Poetry Friday: The Sealey Challenge Roundup
Ramona at Pleasures from the Page is our Poetry Friday host today. Hop on over there for the roundup.
The Sealey Challenge Roundup
This week, I finished up The Sealey Challenge. Here are this week’s reads.
Just like last week, I found a note in a used book. This note, originally from Amazon, was in my used copy of Wade in the Water by Tracy K. Smith.
I managed to read from a U.S. Poet Laureate every day.
I also read parts of Poetry in Person: Twenty-Five Years of Conversation America’s Poets. They didn’t have interviews from all of the Poets Laureate, but several were featured.
I also used The Poets Laureate Anthology. I read the bios and the sample poems from many of the Poets Laureate. One thing I noted was that, in some cases, I enjoyed the poems in these samplings more than I enjoyed some of the books that I read.
Here is my complete list. I read the complete book unless otherwise indicated.
August 1
Richard Wilbur
The Pig in the Spigot (picture book)
August 2
Robert Hayden
Angle of Ascent
August 3
William Meredith
Earth Walk: New and Selected Poems
August 4
Maxine Kumin
Mites to Mastodons (picture book)
August 5
Anthony Hecht
Jiggery Pokery: A Compendium of Double Dactyls
August 6
Reed Whittemore
The Feel of Rock
August 7
Robert Fitzgerald
Spring Shade Poems (read two sections of this book)
August 8
Gwendolyn Brooks
Selected Poems
August 9
Howard Nemerov
The Collected Poems of Howard Nemerov (read 40+ poems)
August 10
Mark Strand
The Blizzard of One
August 11
Robert Penn Warren
The Collected Poems of Robert Penn Warren (read 20+ poems)
August 12
Josephy Brodsky
So Forth
August 13
Mona Van Duyn
A Time of Bees
August 14
Rita Dove
On the Bus with Rosa Parks
August 15
Robert Haas
The Apple Trees at Olema (read 20+ poems)
August 16
Robert Pinsky
Selected Poems (read 25+ poems)
August 17
Stanley Kunitz
Passing Through (read 20+ poems)
August 18
Billy Collins
The Trouble with Poetry
August 19
Louise Gluck
The Wild Iris
Averno
August 20
Ted Kooser
Winter Morning Walks
August 21
Donald Hall
The Museum of Clear Ideas
August 22
Charles Simic
Scribbled in the Dark
Night Picnic
Confessions of a Poet Laureate (short essays)
August 23
Kay Ryan
Erratic Facts
August 24
W.S. Merwin
The Essential W.S. Merwin (read several sections)
August 25
Philip Levine
What Work Is
August 26
Natasha Trethewey
Monument
August 27
Charles Wright
Appalachia
August 28
Juan Felipe Herrara
Everyday We Get More Illegal
August 29
Tracy K. Smith
Wade in the Water
August 30
Joy Harjo
Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings
August 31
Ada Limon
Sharks in the Rivers
Totals:
2 Picture Books
25 Full Collections
9 Partial Collections
I didn’t take many notes on each book, like I normally do. However, I did make a list of other books that I want to read. I also made a list of words that I thought were interesting.
Haiku of the Week
spider traverses
stubby hills of blooms
octoped hiker
Haiku & Photo © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: July 9, 2023 at Hidden Pond Nature Center
Haiku Written: August 8, 2023
What I’m Noticing
Over the weekend, my husband and I were able to make solo getaway to the Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest.
Shoutout to The Mimslyn Inn for this amazing watermelon salad. The Mimslyn holds a special place in my heart. I used to attend a yearly writing retreat there.
18 Comments
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Marcie, thank you for your full Sealey Challenge list. I can’t wait to peek through some of those books myself. I think it is so exciting that you found those little notes in the books you were reading. I wonder if people give books of poetry as gifts more often than other books. Beautiful picture and haiku! Those buds do probably look like hills to the spider! Thank you for taking us on your travels.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
That’s a good point. I do wonder if people give poetry as gifts–perhaps meaningful enough to write a note in them. So interesting.
Linda Mitchell
Bravo! You did it. And, I’m sure you are the richer poet for it. What a great challenge. Food for the soul…and that salad? Looks so yummy. That little octoped hiker is on its way to Halloween, I’m sure. I’m glad they had a bit of summer rest first.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, the salad was worth the drive!
Linda
Congratulations on completing the Sealey Challenge! Way to go! Thank you for sharing your list of books. I’ve read some of them and want to check the others out. Glad to hear you and your hubby got a little time away. Your photos are gorgeous, and I always enjoy your haiku!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Linda!
Diane Anderson (newtreemom)
Thanks for the whole list of the poetry you read. I can only imagine how the interesting word list will inspire you. Congrats on completing the challenge!
That watermelon salad looks so good!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
The watermelon salad was sooo good. And yes, the word list has already inspired some poems.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Okay, sure, the poetry… but THE SALAD!!!!
😉
Congrats on another great August read!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
LOL! The salad was a show-stopper for SURE!
Linda Baie
I’m going to take your list to see what I can find at my bookstore, Marcie. Thanks for sharing so much & congratulations on your fabulous finish! I love all the pics of your outing & the “octoped hiker”. Have a great weekend!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! It’s been fun digging into used books. 🙂
Carol Varsalona
Marcia, Congratulations on finishing the Sealey Challenge with detailed information for all of us. Your octoped hiker is quite the amazing hill climber. What a beautiful close-up. Photos of your solo trip is beautiful.
Anastasia Suen
You “read from a U.S. Poet Laureate every day” — what an amazing accomplishment, Marcie!
Denise Krebs
Marcie, I love the octoped hiker! That list of poet laureates you explored this month is very impressive. I’m sure you feel great reward, and I can only imagine how rich your collected word list is from your readings.
Mary Lee
With my half-a-shelf of signed poets laureate volumes, it would make sense for me to make them the centerpiece of my Sealey challenge. Which is to say, you have inspired me, and I like heading into August 2024 with a plan! (I also own The Poets Laureate Anthology, which seems to be a good resource and companion text.) I did read one poet laureate this time around — Manuel Iris was the poet laureate of Cincinnati. I recommend his bilingual volume THE PARTING PRESENT. It was the Ohioana winner in the poetry category in 2022.
Margaret Simon
I love that octoped hiker. It’s hard with few words in haiku to find unique words. I admire your persistence in doing the Sealey challenge. I want to get more poetry into our public library. Your list will help me find live poets to suggest, especially the anthologies of poets laureate.
Rose Cappelli
So much reading, and you still found time to write a daily haiku! You’re an inspiration! Thanks for the list of books, and congrats on your accomplishment.