Sally Murphy's Blog, page 14

Happy New Year and My One Little Word for 2023

Happy New Year!  This is my favourite time of the year because it’s summer and I can visit the beach, and swim, and because I have fewer commitments in my day job, meaning more time for family and friends – and reading.

Receiving my medal from the Governor

It’s also a good time to take stock. 2022 was a really busy year for me, personally and professionally. Perhaps the biggest thing was a bit of both – the recognition I received in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, with an OAM for my services to children’s literature and education. This was the most unexpected honour, but what was so wonderful wasn’t the medal, or the letters after my name, or the fancy reception. It was being blown away by all the love I felt – from friends and family, but also from peers, colleagues, readers and complete strangers.  I had no idea that so many people would be happy for me, or see me as worthy of such a thing. As a result, I have been left with a stronger sense of what I do, and what I still want to do, in my work life, as well as a personal sense of being seen.   It was also a wonderful reminder to me of the value in letting people know when you are happy for their achievements, or when you value what they have done, big or small. I still don’t know who nominated me, and maybe I never will – but whoever you are, thank you.

Lots of other stuff happened in 2022. I worked hard, spent time with my husband, children and grandchildren, and with friends and extended family. I swam (not as much as I’d like, but enough to keep moving), walked on the beach and welcomed my gorgeous new puppy (George) into my life.  I wrote – including finishing a verse novel and having it accepted, and also finalising work on a previous one – meaning I have one coming out in June this year, and another early in 2024.    I spoke at festivals and at schools and other events.  I read lots of wonderful books. We had a wedding in the family and, like every family, lots of highs and lows/challenges.

And now it’s a new year, and I have been thinking about what it might hold, and how I’d like it to look. I used to write lists of resolutions or goals – and I think these can be useful. But I prefer to try to narrow those goals down to a theme – or, as I’ve heard it described – one little word. This year, my word came easily – and here it is (presented on my new toy, a lego dots noticeboard):

 

That’s right – my word is healthy. And what it means to me is that I would like to focus on all areas of my my health – physical and mental health of course, but also making healthy choices about boundaries, and time, and the way I treat myself, others and the planet.  I started the year with a few niggling little physical things – back pain, fatigue left over from a bout of Covid, some stress and sleep problems, a feeling that there are things left undone in my writing and academic work, a sense that I sometimes don’t commit fully to being present with people I love – and  a hope that I can do more to change the world, in small or bigger ways. I feel that my word can serve as a direction for the choices I make and the things that I do and I have propped my sign next to my desk so that I can see it and be reminded on a daily basis.

So here’s to a healthy year – for me, for you and for the whole world.

What I Read in December

It’s the last day of December which means a wrap up of my reading for the month. I read 8 books, a number which surprised me because I spent lots of time with family this month, and also napped more, so still managing 8 books. was not a bad achievement. Here’s what I read.

Books for Children

The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss. I’ve been enjoying listening to children’s classics through Audible – until I reached this one. I am sorry to report that,  while I knew my old favourites would be dated, and therefore would hold some values that just don’t hold up to contemporary life, this is the first one where I struggled to keep listening.  The idea of a family being shipwrecked and then having a survival adventure should allow me to overcome some of my concerns – but it didn’t. I won’t list them all here, but the attitudes to women and to ‘savages’ (who don’t even appear in the book) as well as mindless violence against animals (as opposed to hunting for survival)  mean that I wouldn’t recommend this book to a younger reader without a lot of room to discuss and interrogate.  This article is a critique of the film version, but still covers some of the same concerns I had.

  2. Raggedy Ann Stories and Raggedy Andy Stories, by Johnny Gruelle (Audible). Another audio book of a classic, and much more enjoyable. Toys that come alive and have adventures is a far cry from the above, though, being written over a century ago, there are some aspects that are outdated.

3.  Mr Dumby’s Duck, by Colin Thiele, illustrated by Mark Wilson. Written by one of Australia’s best loved authors, and published in the same year he died, this is a cute little story about a man and his much-loved duck – who also proves very handy as a guard-duck. I rediscovered this one as I rearranged my bookshelves, and am glad.

4. Accidentally Kelly Street, by Briony Stewart with lyrics by Tim O’Connor (Affirm Press, 2022). I have been very excited about this picture book for a long time – knowing that Briony was working on it, and having adored this song since it was released. But I did not predict just how amazingly she has interpreted the song, depicting a family making a new start in Kelly Street. You have to see it for real to see why it took my breath away. Go and buy it, and share and discuss it.

