Monday, December 22, 2008
icy fingers
Down cold barring us from
Winter’s bright white grip
What is a sherku?
framed sunrise
Monday, December 01, 2008
shadow play
When the small clouds blow quickly
through the sky, shadows play
the breeze for all its worth
Originally posted at Steve's 2 Cents
What is a sherku?
Friday, November 28, 2008
frosty morning
Cold enough that the frost
protected by the shade
sugar coated the green grass
Originally posted at Franklin Matters
What is a sherku?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
the best cowboys
It’s no wonder they call it
Lost if all the best cowboys
Have daddy issues
What is a sherku?
A reflection upon finding that one of the episodes was titled "All the best cowboys have daddy issues"
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Gettysburg 2008
seven score and five years
later these hallowed grounds
still yield awesome stories
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Franklin Line #717 Outbound
They choose to stand leaning
With the train on the curves
Rather than sit middle seat
What is a sherku?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Obama morning: Readville
We turn at Great Blue Hill
No stopping this train, city
Bound this hopeful morning
What is a sherku?
One of a series written on the morning after Barack Obama's historic presidential election.
Obama morning: Dedham Corp Ctr
By the pole where she stands
Eating her bagel, she can’t
See the hopeful sunrise
What is a sherku?
One of a series written the morning after Barack Obama's historic presidential election.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Obama morning: Norwood Central
My train seat doesn’t
Line up to show me a good
View of the hopeful sunrise
What is a sherku?
One of a series written on the morning after Barack Obama's historic presidential election.
Obama morning: Walpole
Reading about mackerel
The train pulls out of Walpole
Hopeful sun rising
What is a sherku?
One of a series written the morning after Barack Obama's historic presidential election.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Other Writing
meeting canceled; no need for
live reporting; can
catch up on other writing
What is a sherku?
Inspired by some free time created when a meeting canceled
Monday, November 03, 2008
introducing teens to poetry
Dear Friend: According to the results of a recent survey, over 75% of the people who use Poets.org share one characteristic: that they first developed an interest in poetry before their eighteenth birthday. With young people spending an average of 16.7 hours a week online, it is clear that in the long term, our best opportunity to reach new readers and writers of poetry is in their early years. That's the reason I'm writing to you today: to ask you to join me in a new Academy of American Poets campaign to dramatically expand our programs aimed at young users of Poets.org by taking fuller advantage of the technologies that the web makes available to us. Highlights of our initiative will include: • A new teen-specific area on Poets.org with resources specially designed for younger readers These are just a few of the aspects of our project—all aimed directly at young people who need to hear our message now more than at any other time. But in order to succeed, we need your help. These efforts will require funds for web programming and development, as well as bandwith and new software. During this back-to-school season, we raised $18,440 toward this project. We are now reaching out to Poets.org users like you to raise an additional $10,000 to reach our goal and move the project forward. With your help today, we can help start more people on the road toward appreciating poetry and, indeed, the lyricism of language and the magic and mystery of all the writing arts. If you could contribute $10, $25, or even $100 dollars to this project, it would help us tremendously. Plus, for a donation of $25 or more, we will send you a copy of How to Eat a Poem—an anthology of poems for middle-grade readers—for your favorite young lover of poetry. Donate today. Contributions in any amount will be greatly appreciated and will help us dramatically expand our online resources for teen readers. Sincerely, P.S. Again, let me know if you would like to receive How to Eat a Poem as a token of our thanks. And please pass this email on to anyone who cares as passionately as you do about creating the next generation of poetry lovers. |
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
real characters
You could pal with Huck and Tom
Skipping stones across the
Water and laugh out loud
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb where she used a quote from Mark Twain.
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
mark steve
Let us endeavor so to
Live that when we come to
Die, the whole sky will cry
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb where some of these words appeared in a quote from Mark Twain.
What is a sherku?
Mark Twain
He told stories of people
That plumbed the depths
Of American life
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb where where she quoted from Mark Twain.
What is a sherku?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Privilege
When we lose the right to be
Different we lose the
Privilege to be free
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from a quote attributed to Charles Evens Hughes in Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
2 questions
What do I want the people
To think and say when I
Have left this world behind?
...
What do you want the people
To think and say when you
Have left this world behind?
