Poetry Makers - J. Patrick Lewis

I'm convinced that there isn't anything J. Patrick Lewis can't write about. His books not only use a variety of poetic forms, but also cover a huge range of topics. One of his newest books, The Underwear Salesman: And Other Jobs for Better or Verse, looks at the world of work and some of the more interesting jobs available.

Before we look at some of Pat's work, let's learn a bit more about him.
***************
How did you get started writing poetry?
Pat: I had been writing for many years in my field of economics (groan), which requires a mind at odds with the universe and one that conveys itself in prose of lead. Anyway, nearing the ripe age of forty, I was hit in the face with a pie (not literally), and I woke up to Yeats, Auden, Frost, Dickinson, Hardy, Larkin, the Usual Suspects.

Who/what made you want to write?
Pat: Well, I wish I could say that I am one with the poet Kenneth Rexroth, who wrote, “I write poetry to seduce women and overthrow the capitalist system. In that order.” But I fear my motives were a bit more exalted than that. The short answer to your question: The same thing that makes me want to breathe.

What got you hooked on children’s poetry?
Pat: Yeats, Auden, Frost, Dickinson, Hardy, Larkin, the Usual Suspects.

Have you had any formal poetry training? If not, how did you learn to write what you do?
Pat: No, no training, no creative writing courses, the gods be thanked. When I discovered poetry, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with it. All I knew was that I loved it. So I donned a hair shirt, lived on scarabs and watercress, and did nothing but read poetry, books about poetry, poetics, prosody—the classics for both adults and children—for three years until I learned the craft. Without seeming shamefully earnest, I should say that it helps to spend inordinate amounts of time with close friends called the dictionary and the thesaurus.

Can describe your poetry writing process?
Pat: Yes, I use my friend and co-author Jane Yolen’s BIC method of writing—Butt In Chair (Jane has given me permission!). For me, that usually means 8-9 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless I am at a school visit or a literature conference. Of course, that time includes huge dollops of reading and staring into the ethers, as much as writing.

What are the things you enjoy most about writing poetry for children/young adults?
Pat: I write poetry for children and adult readers in the hope of creating for them what I call an “ah-ha moment,” saying something that might give them a moment’s respite from the day’s minutiae. Do I succeed? Rarely, if ever, but why should that matter? The point of it all is that one tries every day to write great poetry. The short answer to your question: Playing with words the livelong day.

Do you have a favorite among all the poems/poetry books you have written?
Pat: I often say in response to that question that my books are like my children, of whom I have three, and I love them all for different reasons. But truth be told, I’m most fond of A HIPPOPOTAMUSN’T, FREEDOM LIKE SUNLIGHT: PRAISESONGS FOR BLACK AMERICANS, SWAN SONG: POEMS OF EXTINCTION and VHERSES: FOR OUTSTANDING WOMEN.

Would you like to share the details of any new poetry project(s) that you’re working on?
Pat: Douglas Florian and I have just co-authored a ms. of futuristic nonsensical car poems that we hope will find a home. I’m also polishing a book length tale in nonsense verse a la the beloved Lewis Carroll entitled GUMMY BABY: THE TOOTHLESS VAMPIRE. And I’m dying to reprise PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY with another book about books and reading. So that will be next.

Pop Quiz!
Your favorite dead poet?
Pat: I apologize, but I can’t provide a pop answer, except for Yeats, Auden, Frost, Dickinson, Hardy, Larkin, the Usual Suspects. When school children ask me my favorite book, I always tell them that answer changes every fifteen seconds. Too many greats to have one favorite. Likewise with poets, so if I’m allowed one minute to answer (fifteen seconds each), I’ll skip the obvious Usual Suspects for the not-so-obvious second tier. In no particular order, they would include: A.E. Housman, E.A. Robinson, Charles Causley and John Betjeman. Anglophiles are suckers for British poets.

Your favorite place to write?
Pat: For me, the only place to write: My chair, my room with a view, and my lovely wife’s white noise in the background.

Favorite quote on writing/poetry?
Pat: Am I allowed seven?
“When you catch an adjective, kill it.” (Mark Twain)
“In poetry you must love the words, the ideas and images and rhythms with all your capacity to love anything at all.” (Wallace Stevens)
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” (Italo Svevo)
“A free verse poem that doesn’t justify its line-breaks hardly deserves the name ‘poem.’” (Helen Vendler) (And if I may add, this is especially true of so-called verse novels.)
“Prose is walking, poetry is flying.” (Galway Kinnell)
“Know thyself! If I knew myself, I’d run away.” (Goethe)
“All bad poetry is sincere.” (Oscar Wilde)

Your nominee for the next Children’s Poet Laureate?
Pat: X. J. Kennedy.

***************
There are 47 slightly odd jobs described in The Underwear Salesman, including banana picker, ventriloquist, butcher, sword swallower, crossword puzzle maker, and more. Here's a sample.

Two rules sword swallowers follow
That normally follow a swallow:

Look up to the ceiling.
Ignore your gut feeling.

This is the shortest poem in the book. Can you guess what job this poem is describing?

I come to de-bug
What's under de rug.

The poems are entertaining and full of wonderful word play. Kids and adults alike will delight in them.

I use a good number of Pat's books in my classroom. I love Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes and Scien-Trickery: Riddles in Science, both illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. Here's a poem from the latter.

The Old Switcheroo

My father's the arc.
My mother's the spark.
Without them you would
Be left in the dark.

Answer: Electricity!

Last year as part of my April celebration of poetry I reviewed two of Pat's books. You can read more of his poems and learn about these books at Poetry in the Classroom - A World of Wonders and Poetry in the Classroom - The World's Greatest Poems.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite poems from A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme.

Is the Yellow Sea Yellow?

Is the Yellow Sea yellow?
Is the Red Sea red?
Is the Black Sea black?
Is the Dead Sea dead?

Yes, because there's too much loess—
A fine, rich yellow silt.

Yes, because the red seaweed
Is floating like a quilt.

No, the black comes from,
They say, dark, brooding storms.

Yes, it's dead. No fish, no plants,
Or any of life's forms.
It's no one's fault . . .
Just too much salt!

If you want to learn more about Pat and his work, check out these sites.

