Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Buffy Silverman for Roundup.
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| Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Joyce Sidman, Irene Latham |
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—almosteverything appears automatically
now. Huge pockets hold nothing
but wasted time.
Shop. Explore. What do you really want?
Fun post Irene! Love your staycation haiku, creative prompt too! And lovely pics of the conference peeps and Linda, thanks for sharing all!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks for sharing our day, too, Irene. It was a fantastic day with you, and I am happy to read some of your other time, too! Love seeing your family smiles, plus the haiku takes me to the beach, where I always want to be! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteIrene, the "lemon and oysters" transported me to RI, and thank you for the "staycation" prompt!!!! I can't wait to check out the NCTE Notable Poetry Books. Thank you also for the "What do you really want?" line that resonated for me. As i head into the holidays, I wan to reflect on this question for myself and my loved ones.
ReplyDeleteSo much joy in gathering! And so grateful not to be caught up in shopping! Thank you for the prompt, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing those NCTE highlights--sounds like a joyful gathering. And your Black Friday poem is a nice reminder to not waste that time today!
ReplyDeletejan/bookseedstudio
ReplyDeleteand I circle back to smile at the lovely image you snapped & shared of a healthy smilingLinda in front of that wonderful world of books where she has volunteered so much of her knowledge & deep caring for good books :)
DeleteThe HandsomeFamilyIrene prompts me to say the overheard line, "My heart about fell out" [Liz Garton Scanlon this #PFwk] in overjoy to see your dear Mama after so long & so fit for a Family Giving Thanks Weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Irene & Appreciations for the lively lovely NCTE foto, list of great first names & surprise haiku ending prompt.... Yes, I'll go:
"Wrestle tree ruffles/
orange yellow red papers/
tree groom staycation"/
JGA - Giving Thanks Weekend 2025
pegs moving on a cribbage board/
ReplyDeletegenerational memory making/
I hope to meet that force of Linda Baie someday. That's a bookshop I want to visit and a friend I want to see in person. So glad there is a great deal of thanks giving going on around our poetry neighborhood.
What fun you had with all those poets! NCTE looks like it was wonderful. I can relate to your Black Friday poem. "Shop. Explore. What do you really want?" Had to run a quick errand and saw so many, running in frantic circles. Nope- BF is a staycation for me :) Belated Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that NCTE provided such a richness of being with other poets. I chuckled about the Black Friday poem.
ReplyDeleteIrene! Your found-language poem = heart that! Thank you for the report on the NCTE goings-on, too.
ReplyDeleteHehe--I love pockets on dresses, though mine are rarely empty, which may be the point. What a fun found poem. And your ArtSpeak poem...here's mine:
ReplyDeleteflight canceled
infinite lines await
staycation
Several delayed/canceled flights lately for us or family members. Flying is almost too much trouble now, though I'm grateful for it. And also totally frustrated with it!
That's maybe my favorite NCTE pic too!
Irene, Thank you for this joy-filled post. I'm so glad so many had the chance to meet at the conference during a busy time of year. A staycation is something to celebrate, too!
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe it was only a week ago that we were all together. I soaked up the poetry joy and carry with me the fun times we had together. I love how you gave yourself permission to abandon the art and offered us a quick prompt, too. I stayed in Denver a few more days and then came home to a house full. I need a staycation! It would include bird watching and coffee sipping and my little black dog on my lap.
ReplyDeleterecord snowfall
ReplyDeletebirthday trip postponed
staycation
We planned to drive to Chicago tomorrow for my birthday, but the record-breaking snowfall there (and headed here) nixed that plan. Luckily, we can entertain ourselves right here with books and stitching and local walks!