5. Sea Horse, by Bruce Pascoe (Magabala Books, 2015). This was my last read for the year and a good one to finish on. I have been consciously working to ensure I read more books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, our first nations people, both to educate myself and to ensure I have a really diverse collection to share.  This is the story  of Jack, who, on a camping trip with his family, spots a sunken boat under the water, beginning an adventure with mystery and excitement.

 

Books for Adults

 

Tell Me Lies, by J. P Pomare (audible, 2022)  This is the second book of this author I have listened to. Psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns.

2. To Teach: The Journey, in Comics by William Ayers and Ryan Alexander-Tanner (Teachers College Press, 2010). This was a gift from my boss – very appropriate given that we both work in the School of Education. Possibly the best book I’ve seen for teachers, and student-teachers – and it’s a comic! Just such a wonderful way to explore the highs and lows of teaching, but, more importantly, the importance of imaginative teaching. Love it!

3. The Wrong Sister, by Fiona Palmer (Hachette, 2022). I picked this one up purely because of the tile – having four sisters, the title tickled my fancy. Not my usual kind of read  but a good December read, with an exploration of family, trauma and romance, set in Western Australia’s north.

This brings my total for the year to 169, which is 16 more than 2021. On reflection, while I am happy with this total, my goal for 2023 will be not to read more, but to ensure I really enjoy reading – because I set myself a numerical goal, I did find myself sometimes feeling guilty if I did not get through ‘enough’ books, and had to remind myself that it wasn’t a race. So, we shall see how I go in 2023. I do have an enormous to read pile, and so many books I want to  read – so I may still reach a big number. But I am going to also give myself permission to put a book aside if I’m not enjoying it, or to read slowly  to really savour a good one.

 

What I Read in November

Another month down, another round up up of what I read in the month just gone. I managed 19 books in November, which was a lot in a busy month, and also passed my goal of matching last year’s total – with a month still to go.  Not that it’s all about numbers – it’s great to read a lot of books, but it’s even better to read books that I enjoy, or learn from.  Anyway, here’s what I’ve been reading.

Books for ChildrenThe Courage of Magnolia Moon, by Edwina Wyatt (Walker Books, 2022). This is the third book featuring Magnolia, and it is as enchanting as its predecessors. Magnolia is an everyday child with everyday worries – but she tackles them with heart. Each chapter stands alone as little vignette of a situation where Magnolia has to find her inner courage, but also builds to a whole. Just lovely – and I had to celebrate with a blackout poem on Instagram.The Book That No One Wanted to Read, by Richard Ayoade, illustrated by Tor Freeman (Walker Books, 2022).  This is clever, told by the book itself and sure to have young readers laughing out loud, but would also make an excellent classroom book, with loads of ways to use it a mentor text, or to inspire book discussion, or reading, or lots of things.Heidi, by Johanna Spyri (first published 1881). Continuing my recent trend of rediscovering old favourites, I listed to this on audio, and found it was till beautiful and moving, which is a relief. There is always a danger of reading the books you once loved and realising they haven’t aged well. As with, I suspect, most classics, there are some aspects which need critical consideration if sharing with young readers, but the writing is lovely and Heidi is a caring, quirky and loveable character. Again, I had to get out my hard copy and write a found poem.  Oh, here’s a thing that annoys me – but not in the book itself. The copy I have shows a cover image of Heidi with short, curly dark hair. That is how she is described in the book. So why, across the many editions of this book published over the year are there so many depictions of her with straight blonde hair, blue eyes or pigtails?  Look at Google images here and you will see what I mean.The Honest Truth, by Dan Gemeinhart (Chicken House, 2015). This one has been in my tbr pile for 7 years, first coming as an unsolicited review copy. I’m glad it finally caught my eye, and wish I’d read it sooner. Mark is on the run – from home, but, more importantly, from facing the truth that his cancer has returned. He’s going to fulfil a dying wish, and climb a mountain. Back home, his best friend struggles with knowing that she alone knows where he might be, but that telling would break her promise to Mark.Things on Corners, by Ruth Park (Puffin, 1989). There are two mysteries about this book – one is how I did not know that Ruth Park wrote this little collection of short stories, which I really enjoyed. The other, entirely unrelated to the content of the book, is how I came to own it – it is a library discard from a school in Brisbane. Which is a long way from me.  My to-read pile is very very big, so sometimes a book will sit in for a very very long time – and this one caught my eye, but did leave me wondering how and when I acquired it. I will probably never know. But for now, I really enjoyed these quirky takes, and the book is now shelved in my collection.Fairytales Gone Bad: Creeping Beauty, by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Freya Hartas (Walker Books, 2022).  As the title suggests, this is not your standard fairytale. Lots of fun – and it’s written as a verse novel, so I loved it.Clash, by Kayla Miller (Walker Books, 2022). I’m enjoying this series of graphic novels, which can each stand alone. In this one Olive deals with  the changes brought by a new girl arriving at school.Crunch, by Kayla Miller (Walker Books, 2022). And another in this series. This one about how Olive tries to manage way too many commitments.Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, by Kate Douglas Wiggin (this version Blackstone Audio, 2007).  Another classic book, downloaded and listened to in the car. I  thought I had read this as a child and parts of it were familiar, but not as familiar as Heidi and The Secret Garden. I’m not sure why. I enjoyed it but didn’t have those same tingles of rightness and reconnection.Toodle the Cavoodle Sniffle Snuffle, by Richard Tulloch, illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith (Big Sky Publishing, 2022). This was received as a review copy and, being newly the owner f a cavoodle, I had to read it straight away. A realty cute story about a dog, a family, and a bit of a message about littering, too. Lots of onomatopoeia in the playful text, which I think my grandlings will enjoy.A Walk in the Dark, by Jane Godwin (Lothian, 2022). Five teenagers are grouped for a night-hike organised by their less than conventional teacher. Butt hey are trained and should be back at school by midnight. In a night where everything that could go wrong does, they have to learn from and support each other.  I really enjoyed this and wrote another black out poem on Instagram here.Books for AdultsThe Road Trip, by Beth O’Leary (Quercus, 2022). I  downloaded this one on Audio, thinking it would be a rom-com, and needing something light. It was less light than I thought – but a wonderful blend of humour, pathos and difficult stuff as a road trip to a wedding  goes from a fun adventure to a series of misfortunes, and Addie and Dylan, who had a difficult break up a year ago, work through what happened and why.

