Poetry Friday: A Heap of Poetry Love
Jan at bookseedstudio is our host for Poetry Friday. You can hop on over there to read the roundup.
Highlights of Highlights
I went to Highlights for the “Poetry and Poetry Anthologies Workshop” with Charles Waters and Irene Latham. The timing was perfect. It was a good way to transition from school to writing.
One of the things that Charles and Irene asked us to do on the first night was to give voice to what we needed from the group. I suggested that people could ask me “What did you discover today?” My plan was to traipse around the campus with my camera. The day before I left for Highlights, I took a photography class, and I wanted to practice what I learned.
What DID I discover? Lichen, bunnies, loads of flowers, damselflies, and dragonflies (which were always too speedy for me to get pictures of).
I also worked on two shiny new projects. While drafting is hard for me (revision is my sweet spot), I do love the brainstorming phase when anything feels possible.
Fellow Poetry Friday friend/local librarian friend/poet friend Linda Mitchell and I rode up together. We got to talk library and poetry on the drive. What a gift.
Lacresha Berry also helped Charles and Irene, and we learned so much from her. She did portions of her one-woman shows. Based on her session, she encouraged each of us to write a persona spoken word poem. I’ve written lots of persona poems, but for this exercise, I was able to write a poem based on a person I’ve been researching for a long time.
Highlights is always a treat. It’s the only place where I can write and not worry about food. Planning, buying, and preparing food takes a lot of headspace, and I always appreciate the respite from that for a few days.
A Winning Poem
One of my goals this year has been to submit my poetry. It forces me to revise and make my work better. It’s been a slow process, but I’m still committed to this. Our public library system is huge (24 branches) and they offer so many wonderful programs. One of the things they offer is a poetry contest.
For adults, you can submit only one poem. I chose to submit in the rhyming category, and I was one of the winners in the category. You can read the winning poems here.
We were invited to a celebration and reading. I practiced reading my poem at Highlights so I wouldn’t be nervous at the celebration.
I received a certificate and a $50 gift card for Barnes and Noble. I promptly spent that on more books.
Haiku of the Week
sun-drenched meadow
milkweed reaches out
for inspiration
Photo Taken: June 23, 2024 at The Highlights Foundation
Haiku Written: July 2, 2024
Poem as Picture Book
by Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by Beth Krommes
Harcourt Houghton Mifflin, 2011
This 154-word poem describes swirls in nature.
Poetry Connections
- Metaphor
- Alliteration
- Consonance
- Assonance
- Use of space and punctuation
Links
- Joyce Sidman’s website with links to teacher’s guides, book trailer, and lesson ideas
- Illustrator Beth Krommes explains scratchboard technique
Grow
My one little word of the year has forced me to stretch myself. I’ve been working on two different projects that are requiring me to stretch my skills in different ways. That’s been good for me to get out of my comfort zone.
14 Comments
jan/bookseedstudio
Marcie, Appreciations for this exquisite image in words & foto of summery simbiosis at #HighlightsFound. I luv knowing that you & Linda M. shared the ride to the richness of poetry nourishment with Charles & irene at Highlights. Your post leads me back to my two sojourns there & the deep connections enriching my life today . I’m so glad you attended & wish you more bright times learning in The Barn .
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Jan! I feel so lucky to be able to attend Highlights and enjoy the presence of poets.
Rose Cappelli
Congratulations, Marcie! I loved all the sounds in your poem. A well-deserved win!
Michelle Kogan
Congrats on your award winning poem Marcie, love the gathering of summer again in your last stanza! Thanks for sharing about your rich Highlights workshop, sounds like a good fit all around. Lovely inspiration filled haiku too!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It was lovely!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! It was a fun contest!
Denise krebs
Marcie, what a fun experience. It sounds fabulous what you got to take in and practice as you spend the summer writing. Congrats on your sweet rhyming poem. I like that monotetra form, and your rhyme and meter seems flawless. I’m sure you are very proud!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! I was excited that it was recognized. There are a boatload of poets in my area, so I wasn’t sure how it would do.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
What a treat to be at Highlights again! Have you now visited in every season (we were there last spring; this trip for you is summer; what about fall and winter?).
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Sadly, I’ve only ever been in spring and summer. It’s a bit harder for me to get away in fall and winter with school schedules. Maybe when I retire!
Mary Lee
Congrats on your winning poem!
Thanks for the peeks into your Highlights workshop, and your photos. I love that lichen!
I plan to mine your Poem as a Picture Book entries to choose books for my after school reading specialist gig. Thanks for the link to them all. Maybe I’ll just use your list as my Sealy Challenge core reading!! For. The. Win.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh hooray! I love that you might use them for the Sealey Challenge. 🙂 I can’t wait for that.
Irene Latham
Marcie! That milkweed reaching out is so so lovely…a keeper for your 2025 calendar?? (Enjoying July’s sunflowers so much, thank you!!) I so loved sharing Highlights time with you, and I’m excited for all the Marcie words soon to come into the world. xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you for making Highlights so special–even from afar! 🙂