Pinning Poetry

As anyone who has heard me talk about programs knows how much I love using Pinterest.  Therefore, it should be no surprise that I have a poetry themed board on the site.  So click on this link and check out the fun ideas I’ve come across while searching the web for poetry themed programs and lessons.

A Poet-tree

 At one of my system's branches we have a very long wall of bulletin boards.  Since this is the location where my office is, I try to help the children's librarian put together some of the boards.  Since it is National Poetry Month, I made a poet-tree. 

Pay no attention to the rainbow border.  It was only there for the previous decoration.

 

A couple of closeups of the poems.

 Nearly finished!

All done! Or nearly so. I may add another poem on the right side.  There are so many leaves there because I wanted to cover up the edge of the paper.  

Dreams

It’s National Poetry Month!  To celebrate, I will be sharing a series of posts focusing on poetry. 

Do you have a favorite poem?  One of my favorites is Harlem (Dream Deferred) by Langston Hughes, who just happens to be one of my favorite poets as well. 

Harlem

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Hughes penned another beautiful poem on the topic of dreams.  The title poem of this collection of his works, originally published in 1932, is a little more encouraging.  A more modern edition of this collection, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, is still available for purchase.

The Dream Keeper

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamer,
Bring me all your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

Hughes had a lot to say about dreams.

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

To learn more about Langston Hughes, check out this page from Biography.com