Where the Path Bends Long and Narrow (poem)

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Ruth at There is no such thing as a godforsaken town for Roundup.

It's been a lovely Thanksgiving here at Casa Latham/Happy Rabbit Hideaway/The Lake. So SO much to be grateful for!

In case you missed it, my new video series Tuesday 2-Minute Writing Tip #2 "Call Me Ishmael" was about embracing our identities as writers, and a practice that has helped me for many years. I hope you'll give it a listen! And if you know a writer who may benefit, I'd be so grateful if you'd pass it along to them! Thank you!

Today I'm continuing my series of question-titled poems for ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS. With just 3 more Fall poems to go (and then 2 Winter), I've got 2022 on my mind... what should my ArtSpeak theme be? We shall see...

Also, it's that time when I begin reflecting on how my One Little Word "Bewilderment" has impacted my year... and thinking about what should be my 2022 One Little Word. More on these topics soon!

For now, here's my latest poem. Thank you so much for reading!

Where the Path Bends Long
and Narrow

We are both nameless—
the trees and me—
and what is true
breathes between us:
We both come from seed
and are made mostly of water.
We both require sunshine,
rain, soil.
We both lean into
a friendly, autumn breeze.
We learn from each other—
how to stay rooted;
how to move on.

- Irene Latham

Who Paints the Leaves in Fall? (poem)

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

Yay for #NCTE21 and Janet Wong's Award for Excellence in Poetry! I'll be there tomorrow celebrating this moment with Janet... and also helping present the Children's Book Awards! This was my second year (of a 3-year term) to serve on the Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction committee...VERY excited to share with all of you our winners! :)

Finishing work on the Huck committee means I have a brief window to read books for adults! Any suggestions?? Please leave in comments!

In other news, I've started a new video series, 2-Minute Writing Tip Tuesday! You can catch the first installment here, where I share inspiration from a lovely Ray Bradbury quote.

If you are gathering with friends and family in the coming week, I wish you joyjoyjoy! I'm quite excited about turkey and all the fixings with my guys. :)

Meanwhile, here's the latest ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem, carrying forth the "question-title" mini-series I identified last week. Thank you so much for reading!

Who Paints the Leaves in Fall?

Who holds up the sky?
When oaks kick off their covers,
who tucks them snug into winter?
Who gives such crisp, whispery kisses?
Who sends snakes a-slither
and foxes foxing into their dens?
As the sun circles away
              away
a lone voice sings: Sleep, my darlings,
sleep. I'll see you in my dreams.

- Irene Latham

[VIDEO] 2-Minute Writing Tip Tuesday! Episode #1 "We Are Cups"

 Welcome to my new video series for writers! I'm kind of amazed by how much inspiration can fit in just two minutes. :) In this (the very first episode) I riff off a favorite quote by Ray Bradbury. Enjoy!

Where Friendship Begins (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Matt at Radio, Rhythm and Rhyme for Roundup.

I started a new monthly feature at my blog this week: Homeschool  Poetry Party! 

I've done a lot of work with homeschoolers this past year, and I have loved it! So, on the 9th of each month (hello, nonets!!) I'll be posting something especially for homeschool families. If you know a homeschool family, and you think they'd benefit from a bit of poetry in their lives, would you please share the link with them?? Thank you for your help!!

When I went into my art folder to select a piece for today's poem, I noticed in the "Done in 2021" file a surprise miniseries of poem titles beginning with "question" words:

What the Deer Sees

When in Doubt

Why Evening Comes Early in Autumn

Why River Smiles in Winter

Why Roses? 

...so, I decided to add another Question-title poem this week to the series! (And perhaps I will continue for a few weeks, or at least until I lose interest. :) Thank you so much for reading.

Where Friendship Begins

on a hushed,
          curving road
beside a slumberous field—

can I help you?
          sunders autumn fog

- Irene Latham

9th of the Month Homeschool Poetry Party!

 

Hello, and welcome to a new feature here at Live Your Poem: Homeschool Poetry Party! Celebrating the joys of reading and writing poetry with Homeschool Families on the 9th of the month (all year long!)

