Happy Poetry Friday!
Happy Early Earth Day!
Happy National Poetry Month!
RACHEL CARSON’S WORDS
You gave us a gift in thought and word
to care for our soil, water, air and earth,
Your Silent Spring still cries out to be heard
Rally Rachel Carson’s call, protect earth’s worth!
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
My poem above was from a prompt by Supriya Kelkar who was featured on Renée LaTulippe’s blog, this week, No Water River. The prompt was to write a poem about “a strong woman from history.” Rachel Carson is just that, and I continue to return to her. I also just read a wonderful picture book about her called Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World, by Laurie Lawlor, and illustrated by Laura Beingessner. It’s a lovely capturing of her life from childhood through to when she was fighting adamantly for our environment with her book Silent Spring!
Also for National Poetry Month, yesterday I added my line to the 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem, come and take a look!
In addition to all the poetry writing and reading this month I have been busy preparing artwork for two group art exhibits that I am in. Both are opening this Friday, April 20, 2018. One is in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago at Gallery 1070, here’s the flyer from it:
The second exhibit is at a Gallery I’ve been showing with for four years called Studio b., 114 N Elm Street, Three Oaks, MI. Their season opens this Friday and I’ll have work up through the Thanks Giving weekend. It’s a delightfully lovely spot to visit, especially as the weather warms. The area is filled with galleries, gorgeous nature areas and sand dune beaches.
On my blog for National Poetry Writing Month I’ve been focusing on flora, fauna, and our environment. Here’s a list of the poems I’ve posted so far:
Poem one– DEAR APRIL
Poem two–Haiku Azaleas
Poem three–ODE TO SHUN LEE
Poem four–Haiku Daffodils
Poem five–APRIL’S MYSTERIES
Poem six–APRIL’S BUDS
Poem seven–A LOVELY BEETLE
Poem eight–CHANGES IN NATURE
Poem nine-HURRY SPRING
Poem 10-ANIMAL TRACKS
Poem 11-APRIL SNAKE
Poem 12-Haiku NARCISSUS
Poem 13– A CELEBRATION & SPRING
Poem 14–Haiku TULIPS
Poem 15–Birds’ Perspective
Poem 16–WHO’S IN THE MOON?
Poem 17–Haiku Tulips and Sparrow
Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup. Thanks for hosting Tabatha. And BTW her latest Anthology is out on Friday April 20th, Imperfect: poems about mistakes: an anthology for middle schoolers. I’m very happy to have a poem in this rich collection!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Happy that my poems will be rubbing elbows with yours. Congrats on your two shows. How exciting!
And my poem with yours too, thanks Brenda!
Congratulations on all of these artful endeavors, Michelle. It must be so exciting to have an exhibit of your art going up, and a poem in Tabatha’s anthology! Thanks for sharing this little Rachel Carson poem — perfect for Earth Day.
Thanks for all your kind thoughts Laura! I’m very happy be a part of the “Imperfect” anthology!
Congrats on the art exhibits and having your poem in the new Imperfect anthology! A good spring for you. Enjoyed your Rachel Carson art and poem (the PB looks interesting too). 🙂
Thanks Jama, it’s a wonderful book, and I happen to personally know the author.
You have to have today as a celebration for all the wonderful things you shared today, Michelle. Many congratulations for your poem and best wishes for the art exhibit. I wish that more people would remember and/or pay attention to Rachel Carson’s words from years ago. They remain important. I’m glad you wrote about her.
Thanks Linda! I hope Rachel Carson, what she wrote about and fought for continue to get more attention!
There is a nearby elementary school named after Rachel Carson, I’m happy to say. Thank you for writing about her and drawing our attention to Earth Day.
How wonderful to have a school named after Rachel Carson! Now they need to bring her book, “Silent Spring” into the class rooms.
Congrats on the shows for your artwork and your poem’s inclusion in Imperfect. I’m looking forward to reading it! As much as I’ve heard about Rachel Carson and Silent Spring, I’ve never read her book. I should go find it.
Congratulations on your shows! What a perfect poem choice for Earth Day.
Thanks Kimberly!
Congratulations on your art shows, Michelle, and for having a poem in Tabatha’s collection! I love your tribute to Rachel Carson, and thank you for sharing the picture book bio!
Thanks Catherine–it’s a rich book!
Congratulations on your shows, Happy Earth Day, and HUZZAH for Rachel Carson, one of my sheroes!
Thanks Mary Lee, and Carson will forever inspire me!
Wow, you’ve been busy! Congratulations! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Thanks Ruth, looking forward to slowing down a bit.
Congratulations, Michelle, on your poem in Tabatha’s anthology and on your art shows! Your poem is a great tribute to Ruth Carson and thanks for sharing the picture book. Love this quote of hers: “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”
Beautiful quote Alice, thanks for sharing it with me!
Congratulations!
Thanks!