Happy Poetry Friday!
If you haven’t yet read Welcome to the Wonder House by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard with illustrations by Deborah Freedman, please put it on your wish list. You won’t be disappointed. These talented poets imagine the world as a place of wonder and curiosity, describing it as a series of rooms that hold wonders and lead to curiosity. It is the kind of book you will want to enjoy again and again, if nothing else than to let the beautiful language and mesmerizing illustrations sink in one more time.
I was thrilled when Marcie suggested the Nevermores write a poem of praise this week and cited one of Rebecca’s poems from “The Room of Praise” in Welcome to the Wonder House as an example. I immediately poured over each poem in the book, then got down to writing one of my own. I started by listing things that I was curious about as a child. Fireflies was high on my list. I spent many hours as a child catching and releasing these wonders, and I was surprised to learn as an adult that fireflies, at least the kind I knew as a child, are not often found west of the Rocky Mountains. I even have a picture book manuscript about that curiosity.
After brainstorming some ideas, I jotted down phrases in my notebook, arranged and rearranged, then crafted my praise poem.
Praise to Fireflies
who sing the sun to sleep
with a lullaby of light
dancing in the deepening dusk
like meadow fairies
tiny stars
close enough to catch
in a jar
a hand
a heart—
make a wish!
Draft, 2023RoseCappelli
Photo by Rajesh Rajput on Unsplash
Margaret has the roundup this week on Reflections on the Teche. Be sure to stop by for a beautiful tribute to strawberry jam, the kindness of a friend, and lots more poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Rose, I love your poem! Your first line hooked me, and each word kept reeling me in. I love the imagery, personification, simile, and alliteration in the first stanza. Fireflies dancing like fairies, YES! I adore “lullaby of light.” I also love “a hand / a heart” which is so effective. Your poem is beautiful and emotional; it brings back good memories. It saddens me that so many children aren’t able to see fireflies because of all the light pollution in our world, but your poem makes me happy because you have perfectly given the experience of magical fireflies for all children and adults. Please seek publication for this poem, or perhaps you could include this poem in a collection of poems, or… Thank you for sharing your poem, inspiration, and joy. 🙂
PS I am so looking forward to buying and reading Rebecca, Georgia, and Deborah’s Welcome to the Wonder House!
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Thank you, Gail. I so appreciate your kind words and encouragement.
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“Meadow fairies” have all been wiped out by the mosquito control here. I haven’t seen a firefly since childhood. I miss them. Lovely poem of praise!
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Thank you, Margaret.
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Rose, “lullaby of light” is such a wonderful thought! Gorgeous poem!
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Thank you!
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Yes, I grew up in Missouri & we loved them again on a trip last week, but now, in Colorado, not here! I love your praise poem, Rose, especially ” lullaby of light”.
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Thanks, Linda.
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That’s a magical praise poem, Rose! Last week, I shared some poems from this book, and we wrote some poems inspired by it. Love that your group was doing the same thing! xo
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I love that, Rose. “Lullaby of light” is a delight. The book sounds great! Thank you for the recommendation.
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“Welcome to the Wonder House” sounds like like one to add to my TBR pile. I adore lightning bugs, too. “Lullaby of light” is beautiful.
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Rose, gorgeous poem of praise to the fireflies. I want to write a praise poem now. I was one of those people who lived west of the Rockies and didn’t see fireflies until I moved to Iowa when I was 27. It was one of my favorite things that summer when I moved there.
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Rose, how lovely. The progression of your poem from singing the sun to sleep to heart is perfect. It brings us right down to our centers with the wonder of all those little blinking stars. Just perfect.
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This. Whole. Post.
I have a library copy of WONDER HOUSE waiting for me to have time to dig in. You’ve got me itching for it now!
There is just about no better use for poetry than for praise. I believe that poems of praise as beautiful as yours are a big part of what will keep our world alive.
And fireflies. Fireflies, goldfinches, and redbuds were three of the wonders of Ohio that I never knew growing up in Eastern Colorado. What a glorious world!
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I love this poem (and I love fireflies). True confession. I had already written a praise poem and had been holding onto this prompt for a couple of weeks for us. 🙂 I love “lullaby of light.” I have so many memories of fireflies as a kid.
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I’m looking out my window at dusk here, and only inky-black silhouetted pines – no fireflies. But AMEN to them! Can’t wait to read WONDER HOUSE, Rose.
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Thanks, Patricia!
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Newly arrived in North Carolina, our new home. When daughter took us by our house on our first night here, there were fireflies in the front yard. Oh, how I’ve missed them! They seemed to know my heart needed their tiny stars. It’s a delightful welcome!
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Rose, I am sorry that it has taken so long to arrive here but this weekend I had a miserable sinus / respiratory infection so I am off to see the primary care provider tomorrow. I went to my allergist twice last week and was on heavy doses of meds. So I have spent most of my time in bed and then, woke today to find out that my daughter fell down the stairs with her 2-month-old. It has been a traumatic day of lots of prayers. The baby is bruised but fine and my daughter has a broken toe and sore shoulder and leg. Wow, the reason I am telling you is that I am late to work on my swap for you. I loved what you sent me. The flowers are so dainty that I am going to display them on my table. Thank you for the gift. It is a beautiful swap. The fireflies are something I miss. I have not seen any since my children were little. I wonder if the environment is chasing them away? Memorable line: with a lullaby of light/dancing…
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Oh Carol I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter and grand baby, and your health problems, too! What an ordeal and I’m glad everyone is ok. Please do not worry about the poetry swap. I’m in Ocean City this week with the family so not getting mail anyway. Glad you liked what I sent. Take care,
Rose
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Thank you , Rose. The baby saw her pediatrician today and seems to be doing ok. My sister will watch her. My daughter broke her toe. Have fun at the ocean.
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Pingback: Welcome to the Wonder House, from Two Wonderful Poets and One Wonderful Artist!
Yes, fireflies! Lovely.
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