30 Habits of Highly Effective Poets #4: Justine Rowden on Paying Attention

Justine Rowden is the author of one of my favorite poetry books for children, Paint Me a Poem. The poems are all responses to works in Washington, DC's National Gallery of Art. Justine visited the museum, writing about those pieces that caught her attention.

Paying attention is an important practice for poets. It is that urge to pull the car over -- the grocery store can wait -- because you just spotted a fox weaving through the shrubs on the roadside. It is sitting down to write about that strange thing your friend said, or the weird headline you read in today's paper. Writing helps you think through whatever caught your attention. Most people (non-writers) push these ideas aside as "distractions" from their to-do list.

We never know where poems will come from -- so keep your poetry antenna on whenever possible.

Here is Justine: Quirkiness, Gold for the Taking!

Each day some unexpected quirky happening is a staccato that laughingly jolts us out of calm, quiet reverie -- just like a very tart twist of lemon in a cold drink.

The buzzing outside my window was just such a staccato.  Ah, bees with no sense of decorum were living it up, doing their thing in my cherry tree.  

www.informedfarmers.com

I was pulled out of that lazy roaming of my thoughts. 

So what to do about this performance art among the blossoms?   A poem has to be in there!
 

                       Fandango in Bee

                  by Justine Rowden 

                  Bees, animatedly dashing,

                  Grabbing nectar

                  From one succulent pink blossom

                  After another

                  Act like teenage lotharios

                  Not content with one conquest,

                  But rushing on

                  To reaffirm their virility

                  With yet

                  Another sweet thing.

                 

Posted with permission.

Justine adds: I suspect that we need to listen for that staccato and do something with that unexpected gift.  It just might be the beginning to your perfectly wonderful and gratifying poem!  

Tomorrow, we visit with Maryland poet Liz Moser.

2012 National Poetry Month Project

Every year I -- and many other Poetry Friday bloggers -- celebrate National Poetry Month with an April blog project.

You can order a free poster at www.poets.org

In 2010, I went around the country (virtually) and visited most of the state poets laureate.

In 2011, I featured the work of 30 poets from Maryland, where I live.

This year, I am doing something different. You've heard of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. At Author Amok, we will explore 30+ Habits of Highly Effective Poets.

I am inviting poets (this means YOU) to join in. Here are the details:

In 500 words or less, describe a writing habit -- your own or that of a writer you admire (or avoid). Tried and true methods, such as William Stafford's habit of  rising at 4 AM every day to write, are welcome. Flagrantly odd, unique, weird and wacky habits are highly encouraged -- whether they are yours or you are tattling on a(nother) famous writer. Check out this post, where I learned that William Wordsworth enjoyed reciting drafts of poems to his dog. And here is a post about famous fiction writers and their habits. Disappointingly unweird.

If you would like to include a poem with your write-up, please do so. Previously published is fine, just let me know where. It must be high school friendly. Poems appropriate for younger children are also welcome. An accompanying poem is  not required.

I'm excited to say that children's authors Laura Purdie Salas (also a PF blogger) and Justine Rowden have signed on already.

Leave a comment if you're interested in participating. Counting the days to NPM!

Poetry Friday: Paint Me a Poem

This Friday, I'm celebrating the recent re-issue of Maryland children's poet Justine Rowden's book Paint Me a Poem. It's a great way to introduce elementary schoolers to art and ekphrastic poetry.

Justine received permission from the National Gallery of Art to use its masterpieces as inspiration and illustration for the book. It originally came out in 2005 and was re-issued last month.

For a taste of the book, check out the sample pages at Justine's nifty & kid-friendly website, http://www.paintmeapoem.com/.

As part of my "Five Questions for the Author" series, here are Five Questions for Justine Rowden:

1. How did you approach the National Gallery of Art about this project? What was their response?

I made contact with the National Gallery of Art, showing them a mock-up of Paint Me a Poem, Poems Inspired by Masterpieces of Art, the book for which I had just received a contract. They were extremely receptive to my approach. Hurrah!

At the book's publication, the National Gallery Shop chose to feature the book in a display. Another Hurrah!

2. Describe the process of choosing paintings and writing the poems. I am imagining you taking a notebook to the museum and writing first drafts as you stood before the paintings.

I did look at a great many paintings, choosing a diverse group of paintings representing different periods. Then I worked on writing poems connecting with the art that pulled me in, that "sang" to me.

3. When you hear from young readers, which of the poems do they respond to? What do they like about them?

It always tickles me to find every child finds a favorite among the poems, but it is never the same poem! I think some children are more captivated by sounds, some by the progression of ideas, some by the element of surprise.

(And it is true of their parents, and adults, in general.) And that is an unexpected joy to the writer.

4. Why is poetry a good way to get children thinking and writing about art?

Children seeing art instinctively sense their impressions in poetic phrases!

Reading poetry that is rich and vibrant in describing art can evoke the painting's dramatic bold strokes and can egg the child on to find the wonderful wildness in his or her own poems.

5. You used some concrete poetry in Paint Me a Poem. How does that technique help the reader connect the poem to the work of art?

Arranging words, phrases, in unusual configurations adds a touch of art to the spirit of the poem; it can intrigue, tantalize the reader. And I think the playful spirit it engenders brings the read an intimacy with the poem, and, maybe, even with the author!

Thanks, Justine and congratulations on the re-issue.

You'll find more rich and vibrant poetry at Gregory K's blog, GottaBook. He's hosting this week's Poetry Friday round-up.