The deadline is past! The poems are in!

We received a record breaking 193 poems for our anthology! It's a miracle I can still type well enough to type this post. I'm working like mad on the book; the cover is at the printers; and plans for the reading are in the works. All I can say for sure is that there will be food and an appearance from a guest poet. Check back here for updates as we get closer to the date --June 2, 7 pm.

Miracle on the Diamond by Mark Bernardo

Miracle on the Diamond

The aroma of baked sunflower seeds
On the dugout floor
The pitch is releasing
I grip the bat
I have to think fast
The ball starts to curve
My bat meets the ball
I hear the reaction
I start running
The ball soars like a hawk
Excited fans rise
I dash for second base
Outfielders attempt
To catch the high ball
Rounding third base
The fans say, “Keep running!”
The ball thrown into home
I slide,
Safe, home run, six to five!

Mark Bernardo
Grade 4

The Whispering Woods by Kristen Cuccoli

The Whispering Woods

The woods whisper
In their own
Little language
Whisper, whisper, whisper

The bushes rustle
The trees crackle
Under
The howling wind

The woods
Are a library
They are silent
But full of thinking

The woods whisper
In their own little language
As I
Walk through

Kristen Cuccoli
Grade 6

Jayne Warren's Poetry Writing Workshops

Here's what Jayne says about the poetry workshops she recently gave at the library. "I started off having the kids pick a color and then brainstorm ways to describe it without mentioning the name of the color i.e. "purple." They wrote about other things that were that color, memories connected to these colors, feelings they had about those memories. When they were done I explained that the reason I had done this was because poetry is a web of associations. Poets find ways to describe things in new ways so that readers can understand. They use traditional similes and metaphors but also subtext. We talked about when words aren't enough to describe things, when people substitute action, like if they're happy. This is what poets do, combine feelings and associations to create a full picture. Then I introduced the poem "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams. Most of the kids were against this poem or felt it wasn't poetic enough. They thought it was too simple. We talked about how this poem describes an apology about something that was enjoyed. They then wrote thier own apologies about something they had enjoyed doing at the time. We had poems about robbing banks, punching people, pushing sibling, watching too much tv, etc. They had a lot of fun with this exercise."

Poetry Writing Workshops with Jayne Warren

Poet Jayne Warren will teach 2 poetry writing workshops at the library on March 18 for children in grades 3, 4, and 5. Jayne is a student at Smith College, and graduated from the Writing Studio at Walnut Hill School in 2008. She has published poems in numerous journals, including the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Blue Pencil, Walnut Hill's literary journal. Her poem, Chairlift at Nashoba Valley, was included in the recently published anthology Rough Places Plain, Poems of the Mountains, and she has taught several poetry workshops at the library in the past. The first workshop, from 3:30 - 4:15, will be for students in grades 3 and 4, and the second workshop, from 4:30 - 5:15, will be for students in grades 4 and 5. Registration is required and will begin on Monday, February 23. Call 781-320-1042 to register.

A River of Words by Jennifer Bryant

Yes, I know, some people will say this is a picture book and so doesn't belong on this blog, but it's a wonderful book, and it's about one of my favorite poets, William Carlos Williams. The book was just named a 2009 Caldecott Honors book for Melissa Sweet's collage-style artwork, which incorporates the text of many of Williams's poems. I have always thought Williams's poetry is well suited for children (check out the Poetry for Young People series book William Carlos Williams) and this book is sure to provoke new interest in his work. I never knew that he was a doctor! His poetry is so appealing, I just assumed that he was a full-time poet. It's certainly inspiring to learn that someone can be so accomplished as a writer when it's not even their full-time job. It's also funny to read about such a distinguished poet being called "Willy!" This book clearly satisfies the Caldecott requirement of being "distinguished." In the back of the book are a timeline of Williams's life, publications, and world events, and also notes by the Author and Illustrator which let the readers in on how the book came about. Review by Stacy Church

Blue by Elizabeth Collins

Blue

Blue is the sky,
Engulfing me,
Covering me,
Swallowing me
The expanse that takes up the whole world.
Blue is the ocean, the water
Dripping.
Flowing.
Streaming.
Gushing.
Blue is a baby’s blanket
Snuggled up against it,
Warm.
Nice.
Safe.
Blue is
Calm.
Safe.
Soft.
Huge.
Tiny.
Sleep.


Elizabeth Collins

Grade 6, Thurston Middle School

Our first poetry submission of 2009!

The Majestic Falls

The gush of falls,
That are 170 feet tall,
Blaze the amber sky,
Soothe the eyes,
Of my disguise,
As soon as they magically fall.

