Today is the first Poetry Friday in National Poetry Month! For my April poetry project I’m combining picture books and poetry. I call it “Call and Response: Picture Books and Poetry.” Reading a picture book is the call followed by a response in the form of a small poem. It was inspired by Laura Purdie Salas’ Poetryactions.
One of the books I read this week was Song of the Old City by Anna Pellicioli and Merve Atilgan (G.P.Putnam’s Sons, 2023). The book takes place in Istanbul where we meet a little girl who receives gifts from the many people she meets while journeying through the city. Somehow, she manages to find a way to pass along the kindnesses she receives.
Passing the Joy
wren welcomes morning
with her song flowing
through the trees
over the rooftops
into my heart
when we meet under the climbing tree
I’ll share it with you
Draft, 2024RoseCappelli
I also wrote an elfchen in response to Follow the Flyway: The Marvel of Bird Migration by Sarah Nelson and Maya Hanisch (Barefoot Books, 2023)
Migrating Birds
flying
high following
wind, water, warmth
pulled south by sun
navigating
Draft, 2024RoseCappelli
Irene has the round up today at Live Your Poem where you’ll find lots of poetry goodness including the next couplet for our community progressive poem.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I like sharing the wren’s song — what a lovely sentiment!
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a double gift: PB recs AND your beautiful poetry 😊
I can imagine you whispering that first one to your youngest grand!
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Wonderful idea for poetry month. It helps you dig deeper into the picture book you are reading. These are lovely.
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Rose, the gentle strength in both your poems is just precious. I like the multiple ways I can read those first three lines of “Migrating Birds.” And the last line of “Passing the Joy” — yes, to that goodness!
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Rose, thank you for passing along the joy of these books through your beautiful poems! What a great idea! I have never tried writing a poem in response to a picture book, but I want to give it a go.
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What a lovely way to start my morning. Thanks, Rose.
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What a lovely project, Rose! Your wren sings! xo
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I’m having trouble getting to the comment page on your post, Irene, but I wanted you to know I love all the goodness you offered (as always). Thank you.
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Thank you for the double gift, Rose, the book titles new to me and your poems, too. Gifting a wren’s song feels like the best poetry ever. Happy Saturday!
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You and me and our wrens! I love it when one comes to sit on the fence just outside the window at the end of the kitchen table where I write!
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Oooh! Love that you have a wren muse, too!
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Rose, in your second poem the ending lines are a great image for me. It is always a wonder to watch migrating birds.
pulled south by sun
navigating
The first poem’s title is fitting.
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What a great poetry project! I love that you read a book and respond in poetry. I may need to give this a try this week. Your elfchen is wonderful. “pulled south by sun” is comforting.
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What a great project! I love that we get introduced to new books and get to read your poetic responses, too. Double the pleasure! Your poem “Passing the Joy” is so lovely, especially with the sharing line to end it.
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Thank you for the books and your responses! I especially enjoyed “I’ll share it with you” from “Passing the Joy”–such a gift!
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THese are fabulous, Rose. I especially love Passing the Joy. It stands totally on its own as a beautiful poem, but I guess would have extra resonance to people who know the book and its theme. (Putting that pb on my tbr list, by the way!)
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What a glorious project, Rose – and lovely poems. Thanks for the inspiration all around! :0)
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What a fun idea Rose! I hope it brings you much joy this April. Thank you for sharing!
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