurate but, apparently, not the proper response.

It's no surprise to me that I think Helen Frost's riddle is fabulous. Truth is, I've pretty much had that reaction every time I've run into one of her books or poems, whether stand alone or part of a novel or collection. Her 2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award honor book, Hidden, for instance, works on so many levels... including hidden ones... and simply blew me away. And if you haven't seen and read her newest book, Step Gently Out (with photos by Rick Lieder), you really need to go find it today. Seriously. We'll be here when you get back. I could go on with more books, too, but instead, I'm just gonna say how overwhelmingly happy I am to have Helen Frost here today as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday, Michael J. Rosen gave us Unsung Dog Song. Tomorrow... Chocho Seeds by Margarita Engle! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Michael J. Rosen - Unsung Dog Song

Unsung Dog Song
by
Michael J. Rosen

My Dog, you are Close when others are Distance,
you’re Welcome at every screen door.
You are Home when still we are far away,
and Ready, no matter what for.

Wherever there’s water you’re Splash, my dog,
you’re Fetch whatever is thrown.
You’re Chase if ever there’s room for a run.
You’re Stay when I stay here alone.

You are Warmth with never a thought to weather,
you’re Yes with never a word.
Yes is you, no matter the question,
no matter the no’s you’ve heard.

You are Ears for all that is quiet, my dog,
Listener to what’s underground.
You are Nose to all of the news that is smell,
though I never know what you’ve found.

You are Demon of Squirrels, Barker at Gates,
a Clown who invents his own tricks.
You are Keeper of Secrets, Thief of my Socks,
my Beggar, my Bringer of Sticks.

You are Praise whenever I lose or I win.
You are Watch, whatever I try.
You’re Again! when everyone else says enough!
Let’s go! is your always reply.

You’re all-over Soft (especially your ears),
except for the scratch of your toes.
You are filler of Vacuums, Shedder Supreme,
I wear some of you on my clothes.

You’re Grown-up as much as I want to be,
and Puppy no matter what stage.
No matter the number of years we are old,
you’re always my very own age.

Dog of All Dogs, you are my own Song:
the tune is a walk on a trail,
the lyrics are simply the lick of your tongue,
the beat is the wag of your tail.

© Michael J. Rosen. All rights reserved.

---

If you've ever been to Michael J. Rosen's website, you might get the sense that he likes dogs a wee bit. In fact, there he describes himself not as a philosopher but as a self-proclaimed fidosopher. If you've never been to his site, you've probably gotten the same sense from today's poem. As a fellow dog lover, I read this poem and think "Yeah! What he said!" I can offer no higher praise... though I admit I'm also filled with the urge to go on a walk around the block.

Earlier this year, Chanukah Lights, a book Michael wrote and Robert Sabuda paper-engineered, won the Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Younger Readers category. If you haven't seen and read this book, you really must: it is history brought to life with words and art that are perfectly suited for each other.  Then changing gears from that and dogs... his upcoming book (upcoming as in Thursday!), Running With Trains, is a novel in poetry and two voices, something that sounds both challenging to write and intriguing to read. I know I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it, and I also know I'm thrilled to have Michael J. Rosen here today as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday Lorraine Marwood gave us Cockatoo: a Portrait. Tomorrow... Riddle me, Riddle me by Helen Frost! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Lorraine Marwood - Cockatoo: a Portrait

Cockatoo: a Portrait
by
Lorraine Marwood

Yellow
colour of yolk
colour of safety
but sulphur-crested
as if top-notch feathers
were brushed
with bee pollen,
a raucous joke
as you chatter, nibble
drop leaves
and screech
without softness
at sunset.

© Lorraine Marwood. All rights reserved.

---

Lorraine Marwood is the first Australian poet to join in the fun here at 30 Poets/30 Days, and I was extra-happy when she sent a poem with a bit of local color (or, if your prefer, colour). Of course, I'd've been extra-happy regardless, as I love the way her poem appeals to the senses as it paints its portrait. Geography, clearly, doesn't change what works.

Like many poets writing for children today, Lorraine Marwood writes novels in verse, as well as individual poems and collections. Unlike most, however, her novel Star Jumps won the 2010 Prime Minister's Literary Award in the children's fiction category! Star Jumps is the story of farm life in tough times told through the eyes of a young girl, and her newest collection of poetry, Notes on the Door, focuses on family and all that families do/experience together. Yes, the poetry's informed by a life in Australia, but just like with the Cockatoo above, the universality of the feelings, the emotions, the sights and sounds crosses borders, and we're all the better for it. I'm extra-happy, indeed, to have encountered Lorraine Marwood's work, and I'm thrilled to have her here today at 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday we had a wonderful, wiggly concrete poem from Liz Brownlee, Sea Star. Tomorrow... Unsung Dog Song by Michael J. Rosen! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Liz Brownlee - Sea Star

Sea Star

by

Liz Brownlee

Sea stars used to be called starfish. Scientists changed their name as they are not fish, but echinoderms. They are hollow, with sensitive skin inside and outside - seawater flows into them as well as surrounding them. Their structures are higher in magnesium than other creatures. This makes them vulnerable to acidification of the seas, caused by carbon dioxide absorption.

(If you subscribe to the blog and do not see the poem above, please click here.)

© Liz Brownlee. All rights reserved.

---

I first ran into Liz Brownlee on Facebook, though exactly where and why is now lost in the sands of cybertime. Yet soon, I'd journeyed to her website and... whoa! I love discovering new-to-me poets whose work, simply put, makes me happy.

