Not Just Another "Auld Lang Syne"

                                                                   

Every New Year’s Eve, I sit down with my journal and reflect on the past year- successes and failures, joys and sorrows.  At midnight, I watch the ball drop in Times Square as the band plays, “Auld Lang Syne”  and cry. That song always makes me cry. It reminds me of friends and family I’ve lost and regrets from years past.

By New Year’s morning, I’m ready for a fresh start.  I sit down with a cup of tea and scribble the same old resolutions into a brand-new journal: lose 30 lbs., figure out what I should write, and work on gaining self-confidence.  I make a plan of action and feel sure I can do it this time. But, my first resolution is usually abandoned by the end of the day, the second within a week, and the third one never gets its start.

As each month ends in failure, I reword my resolutions breaking them down into smaller ones so they’ll be easier to achieve. I tell myself a litany of excuses: I don’t have time to exercise, I need to learn more before I can start a writing project, I don’t have any willpower, and so on. You’ve heard the saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Well, that’s pretty much, what I was doing, and it took thirty long years to realize it.

2011 was a year of change. I finally realized I had to do things differently.  My health and happiness were at stake. It wasn’t easy, but I tackled one goal at a time. I set new priorities. There were setbacks and times I felt like giving up, but I didn’t.  I just kept going until I achieved what I set out to do. I had been looking for answers outside myself.  When I changed my thinking, things began to fall into place.

This year, when I sit down with my journal, I’ll write about how good it feels: to lose over forty pounds, to work on writing projects I love, and to feel a little more confident.  As the ball drops in Times Square, and the band plays “Auld Lang Syne,” I’ll still cry for loved ones love we lost, but I won’t cry tears of regret.  I do have one small problem, now I need to come up with some new resolutions. 

You can listen to a lovely Scottish version  of "Auld Lang Syne: here.

If you'd like to read more about the poem, go here.

(I've been away from blogging for several months, and Blogger has made a lot of changes. I tried to get the video on here but couldn't get it to work. I apologize for having to send you to the link.)

Poetry Friday: A GIRL NAMED MISTER

I'm a big fan of novels-in-verse. I’ve read dozens and have an entire bookshelf full of them to prove it! Novels-in-verse are gaining popularity with teens for the same reasons I love them:  they are fast reads, character-driven, offer a strong voice, often deal with tough subject matter, and pack a lot of emotion a small space. 

Now that I have a Kindle, I can read while I'm on the treadmill.  It's been great because I can do something I love while I'm doing something I'm not so crazy about. This summer I spent a lot of time on the treadmill, lost twenty-two pounds, and read a bunch of novels-in-verse!  I enjoyed all of them, but there was one so special  that as soon as I came to the last page, I just had to read it again.

That novel is A GIRL NAMED MISTER by award-winning poet and author Nikki Grimes. If you haven't read it yet, you're missing a great read. There is so much to love about this story.  If you're familiar with Nikki's work, you already her poems and stories are filled with surprises and powerful emotions. When I’m reading her writing, I always feel like narrator is sitting next to me telling his/her story.

Mary Rudine is the main character.  Her voice and personality emerge from the beginning in a  poem where she explains how she came to be known as "Mister."

Blame it on my mother.
She's the one who named me
Mary Rudine.
The name is some throwback
her old-fashioned thinking
came up with.
Nobody but Mom
has called me Mary Rudine
since forever.
First it was Mary,
then it was M.R.
Mister is all anybody
calls me now.

Mister's life revolves around the church. She sings in the choir, attends video night, and wears a purity ring. But lately she's been wondering if something is missing. Like most teens, she longs to explore where she fits in the world.

Restless

I turned the music
of the world
way up,
my feet itching to dance
to a new rhythm,
something other than
gospel.

Then she meets Trey who sweeps her off her feet, and she begins to question her beliefs.  He pressures her until she finally gives in. She becomes pregnant and her life is changed forever.

This could have been just another story about teenage pregnancy, but then that wouldn’t have been a Nikki Grimes’ story. Instead, she brilliantly weaves a story within a story as Mister searches for answers by reading a book of poems from the perspective of the Virgin Mary.

Suddenly, the reader is transported back thousands of years where Mary tells her own story.  I had never thought about the fear, shame, and confusion young Mary must have experienced being unwed and expecting a child. But that’s what great literature does, it gets you thinking in brand new ways.

Something I especially love is how through the parallel stories of Mister and Mary, the reader comes to realize the human experience hasn’t changed through time. Our stories are universal. We love, we fear, we question just as those who came before us did.  I believe every reader will connect to the emotions in this novel.

