Blue to match my books

& why does poetry make me so happy

This week I was a lucky and exceedingly joyful participant in Canadian Children’s Book Week. I visited three libraries (including one in my hometown, Hamilton!) and three schools, one visit being virtual, in Prince Edward Island. I have one more school to go. Tomorrow morning. Squeeeee. What a beautiful week. The kids liked my poems. They liked my robot puppet, Tuna. He made them giggle and gasp. Just like a few of my poems.

One of the poems in Climbing Shadows, illustrated by Cindy Derby

My eldest daughter is coming home from university this week. She is a rock star and I cannot wait to have her rocking out at home again for a few months. She makes me laugh, she is an amazing older sister, and she’s one of the smartest people I know.

Here is another poem. This one is from Robot, Unicorn, Queen—illustrated by my dear friend, Irene Luxbacher. Children always ask me if I have a favourite poem that I’ve written, a poem I’m most proud of. Broken Blue Flowers is one of them. (yes, there is also a poem about lice in the book!)

Another question I often get asked is who is your favourite poet??? The truth is I have so many poets on my favourites list, but I know I never would have written Climbing Shadows or Robot, Unicorn, Queen without having falling in love with the poems of Dennis Lee. The other poet I often think of is the beloved Gwendolyn MacEwen. I was in a little park dedicated to her today, after sharing poems in a nearby school.

But it is never over

nothing ends until we want it to

Look, in shattered midnights

On black ice under silver trees

We are still dancing, dancing

from LATE SONG (Afterworlds, 1987)

Happy (Poetry!) Friday, friends. Poems make me happy because they are poems.

Sending you a hug wherever you are & wishing for peace in the world and in our hearts.

xx Shannon

PS