Today's poem comes from Liz's upcoming book, Animal Magic (Poems on a disappearing world). As if the book is not enough, Liz is also blogging about endangered animals all month (26 times, in fact, going alphabetically). And yes, there are poems involved! I bet if you check them out and look at the poems on her website (including some animated ones), you'll be happy just like me. I'm looking forward to Animal Magic and more in the future, and I'm thrilled to have Liz Brownlee here as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday Bob Raczka gave us an answer to What Is Poetry? Tomorrow... Lorraine Marwood with Cockatoo - a Portrait! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Bob Raczka - What Is Poetry?

What Is Poetry?
by
Bob Raczka

poetry is about taking away the words that you don’t need
poetry is taking away words you don’t need
poetry is words you need
poetry is words
try

© Bob Raczka. All rights reserved.

---

One of my absolutely favorite things about putting together 30 Poets/30 Days is when the poets involved send me multiple poems to let me chose what works best. I'm like a kid in a candy shop! The downside comes because I have to pick one, and that is REALLY hard when someone like Bob Raczka sends four pieces of brilliance. I truly could have run any one of them and gushed about how he must not only sees the world differently in order to come up with what he comes up with but how he also has the ability to help us see the world his way. That's a remarkable talent.

I first got to know Bob Raczka's work through his Art Adventure series of books. Those books are a kind of visual poetry, as far as I'm concerned, but they don't give insight into what he's capable of with words alone. Guyku (with Peter H. Reynolds supplying the art) was the book for me that made me stand up and take notice of his gift with poetry. And then last year's Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word simply blew me away in much the same way as Marilyn Singer's Mirror Mirror did - fantastic execution of an idea that seems impossible in concept yet, when you're reading the book, you no longer are even thinking of the constraints involved. Impressive stuff, indeed, and just one of the reasons I'm so happy to have Bob Raczka here today as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

It's the first Poetry Friday roundup of National Poetry Month! Head on over to Robyn Hood Black's blog to see all the good stuff going on in the Kidlitosphere today, poetry-wise. 

Yesterday, Mary Quattlebaum brought us Earthworms. Tomorrow... Sea Star by Liz Brownlee! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Mary Quattlebaum - Earthworm

Earthworm
by
Mary Quattlebaum

Mud hugger.
Sleek slider.
Snug in ground
you glide
down
down
down
that long
black
road
you make
and make
and constantly
ride.

Dirt eater.
Stone greeter.
Who do you know
in your
squeeze-
tight
home?
Mole in hidey-hole?
Shiny bug and snail?
O, slick pink belly!
O, quick-flip tail!
Where did you go?
Hello?
Hello?

© Mary Quattlebaum. All rights reserved.

---

I love Mary Quattlebaum's poem today... from the multiple, evocative names for the earthworm to the questions asked of the titular earthworm to the twisty mystery at the end. In barely over 50 words, she creates a whole worm symphony, a feat even Beethoven never succeeded at (though his Sonata #25 in G, Cuckoo eats Worm, comes close).

Now, I admit a tiny part of me was hoping Mary would share a pirate poem with us here. I have two selfish reasons for this - I loved her book Pirate vs. Pirate from last year, and would be happy to see her continue in "book buccaneer" mode, AND I wanted to do some pirate writing. Something like "T' way she spins a yarn and uses rhythm and word choice t' make readin' so much fun be truly fantastic." But now I have no organic way to do so! Pity. Still, I am exceedingly happy to be able to share Earthworm with you all today, and very grateful to have author/poet/teacher/reviewer Mary Quattlebaum here at GottaBook as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday brought us Crystal Apples by Sara Holbrook. Tomorrow... What Is Poetry? by Bob Raczka. For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Sara Holbrook - Crystal Apples

Crystal Apples
by
Sara Holbrook

The finest features of accomplishment
cannot be mirrored in the glazed eyes and fixed smile of a trophy
designed to stand alone, shelf‑bound, a headstone on what was.
Feet atop a pedestal are no longer on the ground, making tracks.
Did you ever try to sink your teeth into a crystal apple?
Or wrap a commemorative plaque about your knees to keep you warm?
Put press clippings in the gas tank when you're running a little late?

Success may invite you to the podium and clap you on the back,
but it won't call you on the phone next day to ask how you are doing
or help to plow your next row across the sky.
It always sets a timer -- a day, a month, a year,
and urges others to keep their distance
while you try to keep your balance on your own.

Which is why busy hands can't be bothered with trophies,
they know to let loose before next bell,
and that the true voice of accomplishment
hasn't a place at the head table at all.
She waits at the bottom of the stairs, beside the stage,
wearing a stretched‑out T shirt
from a concert she only heard about,
hiding her heart behind a ragged folder of poems.

Teacher?
Her voice, humble‑headed as a snowdrop,
precarious to watch,
but filled with a blooming determination to spite the odds.
Teacher!
A fragile voice at risk of being trampled in the rush to the next pursuit.
Licking a shy smile from dry teeth, her eyes reach out,
as she taps your attention on the arm.

Teacher?
The moment stops, two figures against a blur,
joined at the hands and eyes.
Teacher.

You changed my life.

© Sara Holbrook. All rights reserved.

---

Oh, sure, Sara Holbrook, be that way. Many of us have thanked teachers or recognized their hard work in some way, but look at what you go and do! Perfect phrases all strung together, fabulous images and deep emotion all in one poem. OK, fine - thank you for capturing a sentiment so many of us have felt, even if our specifics are different than the ones you mention. But boy oh boy... you do raise the bar.

