Fall Swim (cat poem!)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink for Roundup.

We've had a few cool mornings, but no rain this October. We are seeing glimpses of color, but it's so dry, the leaves seem to be crumpling super quick. We'll see...it's still a bit early, as we generally don't get our peak autumn color in Alabama until November.

In reading news, I just finished ONE BIG OPEN SKY by Lesa Cline-Ransome. If you were a Little House on the Prairie kid (like me!) and also loved PRAIRIE LOTUS by Linda Sue Park (also me!), you will enjoy this prairie tale from the Black perspective. It's written in verse...with no punctuation. Big open sky, indeed! And there are three narrators—one child, Lettie; Lettie's mother Sylvia; and Philomena, a young (feminist) teacher. I don't think I've ever before read a "go West" story that mentioned women's suffrage. I hope you'll give the book a whirl!

This week's ArtSpeak: FOLK ART poem features falling leaves... and a cat! Enjoy!

Fall Swim

cat splashes

into every puddle

when it's raining

leaves

-Irene Latham

Invitation / Inner Song poem

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme for Roundup. I'm super-excited my poem about a crystal-loving girl called "The Rainbow-Keeper" is included in Matt's first time out as a poetry anthologist: A Universe of Rainbows:Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World illus. by Jamey Christoph, coming from Eerdman's April 1, 2025. Read Betsy Bird's enthusiastic sneak peek here.

I'm also delighted to have a couple of poems in the just-released anthology from Janet Wong & Sylvia Vardell: Clara's Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz, drawing by Frank Ramspott, pubbed by Pomelo Books. I love those made-up words, and I loved writing for this project! Find out more and get your copy here. 

Fun fact: I've been given a number of alternate names over the years. My father called me Harriet. My brothers called my Reniebob. A friend dubbed me Lydia. Another friend said she swore I was a Clara in a former life. So I have great fondness for the name! And even though I haven't seen this book yet in person, I already love it!

'Round these parts it's Fall Festival time! I'm in charge of the Scarecrow Contest, so I look forward to seeing how creative my friends and neighbors are!

Today's ArtSpeak: FOLK ART is inspired by a piece available at  Main Street Gallery by Georgia folk artist Eric Legge. 

I started out with no title, ala Emily Dickinson, jumping straight into the poem... and then I titled it "Invitation." I have quite a few "Invitation" poems! And of course the mind goes straight to this one by Shel Silverstein. Aren't ALL poems invitations, whether they bear that title or not?

Also, the poem started out center-justified. But when I went to create the digital image, it didn't work. Without the art, I still prefer it center-justified, so that's the way I've presented it below. Thanks so much for reading!

Invitation

inside

the center

of the center of your heart

a song stirs

take a breath

part your lips

spiral your tune

into the broken/hopeful world

-Irene Latham

Autumn Poems Falling Here!

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Jama's Alphabet Soup for what's sure to be a delicious Roundup.

For today's ArtSpeak: FOLK ART, I've got an autumn poem. Friends, I have written MANY autumn poems! It's my most favorite season, maybe because it has so has many moods. . .

Grumpy: Today I'm Feeling Autumn

Sad: I Remember You in Autumn

Brave: Autumn Maple Haiku

Grateful: Autumn Prayer

Curious: Who Paints the Leaves in Fall?

Weary: Scarecrow's Wish

Fun: Three Black Cats

Dreamy: October Dreams

And today's poem is all about awe, gratitude, being in the present moment. The art is by Maggie Blanchett. Thank you so much for reading!

in autumn

the wild cathedral
doors swing wide

you remember
a hardwood forest

is built of stained
glass and sky

the air is so crisp,
reverent

even birds fold
their wings in prayer

you must kneel
before you step

into the river

- Irene Latham

p.s. if you'll be at NCTE-Boston, won't you please join us for a Poetry Peeps Meet-up? Friday, Nov. 22, 7-9 pm at the Crescendo in the Omni hotel lobby. Hope to see you there!

Birdhouse poem

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for Roundup.

I'm away from my desk, but happy to buzz in with a quick ArtSpeak: FOLK ART poem! Today's art is by Chris Lewallen.

One of my favorite things about our house on the lake is the bird-feeding station. Recently, thanks to Amy Tan's book, we switched to hot shelled sunflower seeds, and that has made a world of difference in terms of keeping the squirrels away! I also love having birdhouses perched everywhere, including the village of birdhouses pictured left. One thing I am working on is adding a birdbath to the yard. The one I have is too deep...so it needs a few rocks for the birds to perch upon....easy peasy! I do love watching birds play in puddles. Thanks so much for reading. And if you need a book-friend for this poem, grab one of my favorites: Every Day Birds by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. 

Birdhouse

Heaven is a house
with four doors
forever open

inside: straw
feathers
a few eggs

front porch
fat with stars
and fireflies

sometimes silence;
sometimes singing

- Irene Latham