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Graphic courtesy Chris Bishop/PBS
February 28, 2011
February 27, 2011
Happy Haiga Day!
Yesterday, I attended a rally in support of the workers in Wisconsin. Rallies took place in every U.S. state capital, as well as in other cities. MoveOn and partnering organizations called the gatherings "Rallies to Save the American Dream."
Many years ago I worked in a university library in New York City. We were represented by the Teamsters. I was happy to pay my dues. Since moving to NH, where the word "union" is often thought of as a dirty word, I've continued to be a supporter of labor unions, despite not having the opportunity to join one.
I've done a lot of reading about the labor movement for several children's book projects I've worked on over the years, and it has only convinced me that my support of unions is justified. So, I felt it was my obligation to brave the cold and the snow-covered sidewalks of Concord, NH to stand up for my fellow workers in Wisconsin.
Solidarity!
February 25, 2011
Poetry Friday--"When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer"
Walt Whitman wrote some mighty weighty poems. He also, however, wrote others that are remarkable in their simplicity. Here's one of the latter that I particularly like:
When I Heard the Learn'd AstronomerI don't believe much commentary is necessary with this one, do you?
When I heard the learn 'd astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.
Another poem in the same vein is his "A Clear Midnight."
This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,
Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,
Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou lovest best.
Night, sleep, and the stars.
Visit Read Write Believe where Sara has the Poetry Friday Round-Up for this week.
Image courtesy: NASA, ESA, Hubble, R. Sahai (JPL)
February 22, 2011
February 20, 2011
February 18, 2011
Poetry Friday--"Oh, to be You, Squirrel"
It is my week to post at The Write Sisters and there I have shared a little poem I found about the weather. I tied it into this astonishing winter with its never-ending snow.
As I was writing that post, I looked out the window and saw a squirrel lightly scampering across the snow. He covered yards and yards in seconds, something that I, as a human, could never do with the ground encrusted the way it is.
I wrote this in response to the squirrel and the poem at The Write Sisters:
Oh, to be You, Squirrel
Oh, to be you, squirrel this
winter when walking
in crusted snow tears at
boots making ambulation
treacherous for us busy,
bumbling, biggety humans.
Oh, to be you, squirrel to
flit across the white. Leap!
Scoot up tree trunks to
chuckle your rodent laugh
not knowing that tomorrow
you will not remember today.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved
Great Kid Books is hosting the Poetry Friday Round-Up this week, so stop by.
Photo by Douglas Brown
February 15, 2011
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