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Friday, March 28, 2014

POETRY FRIDAY



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:

Tabatha said...

Pulling out "Ordinary Things" is a great spring tradition. I'm going to save "myriad" to re-read. Thanks, Carol!

Michelle said...

Ohhh this is the book you told me about! Must add it to my collection! Thanks for sharing! :-)
Michele

Kelly Polark said...

Beautiful. It's still so cold here in Chicagoland. I can't wait to see daffodils!

BJ Lee said...

Thanks for reminding me of this book! I love it also, and Ralph Fletcher in general. Love the simple daffodil poem!

Mary Lee said...

Usually we've had forsythia by now, but not this year! We have 2-4 inches of snow forecast for tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

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.

Buffy Silverman said...

Wonderful poems...are daffodils are fading, but this brought the yellow back. And love the myriad of myriads!

Linda B said...

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!

Tara said...

Thanks for the reminder to pull this book from my poetry collection, Carol - it's time!

GatheringBooks said...

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! :)