Our Poetry Friday friend,
Karen Edmisten
hosts the round-up this weekend.
Karen has pointed me to numerous poets in the past few years — George Bilgere most recently (thank you, Karen!).
Join us!
I Just Want All the Dogs!
My mom says I’ve loved dogs for as long as she can remember.
And while I don’t recall the name of this favorite stuffie (yes, that is one-year-old me), I have loved Tinkerbell (a yorkie mix), Theodore (bassethound), Gus (rogue), Bandit (Berner/border mix), Roxy (biter), Penny (Bernese), and now Bonny (another Bernese).
I also cannot walk past a dog without greeting it, meeting it, and given permission, treating it.
So when invited to write for the newest Pomelo Books poetry collection, I channeled my inner child.
My poem, “Dogs” is filled with antonyms — and yes, it is TRUE!
Listen and watch
Clara’s compendium begins by taking tips from her teacher: everything from facts to questions to doodles can become a simple poem. Clara mines her family, unusual words, vacations, and dream jobs –to name a few, in answer to various “exercises” spread out across the book.
What do you like to do after school? Write about it. (p.42)
Make a list of wild animals. Find a poem and 3 or more facts about one you choose. (p.52)
What are some jobs that you might like? (p.76)
(Another of my poems, “Tarantula,” a mask poem is featured on that spread!)
The pages are filled with kid-friendly “wonderfuzz” like Why do people wear matching socks anyway? (p.100) and “thimblethoughts” such as: A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time. It means 1/100th of a second. (p.39)
With gift-giving season upon us, think of a child you know who might enjoy journeying with Clara into the world of hidden poetry!
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. 
Patricia, for the love of biters, rogues, and bandits! Congratulations on your participation in this creatively kooky compendium. I can’t wait to get a copy and gobble up every last bite of poetry and wonder.
Patricia, I am so glad that you are one of the Pomelo Poets. I am going to read your poem today but my review is going to wait until I have thoughts from my granddaughter also. I love the way Janet and Sylvia formatted Clara’s book.
So happy to see your poems in the new Clara book, Patricia!! And that pic of you is adorable. 🙂
Puppy Love & doggie delights are a pawfectly loyal path, into to Loving Poetry, especially when the conveners are the creative duo we appreciate at Pomelo. So glad for young readers & olders ones, that your words are fuzzwonderful enuf to fill the bill. Brava! Appreciations for sharing this Good News. We need it!
[p.s. your pets were also lucky to find you in their lives.]
I love dogs, too, Patricia, and that photo of little you is awesome! Congratulations on being in “Clara’s Compendium” twice. I’ve ordered it for a grandniece’s Christmas! (My son & family have two Bernies, both wonderful!)
ALL THE DOGS! 😀 Your poem captures the joyful variations and invariable joy that dogs bring us. Congrats on your inclusion in this wonderful book!
Hooray for you having a poem in this new book. I agree all the dogs!
Such a joy, Patricia! And I love the little video you made. Your poem is fun and full of doglove.
Your video is soooo great! I haven’t made my videos yet (it’s on my November to-do list, but November has been a mess as you know). And I can just see you meeting, greeting, and treating neighborhood dogs. 🙂
Love the video! Is that your voice? Nice. I’m sorry to say you can’t have ALL the dogs–we love them here too (although we are between dogs and are making due with 2 cats). I just listened to a podcast on how other mammals can help our nervous systems. You must be great! Keep writing. It’s super fun to see more of your work making its way into the world.
So fun! My husband and I love dogs, but we have none. So we take the opportunity to pet as many new friends as possible. We met some wonderful dogs in Ireland!
This is SUCH a fun book!