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

 

Greeetings, Poetry Lovers!  I've missed you as I've been popping in and out of town and in and out of here recently. This week, I'm on board to celebrate Clara's Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz, the latest (and most amazing) collaborative poetic genius-work from Pomelo Books, a.k.a. Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. 

 

I thought I'd have a fulsome review to share earlier this fall, but... Helene.  I'm thrilled to see all the good press this one-of-a-kind anthology has been receiving since it splashed into the kid-literary pond last month, both among our PF family and in the wider world!  In fact, last Friday over at Jama's Alphabet Soup - the crème de la crème of blogs in my book (and lots of others), Clara and her quirky crew were the main course.  So for a really good review and explanations and insights and sneak peeks, please go fill your bowl here. (But then come back and keep reading! And look up other wonderful reviews, too.)

 

It was fun to work on poems for this project, and then wait with bated breath to see what in the world Janet and Sylvia were cooking up.  We knew it was something that took a lot of editorial and creative wrangling, and something that would be unlike any other collection.  

 

When I started reading my own copy, my first thought was, "Wow - I wish I had had a book like this when I was growing up!" This fun and somewhat indescribable treasure offers space for curiosity and creativity to run wild.  I'm glad I'll be able to share it with grandchildren when they're a wee bit older.

 

The line illustrations by Frank Ramspott bring to life all the imaginings and characters and poetry within, but don't overpower all the layers of text.  And I do love all the layers.  I might read and write haiku because I NEED the spareness it requires/provides, but that is probably because I'm actually the opposite of a minimalist. I wonder if Clara is a minimalist or a... maximalist?? Nope, that's not the right word. I'll have to wonder and think on that a bit.

 

Thare are more than 150 poems between the covers of this book, and I'm delighted to share the two I've got in there.  

 

The first was in response to Janet and Sylvia's question, "Can you write a poem about siblings?"

 

SIBLINGS

 

Take the "r" out of brother, and what do you get?

BOTHER! That's what. He makes me upset.

 

Take the "i" out of sis, and what does it make?

 "Ss" – like a hiss - the sound of a snake!

 

Please take them both, take them out of my sight.

Then I know everything will be all _ _ ght.

 

I said, everything will be all _ _ ght.

Hmmm.

 

Okay, please put back the "r," and return the "i," too –

I have to admit, I would miss those two.

 

©Robyn Hood Black

 

I dearly love my brother, Mike, though growing up, we probably both sometimes felt the way the narrator of this poem feels!  I got TWO bonus sisters when my mother remarried right before I went off to college - Carla and Sharon.  Love them too!

 

My other poem was a response to writing about syllables.  I do love me some syllables. And a challenge. 

 

 

ONE-ON-ONE

 

"I am Worm,"

said Worm.

"I have no feet.

"I am long and smooth.

"My name has one sound."

 

 

"Caterpillar!"

announced Caterpillar.

"Appendages galore.

"Spectacular segments, moving together.

"Melodious appellation!"

 

"Branches beckon," declared Caterpillar.

"Jubilant journeys!"

 

"I am off to the dirt," said Worm.

"Have a nice day."

 

©Robyn Hood Black

 

Thanks for reading. Oh, and speaking of words and wordplay, they require letters.  I've been having some fun in the studio with letters.  (See what I did there?) Just in time for stocking stuffer season, I'm assembling some fun little necklaces using vintage miniature Scrabble tiles. (Here's the link; I've got a rare 20-percent-off holiday sale going on.)

 

Here's hoping your thoughts and wonders leave you inspired and comforted and rested or energized, whichever you need. I'm sure you'll find poems you need over at There is No Such Thing as a Godforsaken Town, where our wonderful Ruth is rounding us up from Kampala, Uganda, with her usual thought-provoking, community-building offerings.  Thank you, Ruth!

Happily busy with artsy/Etsy orders this week, so I didn't get a post up.  Planning to share some KOOKY Pomelo love next week!  Please visit our lovely Karen Edmisten for this week's Roundup.

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers!  I've missed you as I've ducked in and out these couple-few weeks.  In the midst of all the stress in the news, we've had happy family events to look forward to - a baby shower for daughter Morgan & family last weekend, and a little celebratory lunch for Son Seth & his love that we're hosting on Saturday, after they get married at the courthouse TODAY/Friday!  (They'll have a ceremony and reception in the Spring.) 

 

I was among those who met late Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning with numbness and a bit of despair.  I texted with a few friends, and there were lots of messages with hubby Jeff's sibling group.  What struck me was that it seemed to be the impulse of several folks to respond to this state of overwhelm with... poetry.  Tuesday night as results started rolling in, my sister-in-law Patti shared "Holding Vigil" by Alison Luterman, written in response to the experience, I believe.  Among the poems ending up in text messages the next morning were "The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry, a favorite among our PF folks. Jeff shared a post on social media by Chelan Harkin that started with, "It's when the earth shakes...." Other folks sent spiritual passages that read as a mix of poetry and prose. 

 

I wanted to post something on Facebook, but nothing I could come up with myself seemed right, or appropriate. Then I ran across Janet Wong's post, where she shared her wonderful poem, "Looking for Birds," and it resonated with the feelings and tone I wanted to share.  So I shared the post and asked if I could share the poem again here today.  It's from the wonderful Pomelo Books collection, HOP TO IT. Janet and Syliva Vardell are the power team behind that publishing venture, and several of us are lucky to have poems in those anthologies.  I love how a poem, originally conjured up with a certain topic or sensibility in mind, can also meet another experience not dreamed of when it was originally penned. 

 

 

Look for Birds

 

It could be worse. 

It is worse 

somewhere

for someone.

 

Today will blend into tomorrow.

Tomorrow will become next week.

Everything happening now

will become just one page

 

in a history book

in a hundred years.

 

Let's look out the window.

Come, let's look for birds.

 

 

©Janet Wong

 

I suppose one reason I took this poem to heart on this occasion was that Wednesday morning, I took my dog Rookie on his usual walk.  I realized that for him, nothing had changed.  He was immersed in whatever smells, sounds, sights and tracks caught his attention in the moment. It was okay for me to just be on a walk for a few minutes, noticing the natural world.  (And Rookie's used to my stopping now and then to try to see some woodpecker I've just heard, or to try to suss out what bird made some unusual call.) 

 

In a few lines, Janet's poem helped me take a breath and a brief big-picture break.  But more importantly, it helped me remember that implications from this election might have a much more dire impact on people more vulnerable than myself, particularly those who weren't born here, those whose gender identities bother or frighten some people, and my daughter, daughter-in-law, and soon-to-be-born granddaughter, and all women in those generations. All younger folks, of course, when one thinks of the climate crisis. And then we must think about the rest of the world - those in Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan ... and all countries, really.

 

Back to the poem. Take comfort from the woods and from birdsong, we must.  Simply noticing can make us grateful and more calm.  But we can't stay on our wooded paths, or behind a window, indefinitely.  Others need us to look out for them, too.

 

 At Merely Day by Day, you'll find a powerful original poem by Cathy on this topic, and you'll find the whole Roundup.  Thank you, Cathy, for hosting this week. And many thanks to Janet for letting me share her poem!