• Pat's web site
• Poetry Workshop in Print article by Lee Bennett Hopkins
  
• Interview at wordswimmer
• Interview at Wild Rose Reader

Three cheers for Pat and a sincere thanks to him for participating in the Poetry Makers series.

All poems ©J. Patrick Lewis. All rights reserved.

Poetry Book Giveaway - And the Winner Is ...

Using the old name-in-the-hat method, the winner of Ann Whitford Paul's All by Herself: 14 Girls Who Made a Difference is:

Carol of Carol's Corner! Congratulations!

Stay tuned to the Poetry Makers series for more great interviews and book giveaways.

Poetry Makers - Joyce Carol Thomas

If you think Joyce Carol Thomas' name sounds familiar, it may be because her book The Blacker the Berry earned a Coretta Scott King Author Honor for 2009. The illustrations by Floyd Cooper also earned it the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner. But Joyce Carol Thomas has been writing for many years. Her first published novel, Marked by Fire, won the National Book Award in 1983 for Children's Books. Talk about starting your career with a bang! Since then, Joyce has written for children and adults in a range of genres. Regardless of the form, at the heart of her work is a focus identity, culture and family.

Before I talk about some of Joyce's work, let's learn a bit more about her.
***************
How did you get started writing poetry?
Joyce: My sister recalls that before I could read I would go under the house where it was quiet and scribble what was in my head. I had yet to learn to write. So the paper was filled with scribbles.

Who/what made you want to write?
Joyce: I loved to listen to language. My older brothers use to read to me and I’d get very quiet. I would become totally engaged with the words. When the minister preached, I heard poetry. In Sunday School and Bible Study, I heard poetry. Even the town drunk spoke in poetry that only I could decipher. (smile)

Have you had any formal poetry training? If not, how did you learn to write what you do?
Joyce: I have taught poetry in schools and in universities. My students used to be amazed that the poetry Goddess lived within their minds.

Can describe your poetry writing process?
Joyce: I sometimes wake up in the morning with a poem on my mind. I go straight to my desk and begin writing the poem while it is fresh and brand new.

What are the things you enjoy most about writing poetry for children/young adults?
Joyce: I like the delight in children’s voices when they tell me about how one of my poems was so important to them. Poetry influenced the way they looked at the world and it touched the way they looked at themselves. In general, children catch the rhythm of a poem very easily. Other young adults say reading poetry helps them read other library books and text books for class and for homework. Children can look for the sound of poetry in homework.

Do you have a favorite among all the poems/poetry books you have written?
Joyce: I like many for various reasons.

Would you like to share the details of any new poetry project(s) that you’re working on?
Joyce: I’m always working on new poetry. Some I’ve had published, some not. When a new book of poetry comes out, I’ll let you know.

Pop Quiz!
Your favorite dead poet?
Joyce: They are not dead. Their work lives.

Your favorite place to write and illustrate?
Joyce: In my study looking out at a view of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay Bridges.

Your nominee for the next Children’s Poet Laureate?
Joyce: I’ll think deeply about it.

***************
The Blacker the Berry wasn't the first poetry book of Joyce's to receive a CSK honor award. Her first picture book, Brown Honey In Broomwheat Tea, also illustrated by Floyd Cooper, received this same honor in 1994. The 12 free verse poems in this volume introduce readers to the richness of family life and love while celebrating the heritage of African Americans. My favorite poem from the book honors the strength that resides in the people she writes about.

I Am a Root

I am hewn from
      the solid ledge of rock
      the soaring songs of birds
      the rocking motions of the ocean
      the uplifted branches of the tree

I am a root
      that will be free

Equally as lovely is the companion volume to this selection of poetry, Gingerbread Days, another collection of 12 poems which are linked to the months and celebrates the passage of a year within an extended African American family.

Another collection of poems appears in the book Crowning Glory. The 14 poems honor the beauty and variety of African American hairstyles, including braids, dreadlocks, cornrows, adorned and more. One of my favorite poems from this volume is about hats. Here are the first two stanzas.

Glad Hats

Pink hats for the fashion parade
Hats ribboned and hats homemade
Hats bought from downtown stops
Hats picked from boutique shops

Green hats with flower rims
Hats made with skinny brims
Hats made of straw and linen
Hats made for girls and women

Joyce's latest award-winning volume of poems is perhaps one of my favorites. The book opens with a simple phrase—Colors without black, couldn't sparkle quite so bright. What follows are 12 poems that describe different shades of skin color and connect those colors to fruits and berries. The final poem includes all the children and colors previously described. It begins this way.

Color Struck

Our hair is curly black, braided brown
      and wavy red
Our lips are as luscious as ripe berries
As slim as a painter's thin line
And as generous as
Plump plums

We are color struck
The way an artist strikes
His canvas with his brush of many hues

No matter which volume of Joyce Carol Thomas' you select, inside you will find lovingly crafted works celebrating the African American experience. I hope you will consider reading one or more of these titles and immersing yourself in the beautiful worlds so amazingly brought to life by Joyce's vivid and enduring poems.

Please consider visiting Joyce's web site to learn a bit more about her and her many, many works. My deepest gratitude to Joyce for participating in the Poetry Makers series.

All poems ©Joyce Carol Thomas. All rights reserved.

Poetry Makers Book Giveaway

Since April began, four poets have been interviewed in the Poetry Makers series. If you've been reading, you'll have noticed that I'm giving away a book to some lucky reader who comments by midnight tonight. That is, you need to comment on that particular post. The catch is, I'm not telling you which one.

C'mon folks, this is great stuff (if you don't mind me saying), so take some time to find about these talented writers. There could be a free book of poetry in it for you, and even if you don't win, I promise you'll enjoy yourself anyway.

Blogger of the Week at Alice's CWIM Blog

Thanks bunches to Alice who asked me to be her blogger of the week. You can read all about it at Alice's CWIM Blog.

Poetry Makers - Ann Whitford Paul

Last year during National Poetry Month I won a book from Elaine at Wild Rose Reader. It was All by Herself: 14 Girls Who Made a Difference, written by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by Michael Steirnagle. I'm embarrassed to say that until then, I had never met the author in my poetry reading. How could that be?! A few months later while preparing for a lesson on geometry I pulled out one of my favorite books, Eight Hands Round: A Patchwork Alphabet, and lo and behold, saw a name on the cover I recognized! It was Ann Whitford Paul. In the months that followed, Ann's name seemed to pop up in every Lee Bennett Hopkins' anthology that I opened. (Really, this is only a slight exaggeration!)