Of course, if you've read a lot of Sara Holbrook's poetry, you probably aren't surprised to see her nail a subject so perfectly. Whatever she writes about (and per her website, she writes mostly about two things - what she knows and what she wonders about) she gets to the essence of it, whether she's making you laugh or going for the heart or both at once. To top it all off, like with Allan Wolf earlier this month, I've also hear that seeing Sara, whether you're a student or a teacher, is a true treat. I've still got that to look forward to, but for now I'm just happy to have Sara here at GottaBook as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday we met The Secretive Subtractor thanks to Steven Withrow. Tomorrow... Mary Quattlebaum with Earthworm! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Steven Withrow - The Secretive Subtractor

The Secretive Subtractor
by
Steven Withrow

Count your blessings.
Count them good.
Do they add up
as they should?

Count three dogs,
two cats, one snake—
did you notice
your mistake?

Yesterday
they totaled seven.
Now their number’s
not the same.

Dozen eggs
down to eleven.
You will never
guess my name.

I’m the master of minus,
the negative knave,
the dollar spent
you scrimped to save.

I’m shrinking violet,
missing link,
and I’m much closer
than you think.

Count your blessings.
Count each one.
Best recount them
when I’m done.

Yelp for help.
Dial “H” for Hero.
You can call me
Mister Zero.

© Steven Withrow. All rights reserved.

---

I've loved the craftsmanship in Steven Withrow's poetry since I first started seeing them a while back. He has a precision with language that sticks in my mind and makes me review my own poems a few extra times.

What's also interesting to me, though, is that I think there must be two or three of Steven. Because not only does he teach and write, he also founded and runs PACYA - Poetry Advocates for Children & Young Adults and is in charge of its blog, Poetry At Play, as well (a great resource, by the way). Then, as if that's not enough, he was the co-producer of the documentary, Library of the Early Mind - a documentary all about children's literature (which is now available on DVD). Still, much as I love those hats Steven wears, I love the poet hat most of all. I'm always glad to see a new poem on his blog, and I'm incredibly happy to have him here today as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday we had The Northern Lights by Kalli Dakos. Tomorrow... Sara Holbrook with Crystal Apples! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Kalli Dakos - The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights

by

Kalli Dakos

The northern lights

put on a show

in the polar sky.

They pranced,

they danced,

kept us entranced,

a whirlwind up high.

The colors streamed

in blues and greens

with rosy red rays.

They lit the night

with wild light

across the Milky Way.

We couldn’t run.

We couldn’t play.

We couldn’t even speak.

In a daze,

we just gazed

till our legs went weak.

Faraway

we heard the bell,

to call us back inside.

We didn’t move.

We were glued,

to the wonders in the sky!

© Kalli Dakos. All rights reserved.

---

I believe that Kalli Dakos is the first Canadian poet to be part of 30 Poets/30 Days, though she won't be the last. Of course, I read her poetry for a long time not knowing where she was from - all I knew was that I was very glad to have her books around.

What I've always loved about Kalli Dakos' poems is that they can make me laugh but also go to deeper, unexpected places. Take The Northern Lights, part of a collection called Recess In The Dark about, well, you can guess. And this is what's so fun for me - it had never crossed my mind that way up north, at certain times of the school year, it's dark all day long. So, of course kids have their recess in the dark... although sometimes with a light show.

To me, that sounds like an amazing experience, and I love that this poem makes me see it both as part of a regular day AND something utterly amazing, too. That's the type of surprise I'm used to when reading a Kalli Dakos' book, and it's one reason I'm so happy to have her here as part of 30 Poets/30 Days.

Yesterday, Allan Wolf gave us The Greatest Nation on Earth. Tomorrow... The Secretive Subtractor by Steven Withrow! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

Allan Wolf - The Greatest Nation on Earth

The Greatest Nation on Earth
by
Allan Wolf

I’ve climbed the heights of Everest,
one hand behind my back.
I’ve seen the sights of Asia sitting
high atop a Yak.

Fed Antelope in Africa
and kissed a crocodile
as I was rafting all alone
along the river Nile.

I’m quite the global traveler.
I’ve been to every land:
China, England, Russia, Rome,
New Guinea, and Sudan.

New Zealand and Australia,
Yugoslavia and Perth.
Canada and India.
Dallas and Fort Worth.

But although these wondrous places hold
a certain fascination,
the greatest nation in the world
is. . . my own imagination!

I visit remarkable, marvelous lands
and never leave my chair.
I only have to read a book
to feel as though I’m there.

So hop aboard the Word Express.
It’s leaving from the station.
The only ticket needed is
your own imagination.

Whatever are you waiting for?
The adventure starts today.
Just take a book down from the shelf
and. . . you’re on your way.

© Allan Wolf. All rights reserved.

---

While I think Allan Wolf's poem would be great any day, week, or month, I'm particularly happy to share it today, kicking off National Poetry Month and 30 Poets/30 Days here at GottaBook. The spirit of the poem, not to mention the wordplay, the twist on the title, and the rhythm and rhyme, gets me jazzed up about poetry, books, and more. Good times!


I've never had the pleasure of seeing Allan Wolf - a National Sonnet Slam Champ, a musician, and the former educational director of Poetry Alive! (a poetry performance troop) - in person, so I've had to make due with "just" his words on the page.

And what I'm consistently struck by, whether going back to The Blood-Hungry Spleen (yes, I refuse to add the rest of the title because I am gleeful when I speak of a children's poetry book called The Blood-Hungry Spleen) or reading his most recent work, the novel in verse (and more) The Watch That Ends the Night, is that his words are remarkable. I mean, he can create characters that move me as he weaves fact and imagination together to make stories from the Titanic come alive OR he can slay me with a punchline and I'll go gladly along with him truly not caring what's coming next because I trust that it'll be worth the trip. And that gift of his is one reason why I'm so happy to have him there today kicking off 30 Poets/30 Days.