2. Nganga, by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson (Walker Books, 2020).  This book has been in my reading pile for a little while, and I wish I had read it sooner. It isn’t a long read – I read it in one evening – but it is important. Unpacking the meaning of usage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words that are part of everyday usage, as well as words used  about these people – including the word Aboriginal itself – it is really accessible but also the kind of book everyone who lives on this wonderful land should read.

3. Home Before Night, by J. P. Pomare (Audible Originals, 2022). This is an Audible original. I like to listen to some of these as they are usually short and allow me to dip into different genres and authors. This one was absorbing – a missing son, who, in the midst of a snap lockdown goes missing. Only his mother is sure he is missing – but she is right, and readers are kept guessing for a long time as to where he is and why. Clever.

4. The Guy Who Decides, by Jimmy Rees (Affirm Press, 2022). I am a big fan of Jimmy Rees – like a lot of people, his videos on Facebook hit home in a way that makes me laugh, even when it’s at myself. So I had to buy the book, which was fun – though I must confess, because I have watched the videos I kind of wanted to just watch them again, and hear him do the voices.  Reading on the page was maybe not as good – which is a big call from me.

5. ADHD 2.0, by Edward M. Hallowell MD & John J. Ratey MD (Ballantine Books, 2022). I really needed to read this book. A really clear, practical guide to living with ADHD, written by doctors who have it and treat it. I really recommend this for anyone who has ADHD, or who wants to understand it better.

6. The Comeback, by Lily Chu (Audible, 2022). Until recently I’d forgotten that I quite like the romance genre. This is an Audible original, and listening to it in the car was a pleasure. Ariadne is a career-focussed lawyer, and has no time for romance, or much at outside of work.  But Jihoon, her housemate’s mysterious cousin from Korea, seems to get under her skin. Yes it’s romance but the story also explores themes of racism, family expectation  and even fandom in the k-pop scene.

7. Cast Away: Poems for Our Time, by Naomi Shihab Nye (Greenwillow,2019). I gave myself this book of poems for Christmas last year, and then forgot about it, probably in the midst of holiday stuff. I am glad I rediscovered it and read it. This collection is themed around the topic of ‘trash’ – castoffs in a range of places, including on highways and beaches. The poems are sometimes funny, sometimes really serious, but always wonderfully wrought. I’ll be dipping into this again.

8. Just One Thing, by Dr Michael Mosley (Hachette, 2022). I picked this up because it has the same title as a (quite different) manuscript I’ve been working on for a while, but also because I like Michael Mosley’s practical, simple way of exploring issues relating to health and lifestyle. This is a series of simple things  you could do to make quite big impacts on your life – and health. And, by the time I’d finished it, I had already started implementing some of the ideas.