When I decided to do this series I just knew I had to find out more about her. So, before I talk about Ann's work, let's meet her.

***************
How did you get started writing poetry?
Ann: I wrote a picture book that was called "poetic" by teachers and reviewers so I thought I better learn more about Poetry. That's why I signed up for a class with Myra Cohn Livingston. It changed my life. I studied with her for nearly nine years. Although she died, I still hear her comments with every poem I write.

Who/what made you want to write?
Ann: Reading stories to my four children, got me interested in writing. I enjoyed those times so much I wanted to create other books that adults and children could share together.

What got you hooked on children’s poetry?
Ann: I love the simplicity, music and directness of children's poetry. The wonder of the world, the honest expression and the upbeat view, contrasted with the wandering, self-indulgent and free-verse of adult poetry, spoke to me.

Have you had any formal poetry training? If not, how did you learn to write what you do?
Ann: I studied poetry with Myra Cohn Livingston and have continued my education in working with other poets and reading, reading, reading poems.

Can describe your poetry writing process?
Ann: If I don't have an idea, but want to write a poem, I spend a long time observing and thinking about an object, any object. I let my mind wander to memories associated with it, fantasies about it, metaphor and simile and soon a poem begins. Often it doesn't rhyme in the beginning. First I want to get down what I'm trying to say. After that, I play around with rhythm and rhyme. Sometimes it improves the poem, other times it doesn't.

What are the things you enjoy most about writing poetry for children/young adults?
Ann: I love the way it forces me to focus on the here and now. It's always a challenge to fit a subject into a form and that keeps me interested. Also poems are short. Therefore I can write in brief snatches of time. A picture book or a novel requires much more long-time concentration. Just because poems are short however, doesn't mean they are easy. It takes time and patience to make sure every word is right.

Do you have a favorite among all the poems/poetry books you have written?
Ann: I'm especially excited about my latest picture book WORD BUILDER which is actually a poem about writing that Lee Bennett Hopkins first published in an anthology titled WONDERFUL WORDS. It's about how one constructs a book and the illustrations by Kurt Cyrus are stunning!

Would you like to share the details of any new poetry project(s) that you’re working on?
Ann: I just sent a revision of a new poetry collection to an editor and I'm afraid to talk about it for fear I'll jinx the project. I'll keep you posted.

Pop Quiz!
Your favorite dead poet?
Ann: David McCord for his images, language and child-like fascination with the world.

Your favorite place to write?
Ann: I have a chair in my bedroom, that's super comfortable and has a view out the window of trees and birds and squirrels. That's where I usually write my first drafts with pen and paper. Then I go to my office (which used to be one of my children's bedrooms) and revise on my computer. The chair isn't as comfortable and I have a different view of trees and birds, but both places put me in a creative mood.

Favorite quote on writing/poetry?
Ann: "Listen carefully to first criticisms made of your work. Note just what it is about your work that the critics don't like-then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping." -Jean Cocteau

Your nominee for the next Children’s Poet Laureate?
Ann: Hope Anita Smith. Her poems ring with honesty and she does not shy away from writing of strong, painful emotions.

***************
All by Herself: 14 Girls Who Made a Difference is a book of biographical poems about girls who grew into women of note. The poems focus on the experiences in their early lives that helped shape who they became. You'll find verses here about Amelia Earhart, Mary Jane McLeod, Violet Sheehy, Rachel Carson, Sacajawea, Ida Lewis, Harriet Hanson, Wilma Rudolph, Wanda Gág, Kate Shelley, Pocahontas, Maria Mitchell, Golda Mabovitch (Meir), and Frances Ward. At the beginning of the back matter you'll find this poem.

Afterword
Each by herself has acted strong.
This book is short,
but could be long.
Many girls have done the same,
but there's not room
for every name.

How true. When I reached the end I wanted more poems, more stories, more information about the amazing women that have helped to shape our history. The end notes describe a bit about each girl and the experience described in the verse, as well as what the girl went on to do in adulthood. A biography for further reading is included.

Not only do I love the poems in All by Herself, but I have many favorites among her anthologized poems. They take many poetic forms and cover a huge range of topics. Here are two of my favorites. The first is a gorgeous poem entitled "Full Moon and Owl" in Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins: Creature Poems, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. After trying mightily in recent days to write a triolet that works (I failed miserably), this one gives me some hefty inspiration.

Full Moon and Owl

Full Moon and Owl together stare,
three round eyes watching the night.
Moon's white sines a friendly glare.
Full Moon and Owl together stare.
But Owl's cold gold warns Beware
and all small creatures quake with fright.
Full Moon and Owl together stare,
three round eyes watching the night.

**Apologies for the formatting.
In the book the type is set so that the poem itself
takes the shape of the full moon.

The second is from America at War, poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn.

Battle of Bunker Hill—1775

Press on! Press on!
Forget
sweltering sun.
Press on!
Through chain shot,
ring shot, double-headed
shot, falling
thick as hailstones.

Press on!
Shut your ears to the
wounded's piercing groans.
The fear of death
has already left each breast.

Press on!
Descent the hill.
Damn those redcoats!
Damn those lobsters!
Dam those bloody backs!
Press on! Press on!

I can't read this without thinking about our soldiers today. The weapons, clothing, and location may be different, but the work and resolve of the troops on the ground is unchanged. This poem exemplifies one of the things I love about poetry. It transports us through time and space and makes us feel things as we look at the world in a different way. Now picture a teacher reading this poem in a social studies class where students are learning about the Revolutionary war. Can you imagine the impact it will make? I surely can.

I owe Elaine Magliaro a tremendous debt of gratitude for introducing me to the work of Ann Whitford Paul. For those of you reading this post who haven't read her work before today, consider yourselves initiated. Now go out and look for more! You won't regret it.

If you want to learn more about Ann and her work, visit these sites.

• Ann's web site
• Author information at Children's Literature
• Author Spotlight at SoCal Book Scene

Many, many heartfelt thanks to Ann for participating in the Poetry Makers series.

If you've read this far, you now have the opportunity to win your very own copy of All by Herself by leaving a note in the comments. You have until midnight tonight to enter. On Saturday morning I will put the names in a hat and let William pick a winner.