What is a sherku?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
your friend
No person is your friend
Who demands your silence
Or denies your right to grow
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are contained in a quote from Alice Walker and found in Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
remembering mother
I find it hard to believe
That I am older than
My mother lived to be
What is a sherku?
In Memoriam: Rita Sherlock, June 1929 - November 1983
We will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her passing in November.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
touchstone meals
Who are the people making
These touchstone meals
That drove Proust to memory
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
turn signals
What I do affects you
What you do affects me
We are interconnected
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Topolobampo
Go slowly, eat a good meal
Served well, at a place
Like Topolobampo
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
PS - Yes, Topolobampo is a real restaurant. The name just forces your mouth into wonderful sounding gymnastics! Next time I get to Chicago, I need to find this place.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Close the boardroom door
The endless list of things
To do; don’t let it get
In the way of living life
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
getting started
Tess just needed some help
Getting to sleep, a story
A song, a restful word
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
love
Love means for you to love
that which is unlovable
or it's not love at all
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
some blues
I merely gathered the
Energy it takes to pout
And wrote me some good blues
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
lost learning
Sometimes getting lost creates
The learning but you have to
Get off the ship first
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
snake skin
Sometimes letting go is
Just shedding like a snake
Sheds its skin in times of growth
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Monday, October 20, 2008
shadows
Most of the shadows in this life
Are caused by us standing
In our own sunshine
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
seatmates
On this flight we call life
Choose your seatmates wisely
Sit with folks you would embrace
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
tiny ninjas
See the tiny ninjas!
Sometimes life comes down to
An effort to just show up
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
productive day
Saturday, October 18, 2008
desire lines
Landscape architects have a
Name for dirt paths that
Take us where we want to go
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Friday, October 17, 2008
leave a trail
Do not go where the path may
lead go instead where there is
no path; leave a trail
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
signal poles - 2
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
signal poles - 1
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
migrant birds
Migrant birds hear a
Voice within; if only we
Would listen to it also
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Monday, October 13, 2008
After W.C.W.
This is just to say
Grapes would be a good snack
If not left in my car today
For William Carlos Williams and his classic simple poem
special occasion
What is a special occasion
But one reason to get
Yourself all dressed up
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Sunday, October 12, 2008
the highest task - 2
This, the highest task for
Two people, protect the
Solitude of the other
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb where these words appeared in a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke.
What is a sherku?
Saturday, October 11, 2008
the highest task
For two people to bond
They need to protect the
Solitude of the other
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb where these words appeared in a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke.
What is a sherku?
your voice
In these typed text the symbols
Could be any ones but it
Is your voice we hear
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
for PD
Friday, October 10, 2008
beyond comfort
Pushing yourself past that
Envelop of comfort is
Where the big stuff happens
This is a "found" poem, that is the words from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
portfolio
You should be very proud
Of every thing you put
In your portfolio
This is a "found" poem, that is the words from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
those jeans
Full circle around the globe
That denim, those rivets
That distinctive red tag
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
something in the sunrise
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
yardstick
What is the magic yardstick
Against which we measure
Our true worth in this world?
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
waiting to hear
So many feel like they’re
Waiting to hear “Your good,
I give you permission”
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
just in case
I have “Awesome God”, “Here I am
To worship”, bring
Everything just in case
a "found poem"
Overhearing this phone conversation on the train, I found the juxtaposition of what was in hand with bringing everything else, just in case, worthy of smiling about
toast rules
They’re all made up. Some so
Ingrained that we can no
Longer see they are toast rules
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Monday, October 06, 2008
creativity
Creativity is breaking
Out of old patterns to
See things in new ways
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
reality
Is my reality
Any more real than yours?
How long is Britain’s coast line?
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Sunday, October 05, 2008
go to where they are
When they don’t get it, try
Going to where they are, see
Things from their perspective
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Happy Birthday to JJL
Joyful, jubilant, yearners
Seeking for the way
To make their work pay
Or convert their readers to returners
Originally posted at the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog
love what you do
We should love what we do
And I mean be truly
Deeply passionate for it
This is a "found" poem, that is the words from Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Friday, October 03, 2008
legwarmers
Time to bring out those Jane Fonda
Legwarmers you keep in
The basement dresser
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
granting dignity
He gave cash to those in need
By pretending to find it
Granting dignity
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
Thursday, October 02, 2008
What about Wall Street?