 

This brings my total for the year to 161 – last year’s total was 153. And there’ll be a  few more in December. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!

 

Poetry Friday: A Spam Poem

It’s Poetry Friday and when I came to my website to decide what to post, the first thing I noticed was the number of spam comments waiting for my approval – or, in fact, my non-approval, because I really do not approve of spam comments, especially ones which I know are going to lead the reader to some nefarious website.

But, because I have been enjoying writing found poems, and especially black out poetry, lately, I  couldn’t resist a quick scan of some of these messages, looking for some gems to craft a found poem. So, here you have it – a found poem crafted from my spam messages – which have now been carefully deleted.

Spam

Watch movies

before anyone else

foreign movies

master movies

every day!

Nurturing campaigns

cheap auto insurance

private advancement:

a completely new marketplace.

Congratulations!

 

Not my best ever poem – but at least I found a use for some of that spam.

As I said, I’ve had a bit of fun with found poetry lately – and a future verse novel (slated for 2024 release, so there’s a bit of a wait) makes use of the form. I’ve also been writing found poems using words from some of my reading, and sharing them over on my  Instagram account. This one came from a page of the classic book Heidi.

A little more satisfying than spam, I’m sure you’ll agree.

You know what else is more satisfying than  spam?  A midnight feast of leftovers. Jama is hosting this week’s roundup, and sharing a fun thanksgiving poem, too.  Head over there to join in the feast.

 

 

Poetry Friday: We Will Remember

It is Poetry Friday and it is also Remembrance Day.

If you have ever attended a Remembrance Day service or, if you’re Australian, an ANZAC Service, you will have heard, and perhaps even recited these words, as the Ode of Remembrance:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them…

But you may not have realised these words come from a much longer poem, beautiful and poignant in its entirety. So, for today, I give you the full poem, read  as it should be read by  Sir John Gielgud:

 

I also wanted to share the war poem that had a profound impact on me as a teenager – The Ball Turret Gunner – shocking, brief and utterly devastating – but because it is not in the public domain, I’ll just share a link to where it is shared with permission. That last line is shocking, which is why it is so very powerful.

This Remembrance Day I’ll be thinking of those who have fought and died, but also of all those around the world who are still experiencing war – as participants or as innocent victims. And I’ll keep hoping that one day peace can be  a real, enduring thing.

Today’s Poetry Friday Roundup will be hosted by Buffy

Found a Poem

 

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A post shared by Sally Murphy (@sallymurphyauthor)

What I Read in October

Another month down, another catch up of what I’ve been reading. I surprised myself by getting through 14 books and enjoyed  responding to some of them using Black Out poetry, for something a little different.  Here’s what I got through.

Books for ChildrenWhen Souls Tear, by Karen Ginnane (Penguin, 2022).  I have been eagerly waiting for this one, since I read its predecessor, When Days Tilt. I wasn’t disappointed. Fantasy set between the two worlds of Victorian era London, and its shadow twin city, Donlon. A really satisfying sequel.

2. Evie and Rhino, by Neridah McMullin, illustrated by Astred Hicks (Walker Books, 2022).   This is a  really endearing story of the bond between a very sad girl and a shipwrecked rhino.  I celebrated this loveliness by writing a black out poem using one its pages – here and on Instagram.

3. What About Thao? by Oliver Phommavanh (Puffin Books, 2022). I bought this book after I spent time with Oliver (and other wonderful creators) at the recent Scribblers festival. I knew it would be good, but I didn’t expect the unexpected bonus that a key plot point revolves around poetry, and the way writing and sharing poetry can help individuals make sense of the world, a as well as offering others at way to connect with our experiences.  Very clever, and of course singing my song. So much so that I wrote another blackout poem on Instagram.
4. Frank’s Red Hat, by Sean E. Avery (Walker Books, 2022). What’s not to love about a picture book filled with penguins and other arctic creatures? But throw in a red woolly hat and you have a truly adorable story about a penguin who has lots of ideas – not all of them good.  But making hats proves to be most challenging of all.  My little Murphling giggled her way through my reading of this, and loved trying to decide which hat she would like.

