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National Poetry Month
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From: lisa von drasek <bogus_at_does.not.exist.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 14:47:22 -0400
Earth-Shattering Poems, edited by Liz Rosenberg (Edge Books/Henry Holt)
Ah where do I begin? Liz Rosenberg was coming to Bank Street College to accept the 1997 Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry for Invisible Ladder presented by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street. She graciously agreed to meet with two classes of 9 and 10 year olds in the afternoon.
Therefore I had special interest when the review copy of Earth-Shattering Poems arrived and quickly laid claim to it.
I was bowled over, shattered. Left gasping for breath on the uptown #2. These adult poems for kids? Why not? What is it about poetry , that when one is moved, they have to share it ? I offered the Sharon Olds selection The Talk to the women sitting next to me.
In the dark square wooden room at noon The mother had a talk with the daughter. The rudeness could not go on, the meanness to her little, the selfishness. The 8-year-old sat on the bed In the corner of the room, her irises dark as The last drops of something, her firm Face melting, reddening, Silver flashes in her eyes like distant Bodies of water glimpsed through the woods. She took it and took it and broke, crying out I hate being a person! Diving Into the mother As if Into a deep pond-and she cannot swim, The child cannot swim.
My subway neighbor looked up, and said, "I hate being a person." And handed me back the book.
I got off at the next stop.
This is one of the poems I shared with the kids. Their response what loud and direct. Exactly! I've felt like that! .
When Liz Rosenberg visited the classrooms, I reaped the benefits ten-fold. She spoke how her Which One is the Grown-up? Haiku grew out of a real incident. The kids couldn't wait to share the haiku that they wrote during her visit.
Ms. Rosenberg's biographical notes are concise and helpful with plenty of suggested readings
I do enjoy using poetry as part of classes. The funny ones are terrific icebreakers. The touching ones a fine way to finish a session.
Recomendatons- Lifelines edited by Leonard Marcus: Dutton. Nobody get out of our house with out reading Men at Forty.
A strong collection for the older teens is Poetry Like Bread: Poets of the Political Imagination edited by Martin Espada (Curbstone Press, 1994) I had often read aloud Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits.
Lisa Von Drasek, Librarian School for Children Bank Street College of Education 610 W.112th Street New York New York 10025 212 875 4452
Lisa Von Drasek, Librarian School for Children Bank Street College of Education 610 W.112th Street New York New York 10025 212 875 4452 lisav at bnkst.edu
Received on Tue 14 Apr 1998 01:47:22 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 14:47:22 -0400
Earth-Shattering Poems, edited by Liz Rosenberg (Edge Books/Henry Holt)
Ah where do I begin? Liz Rosenberg was coming to Bank Street College to accept the 1997 Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry for Invisible Ladder presented by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street. She graciously agreed to meet with two classes of 9 and 10 year olds in the afternoon.
Therefore I had special interest when the review copy of Earth-Shattering Poems arrived and quickly laid claim to it.
I was bowled over, shattered. Left gasping for breath on the uptown #2. These adult poems for kids? Why not? What is it about poetry , that when one is moved, they have to share it ? I offered the Sharon Olds selection The Talk to the women sitting next to me.
In the dark square wooden room at noon The mother had a talk with the daughter. The rudeness could not go on, the meanness to her little, the selfishness. The 8-year-old sat on the bed In the corner of the room, her irises dark as The last drops of something, her firm Face melting, reddening, Silver flashes in her eyes like distant Bodies of water glimpsed through the woods. She took it and took it and broke, crying out I hate being a person! Diving Into the mother As if Into a deep pond-and she cannot swim, The child cannot swim.
My subway neighbor looked up, and said, "I hate being a person." And handed me back the book.
I got off at the next stop.
This is one of the poems I shared with the kids. Their response what loud and direct. Exactly! I've felt like that! .
When Liz Rosenberg visited the classrooms, I reaped the benefits ten-fold. She spoke how her Which One is the Grown-up? Haiku grew out of a real incident. The kids couldn't wait to share the haiku that they wrote during her visit.
Ms. Rosenberg's biographical notes are concise and helpful with plenty of suggested readings
I do enjoy using poetry as part of classes. The funny ones are terrific icebreakers. The touching ones a fine way to finish a session.
Recomendatons- Lifelines edited by Leonard Marcus: Dutton. Nobody get out of our house with out reading Men at Forty.
A strong collection for the older teens is Poetry Like Bread: Poets of the Political Imagination edited by Martin Espada (Curbstone Press, 1994) I had often read aloud Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits.
Lisa Von Drasek, Librarian School for Children Bank Street College of Education 610 W.112th Street New York New York 10025 212 875 4452
Lisa Von Drasek, Librarian School for Children Bank Street College of Education 610 W.112th Street New York New York 10025 212 875 4452 lisav at bnkst.edu
Received on Tue 14 Apr 1998 01:47:22 PM CDT