I won't give away the ending, but I'm hoping Nikki might write a sequel to this story someday.  I want to know what happens to Mister and the baby.

I try to "read like a writer."  So, I always look at techniques the author uses to bring a story to life and try to apply them to my own writing. I had some questions and Nikki was very kind to answer them for me.

1. Mary Rudine’s personality pops off the page from the very first poem where she explains how she came to be called Mister. How do you create a distinctive voice for each of your characters?


The voices come to me. It's the details I add: the family history, the back-story, the environment, etc. But the voice, that's a gift. I think it comes from a life-time of honing my writer's ear. I'm always listening to the way people speak, to their dialect, the nuances of their speech patterns, etc. I have a reservoir of voices in my mind, just waiting to be take up residence in whatever character I choose.

2. I love the parallel stories of Mister and the Virgin Mary. Why did you choose to write a story within a story? What were the challenges in doing this? Did you write each story separately, or did you alternate the way it appears in the novel?

I love working in multiple voices. I begin working on each separately, then weave the two together. As in Dark Sons, I wanted to explore the ways in which characters separated by thousands of miles, and thousands of years, are, in fact, alike. The universality of characters and story always interests me. The challenge, here, was to keep the dialogue authentic to the period for each character.

3.What are the challenges of writing a novel in verse? Do you write the entire story first, or do the revisions for each poem before moving on to the next one?

The main challenge in writing a story in verse is to strike a balance between storytelling and poetry. It would be easy for the mechanics of the story to overwhelm the text so that the poetry is lost. I've read any number of books that propose to be novels-in-verse, but which are, in fact, books of broken prose. One easy way to mark the difference is the absence, or presence, of metaphors. If you go 20, 30, 40 pages without encountering a metaphor, the book is not a novel in verse!


In the first draft, I concentrate on telling the story. With revisions, I begin to hone the poetry, pay more attention to scanning, lyricism, imagery. As I tweak the story, overall, I'm constantly looking to tweak the poetry, as well.

An advanced copy of Nikki's latest novel-in-verse, PLANET MIDDLE SCHOOL arrived in my mailbox today.  I can't wait to start reading it!  PLANET MIDDLE SCHOOL is available on Amazon for pre-order.The release date is Sept. 13.

Nikki Grimes is a New York Times bestselling author and the recipient of the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, the novels Jazmin's Notebook, Dark Sons,and The Road to Paris (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books).Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown. You can read more about Nikki and her work on her website.

Teachers: If you haven’t discovered the poetry of Nikki Grimes, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to read some of her work. Her poems are very accessible and speak to the heart of a child. I highly recommend SOMETHING ON MY MIND, Dial Books, 1978. This is a collection of poems I’ve used for many years as writing prompts with both elementary and middle school students. My students relate to the emotions and situations in the poems and in response have written their own heartfelt poems and personal narratives. I’ve never had to “make” a child write in response to these poems because they want to tell their stories. Although it’s currently out of print, Amazon has some new and used copies. You could also check your local library. It’s worth the effort. If you’ve already used SOMETHING ON MY MIND with students, I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Poetry Friday: The Silence of War

Every year my students write letters to our soldiers thanking them for the job they do. The kids really put their hearts into the letters and show their support for our military men and women. I can't imagine how lonely they must be so far from home, especially during the holidays.

I was about the age of my students durng the war in Vietnam. It was a time in my life that I'm not proud of. I had the chance to ease the loneliness of one young solider, but I didn't. Something as simple as writing a letter could've made all the difference. Silence can be the worst weapon of all.

After reading the letters my students so wrote, I started working on this poem trying to figure out what I was thinking back then.


The Silence of War

We only dated once before
you enlisted in the Army.
You chose to go.
I kissed you good-bye.

Letters arrived, unexpectedly
postmarked Da Nang
long, lonely letters from Vietnam
long, lonely letters from you.

What did you mean, wait for you?
I wasn't your girl.
At seventeen, I was thinking
pale blue prom dresses

high school graduation
burgundy cap and gown—
not Army dress greens
or camouflage fatigues.

You were on the other side
of the planet— foreign to me
I couldn't promise to wait for you
Your world was not my world.

I didn't want to hurt you.
I didn't want you to think
I was waiting for you—
I didn't write back.

For fifteen months
your letters came.
I read every one.
I saved every one—

Then nothing.
No letters.
No news of you.
Silence—

Yesterday, I saw you
home on leave.
You looked my way,
I turned in shame.

