This post was originally published two years ago, in 2017, while the poem itself had initially been shared on Carol Varsalona’s blog, Beyond Literacy, as part of her “Finding Fall” gallery, back in 2014. So today, with trees nearly bare and some light snow in the forecast, I thought I’d share it once again…
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Will you be attending this year’s National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Conference? in Baltimore? If so, I hope you’ll say hi if you see me! This will be my first year at NCTE, and I’m very excited to be an official representative for Flashlight Night‘s publisher, Boyds Mills & Kane. Friday afternoon, I’ll be co-presenting “Wonder as a Way In: Teaching Reading and Writing Poetry through Inquiry” – a poetry workshop with authors and educators Laura Purdie Salas, Liz Steinglass, Heidi Mordhorst, and Mary Lee Hahn. We will share activities designed to approach reading, writing, and appreciating poetry through the process of inquiry.
Then Saturday, I’m honored to host one of Boyds Mills & Kane’s tables at the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon, so I’m very eager to meet and hang out with so many writer and teacher friends!
For today’s complete Poetry Friday roundup, be sure to visit my friend and fellow NCTE presenter, Irene Latham, at her blog, Live Your Poem!

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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
- Finalist, 2019 New Hampshire Literary Awards
- Positive reviews from Horn Book, School Library Connection, 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 lovely poem, Matt. Happy Friday the 13th!
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Thank you, Jane!
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I love all the painting in your poem, Matt. Thank you! And how exciting, the museum featuring art from the book! Congratulations!
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Thanks so much, Irene!
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Yes, that is way cool that your book is hanging in a museum! Congratulations! I’m glad you shared the fall poem here, too. It is definitely time for the leaves to begin painting the trees and ground.
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We had our first frost of the season last night, so everyone around here is in much more of an ‘autumn’ sort of mood now…thanks, Kay!
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Love your imagery, Matt—the painted trees painting the ground. I was just talking to my folks in PA, they said the leaves are coming down without changing color at all—it’s been too warm. 😦 We’re used to that here in Florida, but in Pennsylvania??? Glad to hear you finally got your first frost in NH!
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We, too, are seeing a lackluster year of color – partially due to the warmth, partially due to the dryness of the past 4-5 weeks, as well. But the apples are a bumper crop, so all is well! Thanks, Michelle.
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Our ground is being painted, and painted again, Matt. Love your poem, and congrats for being in Amy’s book. I can’t wait to read the book! You’re welcome for my nomination, so well deserved. Best wishes in the deliberations! I’m off to Highlights tomorrow, remember my first time with you and all the others, a special memory! And, wish I was closer to see the museum installation-so great!
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Thanks, Linda – safe travels, and please tell everyone you see I said hi!
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OH, your enthusiasm is contagious! First frost….we are waiting still in Virginia. I have a feeling we will be waiting a while since we’ve had near tropical heat. But, once the weather turns, I’m sure I’ll be complaining about the cold. It is very COOL that your book is in a museum and you are still alive. lol. Mother Nature’s painting is a swell ditty. I think today is the day we will buy pumpkins.
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Thank you, LInda! It was in the 80s here just a couple of days ago, so the fact that we had such a hard frost was quite surprising … but then again, up here in New England, nothing is all that surprising when he comes to the weather! Enjoy your pumpkin picking !
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I adore the surprise in your poem! Thank you! This is my favorite time of year….well, one of them. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words and your fun poem in POEMS ARE TEACHERS. I know that soccer players…and all children…will enjoy it! That museum exhibit is awesome! x
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Thank you so much, Amy – and congratulations again on all your successes! I’m looking forward to featuring “Poems are Teachers” next Friday!
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Beautiful poem, Matt. Having at last experienced a leaf-dropping autumn, I know what you are talking about. And experience your poem in my heart – not just my imagination. It’s a lovely feeling!
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Oh, thank you so much, Kat – I’m glad you got to enjoy autumn they way we do!
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Matt, I loved this poem from the moment you sent it to me and I still love it. When you have the appropriate Autumn Ablaze photo and poem will you send it to me for inclusion on my new fall gallery. The invitation is at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2017/10/autumn-ablaze-invitation-to-create.html. Thanks for your always support.
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I will, Carol – thank you so much!
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Actually, I just remembered I emailed you the haiku from a couple weeks ago…did you receive it?
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Matt, I just checked my gmail again and can’t find an email with your poem. Can you please resend it?
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I like the round robin painting in your fall poem Matt, first Mother Nature then the trees! Congrats on the nomination for the CYBILS, how exciting!
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Thank you, Michelle!
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Lots to read in your post. I agree that the poem is inspiring and good.I love to write nature poems
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Thank you so much, Connetta!
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