Allan's started us off in grand style. Tomorrow... The Northern Lights by Kalli Dakos! For more on 30 Poets/30 Days and ways to follow along, please click here.

For Those Who Toll the Bells - a very silly poem

For Those Who Toll the Bells
by
Greg Pincus

Come hear the sad story of two poor, shy men
Who rang bells at a church in the shire.
The two men were twins though that fact was unknown
Since they lived out of sight in the spire.

The church bells were old, and their clappers were gone,
Yet the men loved their job heart and soul…
They would run towards the bells, always going face first:
The collisions would make the bells toll.

One day one poor brother was running full speed
When he slipped, and he tripped, then he fell!
He died on the ground, and though none knew his name,
All felt sure that his face rang a bell.

The very next hour, the other twin died,
Like his brother, his name known by none.
“But they sure are dead ringers,” the townspeople said...
So the brothers were buried as one.


The above was my fourth round entry in Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness in which I had to use the word "toll." At some point, I'll share the very peculiar first "toll" poem I wrote, but when I remembered the joke that the above poem is based on - a joke told to me by my father lonnnnnng ago - I wrote again, seeing if I could distill it into 16 lines (at that point, the maximum line limit in the Madness). I think I succeeded, and somehow, I moved on to the Final Four (where voting happens starting today until Monday evening - a line I will remove from this post after voting closes on the two "battles.").

If you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Rise to the Epic Challenge (This Means War) - an acrostic poem, a battle poem

Rise to the Epic Challenge (This Means War)
by
Greg Pincus

The battle lines are clearly drawn.
How brave we stand. How unafraid.
I know before the next day’s dawn
Sweet songs shall speak of heroes made.
My fellow men are by my side,
Each one but part of our great whole.
A truce we offered up – denied!
Now victory’s our goal.
Sudden cheers! Oh, startling noise!
With tension high, we must begin…
A kickball game! Girls challenge boys.
Rise up! (And please let us boys win.)

The above was my third round entry in Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness. My assigned word was "truce" and how I ended up here is truly anyone's guess! I'm still alive and kicking over there with a poem due tomorrow morning in the Final Four. Fun times, and so many amazing poems written by so many. I hope you've been following along!

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at my juicy jittle universe today (well, it's actually Heidi Mordhorst's universe, not mine!). Head on over for more poetry fun.

And if you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The Funny Poetry Conundrum

As y'all have seen, I've been participating in Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness these last two weeks. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm grateful to it and the other poets there because the whole thing has gotten me writing a lot, helped me make new friends, and given me tons to think about, both in terms of poetry and social media. But I want to focus on poetry for a moment... and a conundrum. Or really, a few related questions:

Does funny trump serious? Does serious trump funny? Is it possible to compare the craft in two vastly different styles of poetry (assuming both are well realized)? Do kids care about the nitty gritty, or is it all about a reaction: a laugh, an emotion, a story?

I realize a poetry "competition" is an artificial construct and that final vote tallies are not answers to the above questions since too many factors are in play. Still, in the last two rounds, I've had my funny poems up against a lovely, lyrical pantoum by Susan Taylor Brown and a pitch-perfect free verse poem by Mary Lee Hahn. In both cases, our poems could not have been more different. And I wonder how, if you're a person approaching the poems themselves, you end up picking one over the other.

So, I'm curious - do you have a bias towards funny over not? Do you think funny is easier/harder/the same as other types of poetry? Do you, when working with kids, find they have a bias? Do you bring your own bias with you when reading with kids?

Every year, during 30 Poets/30 Days, I feature 30 totally different poems and poets... and each one of those poems ends up being someone's favorite of the month. So, I suspect there's no real answer to the conundrum. Instead, we're all just individuals reacting in the moment to what we've read... funny or not.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

We Need Books! - a synonym poem, a poem about books

We Need Books!
by
Greg Pincus

Our entire school library’s empty. It’s bare.
It used to be full, but now look: nothing’s there.

We’ve got zero books. We’ve got zip, zilch, nil, none.
There’s nada. A goose egg. We’ve naught, nix, not one.

To help change our null set, please send something for us.
We sure miss our books – most of all our thesaurus.


The above was written as part of Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness (where voting is now open for the "Elite Eight" round (in which I'm still participating!). My word was "zero" which I then multiplied (which in math would give you zero, but above gives 14 by my count).

If you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

Things to Say to Your Younger Sibling - a family poem, a sibling poem

Things to Say to Your Younger Sibling
by
Greg Pincus

Candy’s legal to steal.
Yes, zombies are real.
Dad said I’m in charge.
Your cookie’s too large.
Of course, I won’t tell.
You tripped? No. You fell.
Bird poop’s nutritious.
Mom’s meatloaf’s delicious.
Oops. My fist slipped.
Fell? I was tripped!
Oh, no! You’ve been cursed!
Looks safe. You go first.
Sooooooo sorry you lost.
My fingers were crossed.

This poem actually came from one of my prompts at March Poetry Madness... though you won't find the "prompting word" in it. Can you guess which one? Anyway, it never worked in well, though I quite liked the poem! Voting for many poems is ongoing at The Madness - right now including my own poem in epic poetic battle with a pantoum! Good stuff. I hope you'll check it all out.

If you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

It's Like the Hunger Games, but with Poets as Tributes

In a comment over at Think Kid, Think, someone equated the current March Poetry Madness event to the Hunger Games. I think that's right on - 64 poets go in, lock in battle, and only one remains at the end.