I could’ve made a difference
I could’ve let you know
I really did care—
Even now, I remain silent.

Poetry Friday: Villanelle

As teachers, our students often expect us to have all the answers. Many years ago, I was assigned to teach the brand new "Just Say No" drug prevention unit to 75 fifth graders. The school was located in a small low-income community. I lived just a few miles from the school and knew many of the children and their families.

As I started preparing my "Just Say No" lessons, I couldn't help but think of how the lives of some of the children had been affected by drugs and alcohol. I'd heard the stories; I'd seen the pain in their eyes. They knew much more about the subject than I did. How could I teach them about something they lived with everyday? That question led to writing this villanelle in my poetry journal.

(I don't know if it's okay to separate the last stanza of a villanelle into two couplets, but I thougtht a pause was needed. I once had a teacher who said it's better to focus on the meaning of the poem than stick to a strict form. What do you think?)


Preparing a Lesson on Drug Abuse

I see in their eyes what they try not to show,
these ten year olds living in anger and fear.
What can I teach them they don’t already know?

Sam’s mom left him for drugs— six months ago
But he still hasn’t cried one tear.
I see in his eyes what he tries not to show.

Katie Davis’ grades have fallen so low,
she lost her smile— and her brother last year.
What can I teach her she doesn’t already know?

His parents vowed to quit drinking, but Joe's
heard it before— (the words insincere).
I see in his eyes what he tries not to show.

And Jen doesn’t have a winter coat although
her father always finds money for beer.
What can I teach her she doesn’t already know?

I wonder what’ll happen to them as they grow.
The people they’ll become remains unclear.

I see in their eyes what they try not to show.
What can I teach them they don’t already know?

copyright2009 Linda Kulp

I used to live across the street from a large pond. All summer long, I watched as geese came to make the pond their home. I watched them care for their young, waddle through the long thick grass around the pond, mourn the death of a mate, and aggresively chase unsuspecting trespassers.

It was always sad when it came time for them head to their winter home. Lying in bed, listening to the haunting sound of their leaving meant the long, quiet winter was about to begin.


Fly South

fly south geese go— soon
the earth will be covered with
ice and snow it’s time
to head for warmer winds so—
go now before winter begins


Here is the link to read a lovely poem about these amazing creatures.
http://www.canadageese.org/remorse.html

Ring/Drum/Blanket Poem

Over at Wild Rose Reader, Elaine interviewed one of my favorite poets, Janet Wong. I have several of Janet's books and use them frequently with my students. One of her books, Behind the Wheel, was the inspiration for my teacher presentation for the Maryland Writing Project. The poems were a big hit with the teachers and with teenaged boys. (I'm always looking for ways to get boys to read more poetry, but that's a blog for another day.)
Elaine and Janet issued an invitation to write a poem using the following three words: ring, drum, blanket. I usually don't feel confident enough about my poems to share them with the poets I admire like Janet and Elaine, but Laura Salas wrote a blog the other day that encouraged me to share my "poem-sketches." It takes the pressure off when I think of my poems as works-in-progess. I've always believed in the adage, "A poem is never really finished, just abandoned." I'm not sure I've totally abandoned this little poem yet, but here's what I have so far. It's another tanka. I've been writing tanka for a few years now, and have even had a few published. I like the brevity of the form and trying to paint an image/emotion with just a few words. So here goes.


ring of white-tailed deer
circle our crabapple tree
hooves drum frozen ground
pulling back blankets of snow
in search of a midnight snack




I don't belong to a writer's group so suggestions are always appreciated. Now, I'm wondering if I'm up for Elaine's next challenge, an apology poem. : )

Remembering My Grandmother

I've been thinking about my grandmother. She had the courage to listen to her heart and find happiness in the years after my grandfather passed. Some family members didn't approve of the choices she made, but I admired her for doing what she knew was right for her. I wish I would've told her.

The Lesson

The first stitch takes the most courage,
Grandma said, threading a silver needle.
Don't think too hard about the design,
just let the pieces come together,

Grandma said, threading a silver needle.
When you feel the fabric in your fingers
just let the pieces come together
naturally, it will always be right.

When you feel the fabric in your fingers
don't wait for others to admire the pattern--
naturally, it will always be right.
Even if no one else understands it.

