April is Poetry Month

april 3

today
the sky was too busy sulking to rain
and the sun was exhausted from trying
and everyone
it seemed
had decided
to wear their sadness
on the outside
and even the birds
and all their singing
sounded brokenhearted
inside of all that gray

       by Julie Fogliano from When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons

April is National Poetry Month

I can't believe how much there's going on in the Blogosphere/Kidlitosphere this month for kids and poetry.  Too much.  Check it all out HERE  Almost overwhelming!

A different poet adds to the poem each day.  It's pretty cool.  I'll copy it here:

A squall of hawk wings stirs the sky
A hummingbird holds and then hies
If I could fly, I'd choose to be
Sailing through a forest of poet-trees

A cast of crabs engraves the sand
Delighting a child's outstretched hand
If I could breathe under the sea
I'd dive, I'd dip, I'd dance with glee

A clump of crocuses crave the sun
Kites soar while joyful dogs run
I sing to spring to budding green
to all of life - seen and unseen

Wee whispers drift from cloud to ear
and finally reach one divining ear
who looks up from her perch and beams
West Wind is dreaming May, it seems

To a pied pocket the Zephyr returns
blowing soft words the seer discerns
from earthbound voyage to dreamy night,
The time is now.  I give  you flight!

Yet I fear I am no kite or bird -
I lift! The world below me blurred
by tears of joy.  I spiral high
I hum, I dive, I dip, I hive!

Behold!  Spring is but a dance away!
I grab my pen, then capture this day.

1 Laura at Writing the World for Kids

2 Joy at Joy Acey

3 Doraine at Dori Reads

4 Diane at Random Noodling

5 Penny at A Penny and Her Jots

6 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink

7 Liz at Elizabeth Steinglass

8 Janet F. at Live Your Poem

9 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche

10 Pat at Writer on a Horse

11 Buffy at Buffy's Blog

12 Michelle at Today's Little Ditty

13 Linda at TeacherDance

14 Jone at Deo Writer

15 Matt at Radio, Rhythm and Rhyme

16 Violet at Violet Nesdoly

17 Kim at Flukeprints

18 Irene at Live Your Poem

19 Charles at Poetry Time

20 Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a Godforsaken Town

21 Jan at Bookseedstudio

22 Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge

23 Ramona at Pleasures from the Page

24 Amy at The Poem Farm

25 Mark at Jackett Writes

26 Renee at No Water River

27 Mary Lee at Poetrepository

28 Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe

29 Sheila at Sheila Renfro

30 Donna at Mainely Write

April Fool's Day - National Poetry Month

"The first of April, some do say,
Is set apart for All Fools' Day.
But why the people call it so,
Nor I, nor they themselves do know.
But on this day are people sent
On purpose for pure merriment."
~Poor Robin's Almanac (1790)

I love April. Growing up in Massachusetts it always meant spring was arriving full blast. Unfortunately, in Maine we had to wait until May, but I've always loved April. April vacation, shedding boots and hats and scarves, a bit of green here and there.... April in Arizona means the heat is rising, the cactus and widflowers and perrennials are blooming in brilliant colors, and by the end of the month huge white blossoms will be forming on the tops of the saguaros. And -- just a short time now to summer vacationl!

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41 tells more about National Poetry Month. April 30th is Poem in Your Pocket Day. More info at http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/406.

I've challenged myself to read or reread a book of poetry each day this month. I need to reacquaint myself with poetry that fourth graders will love. Gotta get ready for next year!