I'm currently matched up against Susan Taylor Brown in the round of 16. I hope you'll check out my epic acrostic using "truce" vs. her lyrical pantoum using "impaled" and cast a vote. And check out all the action there for more excellent poetic fun.

May the meter be ever in your favor....

Wake Up Call - a coffee poem

Wake Up Call
by
Greg Pincus

Earlier this morning
I was droopy, draggy, tired,
Then I drank my daddy’s coffee –
Now I’m wired, wired, wired.

“Do that again,” my father said
(I skittered, jittered, bounded),
“You’ll be like past tense coffee beans –
Grounded, grounded, grounded!”


The above was my poem from the round of 64 in Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness in which I had to write a poem using the word "wired." The Madness is still going on, and you can vote for the poems in the round of 16 right now. (My own match-up is against the fabulous Susan Taylor Brown, where sometime later today, you'll see us battle "impaled" vs. "truce" (and how many times have you been able to say that???).)

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at A Year of Reading (where co-host Mary Lee Hahn, still alive and kicking in the Madness, shares one of her fab poems). Why not check out all the poetry goodies today?

And if you'd like to get all the poems here at GottaBook - from 30 Poets/30 Days to guest poets, to whatever I cook up - emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!

The Grammar Doctor's Diagnosis - a grammar poem/a health poem

The Grammar Doctor’s Diagnosis
by
Greg Pincus

The Grammar Doctor spoke: he said:
“The news is not fantastic.”
My writing diet: it must change:
Turns out: my co:l:on’s: spastic:::!


This poem was inspired by March Poetry Madness at Think Kid, Think (specifically a single word from it used as a prompt!).

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Wired - an ADHD poem

Wired
By
Greg Pincus

Mom says it’s how I’m wired:
I’m like a spinning top.
My teachers say I’m like the wind:
I never, ever stop.

My brother says I’m like a pest -
That’s why we often fight.
My grandma says I’m like the moon:
I’ll shine and shine all night.

My doctor says I’m like a kid
Who’s got ADHD.
My father says I’m just like him....
I think that I’m just me.


Thanks to all of you who voted (for me and my poem Wake Up Call or for anyone) in the first round of Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness. It's a really fun event... and I'm excited that I've moved on to the round of 32.

My next poem will be up Monday morning, but I can't tell you what it's about since I haven't yet received the word I have to use for it! In the meantime, there's great reading up at Ed's site, and other poems coming up for voting Sunday morning.  I hope you'll check it out. Good times!

The above poem was the first one I wrote based on the word I got in the first round - wired. I eventually submitted a totally different poem, but I thought it would be fun to share this one, too.

Plus, I just announced the 2012 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days. I hope you'll be following along, as the poetry in April is going to be fantastic.

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The Poetry Friday Roundup!

I'm hosting the Poetry Friday roundup today!

If you have a post you'd like to share, please leave a link to it in the comments, and I'll update the roundup throughout the day.

Here at GottaBook, I announced the 2012 edition of 30 Poets/30 Days. Every day in April, I'll be sharing a previously unpublished poem by a different poet... and when you see the list in that post of who's joining in the fun, I think you'll agree it's going to be a great month.

At Ed DeCaria's Think Kid Think, he's hosting some March Poetry Madness! There are already 64 poems on display for reading and, in some cases, voting. And there will be more sooon. You gotta see the great work folks are doing. And yes, I'm participating, as are many folks who hang around this blog. Go read. Vote if you'd like. And keep coming back as the competition goes on.

(If the post "ends" here for you, please click on the title above to see more.)

Announcing the 2012 Edition of 30 Poets/30 Days!

I'm so excited to announce the 2012 edition of 30 Poets/30 Days, an annual celebration of children's poetry that takes place here at GottaBook throughout April (National Poetry Month here in the U.S.).

(EDITED TO ADD: April's started! You can almost always see the day's poem by clicking here and going to the top of the blog. If you don't see a poem, by chance, just scroll down a little and you will!)

Every day of the month, I'll post a previously unpublished poem by a different poet. As before, I'm totally loving the poetry coming in, so I cannot wait to start sharing it with you. Here's an alphabetical list of who's going to be here in April, 2012:

Alma Flor Ada, Susan Taylor Brown,Liz Brownlee, Leslie Bulion, Kate Coombs, Bruce Coville, Kalli Dakos, Ed DeCaria, Margarita Engle, Robert L. Forbes, Helen Frost, Sara Holbrook, Ellen Hopkins, Ron Koertge, Thanhha Lai, JonArno Lawson, Kimberly Marcus, Lorraine Marwood, Marilyn Nelson, Eric Ode, Mary Quattlebaum, Bob Raczka, Michael J. Rosen, Michael Salinger, Hope Anita Smith, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Lee Wardlaw, Robert Weinstock, Steven Withrow, Allan Wolf

Yeah. I'm excited. Like, really excited. I'm so grateful to the poets for joining in to share with you all, and I know we're gonna have a great month of poetry fun.

There are a few easy ways to follow along and not miss out. You can visit here every day. Sweet! You can subscribe to GottaBook via email or your blog reader.

You can join my poetry list, and get all the poems emailed out the day they hit my blog. Enter your email address below and click subscribe:

That list runs year round, by the way, so whenever I post a poem here, whether it's my own or a poem from a visiting guest poet, you'll see it.

Plus you can join the fun on Twitter - follow me for links to the poems every day (and much more), or follow @30poets30days for purely poetry tweeting.

