I always love when one of my poems is published, ready to be discovered by young, and young at heart readers. Sometimes, that joy gets to be repeated when that same poem is republished, and shared with a new batch of readers. But how lucky am I to have that happen, with an extra cherry on top?
My poem Marmalade and Marmaduke was first accepted and published in the School Magazine Blast Off in 2015. I remember my delight at it being illustrated by the amazing Matt Ottley, and have shown it off many times since.
Fast forward to 2020 and I had an email asking for permission to reuse it in Countdown, another of the School Magazine’s publications. Of course I said yes, and was very chuffed. But mail is slow at the moment, and I wasn’t aware that the republication had happened – I am still waiting for my contributor copy.
So I was triply delighted when I was tagged in a Facebook post by the School Magazine alerting me to the fact that, to coincide with the publication, the poem had been recorded, read by Geoffrey McSkimming. What a fabulous reading – and a chance for me to share the poem here on Poetry Friday.
I love those cats – and yes, this is a poem about cats, and sunshine, and even punctuation, but it’s also a moment of coming together over finding something small in common. I’m working on gratitude at the moment, and today I’m grateful for poem videos, Poetry Friday and moments of peace.
Today’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect. Tricia is sharing a thoughtful Golden Shovel poem, as well as linking to the other poetry goodness around the blogosphere.
I love your quotation mark cats! Once again I’m struck by how much cats have to teach us 🙂 The reading and illustration create a charming presentation.Congrats!
Sally, the comparisons are brilliant! I had an orange cat, Butterscotch, for 14 yrs. He was a little naughty but also very loving. Thank you for your sweet reminder!
Purrfectly marvelous poem, art, and reading–and how wonderful that it’s published again, many congrats Sally! Love how you sneaked in the “orange equal sign” and curling “question mark–” and the satisfied expression on the cats faces, thanks Sally.
My daughter has a “Marmaduke” and will love this, Sally, as I do! The illustrations are wonderful, your observation in the poem of their cooperation in punctuation style is so clever. Thanks for the smile! Oh, and the reading is special, too.
Hooray for your poetic cats having another day in the sun, Sally! And the fact that you wove in punctuation – kudos to you! Thanks for sharing the recording and illustrations – they are the cat’s pajamas as well. : )
Sally, I agree with Linda. Adding the equal sign and quotation marks was so imaginative. I love how the artist had the cats curled up in a cozy way. Congratulations on the new poem video.
What a fun poem and your reader has a fabulous voice. I’m sitting on my porch and there are squares of sun all around and I am imagining cats.
“Delight” is just the right word for the poem and for McSkimming’s reading of it. That’s such a vitally important point you make, “coming together over finding something small in common.” I can sense your gratitude … beckoned by the orange cats and the sun, and in the nuggets that lie deep in the heart even when it’s troubled.
Thanks Fran. Yes we have to keep looking for those nuggets and taking time to feel gratitude for them.
Sally, I think your poem is the cat’s meow! The video is such a lovely addition to your poem.
Thanks Amy.
Sally, this is a fabulous poem! And, I remembered to grab my earbuds for early morning listening/reading today. I love the equal sign and the quotation marks. So fun. I can see why School Magazine wanted to use it. Great imagery. Some student is going to remember those punctuation marks forever because of this poem.
Thanks Linda. I like the thought of a student learning punctuation from cat poetry.
Oh, Sally, what wonderful layers of delight over here! I smiled all the way through that recording, and fell in love with the art, and with those two cats who inspired your clever, poetic observations. Congrats (again for this work!) and I hope you’ll be purring all weekend.
Thank you Robyn. I’ll tell you a secret – I don’t have any cats – orange or otherwise. But I wish I did.