Irene Latham's Blog, page 126

Little Poems for Tiny Ears by Lin Oliver, illus. by Tomie dePaola

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Liz Steinglass for Roundup.

When I was a little girl, the one thing I was absolutely sure of, was that someday I wanted to be a mother. I loved babies! It helped that I have two younger siblings, and I was a very busy babysitter for other people's children for many years. I really enjoyed our three sons when they were babies and still get such a kick out watching little ones in restaurants and Walmart. Even their tantrums are cute to me now! :) This book LITTLE POEMS FOR TINY EARS by Lin Oliver, illustrated by Tomie dePaola really took me back... and I have already gifted it to a neighbor who has just welcomed a new baby boy.

What about you?? Love babies? Ever wonder what Baby is thinking when she drops the fork yet again? These poems are all told in Baby's voice, and they just might give you a clue. :) What fun!

Here's 3 of my favorites:

MY HIGH CHAIR

I like to drop food from my chair.
It lands kerplop, but I don't care.
I watch it fall down to the floor.
It's so much fun, I toss some more.

My mom says no, my dad says please
Stop launching bits of toast and cheese.
They're right - I will try hard to stop.
But first...just one more small kerplop!

- Lin Oliver


BLANKIE

Without my blankie,
Me so cranky.
When it's by me,
Me all smiley.

- Lin Oliver

SNEEZE

A sneeze
is a breeze
in
Your Nose.

- Lin Oliver

WHAT ILLUSTRATORS WANT

Monday night we had a Schmooze in Birmingham led by author-illustrator Lori Nichols, author of the charming picture book MAPLE, and a slew of others coming in the near future.

The topic was "Author-Illustrator Exchange: What We Want from Each Other" or something along those lines. :) I chose the topic because I've noticed in my career that part of what we authors must do is make our project so appealing to the illustrator that s/he can't say no. I mean, who wants their wonderful ms to languish after being acquired? Yet, that does happen. So what can we authors do to make our work irresistible?

Well. It's not as simple as that, of course. Lori reminded us that each illustrator has his or her own personal interests and strengths. Lori loves white space, and humor, so she may not be the best choice for a serious underwater sea life book. It helps to work with an editor who has good instincts for illustration and who is familiar with a lot of illustrators' work.

One thing that may surprise you: Lori said she personally really appreciates author illustration notes. If your book is about a bird in prehistoric times, for instance, it's fine to include a link to an image of a prehistoric bird. Or, if there's something you've deliberately left out of your text to be covered by illustration, of course, include it. My hunch is that mostly we are given the advice NOT to include illustration notes in order to show that we don't have rigid ideas about the art and that we are eager to allow an artist the freedom to bring what they will to the project. I mean, seriously, that's where the magic happens -- in the interaction of the words and images. At least that's been my experience!

Big thanks to Lori for sharing herself with us.. and to Joan, for hosting as well as posting this wonderful review of Lori's book MAPLE (which is completely adorable and beautiful).

Movie Monday: ALL IS LOST

I love a good survival story. And since I've been writing a survival story, I knew as soon as I saw the ad that I needed to see ALL IS LOST.

What's amazing about this movie: aside from the opening narration, which the movie gets back to eventually, there is only one other word of dialogue in the entire film. We don't know our hero's backstory. And yet we still care very much about what happens to him.

Like all good survival stories, this one made me clench and tense pretty much the entire time. Little decisions are magnified, the worst happens. We worry and fret and see things coming.

And, it's gorgeous. The ocean, the sky. How Redford's expressions and actions show us his feelings. Really, really fantastic. Will watch again!

Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems by J. Patrick Lewis & Douglas Florian

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Jama's Alphabet Soup for Roundup.

Wow, how is it already the second Poetry Friday in May?? Wowza, time flying and all that goodness. I've been traveling and enjoying the sweet company of poets and attending youngest son's music concerts and sewing and writing and cooking and dreaming and wishing and listening to birds and....

reading poetry! Today I have for you a look at POEM-MOBILES. J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas Florian have brought us an imaginative collection with amazing illustrations by Jeremy Holmes. Dreamer/inventor/creative kids will enjoy imagining these modes of transportation... fun!

Here's a favorite from each of the poets:

Mini-Mini Car
by Douglas Florian

I'm in my motorcar-
My mini-mini-mini.
It's itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny,
Skinny skinny skinny.
I squeeze inside and then I ride
Some more and more and more.
But I don't brag, for there's a snag;
I can't get out of the door.


