What am I reading now? The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Once upon a time
I caught a little rhyme
I set it on the floor
but it ran right out the door
I chased it on my bicycle
but it melted to an icicle
I scooped it up in my hat
but it turned into a cat
I caught it by the tail
but it stretched into a whale
I followed it in a boat
but it changed into a goat
When I fed it tin and paper
it became a tall skyscraper
Then it grew into a kite
and flew far out of sight …
~ Eve Merriam
Currently working on a few sketches for Highlights (yay!) for a poem very much similar to a project I did during my sophmore year of undergrad called “Thumbprint” by Eve Merriam. My approach to illustrating “Thumbprint” were silhouettes of children on a large hand each representing a different finger print…this current assignment for the magazine oddly calls for the same type of approach as suggested by the art director. Weird! Who says you can’t really apply things you’ve learned in school to real life…who!? …me.
Well I use too.
Thumbprint by Eve Merriam (1916-1992)
On the pad of my thumb
are whorls. whirls, wheels
in a unique design:
mine alone.
What a treasure to own!My own flesh, my own feelings.
No other, how ever grand or base,
can ever contain the same.
My signature,
thumbing the pages of my time.
My universe key,
my singularity.
Impress, implant,I am my self
of all my atom parts I am the sum.
And out of my blood and my brain
I make my own sun and rain.
Imprint my mark upon the world
what ever I shall become.
You may have heard of Linda Sue Park. She picked up a little thing called the Newbery Award for her book, A Single Shard, a historical novel set in twelfth-century Korea. But for the upcoming Texas Library Association Poetry Round Up she dons a different hat, that of poet. But first, a bit of background info. She was born in Illinois, is a Stanford grad, married an Irishman, is the mother of two, worked as a journalist and teacher, and is an avid reader, reviewer and blogger. Her previous works include: the novels: Seesaw Girl, The Kite Fighters, When My Name Was Keoko, Project Mulberry, Archer’s Quest, the unique collaboration Click, and her latest book, a "sports" novel set in 1950’s Brooklyn, Keeping Score. She also has several picture books to her credit including The Firekeeper’s Son, Bee-Bim Bop, and Yum! Yuck!
When it comes to poetry, she has long been a contributor to literary journals and has now published her first work of poetry for young people, Tap Dancing on the Roof; Sijo Poems—a unique collection of traditional Korean poems with surprises in the last line. Her extensive author's note at the end is especially wonderful and offers history, advice and encouragement. Here’s a lovely sampling:
Wish
by Linda Sue Park
For someone to read a poem
again, and again, and then,
having lifted it from page
to brain-- the easy part—
cradle it on the longer trek
from brain all the way to heart.
From: Park, Linda Sue. 2007. Tap Dancing on the Roof; Sijo Poems. Clarion.
Isn't that beautiful? It reminds me of other poems about poetry-- a topic I love. Here are two other favorites:
The Poem as a Door
by Eve Merriam
A door
is never
either/or.
A door
is always
more.
You cannot skip over,
you cannot crawl under;
walk through the wood,
it splits asunder.
If you expect it to be bolted,
it will be.
There is only one opening:
yourself as the key.
With a sigh of happiness
you pass through
to find on the other side
someone with a sigh of happiness
welcoming you.
from Merriam, Eve. 1992. The Singing Green: New and Selected Poems for All Seasons. New York: HarperCollins.
and
The Bridge
by Kaissar Afif
translated by Mansour Ajami
Poetry is a river
And solitude a bridge.
Through writing
We cross it,
Through reading
We return.
From Nye, Naomi Shihab. comp. 1998. The Space Between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings From the Middle East. New York: Simon & Schuster.
What are your favorite poems about poetry?
Picture credit: search.barnesandnoble.com
Sky News in the UK has a new video interview with actor David Thewlis now online, where the actor discusses his new novel "The Late Hector Kipling," the works of J.K. Rowling, and his role as Remus Lupin in the...
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The Sunday Herald has a new profile actor David Thewlis. In this funny, candid (note:slight language caution to parents) David discusses his new novel, his various acting roles, and mentions his return as Remus Lupin the upcoming Harry Potter and...
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Julie,
I know you're a fan of Syd Hoff. By now, I'm sure you've figured out that A.Redfield and Syd Hoff are one in the same. My late uncle held some radical political views as a young cartoonist!
Hope you enjoyed reading "Mr.His"... Carol (www.SydHoff.org)
Hi Carol!
No! I didn't know about your uncle's other name.
I look forward to reading "Mr. His"
(I've only seen Tales for Little Rebels on line)