Yin and Yang

One of my favorite moments of April’s poetry celebration was receiving a poetry postcard from Ethan, a student at Silver Star School.  The postcards are a project of Jone, at Check it Out, and her students.  I was so impressed with Ethan’s poem and art! Ethan's Poem smaller I love the way Ethan balances light and dark in his words and drawing.  His poem inspired my own:

For Ethan

You beeline, bend
through yin and yang:
fragrant blossom, skunky night
soothing current, blaring fright
an earthy taste, an acrid tang.

Your mind designs
coarseness, beauty:
shivered darkness, warming light
diminished hope, dreaming flight
a scam, a scheme, a steadfast duty.

Striving, longing,
you reach for more:
solo ride, a teammate’s soul
bigger slice, a part of whole;
awash with worth, you share and soar.

–Buffy Silverman, all rights reserved
Pages from 28_abby's mantises

In other news, a story that I wrote many, many years ago is in Click this month.  Paula Morrow accepted the story for Ladybug (in 2002!) and it got lost in the shuffle after she left the magazine.  I’m happy that the editors fished it out for Click and delighted that it’s finally published (and I love Paige Billin-Frye’s illustrations for the story.)  It’s a story that aims to teach nonfiction through a fiction format–you know, the kind that writers are told editors hate and you should avoid writing at all costs?  I guess I wrote it before I knew any better!  You and your favorite five-year old can listen to it here.

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Today’s Poetry Friday host is Anastasia Suen of Booktalking.

18 thoughts on “Yin and Yang

  1. What a lucky kid to receive your beautiful poem as his response! He surely feels like he’s a part of the Poetry Club now (If Jone didn’t have him already knowing that)!!

  2. I loved both poems. Nice contrasts.
    And on another note – wow – cant believe they just build up an inventory of pieces at those magazines. Didn’t know that’s how they did business.

  3. Love that you responded to Ethan’s thoughtful poem with a thoughtful poem of your own! His drawing is great, too!

    Congrats on the publication! I am struck by the way many acceptances don’t actually see the light of day.

  4. I loved the postcard I received too!

    Wonderful response to Ethan’s thought-provoking poem. Great interweaving of opposites; the contrasting elements provide great movement and energy :).

    Congrats on the delayed publication. Guess many of us have similar experiences. Highlights still hasn’t published two stories they accepted back in the 80’s!

    1. Thanks, Jama, I appreciate the kind words.
      Yikes–two stories from the 80s? That’s disheartening. I’ve got a few puzzles and a poem that Highlights accepted ten or so years ago that I’ve pretty much given up on. But who knows, maybe you and I will get an unexpected surprise some day.

  5. Lovely poems. What a wonderful card from Ethan. Congratulations on the delayed publication. (The Bug Magazines accepted a few pieces from me in the last century. I suspect they’ll never see the light of day.)

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