Don't wait for others to admire the pattern.
don't think too hard about the design,
even if no one else understands it.
The first stitch takes the most courage.


copyright 1996 Linda Kulp

Remembering Grandpa

My grandfather always made me feel special. He loved to play his old banjo and have me sing along. He taught me the words to his favoritie song, "Bye-Bye Blackbird." We'd sit together in the kitchen and sing it over and over. Whenever I think of him, I think of that song. It was impossible to feel sad when he was around.
Sadly, his life was short and my sons never got to know him. I wrote this poem in memory of him for Father's Day.

Singing Lessons

Every Sunday after supper, Grandpa
takes out his banjo.
A rush of music
fills the empty air
like a flock of blackbirds—
and he asks me to sing.

Together, on the porch swing, we sing.
Sitting there with Grandpa,
our songs call out to the blackbirds
while his fingers fly across the banjo
sweetening the air
with our family music.

As sunlight turns to starlight, the music,
the laughter, and the bright way we sing
warm the chilly air.
I slide closer to Grandpa,
one with him and his banjo:
"Bye, bye blackbirds."

We serenade the blackbirds.
The fluttering sound of music
strumming the banjo,
and voices that need to sing
surround Grandpa
and me with ribbons of air.

Protecting us from the cool night air
like a nest wrapped around two blackbirds
Grandpa
covers me in music
teaching me to sing
even when there's no banjo.

A worn out old banjo,
the taste of words soaring through the air,
a chance to clap my hands and sing,
cherishing a gathering of blackbirds,
the freedom of music:
gifts from Grandpa.

Just a banjo and some blackbirds
replenish the air with music
as I sting, still, with Grandpa.
Linda Kulp- all rights reservered

Hampsters, Shells, and Spelling Bees

Lee Bennett Hopkins' newest book, Hampsters, Shells, and Spelling Bees (HaperCollins) arrived in my mailbox. You can imagine how proud I am to have one of my poems (below) included among those of such greats as J. Patrick Lewis, Alice Schertle, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Heidi Roemer, and Jane Yolen. The collection of twenty school poems about spelling bees, backpacks, the excitement a bee causes as it buzzes through the classroom are sure to delight young readers. The poems are beautifully illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. Children will see themselves and their classmates in these wonderful poems. It will make an excellent addition to the classroom library.







True Love

Every day
after school
my cat sits
on the windowsill
waiting,
watching
for me
to come home
from school.
I open
the door
to her
purr--ing.

Poetry Friday: It's Never Too Late To Live Your Dream

Toyo Shibata didn't start writing until she was 92.  At the age of 99, her first collection of poetry became a bestseller selling over 1.5 million copies! The title of her book is translated as either Don't Be Frustrated or Don't Lose Heart depending on the source.   I'm hoping there will be an English translation of the book in the near future.

Toyo Shibata's poems are about her hopes and dreams, about falling in love, and the future. 

"I think of various things: memories of my past and my family, my current life. I immerse myself in those memories and write from them." -Toyo Shibata (Reuters, 1/25/11) 

I found her story to be very inspiring and proof that it's never too late for us to achieve our dreams!

You can read more about Toyo Shibata here and here.

A video of her reading her poems here.

Read translations of some of her poems here.

Tugg and Teeny: Book Two

Not long ago, I shared with you a new series for early readers written by Poet Laureate, J Patrick Lewis.  I'm happy to announce that Tugg and Teeny Book Two: Jungle Surprises is now available. Once again these two loveable characters take us on a reading adventure full of surprises.  Like Book One, Jungle Surprises is a collection of three stories.  I particularly like the first story "A Great Gusting Mystery" because it will inspire young writers to write their own mystery stories.  Students will love the surprise ending in "The Zig-Zag Race," and delight in going "Wind-Fishing" with Tugg and Teeny's friend Violet. Older students could go on a scavenger hunt to search for examples of alliteration, repetition, personification, and onomatopeia.  There are other teaching ideas and activities on the publisher's  website here and here.  I can't wait to see what Tugg and Teeny will be up to in Book Three!

Poetry Friday: Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades

"As teachers today, everything we teach has to be turbocharged with skills and the promise of advancing our students academically.  I know that. And here's the cool thing:  poetry can get you there. "  This quote comes from the introduction of Paul Janeczko's new book, Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades, and he's right on the money with it. Teachers today have to be able to justify everything we teach.  The content of our lessons must address the ELA core standards. There's just no room in our jam-packed curriculum for anything else.  I'm all for having common core standards, but many teachers already shy away from teaching poetry because they don't feel comfortbable with it.  Asking teachers to search for poems, match them to the core standards, create a lesson plan that  includes a writing activity, companion poems, a graphic organizer, and online resources is enough to turn off even the most devoted poetry lover. Thanks to  Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades, we don't have to.  Paul has done that for us.

