Hi there, readers, writers, poets, educators, and parents! Welcome to National Poetry Month 2022! This year, I’m keeping it simple. Every day, I’m writing and sharing one poem of some kind on a sticky note–so you know they’ll be short. Not that short is necessarily easy, but it feels more manageable. Each day, I might give a little backstory, or I might just let the sticky-note poem stand (or stick) on its own. I hope you enjoy them!
To kick things off, here’s a little video. It’s not about this project, but in it, I share 7 poems in 7 minutes–3 from my most recent poetry collections and 4 from this blog.
And here’s my first sticky-note poem.
And, in case you’re visiting this post after the first day of the month, you can click here to read all of my National Poetry Month 2022 sticky-note poems.
Loads of other children’s poets are celebrating in wonderful and diverse ways. Blogger and author Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup generously rounds up a list of who’s doing what. Check it out on her website to find more poems to love!
And finally, I’m excited to be part of Imperfect II, a poetry anthology for middle schoolers. It’s the brainchild of Tabatha Yeatts, and many Poetry Friday folks have contributions in it. I’m so looking forward to reading it! It’s available today, April 1! Congratulations, Tabatha!
Oops, NOT finally. How did I forget the roundup? Make sure to visit the awesome Heidi Mordhorst, who’s got the Poetry Friday Roundup plus a post chock-full-of-gems. Enjoy!
23 Responses
I love them all, Laura, maybe especially that one about the elephant (the ears!) & that you have a shovel and a cup dreaming! Happy Poetry Month. It’s going to be busy but oh so fun.
What a wonderful video…so rich and full and varied, just like your work. And today’s poem is a true delight! That dream at the end really got me. xo
Thanks for sharing the video, Laura! It’s wonderful. I’m looking forward to reading all your sticky-note poems. I love the placement of the adjectives in the Sandcastle poem. You captured a small moment so well!
What a great start to NPM!
Your post-it notes are so cute. I think the worst part of the whole deal for me is going to be writing small enough to squish everything onto them!!
I know! It’s hard. I keep reminding myself, “Imagine you’re a painter with a tiny canvas. Pick a subject that works with this size.” But it’s hard!
I love the idea of post-it poems — short and sweet but pack a punch like that ending! I can;t wait to see what you do with these this month.
I enjoyed your video and you are so poised and easy to listen to. Well done. Your poem “Sandcastle Dreams” seems finished. I love the “dream of a skyscraper.” Good luck with you NPM projects and show us more.
Hooray for Sticky Note Poems!
I love the video and variety of poems you’ve shared. I really love the sticky note idea for the month. This poem is really lovely.
Such a rich post Laura, I truly enjoyed hearing you recite your poems and hearing the inspirations for each! I loved the elephant poem and I think there was a line about “Clair da lune/ sending the moon–magical, musical image .” I also like the progression you build in “Sand Castle Dream” and evolving into a “skyscraper, all grown up, thanks!
Your sticky-note poem must have stuck hard to me, Laura, even though I didn’t read thoroughly until now; I think so because rather improvisationally in PreK yesterday we read a book called WHEN I DRAW A PANDA and then did some imperfect drawings of any kind. Then I sat with each kid and helped them make a poem (on a square sticky note!) about their art. Great technique for kids little and big! Looking forward to watching your video on a day less chock full of blogging!
Love this! Connections of books to art to writing–you make magic, Heidi!
I love the idea of sticky note poems. It feels so manageable. I often write my lyrical picture books on index cards. I know I can fill an index card.
You amaze me with how much you say in so little space and few words. That last line is wonderful…all grown up. Ha!
Love the post-it idea, Laura. And I agree that shorter is not always easier, but I like the limits or boundaries. Looking forward to many more! Happy NPM!
Laura, congratulations on your poem in Imperfect II. “The tide attacks” is a great image for what happens to sandcastles. Enjoy writing sticky note poems this month!
Like Tanita, I am spatially challenged when it comes to post-its. Sand castles that can spread out and stand proud are more my style!
I love the idea of sticky note poems! But I actually think it’s harder to write short than to write long, because you have to be so precise with your words! Just like you always are! I can’t wait to read the rest of these!
Hi, Carol–yep, you’re right. Who said, “I wrote it too long because I didn’t have time to write it short?” or something like that? But a sticky note does lower my self-pressure, somehow :>)
I am looking forward to each of your poetic sticky situations, Laura. 🙂
Laura, I’m just now getting to the past week’s Poetry Friday posts; how delightful it was to sit with your video of poems! I especially loved Audience of One! What a beautiful relationship you connected! Thank you!
Thank you for listening, Patricia!