She’s been called America’s Hans Christian Andersen, but why not call her America’s Jane Yolen?! I’m happy to welcome today’s guest poetry poster, Jane Yolen!
Five Tips On Writing A Poem
1. Look at the world through metaphor,
seeing one tree in terms of another.
2. Let two words bump up against another
Or seesaw on a single line.
3. Tell the truth inside out
Or on the slant.
4. Remember that grammar can be a good friend
And a mean neighbor.
5. Let the poem rhyme in the heart,
Though not always on the page.
©1999 Jane Yolen
How to Write A Poem: A Bite-Size Sonnet
Insight.
Now.
Write—
How?
Butt.
Chair.
What?
Where?
Heart
Pains.
Art
Gains.
Bleed.
Read.
© 2010 by Jane Yolen
A Poem Is
Words
Running
down
the
page,
in black script
sneakers.
Words
nudging/one/another
like bumper cars
at a fair.
Words
humming,
thrumming,
drumming,
strumming,
an orchestra
of sounds,
Words that take
a thought
a wish,
a sentiment,
a pryer,
and then suck out
all the hot air.
A poem is.
©2008 by Jane Yolen
Beth Rayner
April 10, 2012 - 1:36 pm ·Wonderful! So simple, so true, so difficult to do.
Anna Guillotte
April 10, 2012 - 1:44 pm ·love it! I recently discovered that the poetry format works best for my writing style. And ironically all the sudden I’ve been seing alot of posts about poetry for children lately. Great post – thank you!
katie
April 10, 2012 - 2:56 pm ·Giod thing you came to this realization during poetry month!
Anna Guillotte
April 10, 2012 - 5:52 pm ·ha! yes, just realized that April is Poetry month, which explains all the posts
!
Anna Guillotte
April 10, 2012 - 5:53 pm ·ha! yes, just realized that April is Poetry Month, which explains the sudden influx in posts about it : )
Lissa Clouser
April 10, 2012 - 2:26 pm ·Thank you for sharing this today! Such simple and beautifully written advice from Jane, but how very useful it is!
katie
April 10, 2012 - 2:55 pm ·I don’t think I’m over speaking when I say Jane Yolen is a goddess!
Julie Hedlund
April 10, 2012 - 5:38 pm ·Only Jane Yolen could say so much in so few words. Excellent post!
Kirsten Larson
April 10, 2012 - 6:31 pm ·Wow, so few words, yet so much conveyed. What beautiful poetry, Jane Yolen. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
Melissa Sarno
April 10, 2012 - 6:52 pm ·Oh I love this! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Sue Frye
April 10, 2012 - 9:02 pm ·Love this! Lovely snippets of wisdom from a very lovely person!
Donna Gephart
April 10, 2012 - 11:19 pm ·This was great. Thank you both!
Sarah Towle
April 11, 2012 - 4:06 am ·What a wonderful way to wind up a Wednesday!
Thanks for sharing!
Lupe Ruiz-Flores
April 11, 2012 - 10:14 am ·Made my day! I met Jane Yolen at a writer’s retreat in Texas. She was great!
Patricia Cruzan
April 11, 2012 - 11:32 am ·You are a master of words.
Christy Peterson
April 12, 2012 - 11:51 am ·I’d like to read the “A Poem Is” poem during a presentation I’m giving to a class of 3rd and 4th graders. Do you know if it has been published anywhere so I can give proper credit and also direct kids/parents to the right publication if they wish to purchase a copy themselves?
katie
April 12, 2012 - 11:58 am ·I’ll ask Jane!
Christy Peterson
April 12, 2012 - 8:27 pm ·Thanks Katie! 🙂