This month we'll focus on GRATITUDE with blessings, prayers, and writing gratitude poems. 

First: a Prayer poem from my 2019 ArtSpeak: Happy series. 

Now listen to me reading the poem:

 

Question for discussion: When you think of God, what color comes to mind?

Next, a book recommendation:

Find out more about For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day by June Cotner, Nancy Tupper Ling, & Helen Cann by visiting the blog interview I did with Nancy Tupper Ling back in September.

Finally, let's write a Gratitude poem! 

1. make a quick list of some things you're grateful for

my list:

family times

reading

writing

music-making

exploring nature

2. use the 5 senses to bring them alive

family times - together in the kitchen tasting pumpkin pie, nutmeg and allspice tickling our tongues  (taste)

reading - cozy under a blanket with a second-hand book (touch)

writing - the characters in my new story dancing in my dreams (sight)

music-making - "Ode to Joy" marching me across the hours (sound)

exploring nature - the scent of woodsmoke as I crackle-crunch across fallen leaves in the woods (scent & sound)

3. put them in an order that's pleasing to you

cozy under the blanket,

turning pages of a favorite book

characters dance in my dreams

Ode to Joy marches me

into the woods where the scent

of woodsmoke welcomes me

as we crackle-crunch across fallen leaves

together, nutmeg and allspice tickling our tongues

4. make changes so that the words sound and mean even more (i.e. add rhyme, title, punctuation, choose more precise words; take away words, etc.)

Every Day is a Holiday

Cozy under quilt,

flipping pages 

until characters 

dance dizzy in my dreams—

"Ode to Joy" 

marches me awake

and into the woods 

where woodsmoke 

welcomes all

as leaves crackle-crunch 

underfoot

The best times

are together times, 

nutmeg and allspice 

tickling our tongues.

5. Share your poem with someone!

I've created a special Homeschool Poetry Party! padlet, if you'd like to post your poem for others in this community!

Thank you for joining the Homeschool Poetry Party!! If you found value in this post, please share it with others. Thank you!

Learning from Birches (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading for Roundup.

Today's ArtSpeak: Four Seasons poem features birches. Many other poets have written about birches. Have you? Here are a few I found online:

how they remind of childhood: Birches by Robert Frost

how they are "all elbows" Birch by Cynthia Zarin

"white fingers"  Russian Birch by Nathaniel Bellows

addressing the birches:  Matins by Louise Glück

...and here is my birch poem. Thank you for reading!

when in doubt

bend
like birches—

curve—

a thousand
crooked forests
cannot be wrong
about how to catch
                     light

- Irene Latham

Why Evening Comes Early in Autumn (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Linda at TeacherDance for a Halloween themed Roundup.

It's Halloween weekend. Yay! My car and I will be participating in a community Trunk-or-Treat... I've even hobbled together a costume to wear: Spider Goddess? Web Mistress? Spider Charmer? I don't know, but you're probably getting the idea. I'm just glad it's not one of those sweat-while-you're-trick-or-treating times.

What are you doing to celebrate?

This week's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem is about the short and getting-shorter days. Thank you so much for reading!

Why Evenings Come Early in Autumn

sky battered and bruised
by a million wings

lake a threadbare quilt
stitched with fading ripples

no wonder drowsy sun
refuses to hold up its head

- Irene Latham

It Takes Courage to be a Tree + WILD PEACE!

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

My latest picture book WILD PEACE was released this week! Thanks so much to those who helped me celebrate!  💜 And for those who don't know: Wild Peace a 150-word long poem about a girl who escapes her chaotic home life and enters the forest, where each wild animal teaches her something about peace. It's quiet and beautiful and meditative, thanks in no small part to the gorgeous art by Il Sung Na, who visited Live Your Poem earlier this year to share about his illustration process. Every book I've been lucky enough to be involved with feels like a miracle. I'm so grateful this book is in the world!

This week's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem is short and not-exactly-sweet. Thank you so much for reading!

