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JoAnn's Blog

April 10 Poem

 

10-year warranty—
if they're so durable, why
wrap them in plastic?

 

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April 9 Poem, Poetry Friday, & Book Giveaway Reminder!

 

just a little bit
out of my way this fine view
neighbor's hellebores

 

Tabatha Yeatts is hosting today's Poetry Friday Roundup at The Opposite of Indifference. Enjoy!

 

And remember to enter the Book Giveaway of my new picture book Grow, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman and published by Boyds Mills & Kane, at the Teaching Authors blog. Good luck!

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April 8 Poem

 

haiku in progress
what I want to say won't fit
maybe tomorrow

 

 

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April 7 Poem

 

I never label
my plants. Oh, look—Pasqueflowers!
I love surprises.

 

 

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April 6 Poem

 

oof I'd forgotten that
raking takes muscles my
arms not as strong as they
once were I fear


but


oh what a joy to be
working outside this is
truly my favorite
time of the year

 

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April 5 Poem

 

nose-to-nose greeters
side-by-side sidewalk walkers
puppy-pounce playpals

 

 

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April 4 Poem

 

Nothing overhead but blue.
Nothing urgent I must do.
Dog asleep in sunny spot—
better than the plan I've got.
Time for me to take her cue.
Nothing urgent I must do.
Let the list go in the breeze,
listen to the chickadees,
lie back, gaze up at the blue.
Nothing urgent I must do.

 

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April 3 Poem

 

heading home again
leaving sunset behind us
miss you already

 

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April 2 Poem

 

riverside sculpture
remarkable toothwork by
creative creatures

 

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April 1 Poem

 

seedlings already
optimistic gardeners
ignore calendars

 

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Two New Poems Out in the World!

 

I'm tickled to announce the publication of two new poems!

 

As a formerly obsessive doomscroller, I'm thrilled that I no longer feel compelled to check the news every few hours. "What Shall We Do After Doomscrolling?" appeared in the Poems of the Week of Light: A Journal of Light Verse since 1992. 

 

"Paper-Free Plea" is on page 43 of the Winter 2021 issue of the SCBWI Bulletin. Only SCBWI members can view it, so I'm posting it here, too.

 

Paper-Free Plea

 

For umpty-some years as a writer,
I scribbled my stanzas in pen,
filled notebooks I bought by the dozen,
then printed again and again.

 

I wrote on both sides of the paper,
recycled so diligently.
In spite of my Earth-friendly efforts,
somebody chopped down a tree.

 

My memory's not what it once was,
but lately, I've learned a new trick:
I dictate my drafts and revisions.
The software's convenient and quick!

 

Technology's always improving.
So sad the environment's worse.
Let's help make the world a bit greener
while drafting our stories and verse.

 

JoAnn Early Macken

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 31 (April 23, 2020)

 

last riverside walk
farewell beavers, turkeys, coyotes
golf course reopens

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 30 (April 22, 2020)

 

Earth Day river cleanup
many small contributions
add up to big change

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 29 (April 21, 2020)

 

what to do with these
clenched fists--write poetry,
sew face masks, plant seeds

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 28 (April 20, 2020)

 

new morning routine
coffee, muffin, riverbank
before crowds arrive

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 27 (April 19, 2020)

before / after

 

half my steps today
up and down this hill--maybe
this year I'll keep up

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 26 (April 18, 2020)

 

somber morning walk
bones amid the greenery
o, this deadly spring

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 25 (April 17, 2020)

 

quiet park lagoon
grebe, merganser, muskrat, geese
distant siren wails

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 24 (April 16, 2020)

 

big mistake last night
reading the news at bedtime
nightmares all night long

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 23 (April 15, 2020)

 

picking up dog food
newfangled shopping adventure
topsy-turvy world

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 22 (April 14, 2020)

 

brave Wisconsin voters
stood in line for hours--
six feet apart for hours--
stood outside in the rain


brave Wisconsin voters
stood up to voter suppression
stood up to gerrymandering
to show the world that this is what
democracy looks like now


may they all be safe

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 21 (April 13, 2020)

 

busy morning--I'm
rarin' to go until (thud)
oh, yeah--I remember

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 20 (April 12, 2020)

 

this morning's service
white-throated sparrow chorus
sings Alleluia!

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 19 (April 11, 2020)

 

My groceries are quarantined
beneath the kitchen table.
I washed off bottles, cans, and fruit
as well as I was able.
Soapy water, kitchen sink.
Dunked the broccoli in the drink.
The rest of it
can sit a bit.
Won't it be fun to open up
each can that has no label?

 

Our Wisconsin governor has issued a "Safer at Home" order for the state. I'll try to post a new poem each day based on my experiences and perceptions. You can read more below.  Stay safe, everyone! Wash your hands!

 

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 18 (April 10, 2020) & Poetry Friday!

 

we sew our own masks

this fake administration

too little too late

 

You can read more of my #PandemicPoems below. Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has today's Poetry Friday Roundup. Enjoy! Be safe! Wash your hands!

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 17 (April 9, 2020)

 

cheery messages
hail from sidewalks and windows
let's stick together

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 16 (April 8, 2020)

 

some days for poems
some for long walks and sewing
delicate balance

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 15 (April 7, 2020)

 

water carves a way
frightened voters form long lines
turbulence ahead

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 14 (April 6, 2020)

 

pair o' geese on the water
pair o' ducks in the air
paradigm shift beneath our feet

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 13 (April 5, 2020)

 

at every corner
we choose the direction with
fewer people in sight

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 12 (April 4, 2020)

 

oh, sparkly rhubarb
sprouting up through sunlit soil
sign of pies to come

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 11 (April 3, 2020) & Poetry Friday!

 

How to Help: Stay Home!

 

Everybody on the street,

stay at home. Please stay at home!

It's not safe for friends to meet.

Stay at home. Please stay at home!

Be a hero. Don't go out.

Don't go frolicking about.

Seriously, must I shout?

STAY AT HOME! STAY HOME!

 

I've been posting a #SaferAtHomePoem each day on Facebook and Twitter since our governor issued the alert for Wisconsin. This one has been rattling around in my head all week as I walk through our busy neighborhood. I've also gathered the others on this blog. (Please keep reading!)

 

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is at My Juicy Little Universe. Enjoy!

 

xox,

JoAnn

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 10 (April 2, 2020) & National Poetry Month!

 

pin in the carpet
needle in a haystack
virus in a community

 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 9 (April 1, 2020) & National Poetry Month!

 

mask production starts
at the dining room table
like normal things do

 

Today is the first day of National Poetry Month! Celebrate with me by reading and writing poetry! 

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#SaferAtHomePoem No. 8 (March 31, 2020)

 

Gene's warm homemade bread
more than sustenance--comfort,
reassurance, love

 

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