5. The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett (cover from an edition illustrated by Robert Ingpen, published by Walker Books, 2010). How lovely to rediscover a childhood favourite and realise it has stood the test of time – in most ways. There are some unfortunate racial and other stereotypes, which an adult sharing with a child should unpack, as a learning experience.  I listened on audio, and hearing it read was just lovely, but I also own this amazing hardcover version, which is a treasure. And yes, I wrote another blackout poem in response, which you can find here

6. Mars Awakens, by HM Waugh (Allen & Unwin, 2022). I love HM Waugh’s writing – and she is also a wonderful human being. I bought this book at the recent Scribblers Festival, where she was also appearing, and got it signed. And then, of course, I sat down and read it this month, and loved it. Set on a future Mars, where human intervention has made it habitable. Just. I can’t wait to read part 2 when it comes out and, in the meantime, wrote a blackout poem to celebrate its awesomeness.

7. Hurricane Dancers, by Margarita Engle (St Martin’s Press, 2014). You know I love verse novels and, although I don’t remember who recommended this one, someone did and I went searching for a copy. And I was fascinated by it, and its tale of pirates, shipwrecks and culture set in the Caribbean.

8. Roar, Squeak, Purr, edited by Paula Green, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Penguin, 2022). What’s not to love about a sumptuously illustrated hard cover anthology of  animal poems? This is just wonderful, with poems about animals well known and lesser known, and, since it’s out of New Zealand, animals unique to there as well.  I read it cover to cover but will be following up by dipping in and out.

9. Where I Live, by Eileen Spinelli  (Dial Books, 2007). I read about this one in a Poetry Friday post a while back, and then had difficulty tracking down a copy. Luckily it was available as an ebook, so I was able to read it. A lovely little story in verse about friendship, moving home, unemployment and poetry.

 

Books for Young AdultsThe Comedienne’s Guide to Pride, by Hayli Thomson (Harper Collins, 2022). I picked this up on a whim because I loved the cover, and really enjoyed it. The story of Taylor, in her final year of high school and navigating her journey to coming out to family and friends – made more urgent by the fact she has secretly entered  a contest open to diverse writers.Little Wing, by Joanne Horniman (Allen & Unwin, 2006). I read and reviewed this book when it first came out and it has sat on my shelves ever since. I am in a process of deciding what to keep and what to cull from my collection – and one of the perils of this is the desire to reread everything. Having reread this one, I suspect I will be keeping it.Books for Adults

 

Book Lovers, by Emily Henry  (Penguin, 2022).  After reading some fairly grim reads for adults in September, I was determined to read something lighter and happier in October, and this was a goof choice. A romance, about the building tension between a literary agent and an editor, but with themes of family expectations, siblings and grief. I enjoyed this – listening on Audible on car trips.Jack Charles: Born-Again Blakfella,  by Jack Charles (Audible). What a privilege to be able to listen to Uncle Jack Charles tell his story. This is definitely a case where I am sure the audiobook would be preferable tot he written one – just for the experience of hearing the author. And I read this following his recent death which made even more of a privilege, albeit a sad one. I learnt a lot, and was reminded of just how far we have to go towards anything redressing the wrongs of the past and building a fair, equitable country.To My Country, by Ben Lawson, illustrated by Bruce Whatley (Allen & Unwin, 2020). When Bruce Whatley talked about this book in one of his sessions at the CBCA conferences earlier this year, I knew I had to have it.  It is a poetic response by an expatriate Australian, about his love of Australia and his heartbreak at watching it suffer as a result of global warming. It is poignant, and a call to action, stunningly illustrated by Whatley. Although I listed it here as a book for adults, the teacher in me could see a whole series of lessons interrogating the text, and perhaps contrasting with a poem such as Dorothea Mackellar’s ‘My Country’.

 

This brings me to a total of 142 books for the year to date – eleven shy of my goal. I think I might get there. What have you been reading?

 

Slowing Down in Slowvember

2022 has been a super busy year for me – some wonderful stuff, some hard stuff, some just crazy hectic stuff. But as we hurtle towards the December silly season, I am going to try to take a few moments every day in November to remind myself to slow down, breathe, and be grateful. So, over on Instagram, I  have set a prompt for each day – and I’m calling it Slowvember.

 

I am hoping YOU might feel inspired – either to join in, or to just look at my posts and take a moment. If you ARE inspired to join in – for one day, or all thirty – here are the prompts I’ve chosen:

 

 

I look forward to sharing my responses – some of these prompts seem really easy to me – and others I don’t yet have any idea what I might post. And that’s the point! I need to slow down, smell the roses, breathe the air, and relax. I  hope you’ll slow down with me.

Poetry Friday: Wordy 30s

Last week, I smiled when I read Molly’s post, where she shared her efforts writing Wordy 30s, a poetic form shared with her by another Poetry Friday friend, Mary Lee Hahn, who found it, I believe, here.

