NPM Day 27: The Letter W, Day 2

My book spine poem for NPM 2017:

She walks in beauty

A jar of tiny stars

Awakening the heart

Opening a door

House of light 

Pass the poetry, please!

It's Poem in Your Pocket Day - 
Be sure to tuck a poem
or two or three or more
in your pocket to share today!

Continuing my alphabetic stroll

through National Poetry Month 

with the second of two posts on 

the letter W . . . 

I can't think about poets whose names begin with the letter W without remembering a certain book of poetry that disappeared with regularity from the shelves in my classroom.   In fact, when I went looking for it this month, it wasn't on the bookshelf at home, so I had to order a new copy of all the small poems and fourteen more byValerie Worth.  Three of my favorite poems are "cat," "door," and "library."  This collection of all four Small Poems books plus fourteen new poems belongs in your collection.  Another book by Valerie Worth that was a constant favorite of my students is Animal Poems.    

Even though one of these W book titles should have been with seasonal poetry for Day 21, I could see right away that these three book titles made a lovely book spine poem.  

When Green Becomes Tomatoes

Whisper and Shout

What the Heart Knows

When Green Becomes Tomatoes:  Poems for All Seasons 

by Julie Fogliano, Pictures by Julie Morstad

I love these poems that wander through the year divided by the seasons and titled with the month and day.   My note on the title page:  "Checked out from library and discovered spring 2016.  Gift to self on 4-30 (Indie Bookstore Day), purchased at Island Books."

Note to friends:  Indie Bookstore Day is this Saturday, April 29.  Perhaps you, too, should give yourself a book on this day!

Whisper and Shout:  Poems to Memorize

edited by Patrice Vecchione  

This anthology is filled with blue sticky notes peeking from its pages.  I love this admonition from the editor in the Introduction:

The Poetry Habit

"Pick your favorite poems from this collection, and give them away, or keep them tucked safe in your heart and mind.  But don't stop there.  Keep hunting for new gems to add to your collection.  Then, within you, always, you'll have a treasure trove of new and distant places, the sound of rain water, your mother's eyes, comfort in an unfamiliar place, immediate celebrations:  You'll have poems to tickle or soothe, to prod, to whisper and shout.  And with them you can talk back to the world where you live, voicing the verses you love."  - Patrice Vecchione

What the Heart Knows:  Chants, Charms & Blessings

by Joyce Sidman, Illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski

This book was hand sold to me by a favorite bookseller at Island Books.  I remember Laurie telling me how much she loved this book of poetry.  The book comes with a lovely red ribbon bookmark.  Unfortunately, I'm breaking my rule of three.  For this book, I have four favorite poems:  "How to Find a Poem," "Starting Now," "Blessing on the Curl of Cat," and "I Find Peace."
This is a lovely book of poetry to give to a friend.  

Only three more days and X, Y, and Z will see us through!