Poetry Makers - Avis Harley

While putting together the interviews this month I was more than a bit pleased to learn how many of the participating poets are former classroom teachers. That bit of knowledge just warms my heart. Avis Harley is one of these special people. I found my way to Avis' work while trying to work on my own writing. I found that adult books on writing poetry weren't helping me experiment and practice with poetic forms, so I began to look for books written for kids on how to write poetry. Enter Avis Harley and the book Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry.

When I found this book just after my son was born (2001), I was thrilled. Not only did it provide basic information on different forms, it included fine examples and gave me some terrific models. This was Avis' first book of poetry and she not only wrote it, but illustrated it as well. Her second book, Leap Into Poetry: More ABCs of Poetry, followed closely on its heels and demonstrates both poetic forms and literary terms.

Before I go on and talk more about Avis' writing, let's learn a bit more about her.
***************
How did you get started writing poetry?
Avis: I have always loved playing with words. I kept diaries (with a lock and key!) and wrote poems from a very young age, but during my final year in high school I took a creative writing course. We were exposed to different kinds of poetry – and I was thrilled to discover the variety of forms available, and how poets could turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. I wrote a lot of poetry in that class, and realized it was something very important to me. I remember my surprise and delight in winning a poetry contest that year, and having the poem published in an anthology.

Who/what made you want to write?
Avis: Thinking about things around me, and how I might capture these thoughts.

Also, I listened to a lot of poetry in my early years. I heard traditional nursery rhymes recited by my grandmother, who was a very animated speaker, and my mother read the A. A. Milne series. My mother was a great fan of Robert Louis Stevenson, and one of my favorite books was A Child’s Garden of Verses. She read me those poems over and over, and I still have that well-loved, timeworn copy on my book shelf. Stevenson wrote this book almost exclusively in quatrains, using iambic tetrameter. This seemed to have influenced my initial attempts at creating verse, as my early poems all seemed to follow this pattern.

What got you hooked on children’s poetry?
Avis: I think my love of children’s poetry grew out of my love of working with children. I had my first class of Grade 3 students when I was nineteen, and I’ve been listening to the language of children ever since. Sharing with students the wonderful variety and wealth of poetry available is always an enriching experience. I also have had the pleasure of teaching children’s poetry at the university level, working with teachers and librarians on ways to integrate it into all areas of the curriculum – reading and sharing poetry, tasting the joy of making poems – with some students finding their poetic voices for the first time.

Have you had any formal poetry training? If not, how did you learn to write what you do?
Avis: I don’t believe my academic background gave me too much in the way of formal training in poetry writing. I just always wrote on my own. Reading is something that’s always been part of my daily life. As a child, I think I enjoyed descriptive passages more than plot in the stories that I read, and I’ve always been drawn to the rich imagery found in poetry. I love the challenge of arranging words.

Can describe your poetry writing process?
Avis: I write in longhand, with lots of space between lines to cross out, rewrite, and insert new words and ideas. I write a poem over and over, editing constantly, always reading the lines aloud. Then I type it into the computer and revise this version. I really enjoy the revision process and keep on reworking the poem until it feels right. The different stages of word-change are a bit like a metamorphosis, and I created the following acrostic with this in mind:

EDITING THE CHRYSALIS

“At last,” cried Butterfly,

Poised
Over its
Empty chrysalis,
“My final draft!”

I am never without a pen and a scrap of paper. An image or line can pop into my head and pop out just as quickly. Ideas need to be recorded quickly, for fear they might disappear.

What are the things you enjoy most about writing poetry for children/young adults?
Avis: My experience with children is that they share the same delight in language that I have. Poetry is an invitation to savor language in its most intense and concise form. Experimenting with words and playing around with the subject to see how it dictates the form is something I love to do. It’s like an intriguing word game, and I enjoy the process. Children delight in humour and rhyme, and they respond to poems with feelings and emotions. They enjoy discovering how a poet plays with words, and “catch on” to devices like puns. It’s fun to hear their reaction to the last line in this poem:

CONNECTIONS

This shell is my phone to call up the sea
And ask, “What’s the news? How’s the family?”

I can hear songs of whales, the surf in a roar,
And laughter of pebbles teasing the shore.

When I miss the sea in my small city home,
I connect up with Neptune on shellular phone.

In the classroom, I would often write a poem for my students to illustrate the meaning of a huge and tasty word. They always seem to like poems that relate to their immediate lives:

LATER

My teacher said I should look up
this word: PROCRASTINATE.
I’ll check it out when I get home,
it’s just a little wait.

But after school my friends drop by,
we laugh and play and fight;
then suddenly it’s dinner time,
I’ll look it up tonight.

But now the television’s on,
homework’s looking bleak.
PROCRASTINATE can wait a bit,
I’ll look it up next week!

Do you have a favorite among all the poems/poetry books you have written?
Avis: That’s a difficult question. Sometimes I think my first poetry book: Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry is my favorite because there is something special about your first published book. The Monarch’s Progress: Poems with Wings is very important to me. I have such respect and admiration for the monarch butterfly; I loved writing and illustrating that book. I have a new book coming out in 2009 entitled African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways, published by Candlewick. I set myself new challenges in this book by creating acrostics I have not seen done before, including the multiple one. It was great fun to create an armchair safari!

ABOVE ALL

Celebrate these
Long-standing giraffes,
Opening
Up clouds and eaves-
Dropping on the wind!

Far
Removed
In airy
Elegance,
Nibbling on high, they
Decorate the
Sky.

Would you like to share the details of any new poetry project(s) that you’re working on?
Avis: I have just finished writing and illustrating a book about the honeybee – another tiny creature who fascinates me. Maybe this is my favorite book! It is a combination of poetry and science. Honeybee Poetry is now buzzing around looking for a publisher.

Pop Quiz!
Your favorite place to write and illustrate?
Avis: I like to sit at my desk beside a large window. There is an overflowing flowerbox on the ledge, and just above the flowers is a hummingbird feeder. A tray of birdseed hangs nearby, and proves to be a constant challenge to the squirrels. It’s a very busy spot!

Favorite quote on writing/poetry?
Avis: Robert Frost: “Poetry begins in delight and ends in wisdom.”