In short, the form is simple: write a poem with exactly 30 letters.

Wait, that isn’t really simple – to share a complete thought in just 30 letters? And there’s one more rule. Every line must have exactly the same number of letters. So – 6 lines with letters each, or 5 lines with 6 letters each, or even three lines with ten letters each.   If you are a Wordle-devotee like me, you will possibly see that this is a bit like wordle-poetry – except instead of guessing the five letter word (or six, or whatever), you need to find a way to make the words say something. And, because it’s poetry, they should be considered, organised and, well, poetic.

It took me a while to get started, but eventually I came up with a 6 x 5 about the thing that has been most on my mind this week: my new furbaby George. And why wouldn’t he be front and centre on my mind, having been with me only since last Friday? Anyway, here’s what I came up with

George

brings

warmth

wisdom

gaiety.

  © Sally Murphy 2022)

But, once I’d written a 6 x 5, I knew almost straight away I had to try a 5 x 6. I  also (nor surprisingly) spent a great deal of this week thinking about poetry – and, wouldn’t you know, it – poetry has five letters.  And  poetry makes me feel as happy as this guy, so why wouldn’t I write about it?

Write

poems

share

poems

smile

relax.

 ( © Sally Murphy 2022)

Okay, job done. Except, just like Wordle, this form is a little addictive and I couldn’t stop. I started wondering whether it would work for a 10 x 3. Could I actually use 10 3 letters words in a row and still make sense? You can decide:

Top

hat

and

bow

tie.

Off

for

tea

and

jam.

(  © Sally Murphy 2022)

I dunno – but maybe this is someone setting off for a Poetry Friday tea party?

Not done yet, I figured I’d try a 3 x 10. I knew this one would be hard, but maybe my little bug friend was dancing in my brain my then because this is what I came up with (after scouring a list of 10 letter words, looking for connections:

 

Quicksteps

Hokeypokey

Joypopping!

(© Sally Murphy 2022)

And then, of course, my mind wandered to the final combination – 2 x 15. Possible? Again, I’m still not sure, because again, all I could do was scour a list of 15 letter words and look for connections. I found one in books:

Journalisations

bibliotherapies.

(  © Sally Murphy 2022)

Not sure it’s a poem – but it was good exercise.

Lastly, I knew there was one possible last way of doing this: to find a single 30 letter word, which spoke all by itself. A search found only 1 30 letter word. And it’s a medical term. So, the only way I could  try to make it poetic was to add a title, which I guess is cheating, but here goes:

1 Thing I Hope I Have not Inherited

Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism

( © Sally Murphy 2022)

And of course, this search led me to consider just how long a word can be. According to Wikipedia – the answer to this question is ‘it depends’. It depends on whether we accept medical and technical words, or nonsense words. If we accept both, the longest word is – wait for it – 189,819 letters long. Which I can’t even fit into this post, let alone ever attempt to use in a poem.

Another thing to watch is all the other amazing posts for Poetry Friday. This week’s roundup is hosted by Matt. Head over to his blog later today to see the full list of Poetry Friday goodness. 

 

Oh, in late-breaking news, George has decided he wants to be part of Poetry Friday too. He’s posted a Georgeku on Instagram. Clever George!

 

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A post shared by Guru George (@georgesguidetolife)

 

 

 

Black Out Poetry #1

I’ve been thinking about this idea for a while, and it seems today is the day.

I used to write a lot of  book reviews – on my review site Aussiereviews. But as I’ve got busier and busier, I’ve found I just don’t have the time.   But I still love spreading the word about wonderful books I read – in my monthly round up here in my blog, by word of mouth, and through social media posts.

So, I wondered, could I bring together my love of poetry, my love of reading, and the quick tools of social media, to write in response to some of the books I read.

My idea was to scan a random page from a book I love, and use it  to write a black-out poem (sometimes called a Found Poem, though black out poetry is a particular type of found poem).

And, today, I finally had a go.

First, here’s the book I am reading:

Beautiful cover for a beautiful book!

Next, the page I chose – page 138 – and my black-out effort:

And lastly, tidied up, to make it easier to read, here is the poem:

I plan to do more of these – as the mood hits me, and the book hits me.  I’ll post them on Instagram first  and then might post them here in a separate post, or else will add to them my monthly reading roundup. Not sure yet.

Either way, I hope you enjoy them – and that this one inspires you to read Evie and Rhino.  I’m off to finish reading it