Poetry Friday can be found at Elizabeth Steinglass-Poet. She invites us to meet under the willow tree! Thanks for the party, Liz!
This
has been a challenging post to create for Poetry Friday. I want it to be special, I want to Wow
everyone, and I want to share a beautiful poem.
I read poetry all the time, but this week have read more than usual,
searching for one that reflects back and yet, I realize there is no “one” set of
words that will encompass everything.
This is my FIVE HUNDREDTH
POST! I’ve been blogging for over two years, since
March 1, 2011, when I started the thread that has wound through my posts ever
since. I wrote about writing, that time teaching writing, and the topic has been
my focus since, all the way through 499 POSTS!
In
that first post, I described working with a class in personal narratives, using
The
Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown as a mentor text. I use it often in numerous lessons. It is my ‘go to’ book, one I value in both
teaching and thinking. And so I return
to it in this 500th post.
The Important thing about
blogging
is that it has opened a world of opportunities for me to be the best I can be
in living my life. I am grateful.
The Important thing about
blogging
is that it’s given me chances to venture forth into places I might never have
gone without it. I have written for an
audience and received feedback that is supportive and of value so I can
improve. I have read hundreds of words
of other bloggers, examined what they do, celebrated their successes, and
discovered new ideas from the offerings of this wider world. I am
touched.
The Important Thing about
blogging
is that I have discovered, beyond my personal community of family and friends,
that there are also people all over the world who are kind and creative and
inventive. I am heartened.
I
have long loved “goodbye” poems, have written some of my own, and collected
others for many years. I will continue
collecting and work to finish my own collection of family-connected poems of
goodbye. The Important Thing about blogging is that I’ve been supported in
this project every time I’ve shared a poem.
I am inspired.
However,
The Important Thing about blogging is
also that there is tomorrow’s post, and time to think of new ideas. I leave you with a ‘hello’ poem I also love,
by Marge Piercy. I am anticipating!
The Seven of Pentacles
Marge Piercy
Under
a sky the color of pea soup
she
is looking at her work growing away there
actively,
thickly like grapevines or pole beans
as
things grow in the real world, slowly enough.
the
rest you can find here!
Thank you to everyone who visits!
photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopin cc
Congratulations, Linda! So glad that you enjoy blogging and want to keep going -- we reap the benefits of your inspiration :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Marge Piercy poem is perfect.
Thank you Tabatha. It's been quite an experience!
DeleteI've used The Important Book and enjoyed your connection with it here on your 500th post. Wow! That is something to celebrate. When I first started blogging, I had no idea there was this world of other teacher-blogger-writers. And now, because of you, I've discovered the Poetry Friday community. I know my audience and I am connected. Thanks for the Marge Piercy poem.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're here on Poetry Friday, Margaret. Thanks for your inspiration too!
DeleteThe important thing about blogging is that you share all your wonderful ideas and knowledge with the rest of us. I love The Important Book too. I better get it out again. Congrats on your 500th. Here's to the next 500.
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb. We've had a lot of fun, haven't we? Hope you will find The Important Book useful, even at your level!
DeleteOh, this is just a delight, Linda. And guess what? I use the Important Book, too! It has been a gift to me to meet you and so many other PF folks. I have learned so much and you inspire me.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to share about how I used it for Mother's Day poems in the last year or two of my teaching. One boy, whose great-grandmother had died over the weekend, came in to say he was only staying for 1/2 the day and was headed to the funeral. So I remarked that it might be a nice idea to write a good-bye poem for her using the Important Book model. (I got the idea for good-bye poems from Kali Dakos.) And he did. It was touching. This was a reserved, almost shy third grade boy. I told him I wished he would read this for his family and maybe even see if he could share at the service. He said he didn't think he wanted to, but I told him it would mean a lot to his grandmother as well as his mom, aunts and uncle. Well....he did read it at the funeral and his uncle, a famous person you would probably know, who gave the eulogy stood with him as he read. The uncle later sent me a thank you especially for helping the boy find his inner poet and also for how his Important Thing poem helped them all to remember their grandmother/grandmother through his eyes. "The important thing about my grandmother is she loved to laugh, she loved to talk on the phone!" I remember that part.
On "our" blogs (mine will arrive) we get to "talk" and "laugh" and "share". And dance! Thanks, Linda.
Janet F.
Love your story, Janet! Thank you!
DeleteHappy 500th Blog Post, Linda! A thoughtful one fit for the occasion, and the perfect poem to go with it.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading your post, I was thinking this morning about how much time we spend online and how to judge its value. My internal dialogue decided we should spend time, online or in our physical, real-world days, with people who make us better. Your presence on Poetry Fridays and beyond makes me a better person. Thank you, and here's to the next 500!
You are dear to say that, Robyn. I agree. About time spent, because life is too short to live otherwise.
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteI think a lot about why we blog and why I blog. I don't think I have good answers yet, so I appreciated reading your good answers. They give me more to consider.
Thanks and congratulations!
Liz
Thank you LIz. It's good to reflect upon it.
DeleteHey! Congratulations on the bit five-oh-oh! I'm still on 375...I'll get there eventually!
ReplyDelete...and of course "bit" = "big"!
DeleteThanks Donna. It's been fun with you and those who started with us, hasn't it?
DeleteCongratulations, Linda. It has been a pleasure to read your blog. And I am so glad that our paths "Keep tangling and interweaving and taking more in,"
ReplyDeleteI love this line in the poem. "Penetrate quietly as the earthworm that blows no trumpet."
Thank you Doraine. I have really enjoyed getting to know some of your life through your posts. I do love the poem, so glad you found a part that speaks to you. I've been at work all day, so am excited to read about your sestinas!
DeleteWhat an accomplishment. I have been moved, heartened and appreciated so many of your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Betsy. You're on your way too, right?
DeleteI'm at 247, not even close to your 500! I will get there eventually though. You inspire many with all 500 of your posts.
DeleteSo now I need to figure out what's next. I hope I can work on doing some different things this summer. I've been asked to take over a class for the rest of the year, so my 'free' time is going to dwindle. I'm thinking though!
DeleteHappy 500th, Linda! So glad our paths crossed online. I've been encouraged, entertained, enlightened, inspired and educated by your words. Thanks for everything you do at TeacherDance! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Jama. It's a pleasure to write, share, and connect!
Delete500! What an accomplishment! And what a gift you and your poetry are to the world. Thank YOU for your words. =)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Bridget. Thanks for your inspiration, too!
DeleteWOW! 500 that is wonderful! You have taught, inspired, touched so many lives in those 500 posts. I am so grateful I have been (and continue to be) one of them. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteTammy
Sadly I am not going to get to attend the All Write this year. I hope you have a wonderful time. Maybe next year!!
Oh, so sorry Tammy. I was hoping! Thanks for being an Oklahoma friend!
DeleteCongratulations! The Marge Piercy poem is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lee. I do love this poem!
DeleteYay, yay, hip hip, hurray! Keep blogging. You're half way to 1000. ;)
ReplyDeleteTerje, can you imagine 1000? Amazing to think about! Thank you!
DeleteI agree with you about blogging, and I'm so glad you blog! Not only are your posts wonderful, but you are such a kind commenter. You never visit my blog without leaving me encouraged. Thank you and congratulations on 500 posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you- I always like what you share-often new to me!
Delete