Your nominee for the next Children’s Poet Laureate?
Avis: J. Patrick Lewis: a Master of Words, Wit, and Wisdom.

***************
Avis' most recent book, The Monarch’s Progress: Poems with Wings, was a 2008 Cybils nominee in the poetry category. This spring when my son's class studies the life cycle of butterflies, it will be THE book I give to his teacher. Using a variety of poetic forms, including alphabet poems, acrostics, cinquains, haiku, limericks, sonnets and more, readers will learn a whole lot of science while enjoying these poems.

In the introduction, Avis explains why she chose specific forms for certain poems. In the back matter is a section entitled Small Matters. In it readers will find additional information about the content of the poems and illustrations. Boy do I wish I had this book in my classroom library when I was teaching!

In addition to her poetry collections, Avis' work also appears in a number of anthologies. One of my favorite poems appears in Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins: Creature Poems, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. I have a thing for turtles anyway, but this poem just sings to me.

Triassic Triumph

Reptile eye
shining inside its leather cave
measures
the heavy afternoon.

Eons ago
Turtle left the starting gate,
not even knowing the word
late.

Clad only in her bony home
and steady as a metronome,
she plods past dinosaurs,
predators,
a snoozing rabbit fool—
barely beating out
the carver's tool.

Click-clack click-clack down the track
laden with legends upon her back;

Old Slow toes holds her place
in this great enduring race.

Avis Harley may not be in the classroom any longer, but she's not far from that work, teaching all her readers through her poetry.

I hope you've enjoyed learning more about Avis and her work. Keep your eyes open for her new book and let's hope there will be lots more her in the very near future. A hearty thanks goes out to Avis for joining us in the Poetry Makers series.

All poems ©Avis Harley. All rights reserved.

Poetry Friday - Ode on the Whole Duty of Parents

Before I launch into my poetry post for today, let me remind you of the Poetry Makers series happening here every day in April. In honor of poetry Friday there are TWO poets featured today. They are Avis Harley and Ann Whitford Paul. If you missed the launch of the series, do go back and take a look at the interviews with Kenn Nesbitt and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Every poet interviewed has something lovely and unique to share.

Alright, on with the regularly scheduled poetry post!
-------------------------
There's nothing like the death of a child's pet to make you feel like a terrible parent. William is still missing Squeaker, but he's slowly coming to grips with the loss. I, however, am still feeling terribly guilty. I keep wondering what I did wrong, or what more I could have done to prevent this sad end. This whole episode has me thinking about parenting, so today I'm sharing a poem on this topic.

Ode on the Whole Duty of Parents
by Frances Cornford

The spirits of children are remote and wise,
They must go free
Like fishes in the sea
Or starlings in the skies,
Whilst you remain
The shore where casually they come again.
But when there falls the stalking shade of fear,
You must be suddenly near,
You, the unstable, must become a tree
In whose unending heights of flowering green
Hangs every fruit that grows, with silver bells;

Read the entire poem.

The round up is being hosted by Amy at ayuddha.net. Do stop by and take in all the great poetry being shared this week. Before you go, be sure to check out the list poems written for this week's poetry stretch. Happy poetry Friday, all!

Miss Rumphius meets The Joy of Children's Literature

I find it a bit disturbing that I have now taken to introducing myself as Miss Rumphius. After all, I don't look anything like the lady in the book, though I do try to act like her. I guess if you know me through blogging, it isn't really so strange. Today while the morning conference session was breaking up and we were heading to lunch, I walked by a woman who looked familiar (sort of). I caught of glimpse of her name tag which read Denise Johnson, College of William and Mary. It took a minute for that to register. When I realized who she was I walked over and said "Are you The Joy of Children's Literature? I'm Miss Rumphius!"

If you've met your blogging or online acquaintances in real life, you know how much fun it can be. I got to spend lunch talking to Denise about books. I also learned how amazing she is when she received an award given to outstanding teacher educators. Did you know she went back to the classroom for a year to serve as a reading specialist and while there earned National Board Certification? THAT is an amazing feat.

I'm thrilled to have met her. Here's the very blurry photographic proof. (She's the tall, striking one!)
If you haven't been to her blog, what are you waiting for? (BTW, she has written a book by the very same name, The Joy of Children's Literature. You should check that out too!)

Poetry Stretch Results - List Poems

The challenge this week was to write a list poem. Here are the results.

Jane Yolen left this one in the comments.

How to Write A List Poem

1. Gather your thoughts.
Try using the hand basket
you were using for your trip to hell.
Or the tote bag from the garden shop
since green is the color for now.
Or maybe the backpack
which you threw into the corner
after your last abortive
climb of Kilimanjaro.
(Perhaps learning to spell it should come first.)

2. Make an Actual List
Try a grocery list,
with numbers to the left.
Don’t forget the eggs, the hummus.
Or a To Do list,
because it is fun to cross things off.
Or a recipe, using good verbs.
I particularly like: Stir. Whisk. Sear.
Or in a pinch, Pinch.

3. Gather sources.
I prefer books,
old hard covers discovered,
in musty, fusty bookstores
where a woman named Barbara
or perhaps Mabel Jane
adds everything up with a pencil.
Children prefer the Internet
which is democratic and erratic.
My husband used his brain.
He never forgot anything he ever read,
could see the information
nestled on its page.

4. Write.
Butt in chair.
Write your poem.
Down.
The.
Page

Sherry Dale Rogers of Splatt a way of life also left a poem in the comments.

List Poem
First the alarm clock scream, I wake up.
Second put on gym shorts, don’t forget shirt.
Third off to the bathroom, I know what to do.
Fourth sneakers are by the door, put them on.
Five stand at the edge of my driveway, I want to go back to bed.
Sixth start to run, run 2 miles.
Seven sit in driveway, I am tired from run.
Eight finally I am done, go to kitchen.
Nine find my dish, do a little dance.
The best is last, ten; eat a big delicious bowl of ice cream topped with chocolate syrup and sprinkles.
Tomorrow I will do it again.

Marianne Neilsen of Doing the Write Thing! shared this poem in the comments.

A List of Lists!

Today I made,
A list of calls to make,
A list of emails to mail,
A list of groceries to buy,
And rooms to clean,
A list of meals to cook,
A list of lists for my sons,
A list of people to visit,
And finally,a list of all the lists.

