Tuesday Slice of Thanksgiving Pie

What would I do without all the challenges and commenters and opportunities to comment on writing?  I was so busy the past two months, it struck me that the only thing that kept me writing poetry for that many days straight, was this awesome group of people that I have never even met.

Now, I know I haven't mentioned commenters by name.  That would be toooo difficult, though there are a few very regular commenters that I've come to look for - like talking on the phone and though there's a lull while you are speaking, you know there's someone on the other end of the line listening (or reading in this case).

But here is a list of some important "players" out there that I want to thank - some colleagues and fellow bloggers and poets who kept me going in March and April!

Two Writing Teachers hosting the Slice of Life Challenge and all the teachers who contributed and commented were an immense motivator to "just keep swimming!"  What a month of March!

Because Heidi Mordhorst challenged us to write poetry as we "Marched through the CH words" - I grew and pushed myself beyond what I thought I could do.  Thank you for deeming me the "stretchiest" poet that month!

The A to Z Challenge pushed me to keep writing for the National Poetry month of April!  What a huge group of wonderful people writing from all areas and from all perspectives.  Commenters and contributors kept me writing and commenting myself throughout the whole month.

Then Ed DeCaria's poetry Writing Competion  at Think Kid Think in March really pushed poets to the limit with time, word and line constraints. Invigorating writing!

Because Sheila Renfro added her line "She's swifter than a dolphin, slipping away, leaving him only a handful of" to the Progressive Poem, I was slipped away into an underwater world that I vaguely remembered experiencing in my childhood.  I received The Wandering Wildebeest by Irene Latham for her April book giveaway.

* Late Addition:  Oh, heavens!  I forgot to say that the Irene Latham's Progressive Poem also kept me engaged in the poetry process all month, too!  Where is my head?

And every week in every month Poetry Friday Players and Hosters (see the list on the side navigation) deserve a big thank you, too.  For without that forum, what fun would poetry unshared be? 

Then there's Laura Purdie Salas with 15 Words or Less that always keeps me on my toes on Thursdays week after week!

And in this merry, merry month of May, though I've taken a bit of a rest, I find that I am renewed and rejuvenated:

Because Sheila Renfro THIS month has the giveaway for May being How to Write a Children's Book and Get it Published -Revised and Expanded, by Barbara Seuling, I am reminded that, that is my goal. I know I need this book whether I win it in a drawing or buy it myself!

And because Joy Acey at Poetry for Kids (Sorry, Joy, I just noticed my typo on your name when I came back to read comments! Fixed it!) wrote "Wish Upon a Star" and responded to my comment last week, I now have this bit of wishing upon a star to offer that I posted on her site:

My Wishes

Perhaps I will try...
On the first night sky
That has one star
To toss wish far
Into dark realm
With heart at helm
And ask for more
Than ever before
If in the trees
I hear night's breeze
Whisper "Wish come true"
I know 
   I owe 
      it all to you.

©Donna JT Smith, 2015

Because yesterday, volunteering in a classroom where I often work on writing with one young author, I was encouraged that poetry WILL continue in the hearts of people.  She read to me two poems she wrote this week.  I am so excited to share her first poems she's ever written, right here on my blog for Poetry Friday this week!  You WILL want to stop by for her poems and a very short "interview" of sorts, along with a poem I promised her I'd write for her.

Have a grand Tuesday.  I am planning on having one.  I'll share my grand Tuesday with you, my writer/teacher friends.