Did you know that Thursday, October 4 was National Poetry Day? Well, it was!
In the U.K.
You see, the United States celebrates National Poetry Month each April, while the United Kingdom celebrates poetry now; it began as an initiative by the Forward Arts Foundation to encourage an appreciation of the literary form and to celebrate all its various forms.
So to celebrate, I thought I’d dust off a poem I wrote 7 years ago, in 2011. I shared it here two years later (in April, ironically), but it has gone through multiple tweaks and changes since. It still needs at least one more tweak – but I’ll deal with that some other day:
Many thanks to my daughter, Katherine, for providing another one of her beautiful photographs to accompany my poem! Need more poetry to celebrate? Then please head over to The Opposite of Indifference, where Tabatha Yeatts is hosting Poetry Friday with a German poem about a Chinese tree. (I’ve got you wondering now, don’t I??)
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Ordering personalized signed copies online? Oh, yes, you can!
You can purchase personalized signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Boyds Mills Press, 2017), Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly ALL of the books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH a note requesting the signature and to whom I should make it out to. (alternatively, you can log onto my website and do the same thing) They’ll contact me, I’ll stop by and sign it for you, and then they’ll ship it. 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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Thank you to everyone for your support!
- NY Public Library’s “100 Best Book for Kids 2017” AND “Staff Pick!”
- KIRKUS Starred review!
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Books!
- “Best Reads of 2017,” Unleashing Readers
- Amazon “Best Books of the Month,” Sept. 2017
- Positive reviews from Horn Book, School Library Connection, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, and Shelf-Awareness
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.- “Rollicking rhyme!” – Booklist
- “A wild romp!” – Parenting NH Magazine
- “Cute…intriguing…4 out of 5 stars” – Tulsa Book Review
- “Rhythmic…funny and informative” – Unleashing Readers
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Did you like this post? Find something interesting elsewhere in this blog? I really won’t mind at all if you feel compelled to share it with your friends and followers!
‘A poem’s life!’ I love it Matt. And I think every day should be poetry day, so thanks for finding an extra one to celebrate.
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Thanks, Sally – you’re right, there’s no reason we need to wait for a special day!
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I do love every bit, Matt, but especially “it laughs and cries with open eyes”. Somehow the layers of that line seem endless. Thanks!
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Thank you, Linda!
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Wonderful poem, Matt. I especially like the opening lines of each stanza. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Jama!
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Beautiful, Matt (as is your daughter’s photo! At least, I assume that’s your daughter.)
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Yes, she was my former ‘youngest’ before our 8-year-old son came along. (15 years difference!) She takes some really amazing photos and I’m quite proud of her.
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Capturing poetry’s essence is an eternal quest for those of us who write in this magical form. This is the second time this week I have read about the essential connection of poetry to life. Your poem sit beautifully in the mind of the reader Matt. It resonated strongly. Sometimes our best work and words take time to evolve. Your persistence with this poem has paid a rich dividend. I have noted many responses on Twitter to the UK’s National Poetry Day -a wonderful celebration.
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Thank you so much! I truly appreciate that. And yes, poetry is life to me and many others…and it’s often difficult to explain that to those who don’t “get it.” But hopefully a few will now!
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The photograph has a very relaxing effect and prepares the reader your words. Nice pairing! I’m curious as to what you’re still dissatisfied with?
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…prepares the reader FOR your words. (I’ve got to learn to be a better proofreader!)
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The syntax of the lines “its smile may start to set you free / then grasp you in its clutch” is not correct. Grammatically speaking, it is the smile that “grasps you,” not the poem…which is problematic for me.
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Definitely a poem to honor poetry on its very own day. I’m glad you shared it again.
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Thank you, Kay!
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This is truly beautiful….that the reader and the poem have a relationship…that there is touch and a heartbeat. I love this poem. And, the background photo is perfect. Well done. And, perfect for a celebration day!
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Thanks so much, Linda – I’m glad you liked it so much!
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I’m glad we’re celebrating National Poetry Day! I especially like “a poem’s breath is subtle” because it’s a living thing, alive from the interplay between poet and reader.
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Thanks, Tabatha, I do feel like a poem is a living, breathing thing…which continues to grow and develop (both structurally and emotionally) year after year.
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“in short, a poem’s… life.” Love your ending line Matt, it says everything. Gorgeous image too! Happy Belated Poetry Day, thanks.
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Thank you, Michelle!
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Just beautiful Matt!
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