Now it's time to do the lists!

Elaine of Wild Rose Reader is sharing two poems. The first, entitled And Who Will Lead the GOP?, can be found on her new blog, Political Verses. The second poem is below and was created at the Magnetic Poetry site.

POET

I
observe
compose
experiment
sculpt water
paint colors
create metaphors
fashion fiery impressions
chisel rhythm & symbol
capture imagination
passion
ink beauty

Pratibha at Of something 'n' Everything left this poem in the comments.

With a smile i will greet
You,the first time we meet.
I guess i might be bit late,
but the traffic is to be blamed.
We will meet at my fave coffee place
A lot can happen over coffee they say.
I will try my best to memorize
how you appear in real life,
We will reflect on the way we grew
and how the first time each other we knew.
We will laugh to heart's content again
on some crazy things and some so plain!!

Laura Purdie Salas also left a poem in the comments.

What If the First Day of Ninth Grade Is a Disaster?

What if…

…I miss a spot when I straighten my hair?
…My mom hollers, “I love you! Have a great day!” as I walk down the driveway.
…She doesn’t?
…I leave my violin on the bus?
…My locker is upstairs?
…I get The Joy of Public Speaking instead of Funky Clothing Design for my elective?
… I do not know a single, solitary person in any of my classes?
…Chad Behr is in my Public Speaking class, and I pass out?
…Seniors trip me in the hall?
…We have stew for lunch (how could there be leftovers already!)?
…It rains, and my hair totally frizzes out?
…Nobody else has clothes like mine?
…Everybody else has clothes like mine?
…The speech therapist recognizes me and says hi in the hallway?
…I just pretend to be sick?
…I really get sick?
…I’m still the shortest person in my grade?
…My pants rip (they’re the tiniest bit tight)?
…I miss the bus because I’m safety pinning my pants in the bathroom?
…My dad tells me again how exciting the first day of school should be?

Winnie the poohi at Song of my life shares a poem entitled Memorable moments.

Dianne White shares a poem entitled A Patch of Dirt, A Packet of Seeds.

Andi from a wrung sponge left this one in the comments.

The story:
I was complaining
to my mother
on the phone
about my to-do list
and she said:
write everything down
on little slips of paper
and throw them in the air.
Do what comes down first.

The list:
get a hair cut
write a poem
do the laundry
read a poem
plant the pansies
watch the grass green
do my homework
do grocery shopping
sit on the porch
pick up the boys
take a nap
stare out the window
count the cherry blossoms.

The Query:
When throwing slips of paper
in the air,
each holding a chore
written in different inks,
which slip falls fastest?

MotherReader gives us a poem called Packing.

Tess at Natural Worlds shares a poem entitled Someday I Must Sing a Song of Praise.

One of my poems this week was written while attending a conference. It's called How to Survive a Meeting.

It's not too late if you still want to play. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll add it to the list.

How to Survive a Meeting - A List Poem

This post comes to you live from the conference center. As to the subject matter—I must follow the muse where she leads me.

How to Survive a Meeting

Choose a comfortable chair,
preferably one with a view.
Take out a notebook.
Even if it's new,
open near the middle.
Carefully smooth the binding.
Find a pen in your purse.
(Carry something other than black and blue.)
Select a cheerful color.
(It will make you smile later.)
Write the date—longhand, in mirror writing.
(It will give you something to puzzle over
and make you look studious.)
Nod your head.
Make eye contact with the speaker.
Look interested.
Cross and uncross legs repeatedly.
Doodle.
Tap your finger in iambic pentameter.
Write POETRY.
It looks just like note taking,
but is more productive
and better for the soul.

FYI - This was written in pink ink in my notebook and typed during a refreshment break. Now back to surviving.

Poetry Makers - Rebecca Kai Dotlich

When I started teaching in the late 80s I spent a great deal of time looking for poems and comic strips to integrate into my classroom. Since I taught science, The Far Side provided a wealth of opportunity to discuss a huge range of concepts. Poetry proved a bit trickier. I was never at a loss for poems about animals or nature, but physical science was another story. When I started preparing future teachers, I continued to look for science poetry. It wasn't until 2003 that I found In the Spin of Things: Poetry of Motion, a book I had long been waiting for.

I'd actually been introduced to Rebecca's work the year before, when I fell in love with her poem What is Science? in the anthology Spectacular Science: A Book of Poems, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Virginia Halstead. A revised version of this poem became the basis for her poem picture book of the same name.

Before I talk more about Rebecca's work, let's learn a bit about her.
***************
How did you get started writing poetry?
Rebecca: As a young girl I was always cutting and pasting pictures and words on construction paper, in notebooks, on thin white cardboards that slipped out of my father’s folded shirts from the cleaners, writing poems for my grandmother on her birthday, and sending rhyming notes back and forth with my father. Words, words, words. As a new mother I immersed myself and my babies in fairy tales, books I had loved, and poetry. Lots of poetry. So that’s when I started writing poetry, but the how (and why) would be the long and layered, wonderful and whimsical journey before.

The short answer?
I typed my poems at my kitchen table on my grandfather’s typewriter, stuffed them into envelopes and mailed them to editors.

Who/what made you want to write?
Rebecca: I made me want to write. I think it just comes from within. A writer needs to write. No different than breathing or needing sleep. Writing can be frustrating, yes, but more than anything, it was and is a refuge for me.

What got you hooked on children’s poetry?
Rebecca: It might have been those first rhymes of Mother Goose. Or possibly my mother’s rhyming song Mairzy Doats that she sang so often that I knew the ticklish words like my own name (a song actually based on an old English nursery rhyme). I just know I loved the whimsy of words, of word patterns and pairs and I loved poetry, plain as that.

One of the books that I read to my children day after day was SIDE BY SIDE, poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. I can only imagine that reading these poems, along with any and all poems that sang of mice and moons, frogs and fairies, rivers and rain, got me hooked on children’s poetry.

Have you had any formal poetry training? If not, how did you learn to write what you do?
Rebecca: No formal poetry training. Whatever I know of writing poetry I taught myself by reading piles of books in the library; poetry books and books and articles about the poets who wrote poetry books. Being a poet can’t be taught. But the craft can be, the form, the structure, the elements. But there has to be something else, a poetic-persona inside. I think poets just see the world in a different way, like an inborn-training already in place. After that, it’s what you choose to discover, drink in, soak up.

