Congratulations!

      Thank you to everyone who entered the drawing for an autographed copy of DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year, a collection of poems by Janet Wong.   
   
 You can find all the books that Janet Wong has published at her website by clicking on her name.


             There were a lot of entries, and I got to read lots of good poems.

     I put each of your names on a yellow slip of paper and they all went into the hat.


I figured my magic top hat was the perfect thing to use.

So all the entries went into a hat.

I had my husband close his eyes and draw out four of the entries.




If you didn't win, you can still ask your library to order the book, or order the book yourself either from your local independent book store, or from Amazon, where electronic versions of the book are also available in a Kindle edition for only $3.99.  (clicking on Amazon should take you right to the order page for details)

    The four slips that my husband drew were...
(Now if I were really clever I'd know how to get a drum roll here.)

• Mrs. Harvey's class--you always seem to be winning, dear.
• Maureen Wartski
• Heidi Mordhorst
• Cory Corrado

I have addresses for everyone except Mrs. Harvey's class.  If you could email me the address where you'd like your autographed copy of the book sent, I'll get them in the mail on Monday.

Congratulations again.  I think we're all winners.  Thank you for a fun week.

And the winner is....

Right now, the winner is me.  I've gotten to have fun writing poems in response to Janet Wong's poetry collection DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE.
I've gotten to read all of your brilliant poems that you posted in the "comments" yesterday.  And I've gotten to have the fun of running the contest to win the free books.  I've had so much fun doing this.  Thank you. 

Today I will put all the names into my hat and pull out  four names to receive the four autographed copies of the book.

But for right now, it is still Friday and I want to wait until after midnight to close the contest.  (See I'm really writing this on Friday night to post first thing Saturday morning.) 

So, while you patiently wait on me, lets see if I can come up with a poem for today.

tonight stars sparkle

across the bowl of dark sky

an airplane flashes

It has been a wonderfully warm day.  We hit 85 degrees, so this evening it is lovely to sit outside, drink coffee and converse while watching the night sky.

     Have a happy Saturday and enjoy the weekend.

More later

DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year

HAPPY POETRY FRIDAY

       Today is an exciting day.  I have four autographed copies to give away of Janet Wong's collection of political poems titled, DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year.  This is a creative collection of poems to get you thinking about the privileges and responsibilities we have as US citizens.

      The first poem in the collection is:

1 / LIBERTY

I pledge acceptance

of the views,

so different,

that make us America

To listen, to look,

to think, and to learn

One people

sharing the earth

responsible

for liberty

and justice

for all.

     This poem certainly makes me want to stand up and salute.  It takes and re-frames our Pledge of Allegiance, and in so doing refreshes the words so we have to pause and think about our role in making a promise to our country.

    But just so you don't get the idea that this is a boring book of history, it isn't, here is Janet Wong's humor that just has to come out through her poetry.
Any kid can relate to:

4 / BILL OF RIGHTS

When the teacher

asked about the Bill of Rights 

my friend said:

Is that

when you get charged

for Free Speech?

    The poems do what good poetry is supposed to do--they give you something to think about and there is a surprise in each one.  What fun. 

    So, if you would like to win one of the copies of DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year, all you have to do is leave me your poem in the comments below.  It can be simply a couplet, a quatrain, a haiku or a one sentence prose poem.  Just leave a comment and I will take all of the emails, put them in a hat and draw out four names.

    I want to thank Janet Wong for this fun week for me.  When I first heard the title of the book, I did think, how unexciting for a kid.  I never in the world would have thought that I could come up with five poems written in response to the collection.  So Janet Wong, you surprised me,  Thank you for that.

   And just so I  can show  an example of a haiku, here is my poem for today:

American flag

clanks on the metal flagpole

let freedom ring

   I'm looking forward to reading your comments.  Have fun writing your poem.

At My School

  This is another poem I've written in response to reading the poems in Janet Wong's poetry collection DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year.

I went to school today

it didn't cost me

taxes make it free.

Founding fathers

decided all children

should have

a free education.

I didn't have to pay

for my teacher.

I didn't have to pay

for my school books.

At recess I went

out on the playground.

I climbed on

the jungle gym,

swung on a swing

I'm glad taxes

pay for all

these good things.

Just one more day until Friday when I'll announce how you can win a free copy of Declaration of Interdependence, a poetry collection written by Janet Wong.  Also tomorrow I'm going to share one of Janet's poems with you from the collection.

    The flag of the United State flies over our Capitol, over government buildings, post offices, at businesses and hospitals.  Is there a flag that flies at your school?  The flag is a symbol for our country.  What does the flag stand for or mean to you? Can you write a poem about that?  Have fun writing.

Going to the Library

     Only two more days until Friday when I'll announce how you can win a free copy of Declaration of Interdependence, a poetry collection written by Janet Wong. Did I mentions the book is autographed by the poet?

     Here is what children's poet David L. Harrison has to say about DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE.  "Three cheers for Janet Wong for providing this collection of thought provoking and reassuring poems just as the election process heads toward a heated finish. Many of her poems bring wry smiles and all of them give the reader serious thoughts to ponder and nod over in agreement. Readers of all ages will finish this book with a deeper sense of pride in our country and gratitude for being an American."

     Yes, I'm glad to be an American.  Here is my poem for today,

GOING TO THE LIBRARY

Today

I drove to the

library

on roads

paid for

by my taxes.

I checked out a book

to read.

It didn't cost me

a cent.

My taxes

pay

to keep

libraries

free.

I'm glad

I live

in the USA

where

I can

say

what

I think

and don't

have to worry

about going

to jail.

     Your poetry challenge for today is to write a poem about why you are glad to live where you do.  Have fun writing your poem.

 

SIGNING PETITIONS

On Friday, I'll announce how you can win a free copy of Declaration of Interdependence, a poetry collection written by Janet Wong. I have four autographed books to give away that Janet Wong generously donated.

Here is another poem I have written in response to the poems in Janet Wong's collection DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year.

Signing Petitions

At the street fair

I stopped to sign

a petition.

One for more

gun control

in our state.

Another for more

taxes

for our schools.

I wanted debate,

discussion,

discourse.

I wanted legislators

to hear my position.

I'm glad I live

in a country

where I can sign

a petition.

I can try to change

things

without sedition.

     One of the stanzas in this poem uses the poetic device of alliteration.  Can you find it?  Sedition is a big word.  Did you guess that it means rebellion, defiance, insurgency?  Have you ever signed a petition at your school?  Have you ever written your own?  Make a list of things you might change at your school, home, community?  Talk to people and ask them what they would like to change.  Now, can you take all these ideas and thoughts and make poetry?

* FREE * FREE * FREE *

On Friday I'll announce how you can win a free copy of DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Poems for an Election Year, a poetry collection written by Janet Wong.

Here is my poem for today--
Free

Blessed by the moonlight

and sparkling stars all around.

Blessed by the sun

that casts my shadow

on the ground.

Blessed by my fore fathers

who traveled over sea.

They fought for  liberty

so I am free to be me.

    For your poem challenge today, can you write a list poem of all the things or people  that bless your life?  Have fun writing.