High-Heel Car
by J. Patrick Lewis

There was an old woman
Who lived in high heels.
She loved one so much
That she gave it three wheels.

That's how the size-84
Shoe-car was born.
She wins every footrace,
Then honks her shoehorn.

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Honks her shoehorn! Ha! :)

Time Management for Writers

Here in Birmingham we've started a monthly SCBWI schmooze -- something I have wanted to do for several years now! Last month's topic was "Time Management for Writers."

The fact that I am just now getting to this blog post may tell you a little something about my time management skills! Actually, it has more to do with a little thing called National Poetry Month. Yep, April is madness! In the best way possible, of course. :)

So, time management. Our speaker was the amazing Javacia Bowser, founder of See Jane Write. One day when we were having lunch Javacia told me that she schedules her day sometimes to the HOUR. She even schedules phone conversations! Ah-ha, I thought. Here's a gal who knows how to get things done! Which is why I invited her to share her wisdom at our schmooze.

Another thing to note: Javacia posted on her blog about the schmooze the day after the event. I'm telling you, we can all learn a lot from her!

Here's my top 5 take-aways:

1. Use a dayplanner. Javacia likes the ones that are both daily and monthly. She uses the daily portion to list her tasks for the day. I have long used a giant desk calendar-- and sticky notes for the lists. I'm loving my new all-in-one approach... plus it's portable!

2. Try the Pomodoro method. It's an app for your phone. It's based on the principle that you can increase productivity by taking breaks. The app uses a timer so you don't have to think about it -- just write. And then take a break. More here.

3. Think of writing like brushing your teeth. You wouldn't go a whole day without brushing your teeth, would you? Well, treat your writing like that and you will get a whole lot more writing done. No excuses!

4. Being a good writer may mean being bad at something else. So, maybe your house won't get clean. Or you'll feed your family peanut butter sandwiches instead of cooking. That's okay. Give yourself permission to let something else go a little.

5. Write a personal mission statement to serve as your guide. It's hard sometimes to know when to say YES and when to say NO to something. Javacia suggested writing your very own mission statement, and then, when those invitations/opportunities come around, see if they fit your mission. If not, say NO and don't feel bad about it.

Thank you, Javacia, for a great session! May's schmooze topic is "Author-Illustrator Exchange," during which Lori Nichols will lead a talk about what illustrators wish authors knew and vice versa. I will post notes eventually. :)

Poets on Poetry: AMY LUDWIG VANDERWATER

In celebration of National Poetry Month, I will be sharing in each post during April a favorite quote from a favorite poet on poetry. Enjoy!

"I have always liked little things, and great poems are little things that can make us more of who we are. One great line of poetry can help a person make a big decision or do a kind deed. Poetry truly matters."
 - Amy Ludwig VanDerwater


Complete interview (by moi!) at Nerdy Book Club.

Poets on Poetry: KATE COOMBS

In celebration of National Poetry Month, I will be sharing in each post during April a favorite quote from a favorite poet on poetry. Enjoy!

"I prefer free verse, but I deliberately wrote most of the ocean poems in rhyme because kids just really love rhyme, something I learned from being a first grade teacher about 10 years ago. My caveat when rhyming is that rhyme cannot distract from the language. I won't include words to force a rhyme, and try to ensure that the lines flow naturally, not with an overly stiff, perfect meter." - Kate Coombs


Complete interview at Jama's Alphabet Soup!

Poets on Poetry: LAURA PURDIE SALAS

In celebration of National Poetry Month, I will be sharing in each post during April a favorite quote from a favorite poet on poetry. Enjoy!


"Have fun! Poetry is an adventure!

Write freely. Write new things. Write

stupid things. Write unsellable 

things (you will do this whether 

you're trying to or not). 

- Laura Purdie Salas


Complete interview at Cynsations!

Guest Post: KATE COOMBS with the latest line in our Progressive Poem!

Hello, everyone! Please join me in welcoming Kate Coombs to Live Your Poem!

