Welcome to Poetry Friday!
I’m very excited to be hosting the festivities today. Not only is this the first Poetry Friday roundup of 2013, but it’s also the first time I’ve ever hosted Poetry Friday.
(I only started this blog 5 months ago – so I hope I don’t screw things up!)
If you have something you’d like to share, just leave your link(s) in the Comments section below, and I’ll update the blog throughout the day.
For my part, I’m sharing my newest poem, which I wrote four nights ago. As I mentioned in Tuesday’s post, I’m currently working on a follow-up to my winter-themed children’s poetry collection – an autumn-themed poetry collection – and this, I think, will most likely be the first poem of that book. Seems to make sense, considering the subject! Hope you like it…and be sure to check out all the other fantastic poetry at the links below…
First Day in the Cafeteria
They could have served us burgers.
They could have served us fries.
They could have served us mac ‘n cheese
or deep-fried chicken thighs.
They could have served cold pizza
or greasy beef pot pies,
so why oh why – our first day back –
do we get “Chef’s Surprise??”
– © 2013 Matt Forrest Esenwine
For more poetic ways to kick off your New Year, please visit these fine folks:
- If you’d like like to get the year kicked off in good shape, David L. Harrison suggests you read Jane Heitman’s poem, “Counting Down the Hours.”
- Catherine Johnson shares two original Month of Poetry poems.
- For the new year, Steve Patterson offers a poem about a little turtle, huge determination, and a new life.
- I’d like to welcome Lesley Fletcher to Poetry Friday! Lesley is sharing a poem written at a car dealership, titled “The Flame.”
- Another new visitor to Poetry Friday is San Lin Tun, who wishes everyone a “Happy New Year.”
- Charles Ghigna shares his “New Year’s Resolutions” at The FATHER GOOSE Blog.
- Laura Purdie Salas has a roundup of the CYBILS Finalists in the Poetry Category.
- Gabrielle Pendergast also spotlights the CYBILS Poetry Finalists, and provides info on VerseDay, a year long blog fest celebrating all things verse! All the info is at her blog, Angelhorn.
- Speaking of the CYBILS, Irene Latham is giving away some CYBILS poetry book packs!
- Violet Nesdoly’s poem for this week is a tongue-in-cheek look at her own “Fiscal Crisis.”
- At A Teaching Life, Tara has a very fitting poem about “Burning the Old Year” by Naomi Shihab Nye.
- Jeff Barger has written a haiku titled “Killing Me With Kindness” at his blog, NC Teacher Stuff.
- At Gathering Books, Myra shares a favourite poem of hers…Derek Walcott’s, “Love after Love.”
- Laura Shovan is posting poem #4 in her poetry postcard/birthday project at Author Amok. This is one for American history buffs. Both the new poem, “Thick Skinned,” and the postcard refer to the Civil War battle between two ironclad ships, the Merrimack and the Monitor.
- Tamera Will Wissinger is also joining us for the first time today! She just recently began a new online journal called The Writer’s Whimsy, and her contribution is called “Put On Your (Fishing) Poetry Hat.
- At Random Noodling, Diane has a poem by Edward Hirsch, which celebrates Georgia O’Keeffe, “Evening Star.”
- Kurious Kitty finds connections in a poem by David Ferry.
- KK’s Kwotes continues New Year’s celebrations with a song written by Peggy Seeger.
- Margaret continues to work on writing poems to her father’s artwork at Reflections on the Teche.
- They’re at the midpoint in THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY with a “toothless” poem by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater.
- At Growing Wild, Liz Steinglass shares an original poem about a cat named Houdini who likes to escape from Grandma’s visitors.
- They’re celebrating their 7th year of blogging at A Year of Reading with seven days of giveback-giveaway. The book they’re giving away today, to one lucky commenter, is FORGIVE ME, I MEANT TO DO IT.
- Karen Edmiston is in this week with T.S. Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi.”
- At Teacher Dance, Linda has a poem tribute for the Cybil’s finalists announced this week.
- Carlie is sharing an original poem on her blog, Twinkling Along, all about adopting an orphaned flower in her hour of catastrophe.
- Tabatha Yeats’ post today is about the Library of Congress’s Lyric Poetry Corridor, plus she shares a poem by Tennyson. (She also posted international HP book covers yesterday!)
