I love hosting Poetry Friday. It’s something that I am quick to sign up for and eagerly look forward to as well as every Poetry Friday whether I am hosting or not. This month is crazier than usual in my insanely paced life.
February is here and with it the heavy convention season begins for my company, of deals, heavy workload, trying to find rooms at Comic Con (come on San Diego be a little more organized will ya), trying to keep my food blog updated, starting up my book reviewing again for BOTH AmoXcalli and Cuentecitos along with my regular duties of being a grandma, trying to have a social life, trying not to be a total laptop hermit when I get home and just darn cleaning the house.
Before I even realized I was hosting sometime in February, my trusty Blackberry calendar pinged at me and told me it was tomorrow. TOMORROW!!! Holy crap! Tomorrow is the Annie Awards and I’m going crazy. I have to find a dress, decide on shoes, get my hair done, get my nails done, get back home and get ready by 4:00 p.m. To add to my stress, I have a date. My first real date since the ex who shall be nameless and I broke up. I haven’t dated in 12 years! ACK!
My frenzy reminded me of a poem I’ve always loved by Anne Sexton, (one of my favorite poets) and I thought I’d share it and ask the Poetry Friday question, what makes you frenzied? What helps to ease it? For me, it’s the realization that it always turns out right in the end and if not, well there’s always poetry.
I’ll be out and about tomorrow getting early Saturday getting my hair done, etc. then I will be at the awards ceremony till late. I’ll be checking in and putting up your posts as much as I can, but the round-up will be most likely be a separate post as always and it will be up on Saturday morning. Leave your lovely offerings with Mr. Linky and do remember to stop back to see what poem we collectively come up with in the round-up on Saturday. Don’t forget to leave a comment. Happy Poetry Friday everyone!
Anne Sexton – Frenzy
I am not lazy.
I am on the amphetamine of the soul.
I am, each day,
typing out the God
my typewriter believes in.
Very quick. Very intense,
like a wolf at a live heart.
Not lazy.
When a lazy man, they say,
looks toward heaven,
the angels close the windows.
Oh angels,
keep the windows open
so that I may reach in
and steal each object,
objects that tell me the sea is not dying,
objects that tell me the dirt has a life-wish,
that the Christ who walked for me,
walked on true ground
and that this frenzy,
like bees stinging the heart all morning,
will keep the angels
with their windows open,
wide as an English bathtub.
Thanks for hosting Poetry Friday.
At Wild Rose Reader, I have a review of J. Patrick Lewis’s poetry book “Freedom Like Sunlight: Praisesongs for Black Americans” and some recommended picture book biographies of famous African Americans to share with children.
LOVE that poem. I write that way sometimes—in a complete frenzy—but other than that, I don’t like my life that way. But your day sounds fun. New dress, shoes, date, everything!
Thank you for hosting today! I am in with a poem called “Each of Us Has a Name,” by the poet Zelda.
Ooo girl you are going to have a mahvalous time! Enjoy spending your day pampering your beautiful self and have a ball!
I love that poem. Tell those angels to keep a wide window open for me too. I’m not stressed, I’m “a wolf at a live heart.”
I’ve got a Chinua Achebe poem today.
Hi Gina,
Thanks so much for rounding us up today. I am in with an early poem of William Butler Yeats.
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2008/02/poetry-friday-william-butler-yeats.html
Wow, that poem is amazing. I’ve never read it. Thanks for sharing it. “Typing out the God my typewriter believes in…” Mmmmm.
I’m in today with my usual 15 Words or Less poems–come add yours at http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/42894.html.
And also with a column of how to write haiku, one of my favorite forms, at http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/43070.html.
Have fun on your date!
What a great poem! Today I’m sharing some E.E.Cummings: http://jamarattigan.livejournal.com/67940.html.
Thanks for hosting, Gina, and have fun on your date!
Thanks so much for hosting!
Have fun at the Annie Awards!
Thanks for hosting. I’m in today over at The Simple and the Ordinary with a little Robert Louis Stevenson.
I am certain the angels have the windows open for you, Gina. Have HUGE fun at the Annie awards, and do post about it afterwards!
Hi Gina,
Lovely intro, by the way, particularly with that bower overheard.
I’m in with a Flanders and Swan song: The Armadillo.
Thanks for hosting!
“Amphetamines of the soul” — how descriptive of your energy level is that? I really LOVE this poem — and may angels throw the windows open for you…
I know by now you’ve found just the right outfit, and hopefully your date will be worth it! Meanwhile, I’m in with a very short poem by Walt Whitman — thanks for hosting and have fun at the awards!
Have a fantastic time at the Awards. 🙂
http://slayground.livejournal.com/338964.html
I’m in with a poem entitled IF from the book Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes. The book combines first-person narrative and poetry from 18 teen characters.
Thanks for hosting again! My posting is about Naomi Shihab Nye’s new book, HONEYBEE, along with a wonderful sample poem for Valentine’s Day.
Gina, I’m in with a post called “The Neuroscience of Mother Goose.”
Thanks for rounding up.
Susan T.
Chicken Spaghetti
I love the breathlessness of the 2nd stanza in particular.
I forgot to thank you for hosting when I added my link earlier.
I’m in with my thoughts on William Carlos Williams’ “The Red Wheel Barrow”
Hi Gina,
I’m in with a puppy poem from Once Upon a Pie.
Thanks for hosting, and I hope you are having a great evening!
Thank you for hosting, by the way. 🙂
Thanks for hosting. I hope your date went well! I tried to comment last night bu tthe gremlins ate my comment. I am in with a fun poem about teaching.