It Takes Courage to Be a Tree

with or without rain
October leaves rust,
drop—
soon to reveal
winter's sharp edges

- Irene Latham

P.S. Tomorrow I'll be participating in a 5K Fun Run benefitting our local animal shelter...it's going to take all my self-control not to come home with a new pet! I suspect many of you can relate... xo

Cool Change / Gathering Season (poem)

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Bridget at Wee Words for Wee Ones for a celebration of her new book (!) and also Roundup.

Each morning, my husband's phone alarm wakes us to "Cool Change" by The Little River Band. (He changes the song each month, in keeping with the season!) That surely was in my mind as I was writing this week's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem. 

Fun fact: As is often the case, the "shape" of this poem changed as I was making the graphic. (It was 4 3-line stanzas; now it's not.) The visual is so important in poetry... and isn't that such a personal thing, and determined by space on the page and the poet's aesthetic, among other factors? I really enjoy playing around with that during revision. Thank you so much for reading!

Gathering Season

Farmer shapes
hay into round-house
mounds

Flock grazes away 

every last blade

Sky, too,
corrals fat-bellied
clouds—

first icy drops 

chase us all indoors.

- Irene Latham

And if you're gathering books this season (like I am!), WILD PEACE comes out next Tuesday!! Illustrations by Il Sung Na, coming to us from the good folks at Roaring Brook Press. I'm excited to share this gentle, meditative long-poem picture book with young ones, and I hope you will, too. More on this next week! xo

Ode to an Autumn Poetry Friday Roundup!

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Roundup is HERE!

So, I have a secret I'm ready to share: I'm in the process of creating a digital course called Wild & Precious Writer. (Mary Oliver fans will know exactly where this title comes from!) 

My goal is to provide for others (you!) a path to higher joy and authenticity in your writing to create real change in your life and in the world. I'll be sharing things that have worked for me on my journey—ideas and practices that I've collected over the past twenty years from sources like The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez, and many others. 

With that in mind, I want to invite you along to help me create the course you would want. You can help me right away by answering the following question in comments:

If you could wave a magic wand to make your biggest writing challenge disappear, what would that be?

Thank you for your help! I'm VERY excited about sharing so many of the things that have been transformative in my life... stay tuned! You, too, can become an official Wild & Precious Writer when I open the course in early 2022. :)

And now, please join me in celebrating the season with some excerpts from "Ode to Autumn" by Pablo Neruda... and then please leave your link below!

Ode to Autumn

by Pablo Neruda, trs. by Ilan Stavans

Autumn is modest

like the woodcutters.

It's hard

to remove all the leaves

of all the trees

of all the countries.

Spring

sewed them together on the fly

and now

one must allow them

to fall as if they were

yellow birds.

It isn't easy.

There's not enough time.

One must run down all

the roads,

speak languages,

Swedish,

Portuguese,

speak in the red tongue,

the green tongue.

One must know

how to be quiet in all

the languages

and everywhere,

always

allowing

the leaves to fall,

fall

allowing them to fall,

fall.

***

And here is my latest ArtSpeak: Four Seasons poem! Thank you for reading.

Autumn Puzzle


I will not ask why

because life has taught me

about cycles and seasons.

Today I will fit myself

into the mystery—

how time eats daylight,

and I am always always

grasping for more;

squirrels hoard exactly

as much as they need;

and maples, god bless them,

give away every

      last

              jewel.

-Irene Latham

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

What the Deer Sees (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Catherine at Reading to the Core for Roundup. I'm out adventuring this week, but I will be back next week to host!

Today's poem was inspired by the many recent deer sitings on our morning walks and early evening drives. So. Many. Deer! Including this little cutie, just hanging out in the ditch. 

Adorable, yes? So no wonder my heart went in this direction for this week's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem. Thank you so much for reading.

What the Deer Sees

Three figures
so silent, so still—

not deer
not bear

barest breath
salting the breeze

not bird
not dog

tiny wisp
of some wild scent

not sweet
not frightening—

friends, so long
as they move

not one step
closer

- Irene Latham

Celebrating FOR EVERY LITTLE THING!

