Poetry Friday: Rhyme Revolution interview & more #PoetryCubed responses!

Ah, yes…#PoetryCubed has returned, and lots of folks are getting into the action! If you’d like to try win a signed copy of Flashlight Night, I hope you’ll consider joining us on this little writing challenge.

#PoetryCubed is based on the TV show “Chopped!” on The Food Network, where chefs compete by creating dishes using specific – and sometimes outlandish – ingredients. (Feel free to check out this previous post for details) For #PoetryCubed, I’ve applied the premise of the TV show…to writing:

• Use the 3 images below as inspiration to write a poem. (1 poem, to the 3rd power – “cubed!”)
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• The poem can be any form, any genre, any number of lines, rhyming or not. And most importantly…it also doesn’t have to be very good! This is about having fun, so no pressure allowed! Remember my mantra: #WriteLikeNoOneIsReading.
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• Make sure you include a reference to all three images in the poem – either via concrete imagery or something more abstract.
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• Email your poem to me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com and I’ll share them here throughout the month of November. Out of all the poems submitted, one lucky writer will be chosen at random to receive a signed copy of Flashlight Night (Boyds Mills Press), just in time for holiday gift-giving!

Here are the three images (click on any to enlarge):

    

The first week, I started the ball rolling with a senryu; last week, author Deb Bruss responded with a haiku. This week, we kick things off with another haiku – this time, from author/illustrator Michelle Kogan:
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artificial light

illuminates empty isles

powdery palate.

– © 2017 Michelle Kogan, all rights reserved

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Next up is a poem by Patty Richardson, who has never entered #PoetryCubed  before, but responded to the challenge mightily with 8 – count ’em, 8! – stanzas! Way to go, Patty!

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My secret….

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As I approached the lighthouse

To avoid being heard or seen,

I dimmed my headlights, turned off the engine

Then reached for a Krispy Kreme.

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My wife was waiting patiently,

Dinner had been prepared

The last thing she would appreciate

Would be my interest in this eclair.

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I savored every morsel ,

Licked my fingers to the bone

There’s nothing like powdered sugar

Atop a fresh baked,  chocolate scone.

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Brocolli awaits me,

Along with brussel sprouts and kale

I won’t let on that I’ve faltered

I’ll avoid getting up on the scale.

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Chocolate is my weakness,

Forget the collard greens,

Give me a brownie a l mode

And a scoop of ….that fresh whipped cream.

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What she doesn’t know,  won’t hurt her

I’ll keep this secret to myself

I’ll finish my veggies and smoothie

Then ask for a  serving of kelp.

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She certainly does mean well

And I know I need to control

This sugar habit I’ve developed

And the lies that I have blatantly told.

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Gotta kick the habit,

Go cold turkey,  just like that….

Give up my sugary addiction

Give up those sugary snacks!

– © 2017 Patty Richardson, all rights reserved

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Last but not least, we have a poem from the Haiku Queen herself, Diane Mayr, who shares this engaging little scene from her youth:

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Submarine Race Watching

Parked at the marina

headlights out

we barely noted

the revolving lighthouse

beam in the bay.

The race’s end

signaled by a light

wielded by an officer

sporting a kiss

of powdered sugar.

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– © 2017 Diane Mayr, all rights reserved

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I love how so many different poems have come from so many different aspects of these images! I hope you’ll consider entering #PoetryCubed – and please remember, it’s not about how awesome or polished it is, the important thing is that it gets written, period. So send me your poem and I’ll share it here throughout the month!

By the way, Jane Whittingham (better known as The Rain City Librarian) is hosting Poetry Friday today for the very first time – so head on over to her blog for all of the day’s poetry links and hi-jinks!

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“FLASHLIGHT NIGHT” makes a Top 10 list!

I was so happy to learn that Flashlight Night is now one of only 10 books now in consideration for the 2017 Best in Rhyme Award, handed out by Angie Karcher and the folks involved with Rhyme Revolution!

One of the judges, Deborah Williams, recently interviewed me about the book, my career path so far, and what’s on the horizon…and if you are so inclined, you can read the complete interview HERE!

Although it’s not possible to be everywhere at once, I certainly can’t be accused of not making the effort! If you’re wondering where to find me on this crazy journey, here’s my latest schedule:

• Nov. 18, 3pm: Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH (“Local Authors Open House”)
• Dec. 2, 12pm: Barnes & Noble, Peabody, MA
• Dec. 3, 11am: Barnes & Noble, Newington, NH
• (soon-to-be-confirmed: Barnes & Noble, Nashua, NH
• (soon-to-be-confirmed: Concord Hospital Gift Shop, Concord, NH

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WHAT ARE FOLKS SAYING ABOUT “FLASHLIGHT NIGHT”?

• KIRKUS Starred review!
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• Featured review in Sept. 26, 2017 Shelf Awareness!
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• Amazon “Best Books of the Month,” Sept. 2017!

Thank you so much to all who have enjoyed “Flashlight Night” enough to write about it:

“Delicious language…ingenious metamorphoses” – Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“The verse is incantatory…a simple idea that’s engagingly executed” – School Library Journal

An old fashioned, rip-roaring imaginary adventure” – The Horn Book

“[Esenwine and Koehler] don’t just lobby for children to read—they show how readers play” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Imaginative…fantastical” – Booklist“

“Favorably recalls Where the Wild Things Are” – Shelf Awareness

“Readers, you must share ‘Flashlight Night’…as often as you can” – Margie Myers-Culver, Librarian’s Quest

“Begs to be read over and over” – Michelle Knott, Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook/Goodreads

“A poetic and engaging journey” – Cynthia Alaniz, Librarian In Cute Shoes

“Illuminates the power of imagination” – Kellee Moye, Unleashing Readers

“Readers will be inspired to…create their own journey” – Alyson Beecher, Kidlit Frenzy

“Beautiful words and stunning illustrations” – Jason Lewis, 5th grade teacher at Tyngsboro Elementary School, Tyngsboro, MA

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