Black Friday is for Poetry!

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Buffy Silverman for Roundup.

Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Joyce Sidman,
Irene Latham

Wow, what a week. A lovely time was had by all at NCTE-Denver, and I enjoyed catching up with poetry peeps like Allan, Amy, April, Carol, Charles, Georgia, Heidi, Joyce, Laura, Linda, Lisa, Lynn, Margaret, Marilyn, Mary Lee, Matt, Nancy, Rajani, Rebecca, Willeena... and meeting new friends along the way. The world of children's poetry is alive and thriving!

I think the photo at the top of the post may be my favorite picture of the lot—so many thanks to the indomitable Laura Purdie Salas for taking it and for being the source of so much joy both on and off the page. Shout-out to Georgia Heard, who was also with us making merry!

AND thanks to Poetry Friday friend Linda Baie, who shared her beloved bookstore with me! (And lunch...and the science museum!) Y'all, Linda is a FORCE. I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Thanks to all the poets and organizers and educators and EVERYONE for making NCTE-Denver a valuable experience. 

Special congratulations to all the 2026 NCTE Notable Poetry books! Several of my favorites were recognized, and I've already ordered the ones I haven't read yet from my library. Yay!

And yesterday was full of turkey and family and all the related JOY.

I have a wee Black Friday poem for you. It's a found poem from a website recommended by Heidi Mordhorst: Svahausa.com (where Heidi purchased her adorable typewriter key skirt!). Thanks, Heidi!

Poem for the Day After Thanksgiving

Black Friday is here—almost

everything appears automatically

now. Huge pockets hold nothing

but wasted time.

Shop. Explore. What do you really want?

- Irene Latham

And now for today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO. Y'all, I really struggled with this one! I wrote quite a few drafts, and they all just felt too heavy...so I spent the last ten minutes of my allotted time crafting a haiku for anyone out there who dreams of the coast, but for whatever reason won't be going to the coast. Yay for staycations!

lemons and oysters

pucker air with sunshine, salt—

staycation

- Irene Latham

*It occurs to me that this could be a fun poetry prompt. Forget about the art. Write a haiku that ends in "staycation." What would your first two lines be??

The Poetry of Car Mechanics by Heidi E.Y. Stemple

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Janice at Salt City Verse for Roundup.

ICYMI: Click here for information about the Open Call for a new middle-grade poetry anthology, The Periodic Table of Poetry, coming from Lerner in 2028 with poems selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters. We can't wait to read your poems!

Heidi with The Poetry of Car Mechanics

Today (while I am talking poetry at NCTE), I'm excited to welcome Heidi E.Y. Stemple to share about her beautiful new verse novel The Poetry of Car Mechanics (Wordsong, 2025). (The title makes me think of the old classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Ha!) 

Publisher's description: 

Dylan seeks solace through birdwatching and poetry in the woods behind his grandfather’s auto shop—but when he rescues an injured hawk, he must learn to confront the broken parts in himself in this powerful middle-grade novel-in-verse.

As is the tradition here at Live Your Poem, I've invited Heidi to respond to 4 simple prompts. But before we get to that, here are two poems excerpted from the novel. The first, because of its truth. I don't want it to be true, but it is. And isn't it our job to be honest with kids?

 The second, because I love how clearly the distinction is made between "mentally ill" and "crazy." Kids need this message.

Broken

Nature is cruel

to broken creatures.

Lame—

be it claw

or mind—

a long 

cold

starving 

season.

Or worse.

---

Counselor's Office

So much time

in the school counselor's office

has been spent 

untangling

mental illness

from

crazy.

I know the difference.

Mentally ill

is a diagnosis.

Crazy is a feeling.

But young me

was all feelings

and didn't understand

diagnosis.

So many days,

from where I stood,

my life felt

crazy.

And now here's Heidi!