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

It's my pleasure today to congratulate June Cotner, Nancy Tupper Ling, and Helen Cann for their newly released poetry anthology

FOR EVERY LITTLE THING: POEMS AND PRAYERS TO CELEBRATE THE DAY (Eerdman's).  I'm always excited for a new poetry anthology, and this one is a beauty. I especially enjoyed seeing poems by our Poetry Friday friends Michelle H. Barnes and Charles Ghigna. Congratulations to all!

And now please welcome poet-friend-editor Nancy Tupper Ling, who stopped by to respond to a few prompts. Welcome, Nancy!

The delicious

Nancy Tupper Ling

NTL: As an author who can barely draw a stick figure, I find “the delicious” to be that moment when I receive the first sketch or two from the illustrator. In the case of FOR EVERY LITTLE THING, this happened when June Cotner and I got a sneak peak at a few of Helen Cann’s sketches, including the “Nightfall” chapter and a full-page spread, which reflected all four seasons in one glorious tree. Ultimately, the tree was paired with a poem by Jill Noblit MacGregor called "Simple Graces" and it is stunning (shown below!), That experience was as delicious as picking the first Empire apple in a New England fall. Ah!

IL: Have I ever had an Empire apple?! I don't think so! Must remedy. And as a long-time fan of June Cotner's thoughtful anthologies for the adult market, I'm just delighted about this partnership! And wow, when I popped on Nancy Cann's website, I fell in love with her maps. Go see!

The difficult

NTL: As an anthologist, I know you’ve experienced this too, Irene, but it’s always hard to let go of a poem that is beautiful. For some reason it doesn’t fit with the collection. This could be because there are too many similar poems on one spread, or because the poem itself is a bit too long. Often, we work with our contributors on a revision if it can make their poem stronger. Still, there are other times when we must say goodbye to a perfectly wonderful poem. That said, that very poem might be perfect for another anthology down the road.

IL: Yes! SO DIFFICULT to say goodbye to some poems. I want to keep them ALL. Alas...

The surprising

That there is a World Gratitude Day (September 21st)! Who knew? And that FOR EVERY LITTLE THING launches on this very day is a perfect fit. When June and I first put a proposal together for our book, gratitude was at the heart of it. Our hope was to foster “appreciation for the small and big gifts of the world,” and by journeying through a child’s day, from waking up to falling asleep, our selected poems and prayers will awaken a sense of gratitude in readers of all ages.

IL: Another "gratitude" poetry anthology to pair with this one: THANKU: POEMS OF GRATITUDE selected by Miranda Paul, illus. by Marlena Myles.

Anything else

NTL: Yes, some very good news! Back in January, I left my position as a librarian at Morrill Memorial Library (after 10 years) so that I could devote more time to my writing. I wanted to give myself a full year to pursue this dream, even though it seemed quite risky with two daughters in college. Well, guess what? As announced in Publisher's Marketplace, June and I recently sold another children’s anthology entitled BLESS THE EARTH: A CHILDREN'S BOOK OF PRAYERS AND POEMS FOR HONORING THE EARTH to Keren Baltzer at Convergent/Penguin, thanks to our agent, Anne Marie O’Farrell at Marcil-O’Farrell Literary (world). Also, FOR EVERY LITTLE THING became a Gold Standard Selection, as awarded by the Junior Library Guild. Turns out, it was a risk worth taking!

IL: YAY for all this happy news! Yay for risk-taking, and for poetry reaching more children and families!!

illustration by Nancy Cann

Simple Graces

Simple graces are everywhere.

under rocks and in the air—

in crashing waves and tall, tall trees,

simple graces for all to see.

Simple graces are near and far,

the sun, the moon, and twinkling stars—

refreshing rain, the air we breathe,

God made every one of these.

Yes, simple graces are everywhere,

in everything, here and there—

summer, fall, winter, spring,

simple graces in everything.

- Jill Noblit MacGregor

Learn more about this lovely book at other stops on the blog tour:

And yes, I have an ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem for you! It's the first "Autumn" poem of this series. Thank you so much for reading.

