Skip to main content

BOOK WEEK & Poetry From My Worlds

It was BOOK Week in Australia last week and while Covid tried its hardest, it couldn't dampen our collective spirits for books and all things literate. 

So, while I couldn't visit schools in person,  I was able to contribute and be part of the celebrations with on line sessions reading poetry and presenting a range of poetry forms for young poets to try for themselves.

I read some poems from my books and also presented some more recent poems- freshly made, still warm!  The idea was to share the good news that ideas for poetry are all around us. Anything can become the focus of our poetic attention. We must try to become observers and curious explorers!

Here are three of my latest poems about a range of matters.  Poems that have bubbled up while trying to remain creative in these Covid times.

 Hope you enjoy them...







It is once again Poetry Friday and our host this week is Heidi Mordhorst at 'My Juicy Little Universe.' Heidi's post focuses on a number of matters including, Ghazal Poetry, the work of Inklings and Climate Action. So click the link to find out more and in the process meet more poets and their intriguing projects...



Labels:

Comments

  1. Linda Mitchell3 September 2021 at 21:03

    How fun! I'm sorry that the in-person events are delayed still and again. That just stinks. But, the fun poetry on this page indicates that you had a lovely celebration anyway. I love the wrong shadow....lol. I feel that way as I age! Could I please order one splendiferous hat? It is one item that I don't own...but I think would be a great addition to my wardrobe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 September 2021 at 09:44

      Linda, the celebrations were as enthusiastic as we could make them under the constraints of distance... The teachers worked so hard to engender a sense of occasion. So pleased you enjoyed my offerings.

      Delete
  2. Linda B4 September 2021 at 01:45

    I'm sure you hit the funny bones of all the students who heard your rhymes, Alan. It looks like some had fun with hats & I do love the 'jet propulsion' idea. I have one granddaughter who creates things all the time. Cardboard is her friend! I will share about Lucy Crockett with her. And I adore you new idea about shadows. When I've seen videos of toddlers noticing the shadows for a first time, I wonder what they think. Happy to hear you had a great Book Week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 September 2021 at 09:49

      Hitting funny bones is important right now Linda. Like you, grandchildren are part of my inspiration so I am most honoured that you wish to share my Lucy Crocket poem. I recently watched my granddaughter (about to turn two) playing games with her shadows as we walked in the spring sunshine this week. Book Week was different, but it was still a celebration!

      Delete
  3. laurasalas4 September 2021 at 04:22

    Your splendiferous hat poem made me cackle!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mary Lee4 September 2021 at 07:19

    All three are boatloads of fun, but the repetition in "From the Shadows" makes that one my favorite!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 September 2021 at 09:51

      Thanks Mary Lee, so glad you enjoyed my offerings. I must confess the shadow poem is among my favourites...

      Delete
  5. Elisabeth5 September 2021 at 18:00

    I love this thought, Alan "Anything can become the focus of our poetic attention." What a wonderful message to share with children!

    These poems are great fun - I can imagine a few youngsters trying to build their own rockets, just like Lucy! And that hat poem was a delight - the moat around the brim was perfect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright7 September 2021 at 14:01

      Thank you for your generous response Elisabeth. Glad you found my poetic offerings to your liking.

      Delete
  6. Ruth5 September 2021 at 22:52

    I'm glad Covid couldn't dampen your spirits! My favorite is your hat poem!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright7 September 2021 at 13:55

      It was most important to bring a high level of enthusiasm and high spirits to the occasion Ruth. I hope it shone through to the kids. Glad you liked the hat.

      Delete
  7. Heidi Mordhorst7 September 2021 at 04:45

    Alan, you've been busy! I'm sure the kids are loving these examples of "any topic" poems. They all have their charm, and the fresh-out-of =the-oven aroma is strong!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright7 September 2021 at 13:58

      I have been busy Heidi. Glad you enjoyed the fresh baked feel of my poems. Convincing the inexperienced writer to see the value in ideas in their immediate sphere is important. I hope I broadened the scope of their thinking a little with my efforts.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life Cycle -A football poem by Bruce Dawe

This poem by Australian poet Bruce Dawe epitomises the unique connection sporting tragics have to their preferred football teams, -an almost tribal allegiance. Each season supporters stare down the twin imposters- victory and defeat. They remain both loyal and hopeful of eventual triumph. This poem refers specifically to Australian Rules Football, but it's themes are universal. I share this poem on the eve of the 2017 Grand Final to decide the Premiership for this football season. My team, the Richmond Tigers have reached the play off to decide the ultimate victor. They have not contested the Grand Final match for 35 years. My hopes fly with them. This poem links two of my great loves -football and poetry... Life Cycle When children are born in Victoria they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots, having already begun a lifetime’s barracking. Carn, they cry, Carn … feebly at first while parents playfully tussle with them for possession of a rusk: Ah, he
Post a Comment
Read more

Poetry Friday: The Safety Pin Poem

Poets not only write poetry, they also read poetry. In order to be able to write poetry, one must read it. Lots of poetry in fact...  I want to share a short little poem by Valerie Worth. I bought Valerie's book, 'All The Small Poems And Fourteen More,' while living and working in New York, some time back. It remains a personal favourite.  I love the way the poet shines a special light on everyday objects, transforming them into something unique and worthy of attention. Her close observations elevate her poems into the special category.  Each poem in the collection celebrates earthly wonders. From eggs to garbage, from potatoes to pockets, each object is given special attention in the form of short poems employing keen observations.  Valerie Worth demonstrates through her poems she totally understands the saying-'ideas exist in things.'  The poem I have chosen to share with you (one of my personal favourites) is titled, 'Safety Pin'. S af
23 comments
Read more

Opposite Poems

O pp o s ite P oem s In his book, ' How To Write Poetry,'  Paul Janeczko presents the idea of opposite poems. Paul suggests they could also be referred to as antonym poems. This is wordplay and it's fun to try. Here are some examples Paul provides to help us see very clearly how these short little poems work. I think the opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there What is the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind Paul Janeczko You will  notice the poems are written in rhyming couplets. They can be extended so long as you remember to write in couplets. Paul shows us how this is done. What is the opposite of new? Stale gum that's hard to chew A hot-dog roll as hard as rock Or a soiled and smelly forgotten sock You might notice that some of Paul's opposite Poems begin with a question. The remainder of the poem answer the question posed. Opposite poems are a challenge, but it is a challenge worth trying. Not e
26 comments
Read more