The first poem in the book is Ted Kooser's "Abandoned Farmhouse."  Okay, Paul had me hooked right  there. I mean it's Ted Kooser! I want my students to know and love Ted Kooser as much as I do.  Paul makes it easy, guiding us every step of the way from the initial reading of the poem to a sampling of questions to get a discussion going.   We' re not analyzing the poem or plucking it's feathers until it's bare.  No!  We're talking about how it made us feel and noticing the word choices the poet used to create a mood. Paul teaches us how to engage our students and make personal connections.  He also offers a broad selection of writing activities from a journal entry to imitating the poet by rewrititng several lines of the poem to help readers internalize and make the poem their own.

When I used "Abandoned Farmhouse" with my students, I showed them an online video of Ted Kooser reading the poem. There is nothing more motivating then bringing the poet right into the classroom!  Students debated reasons the man in the poem left and what might have happened to him. They wrote about their own possessions and  what those possessions say about them.  Students started making connections (without my prompting) to other stories, poems, and articles we've read this year. One student said that maybe the man lived in the Dust Bowl and that was the reason he couldn't make it as a farmer (We just finished reading Out of the Dust).   All of this from reading one poem! 

I've been using Paul's anthologies and teacher resource books for many years because students love the poems and the pre-planned activities save me time.  I keep Reading Poetry in the Middle Grades on my desk beside Opening a Door: Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom (also by Paul Janeczko).  These excellent resources are not just valuable for teachers; they are also fantastic for writers.   You can read more about Paul Janeczko and his books here.

Happy National Poetry Month!

April means flowering trees, egg hunts, spring break, and a month-long celebration of poetry!  I'm so excited! I can't wait to see what everyone will be posting this month..  My contribution will be to share some new and some not-so-new verse novels, teacher resource books, and favorite poems.  I hope you'll drop by and join in the conversation.

Today, I'm sharing a poem I read on Your Daily Poem.  I think most young girls love horses. I sure did.  I used to dream of owning a horse farm.  My life took a different direction, but this poem reminds just how amazing it would've have been.

Foal
by Linda Lee (Konichek)


The wonder of it all…
almost a year of waiting
a week of sleepless nights

Finally this
the mare presents
one tiny perfect hoof

encased in an iridescent bubble
as magical as those we blew
through childhood’s wands


We wait breathless
for one more miniature hoof
Next the milky sphere reveals


a baby nose,
nostrils already flaring
trying to breathe.


Read the rest of the poem here.

Poetry Friday: Tugg and Teeny

As a teacher, I'm always looking for books that will excite and motivate young readers.  I'm especailly looking for books that will interest boys.  I'm happy to share a fantastic new book with you that readers of all ages are going to love.  Tugg and Teeny, Sleeping Bear Press,  is a new beginning reader written by one of our favorite poets, J. Patrick Lewis.  Tugg, a gorilla, and Teeny, a monkey, are two lovable characters who, along with their friends,  live in the jungle and help each other through life's challenges.

In this first of the three book series, Teeny strives to achieve his dreams. He tackles a different goal (becoming a musician, an artist, a poet) in each of three chapters. No matter what he decides to try,   his best friend, Tugg, is always by his side to lend a hand or offer advice.

I especially love the way Teeny takes risks and tries new things. I think this sends an important message to kids that it's okay to step out of their comfort zone, and try something new. Even though Teeny doesn't always succeed at first, with the encouragement of his friend Tugg, he continues to try. Tugg is the kind of friend we all hope for: dependable, loyal, and supportive.

Reader of all ages will enjoy the three separate stories in this early chapter book.  The brightly-colored illustrations by Chistopher Denise help bring life to these adorable characters.  (He did a fabulous job of showing their personalities.) Although the book is written with beginning readers (grades 2-3)  in mind, I think the stories will work as excellent models to teach writing skills (dialogue, point-of-view, plot, etc.) to my middle school students. 

As I mentioned above, Tugg and Teeny is part of a three-book series.  I love that because once kids are introduced to these characters, they'll be ravenous readers begging for each book that follows. The next book, Jungle Surpries, comes out May 2011. I can't wait!  Check out the  Tugg and Teeny website  for more about upcoming titles in the series and activity pages. Tugg and Teeny is sure to put a smile on your face.  If you've read it, I've love to hear ways you're using it with your students and/or your own children.  I have a feeling this series is going to be very popular!