Then Sings My Soul

clothe yourself
as maples do,
in burnished gold

rest and reflect—
a puddle after rain

welcome the child's boots
as a way to give yourself
to the world

and when it is done,
gather light
in your damp hands,

let yourself
                     fall

- Irene Latham

...and... welcome to my first-ever fun quiz! (This was SO MUCH FUN to create. Go ahead, give it a go!)

End of Summer (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Denise at Dare to Care for Roundup.

Thank you for all the well wishes for my mom's 75th birthday party! We had a wonderful time, and my mom was practically floating the entire day. Here's a pic with me and my youngest (5 months old) great-niece. Isn't she adorable??

Introvert that I am, it's taken me most of the week to recover from the party. (I know some of you will know exactly what I'm talking about!)

Good news: The first review of WILD PEACE (coming October 19) is in! Here's a pull-quote selected by my lovely editorial team:

"A meditative exploration of the peace that exists in the communion between humans and nature." - Kirkus

I'm excited to share more about this book in the coming weeks, as it's my first picture book that's one long poem featuring lots of woodland animals... and it clocks in at a spare 150 words! It's got a gentle goodnight-moon kind of vibe to it, which I think will make for some sweet reading time.

On the ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS front, this poem marks the end of summer. YAY! Bring on the pumpkins and falling leaves, because I am ready to write some fall poems... how 'bout you?

End of Summer

Morning's breath
turns sweet

as cool air
creeps between trees,

fills weary fields
and fallows.

Sun, too, softens,
trading glare

for twinkle.
We stow the boat,

store the hummingbird
feeder, grateful for

safe passage
between seasons—

for light
for light
for light.

- Irene Latham

A Poppy Day (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure and visit Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect for Roundup.

Football season is here, which is happy-making in these parts. Some leaves are already turning, and the mornings air has dried and cooled—so we don't return from our walk quite so wet and bedraggled!

I'm learning in my gardening class that the reason so many of my plants don't thrive, is because I'm planting the wrong ones! (Our yard falls into the part-shade to all-shade categories.)

In art history we are studying ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. I've had about 15 billion ideas for children's books!

And this is the weekend of my mom's big 75 party, so when you read this, I will likely be either baking a Coca-cola cake (one of my mom's favorites) OR...even better!... eating it!

My ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem for this week went through several metamorphoses before I landed with this poem that includes a mother, freedom, and some wistfulness, too. (Truly, I will be glad to leave behind the Summer poems and write some Fall ones. One more Summer poem to go!) Thank you for reading!

A Poppy Day

Mother says the poppy field
is more than just
happy blossoms;
it's a jungle of bees,
ants, and grasshoppers.

Explore, she urges.
But not too far.
She paces along the narrow 

path, her parasol painting
shadows on her face.

We buzz—drunk on heat
and freedom—fall into our lives,
a flurry of feet and secrets.

May we forever remember 

this day: Mother watching,
and summer's
                  surprise bouquet.

- Irene Latham

The Truth About Sunflowers (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure and visit Heidi at my juicy little universe for Roundup.

First: I have to tell you about a beautiful book, INTO THE LIGHT by Jeff Zentner. It's a love poem to nature and poetry and friendship and love(!) and grandparents. Kind of old-fashioned, and partly set in Tennessee. Here's a quick quote.

“Every hurt, every sorrow, every scar has brought you here. Poetry lets us turn pain into fire by which to warm ourselves. Go build a fire.” - Jeff Zentner, Into the Wild Light

Please stop over at Smack Dab in the Middle to read my post about How to Mine Your Childhood for Story. (Artist's Way friends: you'll remember some of our work together!)

I've been thinking about how I can apply to upcoming teaching THE ANTI-RACIST WRITING WORKSHOP training through Highlights Foundation. 

Something funny: I just looked for the file I started on my computer, and I accidentally titled it "The Anti Writing Workshop," which is quite a different thing. :)

This year on Saturday, September 18, I'm part of the virtual nErDcampGA. Sign up for my "Experience the Transformative Power of Poetry" session and other great sessions FREE! 

Today's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS turned out to be more for the adults among us than the children. While I intend this series for children, I've learned not to fight it when a renegade adult poem pops up! Thanks so much for reading.

