Happy Poetry Friday!
A while back while diving into Welcome to the Wonder House by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard (illustrated by Deborah Freedman), I lingered on Rebecca’s poem in the Room of Praise about rain. I loved her opening line: “Rain is everything to a worm, a puddle, an umbrella.” It made me wonder about the things in my life I could offer praise to. I’m a bit particular about the feel of the pen I use as I write. It has to have just the right line thickness, glide effortlessly, and feel comfortable. I had recently discovered one that fit all of my requirements, so I borrowed Rebecca’s line and crafted a praise poem.
That poem about my pen has been sitting on my desktop for months, waiting for the right time to step into the world of Poetry Friday. This week Margaret posted a great picture in This Photo Wants to be a Poem of a collection of pencils gathered in the pocket of a child’s backpack. They reminded me of soldiers, ready for duty. Pens and pencils – maybe it was time to bring praise to both of these important writers’ tools.
The Pilot G-2
A pen is everything to this writer.
Look at the way it sits just-right
in the crook of my index finger and thumb
the way it glides effortlessly across the page
ink flowing like blood
letters
words
thoughts
connecting heart to hand
A pen is everything to this writer.
Draft, RoseCappelli2024
______________________________________________
Pencils
assembled like soldiers
ready to march
across the page
leaving letters and words
in their wake
Draft, RoseCappelli2024
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Tracey has the roundup today here. Be sure to stop by for a wonderful discussion on the history of Monopoly tokens, a poem in praise of the thimble, and lots more poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I have a pen and pencil set my Dad crafted for me. I love the feel of Dad.
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Such a beautiful sentiment, Joyce.
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Rose, a pair of wonderful tributes to deserving writing soldiers! I do love me a good pencil, and my son’s favorite pen is the Pilot G-2. : )
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I like the beginning line “Look at the way…” Just right for a praise poem. I used your poem “Winter Red” for PF in my class today. I’d like to send you some of the poems my students wrote in response.
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I’m honored and would love to see your students’ poems! Thank you.
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I especially like your pencil poem! It’s a ripe topic for tribute, near and dear to our hearts. Valerie Worth called a pencil a “gold wand, ready to conjure up anything, everything.”
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You captured my similar need to FEEL the feels when we hold these writing instruments. I’m especially delighted by your marching pencils 🙂
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I, too, love those G-2s, Rose, .38 for me! And your endings – “connecting heart to hand” and “in their wake” – marvelous! My granddaughter has often showed me her favorite pen. It is good but she likes them thicker! Happy writing!
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The G-2 0.7 is my go-to. Thin for me, too!
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I love object poems. My favorite is a Tul Gel pen, but we all have our favorites. 🙂
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I’m more of a pencil gal. I have some no-longer-made Bic 0.7 with refillable roll-up erasers that are my brain-to-page conduits!
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Rose, I knew I’d love the poem when I saw the title of your post! I’m partial to old-school Bic ballpoint pens with blue ink and Blackwing pencils.
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I love the way each of these calls us to pay attention to these, the heroes of our writing lives. 😀 These made me smile, Rose, thank you!
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Oooh, I love the pen one especially, Rose. I love a liquidy, thick-line pen. Tul .7 is my current fave. Your poem celebrates the pen, but so much more too!
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Thanks, Laura!
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