Poetry Friday: Poetry News from Vacation
Margaret at Reflections on the Teche is our host this week for Poetry Friday.
I always joke that things happen when I’m on vacation. Once, I left my laptop at home when we went on vacation and I had a bunch of things to respond to writing-wise.
I’ve had time to relax on this vacation, which was MUCH needed. But I’m also glad I brought my laptop.
Nod to Nonfiction
I love writing nonfiction, and when I can merge nonfiction and poetry together, I’m even happier. So, I pause this Poetry Friday post to spotlight nonfiction!
Last week, Melissa Stewart featured me on her blog to talk about something I’ve been doing in the library to promote nonfiction a little more. You can read about my weekly “Nod to Nonfiction” here.
Poetry + Video
Many thanks to Jone Rush MacCullough for using my poem for a special poetry video project for her college students. The poem “My Tent” is set to a video by Margaret. Thanks, Margaret! And Jone!
This is the poem featured in the video:
Tent
In our tent we become—
forest-dwellers
flower-smellers
tale-tellers
bird-feeders
game-leaders
flashlight-readers
insect-keepers
star-peepers
backyard-sleepers.
by Marcie Flinchum Atkins © 2023
Things We Feel News
My poem “Zany” was featured in the THINGS WE FEEL poetry anthology edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong.
It’s recently been selected for the Keystone State Literacy Association Keystone to Reading PreK-K book list for the 2023-2024 school year. Check out the full list! So many great books. Preschoolers and Kindergarteners in Pennsylvania are so lucky! There’s quite a few Pennsylvania poets featured in the book too.
I’m also talking about this book with Rochelle at Mighty Writers. You can read my interview here.
Haiku of the Week
February warmth
wrapped buds shed fur coats
for spring’s party
Photo Taken: February 27, 2023 at my school in the parking lot
Haiku Written: March 1, 2023
Haiku Moments Playlist
Poetry Printables Page
Sign up for poetry postcards
What I’m Reading
I’ve been reading a lot over my spring break, and it’s been so relaxing to read to the soundtrack of the ocean. I just finished reading Kip’s latest book and it’s so moving. I love Kip’s novels-in-verse. Gerda’s going to rip your heart out in this novel. A powerful historical fiction novel-in-verse!
Based on a True Story of Wartime Heroism: The Story of Wartime Photographer Gerda Taro
by Kip Wilson
What I’m Noticing
I’m taking lots of walks and spending lots of time on the water. I love a different landscape.
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20 Comments
Catherine Flynn
Thank you for this rich, inspiring post, Marcie! I love your tent poem, and video is perfection! I’m glad you had a restful break. We need those quite moments to refresh our minds!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Catherine! Yes, I was very glad we took a break by the sea! It was much needed.
jama
Thanks for the bundle of goodness! Enjoyed your tent poem and haiku (great photo!). Congrats on being in the new Vardell/Wong anthology too.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! I’m excited that it will be seen by some many Pennsylvania kids!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, Happy beaching! Vacations are good for the soul. Thank you for the wonderful video poem. The photos match your poem so well. Your haiku is a beauty. Those outer edges look like a cozy fur coat and the ending makes for a fun poem. Enjoy the weekend,
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Carol! It was a lovely beach getaway. And I agree, the video is fantastic. I’m so grateful for Margaret and Jone!
Margaret Simon
That video is perfection! Thanks for sharing all the wonders of noticing and noting you put into the world.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Right? I love that Jone gave the opportunity to her students and that Margaret made such a great video!
Mary Lee
So much goodness to savor in this post. I’m swooning over those “fur coats” AND that moon over the ocean!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! I have a bajillion pictures of that moon because I just couldn’t resist.
Linda Baie
It’s a really special video, Marcie. Those pictures with your words are wonderful. You must love them! And I enjoy the idea of ‘shed fur coats’. We have very warm days coming, hope it’s the final goodbye to winter! Happy Vacation!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, I love the video! Thank you for your kind words. I love noticing nature’s little details.
Rose Cappelli
“Wrapped buds shed fur coats” is a beautiful image.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Rose! I really loved seeing this before it fully leafed out.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
What a fun poem, Marcie! I love the added video element, too. Such a great collaboration.
And congrats on the Melissa Stewart interview!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! I am always grateful that Melissa loves to hear from librarians!
Heidi Mordhorst
It’s great to see the poem video project in action, Marcie. Glad you are getting a rest and time to create such a complete post–love it!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Heidi!
Laura Purdie Salas
I’m such a sucker for kennings, Marcie. What a fun poem!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Me too! I write waaaaaayyyy too many of them. 🙂