FRESH

Heidi writing at Highlights

HS: I have written many things—from board books through adult short stories (well, only one of the latter) but a novel? That was going to be new for me. My friend, editor Eileen Robinson told me she wanted me to write a boy-centered novel. I thought that, perhaps, I wanted to, someday, try to write a verse novel. But, certainly not a boy novel… So, as an exercise in futility, I tried to create the most ridiculously testosterone-filled title. Hence THE POETRY OF CAR MECHANICS. I sat down and wrote the first poem. Then, I wrote a second poem. By the end of the day, I had 19 poems and I was hooked. I wanted to know more about Dylan. I wanted to read his story. In order to do that, I had to keep writing. 

But, how do you know that a book is in the right voice? When I am teaching, I challenge my students to find new ways to look at their story. I have them try changing the tense, the point of view, or the style. So, after I had written 38 poems, I did this myself. I opened a new document and began at the beginning. I wrote Dylan’s story in prose. It was fun. I was able to wiggle around in the details so much more. I enjoyed fleshing out the scenes and digging in further into the landscapes and textures. “This is it,” I thought. “This is the way to tell this story.” 

Then I reread the poems. With fresh eyes on Dylan’s story, it was clear—so clear—that, although, writing the story in prose was fun and less complicated, the poetry was the correct way.

DIFFICULT

HS: I liken the writing of THE POETRY OF CAR MECHANICS to writing 200 picture books, then revision 200 picture books. The process of creating a verse novel is, in my opinion, more intense than that of a prose novel (I’m in the middle of the revision of 4 of those, too). Though, I do think my experience as a picture book author did help. The space between poems is like the page turns of a picture book. The compression and economy of words is so important in both forms… there are many similarities.

But, honestly, the most difficult part of writing this book was the subject matter. There are many themes, but one of the most important is mental health, specifically, that of Dylan’s absent mother. I have received many emails from people commenting about how real this book feels in relation to their experience of navigating the mental health issues of their own loved ones. That is not just craft, it’s from experience. One of the most important things for me, as the author, was to treat Dylan’s mother with respect, but, at the same time, to allow Dylan to feel real feelings. He had to be able to be angry, embarrassed, sad, confused and even say things that, maybe, I was uncomfortable with, because his words weren’t always how I would like mental health issues to be portrayed. I did not want to stigmatize or villainize Dylan’s mother, but, if I sanitized what he was feeling, it would be less authentic. That balancing act was probably the most difficult part of writing this book.

DELICIOUS

HS: There is something magical about writing, especially poetry, when you realize all the pieces of your story fit together in a way you had not planned. There are lots of themes (or motifs) in this book that, when I started out, felt so separate. There is the mental health piece, car mechanics, birds, politics, masculinity, poetry… I had no idea how they would all mesh. Then, as I wrote, they started to bond in unintended and really special ways. Small ways-- Many cars are named for birds. And, big ways--an injured bird, a mentally ill mother, cars, and the world we live in, all feel like they need fixing.

Honestly, this is the part of writing I love the best. Just like Dylan says (of car mechanics) in the first poem. it’s “part poetry, part meter and math.”

If you’re a writer, you know the magic I’m talking about.

ANYTHING ELSE

HS: I feel so honored when anyone takes the time to read something I’ve written. When you’re writing, it is so internal, so personal. To let others in on the story… it’s terrifying. But, it’s also a gift. I am proud of all my books. I love each of them with my full heart. But, this one came from a very special place. It’s a completely made up story, but it’s as close to the bone as one can get in fiction. So, if you’ve read it, thank you. Thank you.

Tom Ricardi with a friend

Also, a little fun bit—when I got about half-way through the first draft, I went to visit my friend, raptor rehabber Tom Ricardi. I asked him a ton of questions to make sure the bird parts were plausible and he brought me around his facility. All the birds you meet in the pages of THE POETRY OF CAR MECHANICS, those are all straight from Tom’s real birds. I gave him part of my advance to continue saving birds. When I brought him his copy, he read it and brought it around to all his neighbors showing them “his book.”

-----

So many thanks to Heidi for visiting! Readers, don't miss Dylan's story. Good stuff!

