Last weekend, when I was walking my dog, I saw my first daffodils. And it made me think of one of my all time favorite poetry collections, Ralph Fletcher's ORDINARY THINGS: POEMS FROM A WALK IN EARLY SPRING. The book was first published in 1997, but I love it, and drag it out to read to kids (and myself) every spring. And every spring, after I see my first daffodils, I feel compelled to post this poem.
"Daffodils"
They put on
a little show
simply by being
so yellow.
Their stems
darkly green
against the
faded brown barn.
Ralph Fletcher
from Ordinary Things: Poems from a Walk in Early Spring
And one more from ORDINARY THINGS…
"myriad"
I've learned a new word,
(myriad: many, countless)
and fly it like a new kite
while I hike these woods
myriad tiny twigs
myriad swollen buds
myriad insects stirring
beneath the muddy earth
(c) Ralph Fletcher
Mary Lee, who is about to reveal an amazing poetry challenge for April is hosting POETRY FRIDAY today. Lots of good stuff will be shared!
10 comments:
Pulling out "Ordinary Things" is a great spring tradition. I'm going to save "myriad" to re-read. Thanks, Carol!
Ohhh this is the book you told me about! Must add it to my collection! Thanks for sharing! :-)
Michele
Beautiful. It's still so cold here in Chicagoland. I can't wait to see daffodils!
Thanks for reminding me of this book! I love it also, and Ralph Fletcher in general. Love the simple daffodil poem!
Usually we've had forsythia by now, but not this year! We have 2-4 inches of snow forecast for tomorrow!
Oh I wish I had the gift for poetry that you have! I try and it never comes out how I wish it would. Not my strength but clearly one of yours. Keep up the rhymes.
Wonderful poems...are daffodils are fading, but this brought the yellow back. And love the myriad of myriads!
Beautiful poems, Carol. I looked up the book & it's pretty expensive even used. I'll keep an eye out for it, maybe someday. Fletcher is so good!
Thanks for the reminder to pull this book from my poetry collection, Carol - it's time!
I didn't know about this book til now. I can imagine the bright color of daffodils through the poem. Thanks for introducing Ralph Fletcher this week, will have to look him up! :)
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