It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out Laura Purdie Salas’ blog, Writing the World for Kids, to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness.
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Happy Friday, everyone! The wonderful Laura Purdie Salas, who is hosting this week’s round up, is one of the “elite 8” authletes still in the Madness! So be sure to check out her firefighter poem!
By way of announcement, I have revealed my theme for the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This will be my first year and I’ve decided to collaborate with my eight-year-old daughter and write 26 flash fiction stories for kids. You can read more about my theme here.
For my poem today, I decided to give Michelle Barne’s Ditty of the Month a go. This month, the challenge was to pull one line from one of the poems Michelle shared and create a golden shovel poem. You can read her post and selected poems here.
Your Time Is Up
-a Golden Shovel from the 13th line of Tyrone Bitting’s poem, Truth
Pack your bags. Go on, Leave!
What do you want? A gold star? An “A”?
I’m tired of your games. They’re messed-up
Brain games toying with my mind.
I’m done with your abuse. Vamoose. Am I clear?
After trying my own hand at one, I can’t imagine writing a whole book of golden shovels! That’s exactly what Nikki Grimes did in her award winning poetry collection, One Last Word:Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. In it, her golden shovel poems are paired with and inspired by poets of the Harlem Renaissance. I can’t wait to check it out.
Until another week, poetry friends!
Sloth Reads 
I love the strong voice of this poem, Rebecca, and the emphatic abuse/vamoose rhyme at the end. Yes ma'am. Perfectly clear.
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Wonderful words found to pair with your own chosen line from Bitting's poem. It's a strong stand for self!
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Ooh, that is a powerful voice! Nicely done!
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Thank you!
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Thank you, Linda!
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Thanks, Laura.
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Oh, the challenge in that voice. Don't you love the golden shovel form? It's so fun and it can really put a spin on the original words. I love it. Hooray for you choosing a theme and growing into a daily flash fiction?! Wow. You GO, girl!
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This is the first time I've read this poetry form. Your poem is powerful and inspiring. I'm on the hunt for Nikki's book, so I can read more. Thanks for sharing.
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You did a great job with your Golden Shovel! I agree with you, I can't imagine writing an entire book of them. They are quite brain twisting!
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Strong golden shovel you built Rebecca, and it goes well with the line you chose. The snappy rhythm works so well with your message, thanks!
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Powerful poem, Rebecca.
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