The Truth about Sunflowers

By September
their blazing faces
droop,
          drop seeds.

Petals and stalks
shrivel.

You, too, will fade.

Your body will
disappear,
become something
                         new.

- Irene Latham

Because Poetry is Full of Fun & Mystery

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections for Roundup.

This week I've been settling into my Art History class. (Yes: Master Gardening class AND Art History class this fall! Lucky me!) My head might explode with all I'm learning—or more likely, it'll all spill out into new poems and stories. :)

Some fun/ny things, too: Dear Heidi alerted me to a Special Edition of D-39: A Robodog's Journey! Turns out there was a print run error early on that resulted in a handful of hybrid books that are part D-39, part Something Else. 

I kind of love this, although I know it's frustrating as a reader...if this happens to you (with any book), simply let the bookseller know, who will let the publisher know, and they will send you a new copy. :)

Also, I'm working on a birthday party for my mom, who will be 75! It's turned into a Family Weekend Reunion at a rental house, which is great! And also overwhelming (as the daughter who lives closest to the venue and started the whole thing)...

Did you know? CYBILS is looking for judges! It may seem overwhelming, but as someone who served quite a few years and in several categories, I am here to tell you that the rewards of participating as a judge are tremendous! It helps sharpen your critical skills, and hearing other panelists' responses to books you've read is quite an education and meaningful experience. AND you get to see what publishers are currently saying YES to, and that can help inform your own writing projects. Apply here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfE2o-XMSrW_ZQhq8sJPPU8j5_p-D7D9GepiwPYpB5_k-uORw/viewform

This week's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem is a bit of a mystery. Where did it come from? What does it mean? I love when that happens! Thanks so much for reading... and if you'd like, please do share what the poem means to YOU. xo

 

The Harvester Shouts at Vincent

Don't you dare
cast this billowing
wheatfield as ocean.

Yes, yes, when the wind
rises, it may resemble
high tide. But make

no mistake:
there's no boat to carry you—
only these boots.

True, sun is a circling shark.
The blade leaves stubble
sharp enough to slice leather.

If I drown,
it will be no fault of water.
You need not remember me.

- Irene Latham

On the First Morning in a New Country (poem)

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

My life was interrupted this week when I decided to pull ragweed while wearing flip flops. (I do most everything in flip flops!) I had an awful skin reaction on my feet and ankles, or wherever the ragweed stalks happened to brush my skin. 

I mean, I knew ragweed can be brutal for some on nasal/breathing, but a topical rash?? It's a fire-y itch, I tell you... No more gardening in my flip flops, I promise you that! 

Today's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem is for the travelers among us... I know many like to plunge into exploration, not wasting a moment. These days I find myself preferring to ease in... and so this poem.

On the First Morning
in a New Country

What if I don't want
to explore the city—
what if I'd rather stay
here,

on this balcony?
Must I always do?
Isn't watching, too,
a form of love?

What a waste, I suspect
you'll say. But today
I think I'll stay:
Take off the top hat

settle into a more
comfortable chair.
Today I'd rather be here
than anywhere.

- Irene Latham

The Swing (poem)

 

moth sleeping on the
swim stuff at our dock

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Christie at Wondering and Wandering for Roundup.

It's been a busy week! School has started in these parts, and it's a bit of a shock to see that schoolbus twisting along these country roads. I've been reading A LOT. (Two recent middle grade faves: THE LAST WINDWITCH by Jennifer Adam and CECE RIOS AND THE DESERT OF SOULS by Kaela Rivera.) Whenever I get a chance, I've been watching recordings of the recent SCBWI conference—one of my favorite sessions so far was with Sophie Blackall, whose work is brilliant! I immediately reserved the picture books she referenced in her talk, and I'm kind of in love with LIFE ON MARS by Jon Agee. What a fabulous book.

In other news, I attended my first Master Gardener's class! I've wanted to do this course for years, but it's kind of a big commitment, and when do I have time for gardening? Well, y'all already know this: the time is now. 