There are always folks to thank with a big event like this, so let me start by thanking the incredibly talented Debbie Ridpath Ohi for this year's logo. I'm amazed by the talent of this year's poets, yes, but I am in awe of Debbie's skills - a logo here, a picture book there, hilarious cartoons, prose, songs, social media how-tos. I mean, it's kinda unfair... except that she's a part of 30/30 now, so I'm just plain grateful.  I also want to thank all the poets who've joined in prior years of this event, thus making this year possible. And, of course, I have to thank all of you who read along and share the poems and the event with others.

April is going to be a blast. I do hope you'll stick around!

Oooh! You can vote for me!

I'm locked in a tight March Madness poetry battle in the round of 64. My poem Wake Up Call is up against tough competition... but I'm cute and nice and all, and I'd love you to check it out and vote for me. (Voting closes Friday at 6-ish PM Pacific time, so don't delay! And if you vote for Dave, I'll still love you.)

There is a TON of great poetry going on at Ed DeCaria's March Poetry Madness. You can read it all and vote for lots of contests still going on. It's a really fun event, and whether I advance or not, I know I'll be reading 'til the end.

Crastination - a procrastination poem

Crastination
By
Greg Pincus

There’s something I’m not sure of
Yet I’d really like to know:
I’m an amateur in crastination...
Who’ll pay me to go pro?


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Outside This Blog o' Mine....

If you haven't been following along about what's happened in Tucson with the shutting down of the Mexican-American Studies program in their schools, you really should hurry over to Deb Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature blog for fantastic coverage - updates from teachers and students, perspective from other corners, and more. This is a story worth understanding, and her coverage is the best I've found.

On the lighter side, Ed DeCaria came up with a fantastic and wonderfully loopy idea: a March Madness event featuring 64 poets! I'm in, man!

The way it's gonna work is that we'll each get a word assigned to us... then we'll have 36 hours to write a poem. Then there's voting to move on in the bracket. It's a tough game - I'm matched up against Dave Crawley! Yikes! But it's all in good fun, so no worries. There will be 122 new poems created during the event, so bookmark Ed's site to follow along.

No Poem Today (a poem)

No Poem Today (a poem)
by
Greg Pincus

No poem today.
Now, go away.
I’ve got nothing to share.
My empty words
Are for the birds,
And I don’t even care.
If I had time
Perhaps I'd rhyme
Or write a new haiku.
But I don’t.
So I won’t.
My words are stuck like glue.


The Poetry Friday roundup is up over at Gathering Books today. Go on over and check it out.

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Shhhh! (A Poetry Tease)

Did you know that there's gonna be a new edition of 30 Poets/30 Days here at GottaBook in April? Well, there is. 30 new poets. 30 new poems. One fabulous month.

Come back on March 16th for more details. But, hey, there's nothing wrong with a little tease!

Shhhhh!

Truff-you-la? Really? And other thoughts after seeing The Lorax

I saw Dr. Seuss' The Lorax yesterday. I went to it, I admit, with a bit of dread - prior adaptations have been disappointing, to say the least, though the Horton movie was pretty good fun. I also come at this from a screenwriting point of view where I know that the writers simply HAVE to make major changes to create something that sustains for 80+ minutes. I expect that going in, so my issues are rarely with the fact that things are changed. It's usually in HOW they are changed.

The Lorax falls into that category, too, though I must add that I didn't find the movie egregious in its approach at all, as opposed to the ad campaigns touting environmental goodness and using the Lorax as a seal of approval. Not buying it for a second, thanks. But that is NOT the movie. Phil Nel talks of this distinction in his review, and I concur... though I don't give the movie a B+ like he does. I think that's too high, though the movie's beautiful and has some fabulous moments, too.

Anyway, my first comment is smallish, I realize, but I'd never heard Truffula Trees pronounced "Truff-you-la" before. In the old Lorax animated special it was "Truff-ya-la" and I've been known to say "Truff-a-la" also. But "Truff-you-la" as it's said in the movie? Huh.

Beyond that, what struck me in the film was both its embrace of the source material AND what seemed like a need to distance the movie from the book, too. To wit, the film starts with the Lorax breaking the fourth wall to tell us in the audience that the real story has more than "what's on the page." OK. That sets up the fact that we're in for a different experience. It's a good framing device, because the opening scenes of the movie are not related to the Lorax story we all know, though it soon becomes clear how it ties in. I'd also note that this is about as active as the Lorax gets, just like in the book - he moans and is a presence but doesn't do much, a real challenge for the filmmakers, no doubt.

Within the movie itself, there are clear references to the book... but only sometimes. And even then.... For example, a character uses the line that the tufts of the Truffula trees supposedly smell of "fresh butterfly milk." But then there's a dismissive "what does that even mean?" throwaway line! Ouch. That's a come here-get away moment that distanced me from the characters. Again, if one is not a fan of the book, it probably doesn't matter at all. To me, though, it was off-putting and unnecessary and speaks to this weird tension between the media.

Another moment that comes to mind - the Lorax lifting himself by the seat of his pants and disappearing. Why, I wonder, couldn't the filmmakers have had him give a "sad, backwards glance" as he left? I didn't see one. Perhaps I missed it, of course, as it's not like I was watching the movie looking for "off" moments. Still, while I recalled him looking at the Once-ler then, I don't recall the glance... and I wish I did. The moment worked, by the way, just like in the book. I'm just left wondering.

