Nonet

April is National Poetry Month.  Earlier this year, I had all sorts of plans for celebrating poetry this month but then my life became way too busy with Les Miz, and my plans never materialized.  However, there are still seven days of National Poetry Month left... and I still want to celebrate.  That brings me to our word of the week:

In music, a nonet [noh-net] is "a group of nine performers or instruments".  In poetry, a nonet is a poem with nine lines.  The first line contains nine syllables, the second line contains eight syllables, and so on until there is only one syllable in the ninth line.  It does not matter how many words are in each line, only the number of syllables.  Nonets can be written about any subject, and they do not need to rhyme -- although they can.

I had never written a nonet before yesterday and decided to try my hand at one.  Here's what I came up with, writing about my experiences on Monday:

Earth Day Cake

Spring-time sunshine, cerulean sky:
birds sing, butterflies waltz, and tall
trees reach for the clouds.  Below,
periwinkles bloom.  But
eight shy, silent deer
who look my way –
the icing
on the
cake.

~ Janelle H.

It was challenging, but I had a lot of fun writing it.  I encourage you to try creating one yourself, in honor of National Poetry Month.  If you do write one, please consider sharing it -- I'd love to see it! :)

Sharing Mother Earth...

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An excerpt:

Fin, fur, and feather and the human race
Must share Mother Earth as she spins through space.
"Share!" says my grandpa. "Please share this place!
And we'll care for Mother Earth as she spins through space."

~ from Earthsong

(and the song "Over in the Endangered Meadow"),

written by Sally Rogers

I know that, officially, Earth Day was yesterday -- but as my son Nick always says, "Every day is Earth Day!" :) We like to think of ways we can share and care for our planet, and then put those thoughts into actions.  We spent a couple of hours yesterday picking up trash at a local forest preserve.  What can we do for the earth today?

I Meant To Do My Work Today

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I Meant To Do My Work Today

I meant to do my work today,

But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,

And a butterfly flitted across the field,

And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land,

Tossing the grasses to and fro,

And a rainbow held out its shining hand--

So what could I do but laugh and go?

~ Richard Le Gallienne

This poem speaks to me -- every line makes me smile and nod my head.  How often have I been distracted by nature? Too many times to count.  It's hard to focus on work when the earth is putting on a show.  Wishing you all a very happy Earth Day! :)

Watch out...

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An excerpt:

Watch out for every living thing,

for all beasts fine and free,

who grace the earth

and ride the skies

and glide within the sea.

Be aware of them.

Take care of them.

Be watchful.

Let them be.

~ from Each Living Thing, 

written by Joanne Ryder

Earth Day

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Earth Day

I am the Earth

And the Earth is me.

Each blade of grass,

Each honey tree,

Each bit of mud,

And stick and stone

Is blood and muscle,

Skin and bone.

And just as I

Need every bit

Of me to make

My body fit,

So Earth needs

Grass and stone and tree

And things that grow here

Naturally.

That's why we

Celebrate this day.

That's why across

The world we say:

As long as life,

As dear, as free,

I am the Earth

And the Earth is me.

~ Jane Yolen

Picture Books for Earth Day -- Naturally!

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As the daughter of a forestry professor, I grew up with a healthy respect for the world around me.  I spent much of my childhood outdoors -- climbing trees, hiking in the woods, sleeping out under the stars.  I remember many discussions with my dad over the years, revolving around the topics of conservation, renewable vs. non-renewable resources, pollution, recycling, and the like.

Now, I am mom to a teenager who has lived and breathed anything animal-related ever since he could say the word "animal".  Nick has always been concerned about the environment -- writing letters to world leaders at age 7, asking them to save the rain forest, picking up trash on his way home from school every day, and trying to figure out ways he could help reverse global warming.  It should not come as a surprise that we honor Earth Day at our house every year.  (And not just on April 22nd... as Nick often says, "Every day is Earth Day!")

Ever since I was a little girl, our family has collected many, many books about the Earth and the living things that inhabit it.  Here are just a few of our favorite picture books suitable for reading on Earth Day -- or any day you want to celebrate the fantastic world around us:

The Family of Earth, written and illustrated by Schim Schimmel, 2001... With a message about planetary interdependence, this book shows -- through Schimmel's words and luminous pictures -- how the different environments of Earth combine to create one world that we all share.

Our Big Home: An Earth Poem, written by Linda Glaser and illustrated by Elisa Kleven, 2002... Glaser's free verse poetry describes our amazing planet and focuses on the interconnectedness of all living things.  Kleven's mixed-media illustrations feature people and nature in a wide variety of settings, from African plains to a bustling city park to a South American mountaintop.

Where Once There Was a Wood, written and illustrated by Denise Fleming, 1996...  A simple  introduction to the topics of conservation and ecology, this book explains how animals and people all need homes, but that we don't have to destroy one to build another.  Fleming's colorful, texture-filled illustrations complement her message. At the end of the book, a section called "Welcome Wildlife to Your Backyard Habitat" offers several suggestions for making readers' yards wildlife-friendly.

Have You Seen Trees?, written by Joanne Oppenheim and illustrated by Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng, 1995... Oppenheim's delightful poetry (originally published in 1967 with illustrations by Irwin Rosenhouse) and the Tsengs' beautiful artwork combine perfectly to create this joyous celebration of trees.  A short section on tree identification is included in the back.

Each Living Thing, written by Joanne Ryder and illustrated by Ashley Wolff, 2000...  Poetic text and vivid pictures, filled to the brim with detail, work together to remind readers to respect nature and the world around them.

For those children and adults who want to learn more about nature, here are two non-fiction picture books that our family enjoys:

About Birds: A Guide for Children, written by Cathryn Sill and illustrated by John Sill, 1997...  Realistic watercolor paintings and simple prose teach the youngest of readers basic facts about these winged creatures.  An afterward gives more detailed information for older readers.

Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids, written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons, 2002...  This book introduces the science of trees to children -- the parts of a tree and their various functions, photosynthesis, types of tree fruits and seeds, information about how trees are useful to people, animals, and the environment. and much more.  It also includes a helpful section on tree identification.

What are your favorite picture books about nature and this planet we call Earth?  I'd love to hear about them!