I just love it when one of my poems makes its mark on the world, so I was really excited this morning to see that a previously unpublished poem, At the Park, had been made (with my permission) into this video:
This excellent project came about through my Poetry Friday friend Jone, who teaches a children’s literature class and asked fellow poets for poems her students could choose from to make videos. You can read Jone’s explanation of the project, and link to other examples here.
Enjoy – I am!
It’s Poetry Friday and I am glad to be here, after missing a couple of weeks because of being SUPER busy. While I wasn’t here, I was chiefly busy on poetry-business, speaking at schools across the South West as part of the Between the Lines Literature Festival, sharing my love of poetry and, hopefully, inspiring students to read and write more.
Then last week I had not one, but two opportunities to celebrate the release of Right Way Down, speaking with my co-editor at the Children’s Book Council of WA’s annual
Night With Our Stars and then, the next day, a big launch for the book at the State Library. I blogged about this yesterday., sharing a highlights reel.
By the time this week dawned I was happy, but also fairly weary, and I knew that this week I needed to pause and stay close to home. Lots of beautiful beach walking was required to refill my reserves, as well as chances to get some writing done, sleep in my own bed, and spend time with my beautiful pets, who I know miss me when I am off wandering.
It was on the beach that a line of poetry came to me and kept repeating itself. Not surprising really – the beach is definitely my happy place. So I came home and wrote this:
Busy week
I’m almost beat
Time for a dose
Of sand beneath my feet.
Friday morning
Smells so sweet
Thanks to feeling
The sand beneath my feet
Weekend looming
What a treat
To pause and savour
The sand beneath my feet
Smiling broadly
At the people I meet
Also loving
The sand beneath their feet
Leave with a feeling
That’s pretty neat
Knowing I’ve had
The sand beneath my feet
Already planning
a prompt repeat
Of an hour with lovely
Sand beneath my feet.
By the time you read this, I’ll have had my Friday morning walk, with George frolicking along with his own very happy feet. But when I return, I’ll be checking out the other Poetry Friday goodness, courtesy of the roundup hosted this week by Rose.
This morning I have happy toes! Why? Because I have done something I’ve been meaning to do for ages – and it really did not take me long at all.
What did I do? Created a playlist over on Youtube of the various poetry videos I have shared over the years. Inspired by the release this week of Right Way Down, I’ve been spending even more time than usual sharing poetry, poetry ideas and more with the world, including LOTS of posts on my Instagram account. And this, in turn, inspired me to head over to my YouTube channel and create a playlist just of poetry videos. You can see it here. There’s a blend of original poems by me, classic poems, and extracts from my first four verse novels. Now that I’ve put it together as a playlist, I am feeling inspired to create some new videos, so watch this space.
And the happy toes? That’s because one of my favourite video poems is this one, the very first video poem I made, back in 2016:
I hope you enjoy these offerings, and would love to hear if you enjoy them or if you you use them in your classroom.
It’s Poetry Friday and, if you’ve read my last few posts, you’ll know I’ve been thinking a lot about what poetry is – with some surprising results, including last week’s comparison of poetry to chicken cacciatore.
Yesterday, as I took my morning walk on ‘my’ beach (I do share it with other locals, but sometimes it really does feel like it is there just for meeeeee). I thought for perhaps the millionth time how very beautiful it is, in all it’s different faces. The line ‘My beach is a poem’ came to me and, at home, this is what came out:
My beach is a poem:
laying out her
glories each morning;
welcoming me
to her sand.
My beach is a poem:
her salty air
medicine
to soothe
my troubled mind.
My beach is a poem:
water like sparking jewels
spilling from
a sandy treasure chest.
My beach is a poem:
whispering waves
singing and crooning
their morning tune.
My beach is a poem.
As a first draft, I like it, and could see it being a useful mentor text, with each verse using a different poetic technique. and the repeated line ‘My ______ is a poem.’
Speaking of beaches, I am lucky enough to be heading off for the next week to visit the beautiful Rottnest Island (also known by its traditional name, Wadjemup) , for some snorkelling, some beach walking and, importantly some research and writing time. Feel sorry for me? You shouldn’t! I’d take you with me if I could.
Before I head off, I’m off to checkout the other Poetry Friday goodness. Margaret is hosting the weekly roundup.
Last week I posted about trying to define poetry. With Right Way Down coming out at the end of the month, I am putting lots of time into pondering how to spread the poetry word.
So when it came time to post today, I thought I’d continue the theme, and perhaps look at how else I could write about poetry. I thought I would write a found poem, or back out poem, and headed to dictonary.com to see what the definition of poetry might offer.
What it offered was a surprising twist. There were three possible definitions. The first two were fairly straightforward. But the third reminded me that we sometimes call things poetry when they have ‘ qualities that are suggestive of or likened to those of poetry’. And there, in italics, was an example: Marcel, that chicken cacciatore was an absolute poem.
Hmm. Not only did I instantly want to eat chicken cacciatore (it’s been a loooong time) but also, my brain wanted to make that cacciatore into an actual poem. So, instead of a poem about poetry, I ended up sitting down and writing a poem about cacciatore.
Chicken Cacciatore
Rich aroma
fills my nose
my mouth
my heart.
Onions
and herbs
chicken
and tomatoes
and all that rich rich goodness
simmering
on the stove.
Mamma has a recipe
but
when I looked
it was missing
the one key ingredient
I know she uses every time:
Love.
(Sally Murphy, 2024)
So what do cacciatore and poetry have in common? Everything! Carefully put together, with love, to fill up the senses – and, if they’re well made, leaving you wanting more, whether it’s right now, or tomorrow, or next week.
Me? I want more poetry right now, so I am off to check out the love-filled Poetry Friday roundup, which is hosted by the wonderful Carol. Afterwards, I just might be digging out my recipe book!
One of the lovely quirks of participating in a holiday gift swap with people on the other side of the world is that things can show up just as you think the holidays are over. In this year’s swap, I paired with two people, so Tabatha’s gift (which I’ve already posted on) appeared before Christmas, but this week my second gift, from Margaret Simon, appeared in my letter box. How lovely!
Margaret sent me the most delightful card, with art by her father, John Gibson.
Margaret couldn’t have known when she selected this card that my word for this year would be ‘Pause’, which is why I shivered when I read the verse inside the card: ‘Bring silence and stillness to this season of joy.’ A perfect reminder for me to pause.
Also in the package was a copy of Margaret’s poetry collection, Illuminate which she wrote in response to her father’s annual Christmas cards. John’s art uses pointillism – thousands of tiny dots make up each image. And Margaret has lovingly written a poem in response to each artwork. What a treasure to receive. I am digesting the poems, and the arts, slowly, savouring each as I pause to ponder their wonder.
Margaret also very kindly wrote a poem just for me:
For Sally
I found you under a book avalanche
Where you were happily absorbing
Word upon words
Story upon stories
Filling your cupboard
With timeless treasures.
(Margaret Simon, 2023)
I love that Margaret was inspired (I think) by this Instagram post:
View this post on Instagram
Thank you so much Margaret! And thank you for your illuminating gift. Thanks to to Susan, who is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup. I’m heading over there to see what other poetry goodness is on offer this week.