Some of dialogue in the movie had rhyme in it, but many lines began like parts of the book then veered away as if they couldn't commit. I can only imagine the struggle of how to embrace the rhyme and rhythm of Dr. Seuss in the script - the dialogue can't all be like the book, as people don't speak that way, after all. And yet, couplets did come out of folks mouths from time to time, almost all written for the movie, not taken from the book. Why those lines? Why not others from the source itself? I am unsure, but watching the movie, I noticed it. Of course, I also have read The Lorax aloud so many times, I know it far better than most. But still, for me, that was an issue.

The bottom line is that the movie is fine - sometimes way better than fine, sometimes not. There are musical numbers which I found them lacking the magic of the best Seuss songs - really, now, you don't name a character in a final moment just so his name creates a rhyme! And nothing in the movie compares to the sewer pipe song in the original animated short. Or or or. Yet, at least the numbers were there to move the story along NOT just to have a pop soundtrack. And certainly, love and care was put into the movie all along the way and that shows, too. I didn't love it, it's true, and I have quibbles and issues galore, but was I entertained? Yeah, for the most part I was. And I'll take that.

And you? Did you see it? Did you love/hate/enjoy/walk out of/laugh/sing? I'd love to know!

The Lorax Oddaptation (a re-issue)

It's been a long time since I've posted or re-posted an Oddaptation here. For the record, Oddaptations are kinda SparkNotes of picture books... except they're in rhyme and with a "pointed point of view."

Since today is Dr. Seuss's birthday (and Read Across America Day) AND the movie version of the Lorax is coming out, re-issuing this Oddaptation from the vaults seems appropriate:

THE LORAX
by Dr. Seuss
Oddaptation by Gregory K.

The Lorax -- bossy, loud and rude --
Says to Onceler, “Listen, dude,
You’ve turned air all black and funky.
You’ve made ponds turn thick and gunky.
Trees are gone and now there’s weeds...
And no one needs your ugly thneeds.”
The Lorax doesn’t offer help.
All he does is moan and yelp.
Soon he’s overcome with stress,
And leaves behind one word: Unless.
Time goes on as time must do.
Onceler finally gets a clue.
When he’s learned he misbehaved,
He tosses you the seed he’s saved.
I say put it in your pocket
Then inside a safe and lock it.
Cuz if a forest blooms anew...
That Lorax will come back here, too.

The Poetry Friday roundup is over at Dori Reads today. Head on over and check it out (including Dori's fine, fine interview with Laura Purdie Salas who has TWO new poetry books out).

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A Modest Leap Day Proposal - a Leap Day poem

A Modest Leap Day Proposal
by
Greg Pincus

Leap Day comes so rarely.
Why not make it cool?
Make each one a holiday -
Cancel work and school!


Happy Leap Day to you all. It's the second one we've had together at GottaBook... and it's my second Leap Day poem, too.

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A Non-Emergency Visit to the ER - a poem about patience

A Non-Emergency Visit to the ER
(a poem about patience)
by
Greg Pincus

I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting -
Grab my phone and play a game.
Then I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
And I'm - OOH! They called my name!
Now I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
In a different, dull, brown room.
And I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
Like a nervous, anxious groom.
Yes, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting.
I'm not having any fun
As I'm waiting, waiting, waiting...
Boom! The doctor comes! I'm done.
Now I'm waiting, waiting, waiting,
For the forms that set me free....
Yet in the end the waiting's fine -
I'm healthy as can be.


Whenever I post poems about doctors or travel or manuscripts or other things that can called be "adult concerns," folks assume they are autobiographical. They are all drawn from experience and observation, of course, but in this case I want to note that no one needs ask how I am (or how anyone else specifically is). Honest!

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What's Happening In My Brain - a list poem/a brain poem

What’s Happening In My Brain
by
Greg Pincus

I’m wondering.
I’m pondering.
I’m focusing.
I’m wandering.
I’m thinking.
I’m scheming.
I’m solving.
I’m dreaming.
I’m looking.
I’m seeing.
I’m living.
I’m being.

This week's Poetry Friday roundup is over at Jone's blog, Check It Out. I urge you to listen to the name of her blog and check it out!

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Yes, It Matters - a perspective poem

Yes, It Matters
by
Greg Pincus

Some days I do all my homework.
And cleaning my room? Nothing to it!
‘Cause nothing’s a bore
And nothing’s a chore
As long as I’m choosing to do it.

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Guilty as Charged!

Over at The Happy Accident, I blogged about guilt and negative feelings about social media. Seems like many of us are feeling it, as you'll note in the comments.

The small irony is I posted there after a long gap in posting, while I was still posting here. But I note I haven't blogged since Wednesday here, either. I do not, however, feel guilty.

There'll be a follow-up post soon about possible solutions to the negative feelings, too. You know, when I have time! :-) In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thoughts at Seven Years Old - a perspective poem/a growing up poem

Thoughts at Seven Years Old
by
Greg Pincus

Slow and steady wins the race.
So, sure, today call me “Shorty.”
But I’ve been growing two inches each year....
Let’s talk again when I’m forty.


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Happy Cybils Day!

The Cybils awards have been announced! This is an exciting day in the Kidlitosphere, I think, as these are truly OUR awards.

I love the choice in poetry this year - Paul Janeczko's Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto. I wish I'd been in on the conversations, but I've had that privilege enough years to know it was high quality, insightful, funny, and carefully done.

If you're looking for books to read and recommend, the Cybils list is a great place to start. Go on and check 'em out.

Lazy Sunday - a weekend poem/a perspective poem

Lazy Sunday
by
Greg Pincus

Lazy Sunday!
Sleep til 10.
Close my eyes
Then sleep again.

Wake and shoot some hoops with Dad.
Finish homework (not so bad!).

