Also, our Progressive Poem is progressing with a parade of animals! Be sure to check in with Anastasia at Poet! Poet! for the latest line.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, I will be sharing in each post during April a favorite quote from a favorite poet on poetry. Enjoy!
- Nikki Giovanni
Complete NPR interview here.
And here is a favorite Nikki Giovanni poem! I use it with students as an example of a poem that employs all of the senses. Don't mean to rush us into summertime, because wow, isn't spring amazing this year?! But I sure do love this poem. Plus my sister lives in Knoxville, so now I have all sorts of new memories and feelings associated with this poem. :)
Knoxville Tennessee
I always like summer
Best
you can eat fresh corn
From daddy's garden
And okra
And greens
And cabbage
And lots of
Barbeque
And buttermilk
And homemade ice-cream
At the church picnic
And listen to
Gospel music
Outside
At the church
Homecoming
And go to the mountains with
Your grandmother
And go barefooted
And be warm
All the time
Not only when you go to bed
And sleep
Best
you can eat fresh corn
From daddy's garden
And okra
And greens
And cabbage
And lots of
Barbeque
And buttermilk
And homemade ice-cream
At the church picnic
And listen to
Gospel music
Outside
At the church
Homecoming
And go to the mountains with
Your grandmother
And go barefooted
And be warm
All the time
Not only when you go to bed
And sleep
- Nikki Giovanni
Finally, big thanks to Tabatha for inviting poets to write poems set in imaginary places... and for sharing mine at The Opposite of Indifference today! I also recorded a version, if you'd like to give it a listen. Can't wait to read others' responses!
So much here to love, Irene. I want to wear "Poetry is garlic" around my neck! This is one of my favorite Nikki poems too, and well....listening to you read is just a treat. Thank you for bringing us all together on SoundCloud and in the Progressive poem. You are a giver and a connecter, and I am grateful. Happy Poetry Friday!
ReplyDeleteAmy, "Poetry is garlic" is brilliant, isn't it?? I am grateful for YOU. xo
DeleteYes, "poetry is garlic" made me smile. Someone needs to put it on a t-shirt. Loved hearing you read both these poems!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Buffy - "poetry is garlic" tshirts for all! xo
DeleteI love hearing you read these, Irene, & Buffy is right, someone should put "poetry is garlic" on a tee.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I am all for the "poetry is garlic" tee. Thanks for stopping by! xo
DeleteI love that 'Have something to say' and garlic. Great thoughts on poetry.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Catherine (who has something to say)! xo
DeleteWhat a wonderful poem to share. I love that the simple words add up to such a full picture.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Liz - simple and beautiful!
DeleteThat is one awesome quote! Sign me up for a tee!
ReplyDeleteAnd "Knoxville Tennessee" reminds me a bit of When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant. It was one of my daughter's favorites when she was young. Both carry the warmth of home and family.
Yes! Cynthia Rylant is a favorite of mine. I bet she has some great quotes... will look! Thanks for stopping by. xo
DeleteI had the same connection as Diane - there is that shared sense of warmth and comfort and simplicity.
ReplyDeletewarmth and comfort and simplicity... and poetry too! Some of my favorite things. Oh, and GARLIC. Thanks for stopping by! xo
DeleteI, too, enjoyed the comforting sensation of Nikki Giovanni's poem. But what I enjoyed even more was your poem, "Inside the Chocolate Factory," on Tabatha's blog (and you reading it here as well). I was truly swept up in the craving, the hunger, and the wonder-full feast... "before we learned/to count what we didn't have." Thank you for that delicious poetic treat.
ReplyDeleteChocolate, barbeque, homemade ice cream, and garlic -- delectable post you've got here today, Irene! I'm not sure what namby pamby poems Ms. Giovanni is talking about. ?? I guess she is giving an example of being strong in her words :-)
ReplyDeleteI love "poetry is garlic," too!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is one I'll take back to my students as an example of those sensory images...and mood, too!
I've always loved that poem. And I was born in Knoxville! Thanks for sharing. And for being such a strong poet yourself.
ReplyDeleteInside the Chocolate Factory is indeed a magical place, more dreamy in your words with your voice. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat poem from Nikki just made me unbelievably hungry. I hope to read more of Nikki Giovanni's poems soon - poets being compared to garlic is just plain genius. But wait... what if you like werewolves? (I love the werewolves in the TV series True Blood. Hahaha).
ReplyDelete