My theme: Book Titles A to Z written by Maine authors,
and a poem for that title each day for the month of April.
I've focused mainly on children's books, with a few others sprinkled in. Thus most poems are of more interest to children and the young at heart!
The poem is not about the book, but is written with the title as inspiration!
Welcome to S!
and a poem for that title each day for the month of April.
I've focused mainly on children's books, with a few others sprinkled in. Thus most poems are of more interest to children and the young at heart!
The poem is not about the book, but is written with the title as inspiration!
Welcome to S!
S is for
The Sea Chest
by Toni Buzzeo
The Sea Chest
Upstairs in the attic
From my cousins I hid
They didn’t visit often,
but when they did
we’d play hide and seek
in our house in the field.
As in darkness I huddled,
the shadows concealed,
I heard their voices,
as they looked about,
but no one came;
Too scary no doubt
in the dark to look here.
I reached for the string
hand groping above
pulling down to bring
the dust-measured years
and eyes squinting tight
as wood floor and beams
appeared in the night.
There in the middle
apart from the rest
was some kind of box -
a wooden sea chest?
It had locks of brass,
wide straps of leather,
ship painted on top,
worn from the weather
Across the front
I felt, more than saw
our name in letters
carved big, bold, and raw
deep as a heart
in the cedar wood-
What a story to tell
If only it could.
And I wondered then
how it came to be
here in the attic
and not on the sea.
From my cousins I hid
They didn’t visit often,
but when they did
we’d play hide and seek
in our house in the field.
As in darkness I huddled,
the shadows concealed,
I heard their voices,
as they looked about,
but no one came;
Too scary no doubt
in the dark to look here.
I reached for the string
hand groping above
pulling down to bring
the dust-measured years
and eyes squinting tight
as wood floor and beams
appeared in the night.
There in the middle
apart from the rest
was some kind of box -
a wooden sea chest?
It had locks of brass,
wide straps of leather,
ship painted on top,
worn from the weather
Across the front
I felt, more than saw
our name in letters
carved big, bold, and raw
deep as a heart
in the cedar wood-
What a story to tell
If only it could.
And I wondered then
how it came to be
here in the attic
and not on the sea.
©Donna JT Smith, 2014
Toni Buzzeo is a school library media specialist in Portland, Maine. Please take just a few
minutes, to read this interview that talks about the writing of the
story "The Sea Chest".
The Sea Chest is the story about a little girl's sheltered life on an island, living in a lighthouse; and the sea chest, with precious contents, that gets washed ashore one stormy night.
Here's a video of the building of Toni's Writing Cottage. My husband and I had been talking about a Writing Cottage for me! I'm going to show him this - just in case I need more ammunition for the need. But I don't think I need to. We already have a plan for it. I'm excited. My spot here at the kitchen table is not good when he is home. He needs the kitchen for eating and taking breaks... often in the middle of one of my thoughts. Wouldn't it be great to have a Writing Cottage?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
Sea Smoke
by Miriam Nesset
|
Sea Smoke
sea smoke haloed firs
misty seascape hovering
cloaking rocky shores
misty seascape hovering
cloaking rocky shores
©Donna JT Smith, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brought to you by the letter S!
Stupendous!
You go, S!
No, literally,
you go...time for T!
Stupendous!
You go, S!
No, literally,
you go...time for T!
Nice Post Donna! I think I should search for Haiku poems and read them !
ReplyDeleteI've written some haiku. I always like to stick with the traditional pattern of 5-7-5 and try to stick with the traditional theme of nature. But sometimes the theme breaks tradition!
DeleteEveryone needs a writing space. I am on retreat at my friend's cottage and loving the peacefulness, hoping for the muse to come. Your poem has very nice rhythm and takes me on a childhood adventure.
ReplyDeleteUninterrupted, quiet - a perfect time for letting things flow from brain and out fingertips. Hope your time is full of wonderful writing moments! Thanks for taking time out to comment! I do appreciate it.
DeleteCombining a book and memories... you can't go wrong! Enjoyed your poem! Especially like the phrase "dust measured years".
ReplyDeleteI think of dust as measuring time...the deeper and less disturbed it is, the longer it has been since anyone has been there. (of course, in my own home, it is kind of the same, except we've just ignored it and walked right on past!)
DeleteBoth of these stories seem lovely. I adore stories about the sea. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chrys! I love "everything sea". It's scary and beautiful at the same time.
DeleteI really like that poem. Really. It might be my favorite of yours.
ReplyDeleteI know I've said that before, but I think this one is better.
And the cover of that first book seems familiar...
Thanks, Andrew!
DeleteI love the cover pictures on both The Sea Chest and Sea Smoke.
One can only imagine what treasures that chest holds. Wouldn't 't it be neat to get a group of people together and have each one write about the treasures in their sea chest?
ReplyDeleteThat would be a fun write/read session!
DeleteWell, again, I like both poems, the story of the sea chest & hide 'n seek, but really love the line "cloaking rocky shores". A writing cottage-so exciting to think about! The videos are terrific too. Wonderful post for S! So many wonderful Maine writers!
ReplyDeleteThe playing hide and seek with cousins was a memory. 4 of us and 6 of them and a big old house...but no sea chest like that up there...though my parents did have a number of sea chests in our home throughout our childhood. They were antique dealers, so we had frequently-changing furnishings, sea chests included!
DeleteI'm so jealous that you're going to get a writing. Although, I would probably spend too much time making it quant instead of writing. LOL
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
I know what you mean! I also hope I don't decide to stash household overflow there! We'll see. First I have to get it!
Delete