And now for today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO. Wow, it's exciting to be heading into the homestretch now, with just 5 more Picasso poems to write! In honor of Heidi's visit, today I've chosen to write after one of Picasso's owl ceramics. Thanks so much for reading!

O, to Be an Owl; O, to Be Wise

by Irene Latham

First you'd have her eyes.

You'd like to see the world

the way she does, with such

clarity in low light.

And the way she sits still,

so still. A round moon

disappearing, becoming

one with her perch.

What you really want is to hear

with her ears, to savor

that symphony of heartbeats

singing from beneath three feet of snow.

How does she choose,

how does she know?

No one sees her coming.

She is all rustle and swoop,

feather rippling, her body

a quiver of arrows pointing

to the next right thing.

OPEN CALL: The Periodic Table of Poetry!

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Carol at The Apples in my Orchard for Roundup.

Exciting news: The Periodic Table of Poetry, a middle-grade poetry collection with poems selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, will be published by Lerner in 2028...and we want your poems! See the graphic for details...and I've also typewritten everything below. (You may also receive an email with the same information!) We are so looking forward to reading your work!!

OPEN CALL - PREPARE YOUR POETRY ENTRIES NOW FOR THE SUBMISSION WINDOW COMING UP FROM DECEMBER 6th - DECEMBER 9th. 

Hello, Poets! Send us your 3 BEST/FAVORITE original, unpublished poems for possible inclusion in a new anthology curated by Irene Latham & Charles Waters!

Irene Latham and Charles Waters, also known as I & C Construction Company, are an established writing & anthology team with multiple aims and commitments – including projects showcasing exceptional poetry for children created by diverse contemporary poets. We have been creating books together since 2015. 

In addition to jointly written titles such as Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship and Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z, our published anthologies include: The Mistakes That Made Us: Confessions from 20 Poets (Lerner, 2024), If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility (Candlewick, 2025) and For The Win: Poems Celebrating Phenomenal Athletes (Lerner, 2026). So far, our combined books have made twenty-six state lists. 

We’ve got an exciting new project, and we’d love for you to participate. 

THE PERIODIC TABLE OF POETRY

Published by Lerner, Spring 2028 

Illustrated MG poetry anthology for ages 10 and up

Blurb: Discover the art and craft of writing poetry in a brand new way: through an exploration of 25 elements selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters. From basics like line & stanza to more complex elements for wordplay, impact, and sound; this fun, unique guide features poems that exemplify each element to illuminate the joys of reading and writing poetry. 

 

About the Book: The premise of this book—the elements of poetry presented as a periodic table—was originally conceived by one of our poetic heroes, Paul B. Janeczko (1945 - 2019), but he was unable to complete the project before his death. We miss him tremendously and are committed to carrying forth his work as children’s poetry anthologists. We couldn’t be more deeply honored that Nadine, his widow, and Emma, his daughter, have allowed us to step into Paul’s idea, expand on it, and make it our own. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive look at what makes poetry poetry—and perhaps inspire people of all ages to experience the joys of reading and writing poems. Here’s to you, PBJ!

What we’re looking for:

Your BEST/FAVORITE poems!

Original & Unpublished (no AI).

Any topic or type.

1-3 poems, no more than 60 lines TOTAL.

Payment $50 per poem accepted for publication in the anthology.

(We expect the collection to have 55 - 60 poems.)

First time rights only.

We’ll be searching for poems to serve as examples for the 25 poetic elements we’re featuring….basic elements like BREVITY (send us your shortest poems) and WHITE SPACE (send us something that uses white space in a compelling way)...impact elements like IMAGERY, EMOTION, SURPRISE. (Send us your poems that pack a punch!)...wordplay elements like ALLITERATION, METAPHOR, HYPERBOLE, and more. (Send us your playful poems that feature excellent use of these elements!)...and sound elements like RHYTHM, RHYME, and METER. (Send us your form poems, your funny poems, your re-readable poems!)

