It’s Poetry Friday! We’re hosted by Carol Varsalona, who is sharing poetry postcards – a delightful poem swap organized by our friend Jone Rush MacCulloch to celebrebrate the start of 2023. You can enjoy them and Carol will have links to many other poetry offerings this week here.
My poem this week is the result of three things that happened this past week:
Yes, HOT DOG by Doug Salati won the 2023 Caldecott. But, I had read it weeks earlier, unaware that it was even being considered. I did love it — not because I thought it was a contender. I loved how loved and indulged the dog is by his owner.
Inspired by Laura Purdie Salas’ Ode to a Crinoid, one of the creatures in Lydia Lukidis’ DEEP, DEEP DOWN (Laura did a wonderful interview here), Rose gave The Nevermores a prompt this week to write a poem in response to a book.
I am participating in a spirituality workshop led by poet Padraig O’Tauma (host of the podcast Poetry Unbound). This week’s reflection was on daily practices. The assignment was to write a one sentence poem describing a daily practice.
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Love all of this, Patricia, especially the great picture of you and your pup. I hope you will be cheering the Birds this weekend and are enjoying all the hub-bub in Phoenix.
Thank you, Rose. It was a great game…not the outcome you hoped for, but very entertaining!
Love the poem! That is the beauty in having a dog, that regular walk that gets you out and thinking in the morning.
The months I’ve spent without one feel like I’ve lost a limb.
Patricia, the seamless weaving of your worldly influences shine through in your powerful, single sentence poem. For fellow dog owners, the connection is strong.
Weaving worldly influences… so poetic 🙂
Wonderful that single sentence, includes a daily time, some love, & because sometimes weather can be alarming, devotion. I just read Hot Dog, too. I don’t have one anymore so this time, I wished I still had one. My daughter-in-law & son have two Bernies, love your picture, Patricia.
I remember you mentioned Berners in one of our previous exchanges 🙂
What a great daily practice: walking the dogs. We do the same here with Biscuit, our Lab mix. He is always game for a walk.
dog people are the best!
One sentence poem-great daily practice, Patricia. You and your dog have a bond as evidenced by the amazing digitized photo.
She is one of my muses, for sure!
I love your offering that our regular habit (sometimes chore, depending on the weather) of taking out our canine companions can be sacred, too – you see, we’re all just taking your words as our own, here, too!
(My doggie walks often end up as a carry, as our older wee girl is just over three pounds.) ;0) Thanks.
I love coming upon stroller-walked dogs; typically they’ve lived a long life and I feel are well deserving of such care.
I love your three influences (how fun to be learning from Padrig O’ Tuama! I am learning from him in a daily practice of reading one poem+essay a day in 50 Poems to Open Your World!!). Oh, do I remember those dog walking days. Many time a joy, some times a drudge!
I’ve begun reading 50 Poems, too, Mary Lee. He is a joy.
Those silent walks with the dogs are so meditative — especially on a winter’s night.
Our walks are typically early morning, especially when we are in AZ (heat!). But occasionally we get out after dinner – and she loves that time too.
There’s so much simplicity and steadfastness in your poem, Patricia. Beautiful!
Thank you, Laura.
I love how all of this came together in your poem. Yes, those dogs have to be walked. That’s one thing I look forward to every day.
…even when the to-do list is a mile long!
Awwwww. Dogs are the best!
and dog people!
Isn’t it cool how so many pieces can come together in a single fulsome sentence? I’m so happy for dog owners and dog lovers, and so glad there isn’t a rule that I have to be one! I’d love to know more about your workshop with Padraig.
-lol; sent you a separate email re: Padraig O’Tauma
Love the poem, Patricia, and I also loved reading about the process that led to it. And now I’m missing my dog today, too. (She was the best of girls.) ❤️