Friday, March 15, 2019

SOL 15/31 & Poetry Friday: A Call to Action

  
Head over to Heidi Mordhorst's blog, my juicy little universe,  
to read her call to action and learn more about #youthclimatestrike. 

I must admit that when I read somewhere that our posts for this week's Poetry Friday post were supposed to be about climate change that I was a bit disappointed. I have a poem I've been wanting to share, but that will have to wait for next week. Midway through the week, I pulled a favorite anthology off my shelf.
 And I chose a poem by Alice Schertle.

Secretary Bird

Take a letter:

Say that
the ancient trees are falling.
Say that
the whale's song grows faint.
Say the passenger pigeon is gone.
The great auk is gone.
The rhino, the mountain gorilla,
almost gone...

Dip your quill 
in the sludge 
along the river,
in the soot 
from the smokestack,
in the poisoned lake,
in the burning rain.
Dip it in the blood of the great blue whale.

Take a letter, bird:

to whom it may
concern

-Alice Schertle

(Did you know that Alice Schertle is the author of The Little Blue Truck books? I've read them more than a few times with my grandsons. And one of my favorite books by Alice Schertle is Button Up!:Wrinkled Rhymes. But I digress.)

When I clicked on Heidi's post to link up, I saw that she also shared this poem. And she shares many ways for us to take action and provides links to make it easier to do so. 

Just a quick personal connection - I heard Heidi speak at NCTE18 in the Poetry in the Wild session and it was a treat. She's a passionate educator. I appreciate her call to action with so many ways that we can "dip our quill" to become messengers of action.

11 comments:

  1. I think it's neat that you do Poetry Fridays! I liked this poem, it shows how we need to take action and how important that can be.

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  2. Love this poem, even twice, Ramona. And I love Button Up! too. Schertle's words are very special. Wishing us all new energy in our work to fight climate change! Happy Friday!

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  3. What a beautiful poem you shared! I've never read the little Blue truck books, but they sound fun!

    I am continually in awe of those of you who participate in Friday poetry

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  4. What a painfully great poem this is.
    Glad you were able to hear Heidi speak!

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  5. I read the poem, then reread it. It's a poem that invites thinking and evokes a strong emotion.

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  6. So powerful. I know and love the little blue truck books, so to discover this side of the author is quite wonderful.

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  7. We have The Little Blue Truck on our bookshelf, and I didn't make the connection until you pointed it out! :) I love this poignant poem.

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  8. Thanks for sharing the poem again, Ramona. It gives me more time to ponder the path we are walking.

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  9. I love that you both picked this poem. It is simply perfect for the theme today. Can't wait for your next-week poem!

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  10. You found a wonderful poem, Ramona! By the way, good for you that you have taken on the March SOL challenge - bravo!

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  11. Ramona, I am also disappointed that we didn't have more time together at NCTE! Thanks for your kind comments--we clearly have a lot in common! I love THE TREE THAT TIME BUILT and I am a great fan of Alice Schertle.

    I am also in awe of those who are slicing 31 days in a row! Thank you for putting off your chosen poem; I'll be looking for it next week.

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