The short answer would be: Read. Write. Revise. For hours. For days. For years.

Can describe your poetry writing process?
Rebecca: I used to sit with yellow pad and pencil. Now I usually go to my computer and start on a clean (Word Document) slate. Sometimes, if I want to bully myself into writing something, starting someplace, I’ll begin a poem in an email, knowing that AOL would love to kick me off any minute. I know, crazy. But it makes me get something down quickquickquick. THEN I copy and paste that into a document. It’s just a silly exercise I give myself when I’m stuck. Then I begin the work of writing and revising the poem. And sometimes it turns into something. Sometimes not. Usually I start a poem with a word or a phrase I’ve heard or read or have been thinking about. A poem can start with something I hear a child say, or words from a billboard sign, a rhythm or a song I hear in my head. I keep lots of notes and revise a lot.

What are the things you enjoy most about writing poetry for children/young adults?
Rebecca: I just enjoy the act of writing. And the idea that someone, somewhere, is reading a poem that I wrote and possibly, just possibly, liking it or needing it or enjoying it. I like very much trying to say something in a new way. Trying. That’s the key. That’s all I can do.

Do you have a favorite among all the poems/poetry books you have written?
Rebecca: That’s difficult. One of my favorite poems is a poem I wrote called "The Giant Seeker." (From Lemonade Sun and Other Summer Poems, Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist and published by Boyds Mills Press.) It’s about my father and how the whole world was mine when he lifted me on his shoulders. Another would be "Whispers to the Wall," a poem of address to the Viet Nam Memorial that appears in three different anthologies, selected by both Paul Janeczko and Lee Bennett Hopkins. Other favorites are four seasonal poems I wrote for the forthcoming Sharing The Seasons (compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by David Diaz, McElderry Books, 2010), that I especially like and enjoyed writing.

Would you like to share the details of any new poetry project(s) that you’re working on?
Rebecca: I am cobbling together a few collections surrounding a winter and an autumn theme, among others in half finished stages.

Pop Quiz!
Your favorite dead poet?
Rebecca: Auden.

Your favorite place to write?
Rebecca: In a small and crowded writing room upstairs in my home.

Favorite quote on writing/poetry?
Rebecca: “Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you." -The Book of Pooh

Your nominee for the next Children’s Poet Laureate?
Rebecca: Lee Bennett Hopkins
(next 3 choices: X. J. Kennedy/ J. Patrick Lewis/ Karla Kuskin)

***************
In addition to authoring many poems found in anthologies, Rebecca has written a number of poetry collections for young readers, as well as concept books, picture books and easy readers. Her latest book is Bella and Bean. Illustrated by Aileen Leijten, it is the story of two best friends, one of whom happens to love poetry. The book begins this way.

"Bella lived in an old brick house with white shutters, just up the hill from Spoon Pond. Every day she wrote poetry at a small desk beneath a small window, shaded by a canopy the color of plums."

While Bella wants to write poems, Bean wants her friend to come outside and play. Bella is grumpy about all the interruptions. After all, she just wants to write. Bean is persistent and not put off in the least by Bella's grumpiness. How will they ever remain friends despite their differences? I won't give away the ending, but let's just say it's pure poetry.

I can't wrap this up without sharing at least one of Rebecca's poems. This poem comes from In the Spin of Things: Poetry of Motion. Whenever I read it I can see my mother bent over the ironing board, working on a tablecloth.

The Ironing
Hour

Sprinkle.
Unwrinkle.
Smooth.
Remove
another wrinkle.
Steam seam.
Glide up.
Slide down.
Ride around
the buttons.
Time to learn.
Your turn.
Dad's shirt.
Pillowcase.
Watch the lace.
Erase
another wrinkle.
Time to learn.
Your turn.
Don't burn.
Hold tight.
That's right.
Smooth flat.
Like that.
Don't tug.
Unplug.

©Rebecca Kai Dotlich. All rights reserved.

You can read a new poem of Rebecca's that is debuting today over at Gotta Book as part of the 30 Poets/30 Days extravaganza.

To read more of Rebecca's work, visit her web site and peek inside the pages of her books. If you want to learn more about her, be sure to visit these sites.

• Q&A at Indy.com
• Interview at Embracing the Child
• Cynsations Author Interview
• Annotated list of publications at Children's Literature Network
• Poetry House Interview
• Interview at Wild Rose Reader
  

Let's raise our glasses in thanks to Rebecca for participating in the Poetry Makers series. Prost, Rebecca!

Poetry Makers - Kenn Nesbitt

If you've ever been to the web site Poetry4kids, then you already know something about today's poetry maker. Kenn Nesbitt's site is a veritable treasure trove of poetic inspiration for kids, teachers and poetry lovers alike. You'll find it packed with things like original poems, podcasts, poems by e-mail, poetry lessons, a rhyming dictionary and much more. Kenn is the author of a number of books, including My Hippo Has the Hiccups: And Other Poems I Totally Made Up, a brand new book of poetry that is being released today! Huzzah!

I don't know about you, but I can't read Nesbitt's work without hearing Donald O'Connor singing in my ear. You know the song I mean—

Make 'em roar
Make 'em scream
Take a fall
Butt a wall
Split a seam

You start off by pretending
You're a dancer with grace
You wiggle 'till they're
Giggling all over the place
And then you get a great big custard pie in the face
Make 'em laugh
Make 'em laugh
Make 'em laugh

Sometimes I wonder if this is Nesbitt's anthem, as his work leaves me happily giggling. My Hippo Has the Hiccups is no exception. Before I share my thoughts about this brand new book, let's learn a bit more about Kenn Nesbitt and his writing.

***************
How did you get started writing poetry?
Kenn: Completely by accident. I heard a recording one day of Shel Silverstein reciting his poem “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout,” and I just thought, “Gee, I'll bet I could write a poem like that.” So I sat down and wrote a poem. It was so much fun that, a week or two later, I wrote another one.

After a while this poetry-writing thing became something of a hobby. A few years later I decided to see if I could get some of my poems published, and was surprised to find that other people enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Eventually I decided to see if I could write an entire book. Now writing poetry is what I do for a living.

