It's a thrill to know a secret, and earlier in the week I knew one, the seven finalists for the Cybil's Poetry Award. Congratulations to those poets here in the following list, and to the long list of lovely nominees here. What wonderful gifts of poetry you gave us last year!
Now, as a Round Two Judge, with all the others in the group, we have the large challenge of choosing a winner overall of all the following books of poetry listed below. I'm happy to work with the following judges to help make the job a little easier. (I hope!)
Our leader: Jone MacCulloch at DeoWriter or Check It Out
Renee La Tulippe at NoWaterRiver
Diane Mayr at Random Noodling
Matt Forrest Esenwine at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme
Laura Shovan at Author Amok
You can find descriptions of each book below here, at the Cybils site, and at our host, Tricia's site here, too.
Because of the urgency of the Cybils' announcements, I've needed to delay sharing the wonderful gifts that Keri Collins Lewis sent to me for the Winter Poetry Swap created and managed by Tabatha Yeatts. NEXT WEEK!
You can find descriptions of each book below here, at the Cybils site, and at our host, Tricia's site here, too.
The Finalists!
Water Rolls, Water Rises: El Agua Rueda, El Agua Sube by Pat Mora, illustrated by Meilo So
Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems From The Water Hole by Irene Latham, illustrated by Anna Wadham
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Santa Clauses: Short Poems from the North Pole by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Chuck Groenink.
Voices from the March: Washington, D.C., 1963 by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson,
Hi Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J Muth
Happy New Year, may poetry pave a satisfying path all the way through 2015.
Earlier in the week, a poem by Michael Chitwood arrived in my inbox from The Academy of American Poets, their poem-a-day. I hope it pleases you to read this on the second day of the new year, with taped boxes to open... Happy New Year to everyone!
Accomplishments begins:
What you have not done
is without error. What you
have not said is beyond contradiction.
is without error. What you
have not said is beyond contradiction.
What you understand of God
was yesterday. Today a bicycle
waits, chained to a bench.
was yesterday. Today a bicycle
waits, chained to a bench.
find the rest here!
Because of the urgency of the Cybils' announcements, I've needed to delay sharing the wonderful gifts that Keri Collins Lewis sent to me for the Winter Poetry Swap created and managed by Tabatha Yeatts. NEXT WEEK!
I love the image of the taped boxes. How exciting that we have 365 of these to open (or, since today's the 2nd, 364).
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet read any of the shortlisted books, but I have Brown Girl Dreaming in my tbr pile, a gift to myself for Christmas. I'll keep an eye out for the rest.
I love that idea of unopened boxes, too, Sally. Thanks for stopping by, & I hope you'll enjoy some of these finalists in the Cybils. Each one is unique and wonderful!
DeleteThe success of this afternoon's nap -- ha! I do hope for a nap today and every day, though it doesn't always happen. It's one of my favorite things --- even as the words "you can sleep when you're dead" echo in my head...it's a short nap, okay? :) Thank you for this poem, Linda! Happy 2015. xo
ReplyDeleteI do believe that a nap during the holidays is another gift to open, Irene. Glad you enjoyed the poem, and Happy New Year to you, too!
DeleteWhat a extraordinary list of Cybils finalists! Your job will not be easy, Linda. (Guess you probably know that, huh.) Thank you for sharing the Chitwood poem. Love "sealed with clear tape."
ReplyDeleteAgreed about this list, & the choice, Michelle. Happy New Year!
DeleteThis is lovely, Linda. I'll be thinking of it as I pack up the Christmas decorations. I love the last line, with its promise of new knowledge (understanding?). I can't imagine having to choose one book from these fabulous finalists! Thank you for taking on this task, and for sharing Chitwood's poem today.
ReplyDeleteHappy you can take something good from this poem, Catherine, and yes, the judging is going to be quite a challenge. Happy New Year!
DeleteDear Linda, I read all of Accomplishments by Michael Chitwood via your links, thank you. It's a pure fit for these days when we are thinking about what we will work hard to start & finish this year. Appreciations for your Cybils poetry book reading & for introducing your crew of hard-reading judges'. Good luck with a tough task - the list of honorees & contenders is distinguished. Goodwill & Goodhealth & Goodpoetry to you in 2015!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Jan, so happy you enjoyed the poem. I know I will enjoy the judging, but you're right, it won't be easy. Best wishes to you in 2015 also.
