Why do we celebrate National Authors Day ?
As a school librarian, author's day is a bit of my every day. But, I don't mind officially celebrating. My hot drink of choice to enjoy with a good book is mocha-coffee. You?
Many thanks to Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for hosting this week's round-up. I appreciated her post two weeks ago, If I could write like...
My Sunday Night Swaggers are sharing responses to our November challenge.
But then, I struggled to find just ONE author for a mentor text. I mean, there are so many! I dithered a long time.
Finally, I went to a favorite places to play with mentor text, Renee La Tulippe's No Water River. At her site is a series, The History of American Children's Poets by Renee and Lee Bennett Hopkins who were only able to complete four episodes before Lee's passing this year. Each is a treasure.
Since I spend research time in the 1930s I selected Episode 2 to find a mentor text...and oh, Carl Sandburg is there! His poems are pure joy to play with aren't they?
Fog
The
fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Carl Sandburg
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Halloween
Halloween pounces
on black cat paws.
on black cat paws.
Rubs ‘round
jack-o-lanterns
glowing orange
And with a hiss—
scampers invisible
into night.
jack-o-lanterns
glowing orange
And with a hiss—
scampers invisible
into night.
(c) Linda Mitchell
Wardrobe of Dreams
I color store fronts orange
as children head back to school.
as children head back to school.
I offer row upon row
of princess glitter, frogs
spiderwebs and vampire blood.
I am a source to be reckoned with.
spiderwebs and vampire blood.
I am a source to be reckoned with.
The last week of October
children age one to ninety-nine
walk through my doors expectantly
searching an identity
for under twenty bucks.
children age one to ninety-nine
walk through my doors expectantly
searching an identity
for under twenty bucks.
Werewolf masks
unicorn horns
unicorn horns
magic wands, black cat ears
or, leggings to outfit a lizard.
I am a costume shop.
But, everyone
knowsor, leggings to outfit a lizard.
I am a costume shop.
I’m the wardrobe
of your dreams.
(c) Linda Mitchell
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| https://www.nowaterriver.com/history-of-american-childrens-poets-episode-2-the-1930s/ |
Halloween Leaves
Jenni Rodriguez listens to Halloween night.
Dry leaves skitter and scrap over neighborhood sidewalks
Dry leaves skitter and scrap over neighborhood sidewalks
catching in fake spiderwebs draped over shrubbery.
Wind driven whispers play with Mrs.
Attleboro’s porch chimes
and cause littlest trick-or-treaters to titter as they fill
plastic pumpkins with lollipops and chocolates.
The duet of wind and leaves keep Jenni guessing at where
they will swirl next. They brush her ears with burnt-orange summer voices.
and cause littlest trick-or-treaters to titter as they fill
plastic pumpkins with lollipops and chocolates.
The duet of wind and leaves keep Jenni guessing at where
they will swirl next. They brush her ears with burnt-orange summer voices.
Jenni Rodriguez listens.
(c) Linda Mitchell
More Swaggers meet the first Friday challenge:
Molly @ https://nixthecomfortzone.com/
Heidi @ https://myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot.com/
Catherine @ https://readingtothecore.wordpress.com/
Margaret @ https://reflectionsontheteche.com/