I also got out the glue gun for a project this week, and also the upholstery stapler! OH. And I bought a sweet (blue) manual typewriter at a thrift store. I'm waiting on the ribbon to arrive, and then I look forward to playing around. 😊

Today's ArtSpeak: Four Seasons poem turned into something different than I was expecting.

The Swing

I swing,
        sway—

summer dapples
the day.

As birdsong
fades,
voices stay.

My thoughts
are a bouquet
of come closer
and go away.

Someday
I'll make decisions
without delay.

But today
I swing,
         sway.

- Irene Latham

---

Do you, too, ever have a problem with indecision??

Summer Story Poem, A Letter, & Manatees!

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading for Roundup. My friend and fellow author/poet Sylvia Liu is here to celebrate her newly released MANATEE'S BEST FRIEND. Congratulations, Sylvia!

Before we get to that, I invite you to read a letter I wrote to 11-Year-Old Me. (This was really rewarding and surprising experience. I discovered I mostly wanted to be encouraging... and I didn't want to reveal much about the future. I highly recommend each of you write such a letter!)

Yes, I also wrote a new ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem. I confess to feeling a bit weary of summer art (!)... none of the paintings I selected at the start of the season are particularly calling to me... so I found another one! You'll find the poem at the end of this post.

K. Woodard Photography

And now: Please welcome author Sylvia Liu, who is a kind, generous, and inspiring human! Learn more about her current and forthcoming books at her website. Today's interview focuses on MANATEE'S BEST FRIEND, which released this week!

The Difficult

SL: I wanted to create a unique friendship story, where my main character, Becca Wong Walker, is friend with a manatee, and where a dolphin and the manatees become friends. A challenge was to be accurate scientifically about how manatees and dolphins act, wile making it engaging and fun for readers.

The Delicious

SL: I loved going on a fact-finding research trip to northwest Florida, to see manatees in their natural habitat and to immerse myself in th environment. I also met with middle school students and local environmentalists to learn about manatees and the risks they face. I was lucky enough to snorkel with manatees, which I discovered were much larger than I imagined. [Note from Irene: Sylvia included a wonderful pic of her snorkeling with a manatee, but Blogger was too jealous to let me post it, apparently... could NOT get it in the post without wrecking all the text. Weird. So please use this space to imagine beautiful Sylvia floating just above a giant manatee!]

The Fresh

SL: I learned that manatees are a critical part of the shallow river systems. They act like lawnmowers eating the seagrass beds and encouraging grass to grow. They also stir up nutrients for baby fish to eat. 

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Thank you, Sylvia! I have yet to meet a manatee IRL, so this book helps meet a need for me. 

And now, here's my latest art poem. Thank you so much for reading!

A Summertime Story

You'll find me in the apple tree

on hazy summer mornings. Up, up,

I climb—hand over knee.

Don't worry if I disappear.

You'll find me in the apple tree,

pockets full of cakes and tea—

and in my hand a book to read

to busy birds and beetles. Want a story?

You'll find me in the apple tree.

- Irene Latham

Writing in Summer (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure and visit Becky at Sloth Reads for Roundup.

This week for ArtSpeak: Four Seasons, I found myself writing about writing. This happens from time to time, I think because I need these words for myself. (I often feel like my poetry is me talking to/coaching myself!) Poetry in particular feels like a bridge to my subconscious mind. 

The art for this one is by Claude Monet. (In a recent inventory, I discovered that I have written the most ArtSpeak poems after work by van Gogh, and Monet takes second place.) I want to draw your attention to a lovely new picture book biography about Monet entitled MORNINGS WITH MONET by Barb Rosenstock, illus. by Mary GrandPre. I loved learning about Monet's boat studio! And like Monet, I adore creating art in the early morning hours. Beautiful!

Monet also said this: "Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love." - Claude Monet 

LOVE! And now, here's "Writing in Summer." Thank you so much for reading.

Writing in Summer

Not enough
to walk amid
waving wildflowers
and buzzy bees.
Keep going,
push into the wind.
Invite ocean's breath
to steal your hat
and collapse
that (safe) parasol.
Now is not the time
to whine about theft
or wet salt spray.
To discover your
best story,
you must dance
on the          edge.