DeleteThanks for your work on the Cybils, Linda! My favorite part of the poem you shared is the first stanza--we are only perfect when we do not act, do not speak. Let each day be a suprise, a new miscellaneous Box of Contents!
ReplyDeleteIn the small part about this poem from Michael Chitwood, he says that the first part came to him in its entire, & he worked for a long time to complete the poem. Your comment makes me wonder if he was worried about action, the 'doing'. Thanks, Heidi. I'll love the judging, but will also find it a challenge. Happy New Year!
DeleteHad to re-read "Accomplishments" a number of times to take it in from several angles -- what an interesting poem! Thanks for sharing it, Linda. I'm curious about the judging of poetry Cybils...it seems hard to compare different types of poems (ones for younger and older readers, funny ones and serious ones, short v. long). I guess it is like Ed's poetry tournament in a way, except his are all the same length.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the poem had me reading & re-reading, too. As for the Cybil's, it is tricky to compare, I agree, & this year there is more diversity again. I think it would be nice to have a separate category for several things. Some also believe there should be a poetry award separate from the Newbery & Caldecott awards. So far, no change. Thanks, Tabatha, hope your new year is beginning well!
DeleteLinda, thank you for sharing about the Cybils Awards. I read each review that Jone posted and was so thrilled to see Irene's and Bob's on the list. I brought those books home from NCTE and want to read them as soon as the holidays are over. I thought I would have some down time but not yet. One more get-together and then packing up the holiday decorations.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the poem you featured today, accompanied by the photo. When I finished reading the poem, I made the connection. Wonderful!
I've read all these finalists, now am starting again. Truly the round one group sent us some wonderful ones! I hope you'll get to your two soon, a nice time to relax! Glad you liked the poem, & the picture! I thought it worked very well, find the year IS filled with unopened boxes! Thanks, Carol.
DeleteCannot even imagine being a Round Two Judge! How are you ever going to choose just ONE of these wonderful books! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. I know what you mean!
DeleteHappy New Year, Linda! Thanks to you and all the dedicated Cybils judges. No easy task. And thanks for the thoughtful poem as we embark on a new year. As Heidi noted, on to an imperfect but fully lived 2015!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robyn, I love your wishes. The same flying on to you!
DeleteGreat choices, Linda - what an amazing group of writers. I love the way this poem closed - taped boxes, and mystery.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara, exciting to ponder, right?
DeleteAll of those finalists are winners...and one of them already a HUMDINGER of a winner! It will be interesting to see which you choose, and I hope you'll tell us why!
ReplyDeleteSo we can't just draw a name from a hat? I see that you understand the challenge well, Mary Lee. Have a great start to 2015!
Delete"Today a bicycle
ReplyDeletewaits, chained to a bench."
Wow, that really speaks to me. The challenge of unchaining our means of freedom. That's seeking God and doing poetry!
Glad you found words for you, Andi. I think it's a powerful poem for this beginning of our year. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
DeleteLinda, let the fun begin! I love the job of discussing, with adults, the finalists. Mary Lee, I think we will be letting everyone in on our decision-making process. And, Tabatha, you said, "it seems hard to compare different types of poems (ones for younger and older readers, funny ones and serious ones, short v. long)." Not only that, but sometimes a finalist title is an anthology. How do you judge a collection by an individual against a collection of a number of poets? How do you, as an adult, judge for a child? After all, the child is the intended audience. There's also the whole issue of presentation--how much of the award should be judged by the illustration and design? It's a lot to think about, and often a lot of compromise is required. I hope we're up for it!
ReplyDeleteHere's how we worked back in 2012: http://randomnoodling.blogspot.com/2012/02/poetry-friday-and-winner-is.html"
DeleteA dream team of judges! What wonderful collaborators with whom to share this delightful task. I love the CYBILS, not only because I know -- at least through Poetry Friday -- some of the judges, but also because the books the select typically seem more kid-friendly and accessible. Enjoy your time being a judge, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keri, I know I will. These finalists are all wonderful for so many different ages, gems!
Delete"What you have not done is without error"--a reason to aim for imperfection! Thanks for sharing this, and have fun reading and judging. Terrific list of finalists!
ReplyDeleteThanks Buffy, glad you found something in the poem that spoke to you! Yes, the finalists are amazing!
DeleteYou're in for a TOUGH job this year, Linda with so many wonderful titles on that list. Just finished reading Brown Girl Dreaming - so beautiful. Will have to check out the other titles from that list. I think I have Hi Koo! and will feature for next week's Poetry Friday. :)
ReplyDelete