- At Read, Write, Howl, Robyn Hood Black has been busy this week: shes in with a Joyce Sidman poem and a link to her interview with her for Poetry at Play, as well as a link to a post on verse novels, featuring some of our shining PF poets.
- Susan Thomsen is featuring a photographed excerpt of a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks, from New York’s Library Way, at her blog, Chicken Spaghetti.
- At Poetry for Kids Joy, Joy Acey has poem about nonverbal communication this week with “Pinkie Promise.”
- Be sure to visit The Write Sisters for a short poem titled, “Dark Birds.”
- Joyce Ray is sharing a winter haiku at Musings.
- At Supratentorial, Alice is sharing the book poem, “If I Never Forever Endeavor” by Holly Meade.
- Matt Goodfellow shares an original poem, “New Yah Prayer.”
- At Wild Rose Reader, Elaine has a “forgotten” poem that she wrote years ago. It’s a mask poem titled “Dinosaur Egg.”
- Mother Reader offers another in her series of songs as poetry, “Little Talks.”
- Ralph Fletcher has started blogging, and he joins us this week with a poem from one of his books, “Relatively Speaking: Poems About Family.”
- At On Point, Lorie Ann Grover has an original haiku for the new year, “Celebrate.”
- Carol Wilcox shares a dog poem by Mary Oliver at Carol’s Corner and also provides a link to the Warrior Canine Connection, an organization that raises service dogs for veterans and has a brand new litter of yellow lab puppies.
- At Booktalking, Anastasia is sharing a CYBILS Poetry nominee: “The Year Comes Round: Haiku through the Seasons” by Sid Farrar (Author) and Ilse Plume (Illustrator).
- Amy has a villanelle titled “I Understand” today at The Poem Farm.
- Haiti Ruth is in with “The End and the Beginning,” by Wisława Szymborska.
- At Writing and Ruminating, Kelly Ramsdell Fineman shares an original sonnet, “Lessons I Wish I Could Share With My Teenage Daughter.”
- And Perogyo brings us a review of the book, “Noisy Poems for a Busy Day” at her blog Perogies and Gyoza!
Thanks so much for rounding up posts, Matt – you wear the host hat well!
Fun poem; I remember those “Chef Surprise”-type school lunches – eek.
Thanks, too, for the invite to leave links Thursday – a few of us squeezed in just before midnight.
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The feeling it never changes
It’s still as risky and intense as the very tip top of these trees
I stand at the top of the mountain
spread out my hands, taking one last look towards the bottom I close my
eyes and dive.
Head first wind blows, fear folds my insides I could die
I could throw up gravity’
as I am no longer a potential source.
Nostrils flare catching breath
I can’t breathe.
I’m not flying like birds.
Dreading the instant fall instead.
I feel fresh,
I feel free.
The winds flex my entirety
I am what I believe.
I believe I am warrior king.
-rsw
like my page on facebook – AtravesOnce
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Thanks for sharing, Rebeca!
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May I should had thank you first for such a great poem. Im so new to these pages, links and blogs……..Thanks for sharing and creating such blog!
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Well, thank you, Rebecca – I’m glad you found us! The complete list of all the Poetry Friday hosts/hostesses is at http://www.kidlitosphere.org/poetry-friday, so you’ll know where to find everyone each week. If you can include a link to each poem, it’ll be easier for people to find you, as well!
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Hee hee! Your ending got me. No thank you for the “Chef’s Surprise” but yes to new poems and a new collection! Good luck with it! Thank you for hosting the year’s first Poetry Friday!
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I didn’t realise your blog was so new, Matt. You write like a pro 🙂
Thanks for the links I look forward to reading all the poems. Have a great day!
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P.s. Love your chef surprise poem!
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Thanks, Catherine. I’ve been writing & speaking for a living most of my life, so I’m actually surpried it took me so long to start a blog!
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Thanks for hosting, Matt! And best of luck with your autumn collection. My post today is here: http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2013/01/lyric-poetry-corridor.html
It’s about the Library of Congress’s Lyric Poetry Corridor, plus a poem by Tennyson.
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What is it about your blog that makes it so tempting to leave a P.S.?
P.S. Harry Potter fans might be interested to hear that I posted international HP book covers yesterday.
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Thanks for hosting Matt! Good luck with your fall poems! Sounds like a fun thing to try to create.