- Irene Latham

Instructions for a Sunwashed Sunday (poem)

 

Beautiful 13!

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Kathryn Apel for what's sure to be an inspiring Roundup. 

I'm away from my desk this week—celebrating my little sister's 13th birthday and also helping my mom through hip replacement surgery. (!)

For my latest ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS, I totally should have written a "girl time" poem, but maybe that will come later! 

Instead I am again focusing on weather... it's been a rather wet summer here in the Alabama foothills! Thank you so much for reading.

OH. And I have beautiful new Home and Books pages at my website! Please head on over there right now and check them out. :)

Instructions for a Sunwashed Sunday (After a Week of Rain)

stash galoshes,

forget strife;

let go of pain—

step into

               your life

- Irene Latham

Because No One's Cheerful All the Time...

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone for Roundup.

There have been some exciting things this week, including:

...an early morning phone call with Radio Europe (in Spain!), sharing about THE CAT MAN OF ALEPPO.

...the arrival of a single author copy of WILD PEACE. I would buy this book for its endpapers alone... bravo, Il Sung Na! 

...also in the mailbox, the Japanese edition of CAT MAN. (You can imagine how special this is to Yuko Shimizu!)

...Betsy Bird's cover reveal of AFRICAN TOWN (and interview with me and Charles) over at A Fuse #8 Production.

...and a new octopus friend to add to my collection, thanks to a dear one among us. 🐙 I'm so grateful for this community!

For today's ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem, I return to van Gogh. We've had a lot of storms lately, and that kind of shows up in this poem! Thank you so much for reading.

Sometimes

Clouds rise,
thunder calls—

somewhere,
a raven:

caw caw
             caw—

Sun sputters,
cypress shudders.

No one's cheerful
all the time—

not even 

            summer.

- Irene Latham

An Accidental Wedding Poem!

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure and visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for Roundup. Thanks to all—especially the teachers among us—who shared experiences about transitioning to summer. I'm lifting a glass of homemade strawberry lemonade to all of you!

Something fun this week: My friend & poet & anthologist Nancy Tupper Ling invited me to be part of her Author Acrostic series! Be sure to check out all the authors in the series at Nancy's website. I'm on a social media hiatus, so I'll share mine with you here:

In the beginning, my parents

Read to me. I learned the joyful

Exuberance of words!

Now I'm learning there aren't

Enough words, and even less time.

- Irene Latham

Also, this week, I've been updating my website! More on that soon. And Tabatha helped me format a little zine to go with WILD PEACE. Link coming soon! Creating digital content sure does gobble the time, doesn't it?

For my ARTSPEAK: Four Seasons poem this week, I knew I wanted to write after this Klimt apple piece, and I decided to use a 7-line mentor poem with an odd rhyme scheme. I couldn't figure out my beginning, so I started building the poem from the bottom up... and I'd only got the last four lines done when I decided it was a poem! (I'll try the 7-liner poem another time.)

Mountain Wedding

Afternoon rain

becomes summer's champagne

as sunbeam marries shadow in a forest chapel—

and outside, trees carry bouquets of apples.

- Irene Latham

Twilight Time (poem)

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Laura Shovan for Roundup.

This week I have been learning again how to relax! I don't know if this happens to you, but after a period of intense activity (2 months of many presentations and mad revisions!), it's taken me a couple of weeks to wind down... and this week, finally, I felt myself sink into the days, my mind not constantly cataloging what needs to be done next. Also this week I was able to connect with some dear-to-me folks, so that certainly has added to my sense of peace and contentment. I guess I'm summering! And I hope you are too.

Here's my latest ArtSpeak: FOUR SEASONS poem. Thank you so much for reading.

Twilight Time

When night rises,
shadows fall—
warm stars
welcome all
across the yard,
across the dark—
where lightning bugs
leave their mark.
How these summer
             evenings
glitter-gleam!
Each blink
both a heartbeat
and forever
as Sun settles in
to dream.

- Irene Latham