It’s autumn, trees blaze with
Color then drop their leaves
In spring buds will sprout again
What is a sherku?
rethinking right
The attachment to being
Right is as much a sin
As lusting for something
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
golden grain
Seeing a still picture
Of wheat is not like a
Field of wheat in the breeze
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
say hi!
People who don’t have any
One to turn to could be
Right next to you, say hi
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
train buddy says
Monday, September 29, 2008
indulgence
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
mud balls
Hikaru dorodango
Created from pure, simple
Common dirt and sand
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Billy Collins - Dodge Poetry Festival 2006
Hallelujah!
Enjoy!
redefine normal
Dolls for girls, swords for boys
They, them, the others
Who gets to say what normal is?
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
daughter's car
Absorb the music beat
Rock with the loud new rhythms
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Once he knew
Once he knew; He couldn’t
not see once he saw
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
Note: I am assuming the pronunciation of Leeuwenhoek is with 4 syllables. If it is less than 4, or more than 4, then this doesn't really qualify as a sherku with 19 syllables.
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
warmth of her body
I knew the warmth of her body
Would restore your life
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
generosity
Opening up to those
We see as unlike us
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
let me down easy
Took us to another place
To be in their shoes
In honor of Anna Deavere Smith's performance at A.R.T. in "Let me down easy"
What is a sherku?
Monday, September 22, 2008
he does IT
He does great detailed I T
Project management
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
for JM
plenty of advice
Sunday, September 21, 2008
red convertible
Not a Cadillac, not
Convertible, but red!
This was inspired by Patti Digh and her new book Life is a Verb.
What is a sherku?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
train reading
pink glasses
Beautiful like a light was
Shining from inside her
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
Friday, September 19, 2008
small grape
Keep it safe. Remind yourself
to find wonder in the world
This is a "found" poem, that is the words are written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I gave them the format for sherku.
What is a sherku?
The "Life is a Verb" collection
Note: The listing is short this week. It will grow as I continue to work this 37 Days challenge of my own to find a sherku in each of Patti's essays in her book Life is a Verb.
If you would like to participate and provide your own versions or rewrite what I have crafted, feel free to do so. You can add it in a comment, or send it to me via email. Or post it on your own page and tag it with "LIAV".
What is a sherku?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
stop judging
people, I free myself from
being judged and dance
A "found" poem, that is the words were written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I formatted them to make the sherku.
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
we give up
to the very people
who took it away from us
This is a "found" poem, that is the words were written by Patti Digh in her book Life is a Verb. I formatted them for the sherku.
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
being lost
When contrasted with
Knowing where you are now
a "found" poem, that is the words are mostly David Hollies as quoted in Patti Digh's Life is a Verb
What is a sherku?
Monday, September 15, 2008
good answer
Will they get lost without
The book? No, they will recall
Your full life is a verb!
For Patti Digh and her new book, Life is a Verb
What is a sherku?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
journey
because there's nowhere
to go beyond silence
a "found" poem, that is the words were found in Ode's Jul/Aug issue in an article by Tijn Touber.
What is a sherku?
Friday, September 12, 2008
problems
thought structures that you can
step out of at any time
a "found" poem, that is the words are mostly Eckard Tolle's who was quoted in Ode's Jul/Aug issue in an article by Tijn Touber. I added one syllable (that) to make it a sherku.
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
37 days
What is a sherku?
For Patti Digh on her book Life is a Verb
It helps to check the math, I had originally hand calculated 37 x 37 to get the result of 37 x 77. Fortunately, I woke up and caught my error.
wind power
What is a sherku?
written when thinking about the new wind turbines coming to Franklin
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
sherku: Gettysburg 2008
later these hallowed grounds
still yield awesome stories
Mobile post sent by shersteve using Utterz. Replies.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
zydeco
get my hands a clappin'
French blood pumpin'
What is a sherku?
written at the Lowell Folk Festival to the sounds of Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
Monday, July 14, 2008
flat land
fertile fields of grain
this land is too flat for me
for Lisa
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tally's Special
Special circumstances
One last choice; listen to that
Tiny heartbeat or not
What is a sherku?
A short form book review of Specials by Scott Westerfeld
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tally's Choice
Gorgeous, popular
Perfectly wrong; she has
To decide what’s important
What is a sherku?
A short form book review of Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Monday, June 09, 2008
Tally discovers
Turn sixteen, get to be
Super model gorgeous
What could be wrong with that?
