Last Friday I told you about Laura Shovan‘s annual writing-prompt project known as the February Daily Poem Project. This year, those of us taking part are writing ekphrastic poetry: poetry inspired by (and often written to accompany) a piece of visual art.
It was a rather pensive, thought-provoking sort of poem I shared, inspired by a painting by artist Brian Kershisnik. So this week, we’re going a little more light-hearted!
The Jealous Dancer’s Lament
Good grief, I have to hold this pose
for oh, so long – God only knows.
I’ve had it with this Rodin clown!
At least the Thinker’s sitting down.
– © 2018 Matt Forrest Esenwine,
all rights reserved
Yes, the model for Rodin’s classic, The Thinker, seems to have had it much easier than the poor chap who had to model this pose – which, interestingly, is a yoga pose known as The Dance Pose! (What’s even more interesting is that Rodin didn’t really care for ballet all that much – he preferred free movement like much of what became modern dance.).
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For more poetry, please head on over to Sally Murphy’s little home on the web for today’s complete Poetry Friday roundup! And if you’d like to win a copy of Lee Bennett Hopkins’ newest poetry anthology for children, School People (Boyds Mills Press, Feb. 13, 2018), I’ll be featuring an interview with Lee NEXT Friday, Feb. 16, along with a chance for you to win your own copy! For more details about the book, scroll down…
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“Don’t Ask a Dinosaur” hits bookshelves April 17!
New dates continue to be added to the Dinosaur Tour! Don’t Ask a Dinosaur co-author Deborah Bruss and I have quite a busy schedule planned, and more dates continue to be added:
- Sat., April 14, 11am: Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough, NH, (Children’s Author Day with illustrator Ryan O’Rourke AND Local Book Launch for Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!)
- Sat., April 14, 2pm: Toadstool Bookshop, Keene, NH, (Children’s Author Day with illustrator Ryan O’Rourke AND Local Book Launch for Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!)
- Tue., April 17, 7pm: Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur National Launch Party!!
- Thur., April 26, 10:30am: Pillsbury Free Library, Warner, NH, Dinosaur Storytime with Don’t Ask a Dinosaur!
- Sat., April 28, 10:30am: Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing
- Sat., April 28, 2pm: Barnes & Noble, Framingham, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing (with Sara Levine, Fossil by Fossil: Comparing Dinosaur Bones reading/signing)
- Sun., April 29, 2pm: MainStreet BookEnds, Warner, NH, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing and discussion
- Sat., May 5, 10am: Barnes & Noble, Burlington, MA, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing
- Sat., May 5, 1pm: Barnes & Noble, Nashua, NH, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing
- Sat., May 12, 11am: Gibson’s Bookstore, Concord, NH, Don’t Ask a Dinosaur reading/signing
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School People (Wordsong), Lee Bennett Hopkins’ new children’s poetry anthology, arrives Feb. 13!
Edited by Flashlight Night editor Rebecca Davis, this book includes 15 poems about the grown-ups that children meet at school…including my poem, “Bus Driver.” I hope you’ll consider picking up a copy!
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Thank you so much to all the librarians, bloggers, and parents who are still discovering “Flashlight Night!”
- NY Public Library’s “100 Best Book for Kids 2017!”
- KIRKUS Starred review!
- Amazon “Best Books of the Month,” Sept. 2017!
- “Best Reads of 2017,” Unleashing Readers
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Purchasing personalized signed copies ONLINE? Yes, it’s true!
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new way to purchase personalized signed copies of not only Flashlight Night, but ANY of my books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
I’ve teamed up with the good folks MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH to present an option for people who would love to have a signed copy of one of my books but don’t live anywhere near me. MainStreet BookEnds has ALL but one of my books available for ordering…and the best part is, you can get them personalized!
Just log onto my website and click the cover of whichever book you want, and they will get it to me to sign and send it off to you. Try doing that with those big online booksellers! (Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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Love it, Matt! 🙂
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Thanks, Jane!
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Good grief. A human holds that pose?!
I’d be content to touch my toes!
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I can’t do either!
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*Snap!*
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(Your comments are TOO funny this week, Kat…!)
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Terrific take on this wonderful piece of art, Matt. Perfect pairing with The Thinker.
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Thanks, Joyce – and good luck with that MG submission!
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Ha! Good one, Matt. I like Kat’s response, too.
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Thanks, Tabatha – it does make one wonder if Rodin had a model who needed to hold that pose!
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I like it again here. Laura is so generous to keep the party going.
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Thanks…I’m glad I was able to participate, even on a limited basis. It takes effort to put it together, so I appreciate Laura’s dedication!
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She’s lucky Kip Rechea has her hand on the helm, too.
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Indeed! I’m so happy for Kip on her contract with Kwame’s new imprint.
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Yes, that’s awesome news. I’m happy for Kwame, too. Lots of good stuff going on for him.
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Have you seen, he’s got a BUS?!?
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No. Not sure what you mean.
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Clever and fun verse for that statue. Congrats on the new book!
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Thank you so much!
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Made me laugh! I wholly sympathize with the model/speaker of the poem.
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Thanks, Jama! As I mentioned to Tabatha, I wonder if Rodin had a model who needed to hold that pose…I feel sorry for him if he did!
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I can’t imagine holding that pose. I can certainly sympathize with your imaginary dancer’s thoughts. Fun poem!
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Thanks so much, Kay!
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Matt, your poem is a hoot. I wanted to laugh out loud!
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I’m glad you got a kick out of it, Carol – thanks!
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I loved it earlier and now love it here, Matt. POV is important, isn’t it? Ha!
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Yes, it’s all about perspective! Thanks, Linda.
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I love how you incorporated The Thinker here in your light-hearted response. I’m glad you shared your poem here so I had a chance to revisit it and enjoy it again. It’s been such fun to participate this month–though I am running “behind” at this point!
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Thank you, Molly – I’m running behind quite a bit, as well, but I think you’ve been doing better than me!
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You captured that voice perfectly!
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Thanks, Mary Lee!
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It’s even better on second reading! Glad you’re participating in the project, Matt.
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Thanks, Diane – I’m trying to participate as much as I can, but time keeps slipping away from me!
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HA! (Nods head, tips hat, ups a thumb…) ;0) Well done, Matt!
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Ha, thanks, Robyn…and congrats to you again on your “School People” poem! I’m looking forward to checking out your blog to read about the “Librarian.”
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I love it Matt. Thanks for the giggle.
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I’m glad, thanks, Sally!
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This poem made me laugh. Thank you!
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Thank YOU, Sarah!
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