Joseph Campbell is known for his writing about the hero’s journey, and you’ll find that journey traced in countless fairy tales, let alone in great poetic works such as Homer’s Odyssey.
We’re been tracing a life journey, hopefully a heroic one, in this year’s Progressive Poem. I’m happy to have the chance to add my line—my two cents or, in this case, my seven iambs. Caroline, I was briefly tempted to give you a horrendously difficult word to rhyme, but I resisted the urge. Can’t wait to see your line, and then two more from Ruth and Tara!
I have taken the bold step of titling the poem, though Irene can change that if she likes. “Progressive Poem” just doesn’t seem pretty enough for what we’ve been doing. (But “The Journey” seems a little too obvious!) And of course there are three eggs. This is a story.
I love the hopes/dreams/possibilities/insert symbol of your choice that those eggs represent.
image courtesy of WikiCommons


Three Blue Eggs
Sitting on a rock, airing out my feelings to the universeActing like a peacock, only making matters that much worse;
Should I trumpet like an elephant emoting to the moonOr just ignore the warnings written in the rune?
Those stars can’t seal my future; it’s not inscribed in stone.The possibilities are endless! Who could have known?
Gathering courage, spiral like an eagle after prey,Then gird my wings for whirlwind gales in realms far, far away.
But, hold it! Let’s get practical! What’s needed before I go?Time to be tactical—I’ll ask my friends what I should stow.
And in one breath, a honeyed word whispered low—dreams—Whose voice? I turned to see. I was shocked. Irene’s!
“Each voyage starts with tattered maps; your dreams dance on this page.Determine these dreams—then breathe them! Engage your inner sage.”
The merry hen said, “Take my sapphire eggs to charm your host.”I tuck them close—still warm—then take my first step toward the coast.
This journey will not make me rich, and yet I long to beLike luminescent jellyfish, awash in mystery.
I turn and whisper, “Won’t you come?” to all the beasts and birdsAnd listen while they scamper, their answers winging words:
“Take these steps alone to start; each journey is an art.You are your own best company. Now it's time to depart!"
I blow a kiss. I hike for days, blue eggs pressed to my chest.One evening’s rest, campfire low, shifting shadows brought a guest.
A boy, with hair in wild waves and eyes blue as the sea, Says, “You’ve traveled far. What did you find—your best discovery?”
“I found a bird, I found a song, I found a word,” I say.  
My thanks to Irene for hosting this event, and to our roster of very cool participants (listed on the sidebar!).----------------------------------------
Thank YOU, Kate! I can't wait to see how the poem ends!!!

A Pond Full of Ink by Annie M.G. Schmidt

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit the ever-inspiring and inspiredTabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for Roundup. Annndddd... our Progressive is winding down! Visit Marvelous Michelle for the latest at Today's Little Ditty.

I've just been reading A POND FULL OF INK by Annie M.G. Schmidt, illus. by Sieb Posthuma, translated by David Colmer. These poems are very much reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's longer poems, like "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Wouldn't Take the Garbage Out," which I love! Narrative, rhyming verse that a little bit zany and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

And since Shel is in my head, I offer you today's Poets on Poetry from Shel himself:

"Don't be dependent on anyone else - man, woman, child, or dog. I want to go everywhere, look at and listen to everything. You can go crazy with some of the wonderful stuff there is in life." - Shel Silverstein

... and apparently, write lots of poems! Shel gave few interviews, but I found this quote in an article from Mental Floss magazine.

And now, here's a favorite from the book:


Belinda Hated Getting Clean...
Belinda Beronda, from somewhere near Flushing,
was not keen on washing and not fond of brushing.
She was an inveterate cleanliness hater,
and always postponed her baths until later.
Her bodily odor grew stronger and stronger,
and her hair and her nails grew longer and longer.
Belinda was filthy, a terrible fright.
She looked like a pig, a horrible sight.
And when her mother finally came home
with soap and shampoo and a brush and a comb,
Belinda just started to yell, howl, and glower,
as if she was going to drawn in the shower.
Her mother - by now at the end of her tether-
gave in and shouted "Stay dirty forever!
But if that's what you want, you just walk out that door,
and I won't be your mother anymore!"
So that filthy little Belinda Beronda
took off up the street and started to wander
the highways and by ways all over the land,
getting grubby and covered with mud, dirt, and sand,
with grimy smudges all over her face.
The more she avoided a bathroom or scrubbery,
the more she began to resemble some shrubbery.
Grass started growing on her shoes and her clothes,
it covered one leg, then slowly rose,
until she was totally, thoroughly hid
and no one could see that she was a kid!
And then the roots grew into the ground,
and fixed her in place like a tree on a mound.
Birds came and build little nests on her sleeves,
and slowly she grew her own branches and leaves.
A nightmare, but true- you can take it from me --
Belinda Beronda turned into a tree.

So now you know, little cleanliness haters
end up as trees....sooner or later.

- Annie M.G. Schmidt


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Ha! Good thing I'm not a cleanliness hater. :) Though, little nests on my sleeves? That might be cool... for a little while...