May Day - No - Snow Day!

                         May Day

That Old Man Winter

sneaks one more look

over his shoulder,

flinging his cape, and

the wind blows cold.

He shakes his fists, and

the snow tumbles down.

Miss May's greens stay

hiding under ground,

shivering grassy stems

almost flattened.

She shows the edges

of reds in tulips, yellows

in the daffodils-

opened enough to

shout hope, hope.

©Linda Baie, 2013

photo credit: alixia88 via photopin cc

Goodbye Poetry Month!

It's time for Slice of Life Tuesday, hosted by Ruth and Stacey at Two Writing Teachers.
     #slice2013

         It's the last day of April, poetry month, and I'm still writing some poems from Mary Lee Hahn's photo prompts from the Wikimedia Commons at A Year of Reading.

Photos by Gideon Pisanty (Gidip) גדעון פיזנטי, from Wikimedia Commons
          The final line of the Progressive Poem that's been growing all the month will be presented by April Halprin Wayland.  Find the link on the list to the right.

          And Betsy, from Teaching Young Writers, is holding a Chalkabration today at the end of Poetry Month.  I've written a poem to go with a photo of a bee for Mary Lee's photo, and chalked with an App this time.  Unfortunately, I have moved and cannot find my chalk.

           Happy May everyone; it's supposed to snow here on May Day!

Reading Time This Week-Terrific!

          It's Monday! WhatAre You Reading?  is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach.Mentor.Texts.  Come visit!  And also visit Sheila at Book Journeys to find reviews of all kinds of books for adults and for children.  

            Don't forget the hashtag #IMWAYR 

I also participate in the award-winning books reading challenge sponsored by Myra, Fats and Iphigene at The Gathering Books blog.  

Past Competition

Almost the last day of Poetry Month

"Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them." Dennis Gabor

Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going! Nearly complete!

             A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway. 

            And visit Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems.   

Turning to Fairy Tales

"To be a poet is a condition, not a profession."  Robert Frost

Broadway Tower, Cotswolds, England 

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going! Nearly complete!

             A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway. 

            Here is another poem inspired by Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems.  Not only that, but she is giving some lessons in attribution from images from the Wikimedia Commons.  Please visit!  

Dear Little Book

          It's the final Poetry Friday of Poetry Month, and the marvelous Laura Purdie Salas has the honor of being our host today at her blog, Writing The World for Kids!  Thank you Laura!  

           I also want to say thanks to Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems.  I have had the pleasure of being inspired by the media shared at her site often this month, and am thankful for it.  Mary Lee's work has helped me publish a few posts since I've tried to write every April day.  Please visit!  

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!  We're almost at the end!

Sparking Imagination

            Here is another poem inspired by Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems.  Please visit!  

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!

             A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway. 


             Here is my poem written in response to the antique map:

In My Mind’s Eye

This older map

of straight lines

hides the crooked stories

of the past:

in the houses

down the street,

next door,

across the way,

in the alley,

catty-cornered,

in the park,

third floor,

a street away,

at the second stop sign,

along the river,

just out of town.

I just need to look

and imagine.

© Linda Baie

Wednesday Spring Song

"A Poem should not mean, but be."  Archibald Macleish

        Last Sunday, I wrote nearly these same words, about Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems, written using media from the Creative Commons site and teaching about proper attribution at the same time.  It's been full of beautiful words written, along with learning and inspiration.  Please visit!  

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!

Here is my poem written in response to a link shared of forest sounds.

Back Home

Rasp and chatter

Carolina Wren

calls me back

to my forest friends

teakettle, teakettle

cheer cheer cheer

cardinal flashing

spring is here

alive with chicka-dee

leafy-damp smell

walking in my forest

all is well

©Linda Baie, 2013

Powerful Connections In Memories

 

             Ruth and Stacey host a wonderful writing community at their Two Writing Teachers blog each Tuesday.  Come join the fun, or at least read some great slices of life!
             Use the hashtag #slice2013

             A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway.

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!

              There was a moment in the past when I knew that my husband was going away, at least the one I had known and loved all the years.  That memory returned last week when I spent time in Missouri at my sister-in-law Kay’s funeral.  Funny how some events trigger other memories.  

               I don’t remember if anything particular happened, only that we had been watching stars outside before going to sleep.  We had a good view from our bedroom window.  This is a poem that I wrote to try to capture the feeling.

Twinkles show in the stars at night.

I saw them light up the sky

from our bedroom window.

With some dread I turn

to look at you, knew I needed

the book of you, because you

would soon be gone.

©Linda Baie 2013

photo credit: Indigo Skies Photography via photopin cc

Poetry, Picture Books, and The False Prince!

          It's Monday! What Are You Reading?  is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach.Mentor.Texts.  Come visit!  And also visit Sheila at Book Journeys to find reviews of all kinds of books for adults and for children.  

            Don't forget the hashtag #IMWAYR 

          It’s Poetry Month, and here at Teacher Dance on Mondays each week, I share the books I’ve read in the past week.  This month, I’ll also share some poetry anthologies for children that I’ve loved, I’ve used, and some recently published ones you should add to your own collections.

            More poetry:  Check on Laura Shovan (see to the right) to see the latest line written for the Progressive Poem.  Check all other links above!

POETRY:

World Rat Day Poems About Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of - written by J. Patrick Lewis and Illustrated by Anna Raff

            I think I laughed more while reading these poems than I have in a while.  It’s such a clever book, filled with just what the title says, holidays never heard of.  There is Dragon Appreciation Day, Jan. 16^th.  Here is found “Eight Table Manners for Dragons, among them, “Never remove a hare from your food.”  On April 10^th is Firefly Day, with my favorite, favorite image of fireflies: “electrified confetti”.  Isn’t that beautiful?  All through the year, J. Patrick Lewis has created new holidays, also including World Rat Day, Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day, and Pink Flamingo Day.  The marvelous illustrations by Anna Raff add much to the poems, with small rat visitors on every page, no matter which holiday. I imagine this book will be read again and again!

Inspiration from Paintings

It's Poetry Month!   
"Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn."  Thomas Gray

               A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway.  

                Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!


             This month, Laura Salas at Writing the World For Kids, is sharing poem videos of a favorite poem and then giving suggestions for further writing.  But most Thursdays, she has shown a photo and those who choose can write a 15-words-or-less poem to accompany that photo.  A long while ago, I wrote to a painting of the Aurora Borealis this way.  I couldn’t find the post, but wanted to acknowledge Laura’s work and inspiration every single week!  I found another painting of the aurora borealis.  Here is that painting and my response:

The artist brushed

with love, to show

the way

aurora borealis

glows

in watercolor shimmers

© Linda Baie, 2013

photo credit: Hailey E Herrera Art Journey via photopin cc