Robyn Hood Black - children's author, poet, artist

Aug 08, 2019 9:09 PM EDT

Hear! Hear! Raising a glass with you in memory of such a fine, warm and wonderful poet that made children's literature the center of his professional life. The friendship shared today in photos and memories and tributes has been lovely and a comfort. Thank you, Robyn.

- Linda Mitchell

Aug 08, 2019 10:01 PM EDT

I was hoping someone would share the roundup of Lee's birthday celebration. Thank you for doing so--going to go read those celebratory posts and remember.

- Buffy Silverman

Aug 08, 2019 10:33 PM EDT

I loved that fun birthday surprise, Robyn. You and Linda created a marvelous gift for Lee. He has given everyone, especially children, so very much in his life. I am sorry for us all. Your words today give comfort.

- Linda Baie

Aug 08, 2019 11:07 PM EDT

Robyn, thanks for sharing our beautiful birthday bash for Lee. It was such a memorable Poetry Friday. I just tweeted about this with a link to last year's post by you and my offering. We will all miss Lee's exuberance for poetry.

- Carol Varsalona

Aug 09, 2019 7:45 AM EDT

Thanks for posting the link to the birthday celebration, Robyn. It's a comfort to read through those posts. It's nice to have this community to grieve and celebrate with.

- Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Aug 09, 2019 8:23 AM EDT

--Thank you for coming by, Linda M., and clinking my glass with yours. To Lee!

--Hi, Buffy - so grateful we did that! And I've been thinking of how much I appreciate Renee's NCTE video series these past years. That is a treasure that will outlast all of us.

--Linda B., your presence and words give comfort to so many, always - thank you. XO

--Hi, Carol - I look forward to checking out; thank you! Hugs and comfort your way today.

--Kimberly, thanks for your words. You are so right; I can't imagine being without all our Poetry Friday friends - newcomers and old-timers and the just-arrived - in the midst of such a loss. {{hugs}}

- Robyn Hood Black

Aug 09, 2019 11:12 AM EDT

This was the best, Robyn. I am very grateful you did it. Cheers to Lee! Raise your glass of chocolate! Hugs to all as we miss this great soul. xx

- Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Aug 09, 2019 1:25 PM EDT

Big hugs to you, too, Dearest Amy - Thanks for sharing in the toast. XO

- Robyn Hood Black

Aug 09, 2019 9:26 PM EDT

Oh to lose him is difficult to believe. Too soon. Thank you for all of the remembrances for his surprise 80th birthday in 2018. I reshared my haiku today. I hope we can have a Poetry Friday Memorial for him soon.

- Jone

Aug 09, 2019 9:26 PM EDT

Oh to lose him is difficult to believe. Too soon. Thank you for all of the remembrances for his surprise 80th birthday in 2018. I reshared my haiku today. I hope we can have a Poetry Friday Memorial for him soon.

- Jone

Aug 09, 2019 9:36 PM EDT

Oh gosh. I've been thinking SO much of you, too, Robyn. And seeing this picture of you and Lee just reminds me of the last time I saw you two together. <3 Wish I could hug you right now! xo

- Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

Aug 10, 2019 5:53 AM EDT

What a poet. What a man. What a loss.

- Mary Lee

Aug 10, 2019 5:40 PM EDT

--Hi, Jone - yes, too soon! Thanks for coming by with your love and light and poetry. XO

--Michelle, that wonderful Florida weekend was something I've treasured since we got to share in it, and now even moreso. XO

--Hi, Mary Lee. Thanks for coming by - that says it all. {hugs}

- Robyn Hood Black

Aug 10, 2019 7:47 PM EDT

Sharing the birthday celebration is such a good way to begin the process of remembering and celebrating all that Lee has given. Thank you for collecting it last year and for sharing it again.

- Kay Jernigan McGriff

Aug 11, 2019 3:30 PM EDT

Thank you, Kay, for coming by and for those kinds words. This community was/is so eager to share the amazing work Lee gave to the world!

- Robyn Hood Black

Aug 12, 2019 12:17 PM EDT

I never had the privilege of meeting Lee in person, but like so many others, he had a tremendous influence of my teaching and writing. Thank you for organizing last year's birthday bash and resharing the link today.

- Catherine Flynn

Aug 12, 2019 4:45 PM EDT

Hi, Catherine - thanks for coming by. I just saw somewhere that Amy is going to round up celebratory links with original poetry for Lee in a couple of weeks? That will be lovely. XO

- Robyn Hood Black

Aug 12, 2019 6:04 PM EDT

Thanks for sharing the video of Lee in his home with his partner Robyn. Such a special poet and person, his personality is intoxicatingly lovely–often with so much to offer in so few words. I love his comment at the end about the poem using "good" 16 times–leaving us all with a smile. How fortunate you were to have worked with him. Thanks also for organizing his birthday bash last year, xo

- Michelle Kogan

Aug 12, 2019 6:32 PM EDT

Hi, Michelle - such lovely comments, and you certainly picked up on several wonderful aspects of Lee's personality! I feel so incredibly lucky to have gotten to know him; treasured that before, and now even moreso. Thanks so much for joining the conversation over here.

- Robyn Hood Black