WHAT IS POETRY and a craft POETRY POCKET

WHAT IS POETRY?

Poetry is a packsack of invisible keepsakes. --Carl Sandburg
 
What is poetry?
It is finding the truth, no need to lie.
It's munching on watermelon and letting seeds fly.

It's a letter that comes with a card in the mail.
It's the lacy silver threads left by a garden snail. 

It's daffodil trumpets covering the hill.
It's a deer at the creek, drinking her fill.

It's giggling and laughing and being absurd.


Does poetry ever make you feel like you have the sillies?  I sometimes feel that way.  In the back of my mind, I've been toying and working with a poem about a boy who has his pants glued to his seat because he is such a wiggle worm in school.  How silly is that?  

I really do love poetry.  And on April 18th is Poem In Your Pocket Day.  I've already volunteered at my local library to help children make pockets to put their poems in, so I've also started making my own pockets for my friends.  I got this idea because I saw some Hallmark cards at Easter that were made out of felt.  So, I checked out the new craft store in town--Joann's and they had some felt squares in bright colors. 

The felt pieces even came in bright patterns.

I cut each piece of felt in half to make 2 envelopes.
  I glue the sides together, and I even have fun embroidering some with a chain stitch to include the recipient's name.

On some I included colorful papers on the inside.

  And then I added some felt stick on flowers , or ladybugs to the envelope.  I also have some hearts and sandals for other envelopes. 

I print out a poem on my computer using a colorful paper to go inside the envelope.
The stamps and address stickers stick to the felt too.  And then the pocket is ready to go in the mail to my poetry friends.

I've had so much fun making these envelopes.  You don't have to use felt.  You could use a sheet of scrapbook paper.  What ever seems like fun.   I bought some pellon (Fabric backing) so I could try using fabric for the envelopes. 

I hope you'll try making a poetry pocket for your friends.  If you have questions, I'll try to answer them.  If you try this, please let me know how it works out for you.  Enjoy your pockets.

   If you missed it, Renee LaTulippe has videos of several of the poets from THE POETRY FRIDAY  ANTHOLOGY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong on her web site at No Water River

  The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted this week by Robyn Hood Black over at her blog Read, Write, Howl.  Thanks, Robyn.  I'm looking forward to reading your contribution to Irene Latham's Progressive Poem.