Some time ago, I began working on a book of nighttime poems. Then I gave it up! I felt some of the poems seems a bit forced. Later, I put a more serious effort into a couple of other collections--one is a seasonal collection of mask poems told in the voices of told in the voices of plants and animals. The other is also a collection of mask poems that are told in the voices of a farmer and his wife, their domesticated animals, a few wild animals, the sun and the moon. I have tentatively titled it Farm Talk.
Here is one selection from my collection of nighttime poems:
BIRDS
The birds outside have stopped their cheeping.
Now they’re in a tree top sleeping.
They’re fluffed up in a cozy nest…
Getting a good…
goodnight’s
rest.
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I also wrote a follow-up collection to my Things to Do book. The follow-up takes place on a winter day. I have sent both Farm Talk and Things to Do: Winter Poems off to publishers. I am hoping that at least one of them will be accepted for publication. I'm not getting any younger!
FYI: The new release date for Things to Do (Chronicle Books) is February 7, 2017. Note: I sold the manuscript in the fall of 2011. I hope I'm still alive when the book is published.
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Katie has the Poetry Friday Roundup at The Logonauts.
I like your goodnight poem. Maybe you could expand the collection to include going to bed. Maybe from dessert onward, skirmishes with mismatching pjs, a lost toothbrush and an AWOL bear, marching onward to pillow softness. Just a thought I had reading your lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda. Up to this point, the manuscript includes poems about night, the moon, stuffed animals, dreams, etc. I sometimes find it best to put aside a collection for a while...and then return to it after a few weeks/months. I will keep your suggestions in mind if/when I work on the collection again.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm glad to see you here again, Elaine, but what a long wait for your book birth-day! I know I will enjoy it thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine, thanks for sharing your sweet goodnight poem. I'm looking forward to your new book. It's been a long time coming. I know what you mean about not getting any younger, I'm feeling the same way. Time just seems to slip by so quickly. : )
ReplyDeleteHi, Elaine!! I'm so excited for your Things to Do book to come out! The cover is delicious, and I bet I can trust you that none of the "things to do" involve a digital screen. Yes, the tempo of the publishing world does not at all suit those of us who are impatient. I just withdrew a ms that the editor had held onto since Feb. 2015--which finally elicited comments and a rejection. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of "Things To Do" - thanks for sharing some of your work in progress!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are still poet-ing along at a good clip! Just pre-ordered Things to Do!
ReplyDeleteLinda B.,
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy blogging and taking part in Poetry Fridays. I'm hoping that I can get myself more organized so that I can participate more frequently.
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Linda,
You are so right about time seeming to slip away so quickly. I can't believe that Julia, my older granddaughter, is going to be five next month.
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Heidi,
It took quite a while to find an illustrator for my book--but I couldn't be more pleased with Catia Chien's artwork for my collection. I can't wait to get my advance copies of "Things to Do."
Sorry to hear about the situation with your manuscript. Poetry is not an easy sell these days!
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Katie,
Thanks for stopping by. Posting my original poems on my blog is a good way to share my work that will probably never by published in a book.
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Mary Lee,
Thanks for pre-ordering my book. Now I know one copy that at least one copy will be sold!
Congrats on your perseverance to keep creating while you wait for your book to burst into the world. I'm looking forward to celebrating Things to Do when it comes out. =)
ReplyDeletePersistence for the win, Elaine. I also couldn't agree more about the paucity of children's poetry books and the publishers who are shy to publish them. We need to change it, we WILL change it, this is our mission.
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