What is a sherku?
A short form book review of Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Friday, June 06, 2008
dogwood bloom
delicate yellow counter points
dogwood blooming bent with
the weight of water
What is a sherku?
Inspired by Amy Palko's posting here and the picture that resulted here
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Saturday, May 03, 2008
SOBCon08
(He musta got lost in Tucson)
But once he got there
He found people who cared
Refreshed, he went home to blog on
While on the boat tour along the Chicago waterfront on a spectacular evening
broadcasting light
Friday, May 02, 2008
hung to dry
Thursday, May 01, 2008
row houses
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Franklin Line: Dorchester Branch
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
warning beacon
subcommittee
Monday, April 28, 2008
railroad ties
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
happy couple 2
happy couple 1
Friday, April 25, 2008
Franklin Line: South Station
Franklin Line: Hyde Park
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Franklin Line: Backyard view
Sheds, stacks, discards, everyone
Has them along the edge
Or behind their wood fence
What is a sherku?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
clean windows
Windex and towels make the pass
Take care you don’t get hurt
As you wipe the webs and dirt
The only acceptable sheen is high class
Franklin Line: Forge Park
Coals give heat, bellows fan
Flames, tongs reach through to the end
Of the line at Forge Park
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
spring cleaning
She can be quite preening
But he reaches outside
She handles the inside
And the windows yield to double sheening
Franklin Line: Back Bay
Sunday, April 20, 2008
did I mention
Here at JJL we will not do that scene
But still have a ball
Showing respect for all
By keeping our lyrics clean
Originally posted in the comments on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog
There are two ladies from Australia
who have some good ideas to persuade ya
to save your Christmas sanity
and avoid holiday calamity
go visit their site without delay ya!
For Chris Owen and Karen Wallace, good buddies at JJL
Originally posted on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog
There once was a lady from Hawaii
Who inspired a Ho’ohana community
To review good books
Share their learning with hooks
And spread the word from sea to sea
Yes, some literary license was exercised here as rhymes with Hawaii are limited.
For Rosa Say
Originally posted on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog
There was a lad from Pawtucket
There was a lad from Pawtucket
who now had to rhyme with suck it
but he did not dare
as he did not swear
so he found a way to duck it
Originally posted on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog
Friday, April 18, 2008
Franklin Line: Ruggles Station
Franklin Line: Islington
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Franklin Line: Dedham Corporate Center
Franklin Line; Norwood Central
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Franklin Line: Variations on a theme (sherku x 3)
One talks loud on her phone
Another dives into her book
I want understanding
------
One talks loud on her phone
Another noses into her book
I watch the trees pass
------
One talking on her phone
Another noses into her book
I try to make sense
------
What is a sherku?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Franklin Line: Walpole
Franklin Line: Norfolk
Pitch fork to bale the hay
Butter knife with dainty scones
Franklin’s neighbor Norfolk
What is a sherku?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Franklin Line: Windsor Gardens
Sunday, April 13, 2008
wet jeans
Having your team lose the
Soccer game that got you wet
What is a sherku?
originally posted at Steve's 2 Cents
missed train
10 foot short, 10 seconds late
There goes my ride
What is a sherku?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
justice for all
Journey lovingly united
Justice for all
Inspired by Sharon Olds' "Topography"
What is a sherku?
strike sparks
Of memory, this book careful
Selection to strike sparks
A short form book review of Sharon Olds' Strike Sparks: Selected Poems, 1980-2002
I had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Sharon at the Dodge Poetry Festival 2004
What is a sherku?
Friday, April 11, 2008
Franklin Layoffs?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Jimmy's driving
The barrel, tree, or big crack
Need to know to greet the door
What is a sherku?
Franklin's Top 10
If only they would send money
So we can afford it
What is a sherku?
Actually it is two Top 10 and one Top 100 so I'll use this one as a "literary license"
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Poem in Your Pocket Day - April 17th
Celebrate the first national Poem In Your Pocket Day!
The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends on April 17.
Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores. Create your own Poem In Your Pocket Day event using ideas below or let us know how you will celebrate Poem In Your Pocket Day by emailing npm@poets.org.
In this age of mechanical and digital reproduction, it's easy to carry a poem, share a poem, or start your own PIYP day event. Here are some ideas of how you might get involved: