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By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 4/18/2013
Today is that rollicking good time day when you are encouraged to carry a poem and share it with friends, family, strangers - pass it around like a smile! It started in NYC several years ago and now is celebrated all over. Go to poets.org for ideas of how to celebrate and poems you can print to carry or share. At my library I am postings and passing out some of my favorites by Langston
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 4/12/2013
I am continuing to post haiga on my Instagram account every day in April, as an exercise for National Poetry Month. The whole collection is gathered here on this post. You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram also. I am experimenting with using Phonto and the Flickr photo editor Aviary to add text so the haiku is directly on the photo. So far I like what I am getting. I wish my iPod
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 3/29/2013
I had to clear out the text messages in my cell phone this week. I found a poem there! You know how disjointed a text conversations can be, and reading it over you are going backward in time? There is something about the layers of meaning and the unique undercurrents in a conversation between familiars. There is no body language like f2f but there is a flavor, a vibe. It calls to the heart.
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 2/8/2013
by Carole Boston Weatherford. Great Brain Entertainment, 2013. (nook ebook). After I posted about the non-fiction book Africa for Kids; Exploring a Vibrant Continent last week, author Carol Boston Weatherford reached out to me on my G+ account to suggest I check out her latest ebook project, a poetry book called Africa. On her blog she says, "Just in time for Black History Month. AFRICA, my
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 2/15/2013
wet snow just enough to show lines erased by sun -Andromeda Jazmon We had a lovely snow the other night; softly falling all through the dark. Woke up to a couple inches of pure powder stuck to every twig and line. By the time I was driving to work the sun was brilliantly about her work melting everything into a world of drips and drops. On the way home I saw it was mostly gone, soaked into
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 2/22/2013
by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Floyd Cooper. HarperCollins, 2012 (F& G reader's proof) This lovely picture book (all I'm saying is Floyd Cooper, ladies and gentlemen...) tells the story of the building of the white house. In 1792 workers were needed to construct the White House. There weren't enough free labors so the government rented out the work of slaves from Virginia and Maryland
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 3/8/2013
The format for this post is "Haibun", which is a series of haiku wrapped in story. I've added photos from my Flickr set Clivia. Several years ago my dad gave me a Clivia plant that was a young offshoot from the plant my aunt had given my folks. I didn't know anything about Clivia but I like new plants. I just put it in the back of the porch all summer and under the window in the fall/winter. It
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 3/15/2013
Last week I posted a Haibun focused on my Clivia plants. Haibun is a Japanese haiku form made famous by Basho's 17c. book A Narrow Road to Deep North, a travel journal filled with haiku. Haibun combined prose writing with poetry; it is haiku wrapped in story. I'd like to continue the story of our Clivia plants in another haibun this week and share what happened at the Longwood Gardens Clivia show
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 3/22/2013
by Carl Sandburg, illustrated by William A. Smith. (First published by Curtis Publishing Co., 1936). Harcourt, Brace & World, 1960 edition. Library discard. I found this sweet little volume titled Wind Song in a pile of library discards once upon a time. In the front is a note in his own handwriting from Mr. Sandburg: "Dear Young Folks, Some poems may please you for half a minute and you
By: Andromeda Jazmon,
on 7/1/2011
Salvia spikes behind my garden bench or before? -Andromeda Jazmon I'm not sure I've got that haiku nailed yet. I might come back and edit it some more. I am trying to get the feel for the question in my mind; what comes first, the garden bench or the perennials? Some may plan the garden structures first and fill in with the plants but I would tend to throw the plants in willy nilly over a few
By: Andi Sibley,
on 10/7/2011
Dropping baggage, Following the curve of Light on fence rows. - Andromeda Jazmon I am in a period of lateral shift, reassessing the journey and reconsidering what's required along the way. Dropping some of the old assumptions and hoping for more light. Today's trail was just the balm I needed! Enjoy more poetry at the Friday Poetry roundup today at Great Kid Books!
By: Andi Sibley,
on 10/21/2011
three friends a bench by the water geese on the wind .................. -Andromeda Jazmon The Friday Poetry round up is hosted by the fabulous Jama. Enjoy!
By: Andi Sibley,
on 12/9/2011
One of the gifts I am making my six year old son is a rock collection with words. Sort of a sight word vocabulary drawn from the creek bank. He loves rocks and collects them. On one recent nature walk he filled his pockets so full his pants fell down when he tried to run down the path ahead of me. He is learning to read and collects words. He reads signs everywhere we go. He reads me books
By: Andi Sibley,
on 12/30/2011
This week writer/playwright/poet/activist/ Sonia Sanchez was appointed official Poet Laureate of Philadelphia. It's the first time we've had one, and I am so glad it's her. She has had a brilliant career with and extensive list of published works, awards and accomplishments. (Bio here). I have listened to her read her work over the years, as she has been a professor at Temple U., where she is
By: Andi Sibley,
on 4/27/2012
We drove up to his school this morning and my youngest son cried "Look!" Then laid out the above poem. Straight from the mouths of babes. Here it is the end of National Poetry Month already! I am inspired by my Poetry Sisters, several of whom have been writing a haiku every day, or nearly every day, and posting them on their blogs. Tanita , Sara, Laura, and Liz are rocking the genre.
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 6/29/2012
to save the garden I prune the honeysuckle; mourning the lost scent -Andromeda Jazmon I am struggling lately with some very difficult and painful times in my family. Somehow this picture speaks to the deep sadness and loss. Poetry and photography is a comfort. Today's Friday Poetry round up is with Marjorie at Paper Tigers.
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 8/31/2012
I was inspired this week by Trisha and her Monday Poetry Stretch at The Miss Rumphius Effect blog. She always comes up with fun poetic forms to try out, many of which I have never even heard of before. I used to be such a "free verse" girl LOL. Since getting so involved with the kidlitosphere and Friday Poetry I have rubbed up against many new challenges; one of which is the Monday Poetry Stretch
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 10/5/2012
by Christy Hale. Lee and Low, 2012. (netgalley review copy) Christy Hale has put together a collection of charming concrete poems celebrating children's favorite building toys and activities. Each full page spread shows children engaged in building projects paired with photos of actual buildings that mirror the profile of the children's buildings. Architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Cesar
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 10/11/2012
Missing Cat Where once he was, but is not now he left the lingering lap of warmth. Satin black fur and ice sharp claws ferocious endless hunger feed. He left the lingering lap of warmth to prowl beyond the lamplit round preferring chills that numb the heart. Satin black fur and ice sharp claws leave empty bowl and scratchless post; a limp and dusty catnip mouse. Ferocious endless hunger
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 10/26/2012
autumn fires the trees above a dim sluggish creek; mud snake seeking sun -Andromeda Jazmon Last weekend we took a walk down the valley of a large city park. An ancient creek winds its way below the trees, completely hidden from the rest of urban life. We discovered salamanders under the leaves, spiders spinning across the trail, curious little bugs crawling on the rocks, and this brown
By: Andromeda Jazmon Sibley,
on 2/1/2013
by Joyce Carol Thomas, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Amistad, 2012. (review copy/F&G) I received an "F & G" from the publisher for this book. What that means is it is not the final bound version but just the printed and gathered pages. The illustrations are so beautiful in this book I think I am going to have to frame some of them, so having the pages unbound makes that easier! :) In 1948 Joyce
By: Andromeda Jazmon,
on 3/11/2011
by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Little, Brown and Company. 2010. (Library copy). Stunningly illustrated picture book in verse, presenting the life and work of poet/potter Dave. Born in slavery around 1800, Dave has come to be known as one of the most important potters of the 19th c. in the area of Edgefiel, South Carolina. Laban Carrick Hill became interested in him after
By: Andromeda Jazmon,
on 4/8/2011
Susan Taylor Brown and Laura Purdie Salas have started an online bookclub around the book Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen. Each week they are alternating on their blogs to talk about a different chapter and hosting those of us who want to try the writing exercises. I am joining in late, having just received my copy of the book. I'm playing catch up today, posting a poem I wrote in response
By: Andromeda Jazmon,
on 5/6/2011
I've been working all April on gathering poetry from around the school where I am a Library Media Specialist. (Click the image above for a direct link). I've pulled projects and examples of student work from each grade and used a wide variety of apps and tools to showcase what the kids are doing. It's been a lot of fun and I am really proud of their range of work. Take a look at pre-k poetry,
By: Andromeda Jazmon,
on 5/20/2011
Today I am sharing Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Nature. It's a lovely poem using the image of a mother coaxing her child away from toys at bedtime, which hits home for me these days. As a fond mother, when the day is o'er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed, Half willing, half reluctant to be led, And leave his broken playthings on the floor, Still gazing at them through
Hi! I am in residence at an elementary school, working in 5th grade. There was no way I'd let the students miss Poem in Your Pocket Day. They each took a piece of Irene Latham's Octopus Postcards (posted at Gotta Book yesterday).<br /><br />I love the idea of putting something silly in the world. We could use some of that after the week's events.
Put something silly in the world.. yes! I actually shared Shel Silverstein at a school visit yesterday -- so many favorites! Love the presentation of your pocket poems... mine were crudely folded. Will work on that for next year. :)
Can't imagine a better poet than Shel Silverstein for a kid to have in their pocket! My daughter loves Signals (also in A Light In the Attic) and recites it regularly.
What a fun poem for your son to put in his pocket! Did you put one in yours too? Love your enthusiasm for this.<br /><br /><a href="http://vnesdolypoems.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">Violet N. </a>
Ha Ha Violet of course I did! :) I had my iPod loaded with my Instagram haiku/haiga from the last couple weeks. I was just waiting for someone to ask!! LOL
What a fun day of celebration!
I'm going to do a belated Poem in Your Pocket day tomorrow. Now which poem shall I choose? I like the poem your son chose!
I carried Lucille Clifton's "Blessing the boats" around on Poem in Your Pocket Day. I forgot to help my kids find a poem! :-( I really like the Silverstein poem.