I sure don’t miss cafeteria food after reading your poem! Ha ha!
I am sharing an original poem today on my blog Twinkling Along all about adopting an orphaned flower in my hour of catastrophe.
http://twinklingalong.blogspot.com/2013/01/poetry-friday-orphan-flower-story.html
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Good hosting and fun poem!
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Oooh, Chef’s Surprise … shudder. One can only imagine what goes into the dish on the first day of school.
I’m in this week with Eliot’s Journey of the Magi. Thanks for hosting!
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Hi Matt,
Thanks for hosting today. You do it like a pro. Your poem is very funny and has a perfect ending. Today I have an original poem about a cat named Houdini who likes to escape from Grandma’s visitors.
http://www.lizsteinglass.com/2013/01/poetry-friday-houdini.html
Happy New Year,
Liz
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Thanks for hosting and happy new year! We’re at the midpoint in THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY with a “toothless” poem by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater this week.
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The Write Sisters have a short poem today over here: http://thewritesisters.blogspot.com/2013/01/poetry-friday-dark-birds.html
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Thanks for hosting.
I’m sharing the book poem If I Never Forever Endeavor by Holly Meade.
http://supratentorial.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/poetry-friday-if-i-never-forever-endeavor/
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Thank you all for your comments and links…I hope to be able to read them all when I get a chance!
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Welcome to the kidlitosphere! Thanks for hosting. At On Point, I have an original haiku for the new year, Celebrate:
http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com/2013/01/poetry-friday-celebrate.html
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Love that ‘lunchroom’ poem. Poor kids, never get what they really want, do they? Is there really a ‘chef’s surprise’ these days? We have a caterer come into our independent school, salad & fruit bar, etc. But our students still complain. Perhaps it’s in the culture to gripe about school lunches?
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Just a few year’s ago, when my kids were still in middle school, I recall seeing ‘Chef’s Choice’ on the menu…and it brought back memories! When I was young, I never complained about the food at my school – I always thought it was pretty good, even though others would gripe.
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Hmm. I just had a school lunch that was identified, which is a bonus on Fridays, when we often have “Manager’s Choice.” I think it’s telling that our school system doesn’t have chefs, only managers! Sassy poem. It’s true that food is always first, even on the first day of school.
Thanks for hosting. I’m on a blogging sabbatical, but I wanted to stop in and see you swing into action!
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Well, thank you for your kind words, Heidi! I’m glad you did stop by and say hi.
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Welcom Matt! I am celebrating William Stafford all month long. Here’s my post:
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Matt, Thanks for hosting. Looks like it’s going great. And as a teacher, I’ve definitely “enjoyed” a few of those Chef’s Surprises, although not usually on the first day of school.
I’m in with a dog poem by Mary Oliver, and also a link to the Warrior Canine Connection, an organization that raises service dogs for veterans, and has a brand new litter of yellow lab puppies.
http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com/2013/01/poetry-friday.html
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Thanks for hosting, Matt. At Booktalking, I’m sharing a CYBILS Poetry nominee: The Year Comes Round: Haiku through the Seasons by Sid Farrar (Author) and Ilse Plume (Illustrator) http://asuen.com/blog/?p=870
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Wow! I am losing it…I commented and forgot to link! Would you please add me in…I have a villanelle today at The Poem Farm. (I am sorry not to have the link here…I do not know how to add it from my phone. Thank you, Matt! a.
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You got it, Amy! For some reason, none of the Blogger sites are allowing me to leave comments, so I just wanted to let you know I understand how difficult villanelles are to write – but can be beautiful when done well, and this is! A deep message every child can understand.
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Thank you so much, Matt! I truly appreciate your words – a villanelle is a wrestling match! Thank you for your very gracious hosting today!
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I’m in with “The End and the Beginning,” by Wisława Szymborska, here.
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Love your post! I’m in with an original sonnet, Lessons I Wish I Could Share With My Teenage Daughter. Here’s the link: http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com/767442.html
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Thanks, folks!
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Thanks for hosting this week. Hope I’m not too late with my submission, a review of Noisy Poems for a Busy Day.
http://www.perogiesandgyoza.com/2013/01/poetry-friday-noisy-poems-for-busy-day.html
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Not too late at all, Perogyo! Thanks for stopping by!
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