My echo pierces the tunnel walls,
Behind the thundering falls,
I gaze about,
Binoculars out,
To see the majestic falls.

The light strikes the water,
Trying harder & harder,
To release the beautiful rainbow,
That follows the light in tow,
To behold the breathtaking sight...

***

A sheer curtain of pure Niagara!

Aasheen Qadri
Grade 6, Thurston Middle School

Poetry Reading a big hit!

On Tuesday night 65 people gathered at the library for this year's poetry reading/book release celebration. The young poets were presented with their anthologies and read their work. The students from Tom Daley's poetry writing workshops read their group poems together and guest poets Jayne Warren and Tom Daley each read 2 poems. The anthology is available for reading at the library.

Don't forget to send us your poems

The deadline for poetry submissions for this year's anthology is Friday, April 4. Don't be late!

First Poetry Writing Workshop a Success!

At last Thursday's poetry writing workshops, Tom Daley discussed with the students the origins of their names, the names of the days of the week, and the names of the months of the year. Then everyone got a chance to try their hand at creating their own day and month names, which gave them their first poems of the workshop. Tom will return next Thursday to offer more poetry writing fun.

It's not too late!

It's not too late to sign up for the library's Poetry Writing Workshops with Tom Daley. See previous post for info! Workshops to be held on March 23, April 4. Call 781-320-1042 to register.

Hurry Up Mice by Alyssa Haney

Scamper, scurry
Mice must hurry
To get the cheese
In time

Alyssa Haney
Grade 4, Downey School
-from The Westwood Public Library's2007 Poetry Anthology

Fire by Sarah Hyde

Hot, burning embers

Crackling in the emptiness

Slowly burning wood.

Sarah Hyde
Grade 6, Thurston Middle School
-from The Westwood Public Library's2007 Poetry Anthology

WINTER IS HERE by Kelley Webster

Crisp cold air that blows around.
My heart thumps against the wind.
It can not stop.
I can not wait until the snow comes.
I see the first snowflake, then another
then another...
Now my heart is thumping fast.
WINTER IS HERE!

Kelley Webster
Grade 3, Deerfield School
-from The Westwood Public Library's
2007 Poetry Anthology

Poetry Writing Workshops with Tom Daley

The Westwood Library will host a two-part series of poetry writing workshops led by local poet/educator Tom Daley as part of its Positively Poetry series. The first workshop, on March 27, will focus on writing, and the second, on April 3, will focus on editing. On each Thursday, students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will meet from 2:45 – 4:00, and students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will meet from 4:15 – 5:30. Students must attend both workshops, and registration is required. The poems produced at the workshops will be included in the library’s 2008 Poetry Anthology.

Tom Daley teaches poetry writing at the Boston Center for Adult Education, and poetry and memoir writing at Lexington Community Education. In addition, he is a member of the faculty of the Online School of Poetry, serves on the tutorial faculty of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, and has been a guest instructor at Brown University, Stonehill College and SUNY Cobleskill. He has also been served as visiting poets at several schools.

Tom Daley’s own work has been published in numerous journals, including Harvard Review, Prairie Schooner, Barrow Street, Vox, Diagram, and Hacks: The Grub Street Anthology.

Positively Poetry 2008

The Westwood Library has once again received a grant from the Westwood Educational Foundation in support of our project, Positively Poetry. The project was a huge success last year, and we're looking forward to another great year. We'll be publishing our annual Anthology of Original Poetry, which will include poems by students in grades 3 - 12; we'll be hosting a series of poetry writing workshops by local poet/educator Tom Daley on March 27 and April 3; and we'll end the series with a poetry reading/book release celebration on May 6. Keep checking the blog for updates!

Poetry reading a huge success!

Monday night's poetry reading was a huge success, with 96 people attending! The room was packed! Many young poets read their work as their parents and friends looked on. A few poets chose to receive their books without reading their poems, but everyone received hearty applause. Guest poets Jayne Warren and Zoe Mason, students from the writing studio at the Walnut Hill School, entertained the crowd by reading poems from their younger days, and then closed the program by reading some of their more recent work. It was an inspiring night.

Poetry Anthology bigger than ever!!

Thanks for your submissions. This year we had 140 young poets submit their work for our seventh annual anthology. Many of them will be reading their work at our poetry reading in celebration of the release of the book, so come and hear them!

Poetry Reading

Come hear young poets read their work at the Westwood Library's Poetry Reading on Monday, April 9, at 7:00 pm. The reading is in celebration of the release of the 2007 Poetry Anthology and will feature guest poets Mitch Dewar, Zoe Mason, and Jayne Warren, all students from the writing studio at the Walnut Hill School.