No need to “match” your poems to particular elements in your submission. Just send us your best/favorite 1-3 poems, and we will decide where it might fit into our collection. However, if you feel one of your selected poems is a great example of a poetic element, feel free to mention that in your submission!

Note: The submission window will only be open for 72 hours, from Saturday December 6, 2025 at Midnight (Eastern Time) to Tuesday December 9, 2025 at Midnight (Eastern Time). 

**PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR POEMS BEFORE THE DATES AND TIMES OR AFTER THE DATES AND TIMES LISTED AND ONLY TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED BELOW, OR WE WILL DISREGARD YOUR ENTRIES**

At that time, please send us 1-3 poems, no more than 60 lines TOTAL.

A 50-60 word short bio.

Your contact information.

Submission link: lathamandwaterssubmissions@gmail.com

Subject Line: From YOUR NAME - Submission

Note: Poem(s), bio, and contact information in the body of the email. No attachments. 

We will respond to all submissions by January 31, 2026.

-------------------------

Also: this time next week I'll hopefully be at NCTE! Here's my schedule:

This week's ArtSpeak: PICASSO features a mother and child. I was struck by the art, I think because I recently read The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. 

This book has really impacted me. Children who don't experience faithful love and care from the parental figures they are born to or land with suffer throughout their lives in a multitude of ways. The book suggests that if we want to "fix" our society, we need to teach parents how to give children this kind of open, abiding love...and this would eventually result in less foster care, addiction, mental illness, incarceration, etc. The book is a powerful read, and I highly recommend it!

As for the poem itself, I thought about "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes—and almost titled it "Son to Mother." But I didn't want to bring gender into the poem... and that title might have been interpreted as a response poem, and it's not...though now I want to—and will!—write a response poem. Ha!

Instead, I decided to lean into the way our bodies often speak without words...especially children, yes? Youngsters who, before they learn the words, try their darnedest to communicate with us using their bodies and behavior. 

The end finds me again playing with the repetition of a single word. Here, my hope is that with the second "yawning," the meaning of the word shifts from "gap" to "sleepy." Thanks so much for reading!

Words Hidden in a Child's Hug

Tell me you love me

Tell me you'll always be

         here

         Fold me, hold me

         kiss my brow

For my body may be small

but my heart

is a deep cavern

          yawning

          yawning

- Irene Latham

Still Riding the Highlights High!

 

(l-r) Charles Waters, Georgia Heard,
Rebecca K. Dotlich, Irene Latham

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure and visit Laura Purdie Salas for Roundup.

I'm home from another wonderful few days at Highlights. What a Poetry Palooza! 

The magic is real, folks, and it's the poets who make it so. What a great group! Special shout-out to Poetry Friday friends who were in attendance: Rose Cappelli, Janice Scully, Cathy Stenquist...and we have a few new recruits! I look forward to seeing them joining the PF Roundup soon. :)

What an honor to spend time together! Happy news: Registration is now open for Poetry Palooza 2026! 

If you are even thinking about it just a little bit, go ahead and sign up. Slots are limited to the space available on campus, and we had a lengthy Wait List this year. (It's much easier to drop off the list if plans change than to get on it later!)

In other news, the Big Book Giveaway in celebration of my 20 Year Blogiversary is still open until Sunday!! Don't miss your chance to get these beautiful books.

AND...next week I'll be sharing about the Open Call that Charles and I are issuing to collect poems for a brand new children's poetry anthology! Come back next Friday to learn all the details.

Today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO comes from Highlights (I think!). Someone recently shared a prompt with me: "I once.... but now I..." But I cannot for the life of me remember the source. I'm so sorry not be able to give credit where credit is due. 

Y'all my brain (and my heart!) are so full right now. Thanks so much for reading.

True Story

Once

I disappeared

in        winter

but now I

fling the curtains

w  i d  e

invite snowflakes

to nestle in

my ears     nose     eyelids

Can you hear it?

It's the kettle

that is my         heart

singing,

singing

- Irene Latham