I can’t believe this is my first Poetry Friday post of 2014! Since I’ve been on hiatus, it feels weird getting back into the swing o’ things.
By the way, if you haven’t yet checked out my interview with children’s poet David L. Harrison from this past Tuesday, please make sure you do – it’s very enlightening, plus I’d hate to have put in all that hard work for you to just skip past it. Just the mere thought of you ignoring it is almost too much to bear. Please don’t make me sad. Do the right thing and click that link.
Also: the CYBILS Award winners have been announced! I’m very proud and honored to have been a 2nd-round judge for the Poetry Book category. These awards are chosen by children’s literature bloggers, so the folks voting have read a few children’s books in their time. I can tell you, the judging was NOT easy, either. All of us had to come together from opposite ends of opinion – some of us loved books that others didn’t, and vice versa – so I think we have a solid winner.
As for today, I was going to write a new poem, since it’s Valentine’s Day, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the time to be able to nail down my idea – so I decided to share this with you, instead: another poem I’m including in my winter-themed collection! Hope you like it. And for all of today’s Poetry Friday links, visit my friend Linda Baie at Teacher Dance!
Beulah Buford
Beulah Buford picks on me;
calls me names, kicks me in the knee,
makes fun of the clothes I wear,
sticks bubblegum in my books and hair.
I just got her Valentine card, and SURPRISE –
it says she wants to apologize!
For now, I think I’ll stay out of her way.
I hit her with a snowball at recess today.
© 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
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Great punchline, Matt- and I love her name! Nice to have you back (though I’ve been away from Poetry friday for a while as well…) I’m off to read the interview next. Thanks for the reminder!
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Thanks, Iza!
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Love Beulah Buford. The name and that girl. She comes through as clearly as the speaker. Fun poem, Matt.
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Thanks, Doraine, glad you liked it!
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Such truth in your poem, Matt. I teach middle school, and this is the “love ritual” I see all the time! : ) You nailed it! Happy Valentine’s Day!
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I came up with this while thinking back to my middle school years…funny how some things never change!
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Good to have you back. Fun poem! *ducks*
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Thanks, Jama!
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Beulah’s gonna get you. Too bad you hadn’t seen that card BEFORE you threw the snowball. Cute Valentine poem!
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Timing is everything, isn’t it?? Thanks, Donna.
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You’ve got it exactly right. My son used to complain about the chasing girls, and one of them was probably Beulah Buford! Aren’t kids so silly, & then it’s high school! Thanks for showing that fun, early love, Matt!
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Funny how some things are universal! Glad you enjoyed it, Linda.
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Fun poem, Matt. I can picture the recess retaliation.
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Thanks, Buffy. We’ve all been there somehow, haven’t we?
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Welcome back to Poetry Friday, Matt! May I be so bold as to suggest you also stay away from Beulah? I don’t think you can afford another injury right now. 😉
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Ha, I know, right?? She’s got a mean left hook, too.
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Matt–good to see you! Yeah, that Valentine was definitely a trick. The snowball was totally justified.
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Thanks, Liz!
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That Beulah Buford sure does like that little boy, I can tell. 🙂 Welcome back, Matt!
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Thanks, Myra – love does take many forms!
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Playground love: so fun to look back on, but painful at the time!
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I know! When it’s happening to you, it’s no fun at all!
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I think I’d be skeptical of a Valentine from Beulah.
Cathy
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True – it might explode while you’re opening it!
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