I have not been at my best this week -- O change-of-season cold! Plus my father has been in the hospital -- he's doing much better at the moment, but it's been a stressful few days.. and might explain the this-n-that nature of this post!
Good news: I'm thrilled to be serving for the third time as a CYBILS judge for Poetry! Congratulations to all the other judges -- I look forward to talking poetry with all of you. We certainly have our work cut out for us this year, what with verse novels being thrown in with the other poetry books. I'm excited to read!
Earlier this week (before I lost my voice), I recorded a poem I loved called "A Little Girl's Poem" by Gwendolyn Brooks.
It begins "Life is for me and is shining!" Read the full poem here -- and here's the audio.
As for my reading life, I'm nearly done with GO SET A WATCHMAN. I wasn't going to read it, but then my father wrote me a middle-of-the-night email about his reaction to it, and I simply HAD to read it. I rather like 26 year old Scout, I gotta say. More on this soon!
During my drive-time, I've been listening to ECHO by Pam Munoz Ryan. I'm into the second story (set in Depression-era Pennsylvania), and I am really REALLY curious as to how all these threads are going to be woven together... loving the music! Thanks again, Ramona, for sending me to the audio version of this book.Finally, I've been thinking about this article I read in Mental Floss magazine about Einstein's "genius tricks for clearing your mind" -- and, it should follow, enhancing your creativity:
1. Bust out the violin
2. Set sail (not that he was the best sailor in the world... and he couldn't swim!)
3. Dress down (did you know Einstein hated socks?)
4. Keep up correspondence
And you know, those are really great tricks! My comps are as follows:
1. Bust out the cello
2. Take a walk
3. Wear pajamas all day (and flipflops when necessary)
4. Keep up correspondence (hey, email and texts count!)
What about you?? How do you clear the mind/enhance your creativity? Wishing you a wonderful last-weekend-of-summer!
Oh my, it IS the last weekend of summer. How I clear my mind/enhance my creativity? It's a long standing habit: I sweep, the porch, the patio. I think walking does too, but I pay too much attention to details to really relax then. Sweeping is enough action to allow me to start thinking. . . I'm sorry about your father, Irene. Best wishes for his quick recovery, and hugs to you. Glad you are enjoying Echo. I did love it, but need to get the audio & listen. I've read too many who say the addition of the music is magical. Thanks for your potpourri!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I am with you on the sweeping! Often when I am "stuck" in my writing, I get unstuck by sweeping or vacuuming, or some other mundane household chore. Side benefit: my house is clean! Thank you for sharing. xo
DeleteI hope your cold hurries off and your father is doing well. I have a lot of ideas for dealing with colds...email me if you ever need any! Getting away from the computer is very creativity-enhancing for me :-)
ReplyDeleteDear Tabatha, yes yes yes to getting away from ye olde computer! I will email you about cold remedies. Thanks! xo
DeleteGlad to hear your father is doing well. Congratulations on the being a judge for Cybils! It's my first time to encounter that poem and its beautiful, powerful and shining. Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas in clearing the mind. I too like to take walks. I also like staring/observing. I would walk to a cafe, sit and just watch the world go by. -iphigene from Gathering Books
Hi Iphigene - how much do I love that you mention staring/observing?! It may look like one is doing nothing, but oh how active the imagination can be during those times of relaxed observation. Love it! xo
DeleteI hope both you and your father feel better, Irene. Loved hearing that poem!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tara. Today is a better day. Glad you enjoyed the poem. I am still thinking about something you posted recently on student agency. Had a whole conversation with hubby and 15 yo about it. Thank you! xo
DeleteThanks for sharing that lovely poem - so much to think about in that little girl's musings. My favorite phrase: "...have happy cocoa together." Congrats on being named to the Cybils. So glad you're enjoying "Echo." Blessings for that cold to end and for continuing good health for your dad. And now it's time to ponder my last weekend of summer . . . hmmm? I'm never too sad since fall is my favorite season.
ReplyDeleteDear Ramona, I, too, love me some Fall! Wonderful season -- I love how the light looks different, and all those dressed-up, dancing leaves... nice nip in the air, too, this morning. Happy day! xo
DeleteThanks for the potpourri, Irene! I have just adopted a new motto: "Life is for us, and is shining./We have a right to sing." Sending love in the form of sunshine, music, pajamas, rest, and chicken soup as needed! xo
ReplyDeleteNow that's a wonderful motto, Michelle. Thanks for stopping by and for being YOU. xo
DeleteWe'll get into some major poetry discussions come January! I look forward to working with you! As for clearing out your mind--there's nothing like a walk in the woods!
ReplyDeleteYes, Diane, the WOODS. Talk about rejuvenating and wonder-filled. Thank you for the reminder. And yay for Cybils!! xo
DeleteWalking is high on my list of things to clear my mind, but my favorite is to lay on the floor with my head on the dog and just be in the moment. Don't know why it works, but it does wonders for my mind and spirit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this potpourri today. Sometimes varied is good.
Hope your dad is doing better. I'll keep you both in my prayers.
Can't wait to work with you on Round 1!
Thank you, Tricia. I love that image of you on the floor with your head on the dog. AWESOME. And what a gift for your dog, too. :) Excited to cybil with you. (How's that for a fresh verb?!) xo
DeleteHope your father is doing better, and that your cold is waning. Thanks for reading "A Little Girl's Poem." So affirming and hopeful, especially in your calm voice. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on 26 year old Scout--I have to say I was not a fan. But the whole plotless novel may have put me off liking her...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Buffy. Since you mention it, I am going to write a blog post about 26 year old Scout and what I like about GO SET A WATCHMAN. To call it a "novel" at all is only because it is published on paper between two covers, and because of the author's name. never would have been published otherwise! More soon. xo
DeleteIrene, hope you are feeling better and that your father is still doing well. Love your poetry potpourri today! Gwendolyn Brooks is so masterful with her repetition in this poem, and I agree with Michelle about those final lines. They are a perfect motto. Walks are my go-to brain clearing activity, although laundry and cleaning the bathroom also work.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe it's the last weekend of summer, when I'm almost through the first quarter of the school year! Thanks for the lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI loved the poem by Gwendolyn Brooks. Read against the background of scenes of children in the crowds fleeing in overloaded boats, trekking across Europe, it is beyond poignant.
ReplyDeleteSo much here, Irene! I own that Paul Janeczko book and still I didn't know that beautiful Brooks poem. Looking forward to judging with you too!
ReplyDeleteThat Brooks poem knocked me out. And I love your soft, honey dripped, lilting, southern twanged interpretation.
ReplyDelete