Watch TV.
Find food to eat.
Ride my skateboard on my street.

A soccer game down at the park?
Play with friends until it’s dark.

Do my chores.
Read and play.
Then sleep.
I love a lazy day!


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My Dad's a Hippopotamus (a poetry re-issue)

MY DAD’S A HIPPOPOTAMUS
by
Greg Pincus

My dad’s a hippopotamus.
He’s dad to quite a lot of us.
You think that’s strange? I don’t know why,
Since we’re all hippopotami.

We’re friends with a rhinoceros,
Who I think looks preposterous.
I’m glad that I don’t spend time bein’
Something so rhinocerian.

We live next to a crocodile.
He’s over there on his own isle.
He’s got big bumps on each short limb.
I’m glad that I don’t look like him.

We also know a chimpanzee,
The strangest creature that you’ll see.
Those gangly arms look out of place,
And I would never want his face.

Right nearby’s an ocelot.
He likes to mew and roar a lot.
With spots and splotches hard to miss,
I think he looks ridiculous.

But there’s one creature that we see
That’s most absurd. We all agree.
It comes to visit at our zoo.
And... oh... how sad! It looks like you.


For reasons unknown to me, this poem has been stuck in my head lately. I figured that was a good reason to re-post it (it first appeared here in April of 2008) You can see what else folks are up to if you head on over to the Poetry Friday roundup (hosted by Laura Purdie Salas).

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Speak Up! - a Skeltonic verse

Speak Up! – a Skeltonic verse
by
Greg Pincus

When you speak,
Be unique.
Be offbeat.
Don’t repeat
Every tweet
From the street.
Use your brain
For your gain.
Read the news.
Hear more views.
Take a look
At a book
On your shelf.
Then think for yourself.
If you do
Think things through,
And then you
Make the choice
To use your voice,
Stay undeterred
And every word
Will be heard.

Once again I was inspired by the poetry prompt at The Miss Rumphius Effect, this time leading me to write my first ever Skeltonic verse. Or at least the first time I've known I was writing one, as it was a form I'd never encountered by name before. I do like experimenting with forms, though I admit it takes a prompt to get me there more often than not. (Thanks, Tricia!)

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#kidlitchat on Tuesday, February 7th - all about self-publishing

Tomorrow night, at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific, #kidlitchat (on Twitter) will be all about self-publishing (with a focus on the children's book world, of course). Is YA the only viable path? Do board books work? How much work is it? Why should I or shouldn't I self-publish?

Those are just a few of the areas we expect to come up. Last time we had a similarly themed chat, it was very high quality and very respectful. We expect the same this time, so I do hope you join us.

If you're new to Twitter chats, please check out this info from Debbie Ridpath Ohi so you can dive in tomorrow night. And I'll see you there!

Seeing Football - a sports poem/a poem about imagination

Seeing Football
by
Greg Pincus

A football game is on TV -
Fans watching, cheering, screaming.
But I’m not tuning in like that:
I’m thinking, drifting, dreaming.

I see myself out on the field
With toughness, savvy, skills.
I’ll take the whole crowd’s breath away…
Cause goose bumps, sore throats, thrills.

I’m linebacker. I’m running back.
I’m safety, tight end, guard.
I play my heart out, fighting for
Each inch, each foot, each yard.

I’m quarterback. I’m cornerback.
I’m center, punter, kicker.
I catch the ball. Defenders chase!
I’m faster, sharper, quicker.

You watch the screen. I’m playing hard.
I’m jumping, diving, scoring!
Compared to what’s inside my head
That TV game is boring.

It's Super Sunday here in the States, so if you, like me, are watching the game, I do hope you enjoy that game and that it's anything but boring!

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A Book for Me - a poem about books

A Book for Me
by
Greg Pincus

When what’s there on the page
Lets me feel someone’s rage,
Or the joy in the words
Makes me fly with the birds,
Or something I’ve read
Gets me out of my head,
Or the story on view
Helps me see something new,
Or the book sets me free...
It’s a book that’s for me.

The Poetry Friday roundup is being hosted by Karissa at the Iris Chronicles. Head on over and see the poetry joy.

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Punxatawney Phil Sees His Shadow - a Groundhog Day poem

Punxatawney Phil Sees His Shadow
by
Greg Pincus

You say “Boo! More snow and gloom.”
But me? I think it’s cool -
More winter means that there’s more chance
Of a snow day off from school!


And a Happy Groundhog Day to you all, whether you're for or against the predicted six more weeks o' winter.

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Three Fabulous Things

Are you a teacher or librarian and want to have a free Skype visit from an LA-area YA author? Good! Because you have a chance to win a visit as long as you're outside Los Angeles county. There are eight wonderful authors joining in to help celebrate YALSA's teen tech week, and that means eight visits are available. Good luck!

Fab thing two: my friend Danny Rubin, the screenwriter of Groundhog Day, has a really wonderful new eBook out. It's called How To Write Groundhog Day, and I think it's a great read for any writer. Yes, some of it is Hollywood specific, but Danny breaks down the process of turning a concept into something as, well, as fantastic as Groundhog Day in a way I really haven't seen before. Plus, he's funny! I highly recommend it.

And fab thing three is this interview with David L. Harrison (a 30 Poets/30 Days contributor, I quickly add). For those who wear many hats or have many passions - teaching, writing, music, business, whatever - the way he explains how things intertwined for him is really fascinating.

Twitter Classes, I Say!

Wearing my social media consultant hat for a moment here... I've just started offering Twitter classes for small groups (in person or via Skype).

That link will take you to all the information, or feel free to email me.. And I'll see you on Twitter!