A Polka Dot Poem

 

Irene & Charles
Maynard Public Library

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Heidi at my juicy little universe for Roundup. (Next week's Roundup will be here! Hooray!)

You're invited to view my final Tuesday 2-Minute Writing Tip for the 2026 edition of the series, #35 "How I've Changed as a Writing Teacher." Thanks for your support!

Charles & Irene (photo by
Cathy Stenquist)

What a lovely time at Maynard Book Festival! So many thanks to the people who organized, volunteered, and attended! We heard some wonderful poems from a young patron. :) Special thanks to Mark Malcolm (the King of Kazoos!), the Maynard Public Library, and to Christie, Cindy, and Cathy for their hospitality (not a big enough word for all the ways they made our trip special and comfortable. mwah!). Charles and I couldn't be more grateful. There were many highlights of our weekend, but one that stands out is our walk with Cathy around Walden Pond. Time in nature is everything!

Tonight is the book launch for Some Starry Night. Hooray!

It's been fun (and emotional!) hearing from readers their responses to this, my first novel for adults.  Here's a new graphic I made, in case you're wondering if this book is for you. It includes the following endorsement:

"With her poetic voice, Irene Latham delivers a dreamy and engaging read in Some Starry Night. Offering deep research, lyrical writing, and emotional resonance, this story reminds us that it's never too late to risk it all for love." - Julie Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of Perennials

You can still enter the Goodreads Giveaway through April 30. Good luck!

Today's ArtSpeak: WOMEN features Yayoi Kusama from the Harper's Bazaar list of most influential women artists. Kusama is known as "the Polkadot Princess," because she often uses polka dots en masse to create an experience of feeling insignificant as individuals and interconnectedness to others and the universe.

 Polkadot trees. Polkadot lights. And on and on! If you want to learn more about Yayoi Kusama and her work, please view this (short) video. Excellent!

Kusama's penchant for polkadots made me think of Rebecca Kai Dotlich, who loves them too! So I reached out to Rebecca and asked her to choose the last line of the poem—without showing her the first lines. :) Here are the choices I gave Rebecca:

the whole world is a polkadot – even you.

she was a polkadot, and so are you!

Paint isn't what makes a polkadot. The polkadot is you! 

And here's where we landed. Enjoy!

Polka Dots

for Rebecca Kai Dotlich

There was a poet
who loved polka dots:
on dresses and purses,
cows and horses!
She polka-dotted plates.
She polka-dotted chairs.
But sported polka dots
in her hair. She polka-dotted
trees, sky and moon—
until there were no more stars,
no more leaves.
Instead? All polka dots!
Until one day she polka-dotted
her tongue, cheeks and knees.
She coughed polka dots
and laughed polka dots.
My friends, she wheezed!
And that's when she knew:
she was a polka dot,
and so are you.

- Irene Latham

p.s. this poem has a rhythm and whimsy similar to one of my most favorite children's poems: "Knitted Things" by Karla Kuskin.