Who/what made you want to write?
Kenn: Wait... didn't I just answer that? Well, it started when I read Shel Silverstein's books, but it wasn't until I discovered Jack Prelutsky's poetry that I really got inspired to try to write professionally.

What got you hooked on children’s poetry?
Kenn: My father. When I was very young, my father used to sing a lot, around the house, in the car, and so on. He would also occasionally recite a poem or two. He had quite a few poems committed to memory.

I especially liked hearing the nonsense poems that he knew, and I memorized some of them myself when I was in elementary school.

By junior high I was scouring the library looking for more funny poems to read.

Of course, in all this time, it never occurred to me that I could write poems myself, and I never even tried to write a funny poem until I was 32.

Have you had any formal poetry training? If not, how did you learn to write what you do?
Kenn: It depends on what you mean. I took one poetry class in college, but I think the only thing I learned was that I don't care for most adult poetry.

So I am mostly self-taught, but I would still call it formal training because I have read and studied the mechanics of poetry in great depth.

Can describe your poetry writing process?
Kenn: I work mostly on a computer, where I have access to not just a word processor, but also to thesauri, dictionaries, rhyming dictionaries, etc. The hardest part is sitting down and forcing myself to write, especially when I'd rather be doing something else.

I usually start by making lists of topics and ideas, and I just keep at it until something comes out. Often I'll end up with several false starts (some of which may later turn into different poems) before I finally create something I'm satisfied with.

What are the things you enjoy most about writing poetry for children/young adults?
Kenn: Mainly I enjoy cracking kids up. I think we all need to laugh just a little bit more, and I love being able to help with that.

Do you have a favorite among all the poems/poetry books you have written?
Kenn: I sure do. My favorite is my newest book, My Hippo Has the Hiccups: And Other Poems I Totally Made Up. It's my biggest book to date; over 100 poems. And it is the first to have an audio CD included in the book.

Would you like to share the details of any new poetry project(s) that you’re working on?
Kenn: I'm working on several new poetry collections right now, but, unfortunately, none of them are far enough along to give you any details.

Pop Quiz!
Your favorite dead poet?
Kenn: Do I have to pick just one? In that case, I'll pick W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan). He wrote a lot of poetry in addition to the light operas he did with Sullivan, and I love his work.

Your favorite place to write?
Kenn: Anywhere but home. There are too many distractions at home, so mostly I go to a coffee house or library to write.

Favorite quote on writing/poetry?
Kenn: “You can't write poetry on the computer.” -Quentin Tarantino

Your nominee for the next Children’s Poet Laureate?
Kenn: Keep in mind that I'm not on the nominating committee, but I think it should go to J. Patrick Lewis. I can't think of anyone more prolific or more committed to advancing children's poetry today than Pat.

***************
Even though today is the official release date for My Hippo Has the Hiccups, I've had an advanced reader's copy for a few weeks now, and have been listening to the poems at work and in my car. They are happy and snappy, bouncy and flouncy, funny and sunny, ... Oh you get the idea. My very bad rhymes merely serve to highlight one of the great strengths of Kenn's work. His mastery of rhyme is sublime. (Okay, rhyme NOT intended.) They are never forced nor out of step. They keep the poems moving happily forward and make them immensely readable and enjoyable. Here are two of my favorites. The first is full of word play. My son loves it for the line that resembles the riddle "Why is six afraid of seven?" Answer: Because seven eight nine.

When Vegetables Are Angry
When vegetables are angry
does it mean they're in a stew?
When morning says good morning
does it ask how do you dew?

When mountaintops are spying
would you say they're sneaking peeks?
When water spills on onions
does it turn them into leeks?

To be a good conductor
do you really have to train?
If Superman retired
would he live on Lois Lane?

If streets required clothing
would you buy your street a dress?
If restaurants were dirty
would you eat inside the mess?

Whenever you're impatient
does it mean you're losing wait?
If six bought lunch for seven
would you care how much he eight?

When cheese pots say good evening
do they bid a fond adieu?
When vegetables are angry
does it mean they're in a stew?

The second poem makes my scientific heart swell and would make a great introduction to a lesson on the layers of the Earth. It has a wonderful twist at the end that kids will love.

I'm Digging a Tunnel to China

I'm digging a tunnel to China.
A vertical shaft in the ground.
a passage bisecting the planet.
A cavern so deep, it's profound.

I've picked out the perfect location.
I've started out back in the yard.
I think it may take me all summer.
I'm certain the work will be hard.

I'm using a coal-miner's helmet
for working in darkness or shade.
My work boots are perfectly suited
for breaking the earth with my spade.

I'll pummel the rocks with a pickax.
Ill dredge up the dirt with my hands.
I'll suction the sludgy deposits.
I'll scoop out the pebbles and sands.

I'll shovel out mountains of gravel.
I'll excavate acres of soil.
I'll dig till I feel like collapsing
from endless and backbreaking toil.

I'll dig till I reach molten magma
and smash through the Earth's outer crust,
then don my protective equipment,
as onward and downward I thrust.

My tunnel will come out in China,
or maybe Tibet or Japan,
and people will come from all over
to witness it's breathtaking span.

And when my achievement's completed
I'll dust myself off with a grin,
then step to the edge of the tunnel
and throw all my Brussels sprouts in.

There are 120 poems in this book. In the CD that accompanies it you will find 39 of the poems read aloud by Kenn. Each poem is nicely delivered and often includes sound effects. Kenn's voice is clear and energetic with appropriate intonation to make each poetry track distinctive. Since poetry is meant to read aloud, this is a perfect addition to the book. This book is a must-have for classrooms and libraries, as well as home collections. Readers of all ages will find something to love in this volume.

In addition to having numerous poems in anthologies, Kenn is the author of a number of poetry collections including The Aliens Have Landed at Our School!: And Other Funny School Poems, My Foot Fell Asleep, Revenge of the Lunch Ladies: The Hilarious Book of School Poetry, Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney, and When the Teacher Isn't Looking: And Other Funny School Poems. If you are interested in learning more about Kenn and his work, be sure to check out these sites.

• Poetry for Kids (Kenn's web site)
• Poetry Foundation biography (with links to several poems)
• Interview at Three Silly Chicks

Hats off to Kenn for kicking off the Poetry Makers series.

All poems ©Kenn Nesbitt. All rights reserved.