This post was written as a Master's course assignment for Texas Woman's University.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Heard, Georgia (Edited by). Compilation copyright 2012. THE ARROW FINDS ITS MARK. Illustrated by Antoine Guilloppe. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596436657.
2. BOOK SUMMARY
This book answers the question: how is there poetry in everything, all around us? In a fantastic compilation of "found poems," Georgia Heard demonstrates the beauty of the already-written word, ready to be grasped and mingled with other "found writing," in order to create beautiful, insightful poems with original titles. Heard's small anthology of found poems features work from many poets of today with established reputations and a flair for writing with the young reader in mind. Some of the featured poets include: J. Patrick Lewis, Janet Wong, Naomi Shahib Nye, Joseph Bruchac, Marilyn Singer, and many others.
The specific set of guidelines that governed the creation of poems in this collection included the following: poets were "encouraged not to change, add, or rearrange words," the poems must be created from text that already exists, they may "change punctuation, tense, plurals, and capitalization," and the titles may be original, in order to give "the poems depth and [add] another layer of meaning" (from the Introduction). The book includes 40 different poems from a variety of poets, including Georgia Heard herself.
Some of the interesting original titles include: "A POEM TO SNEAK ONTO THE WALL OF A SCHOOL LUNCHROOM" (poem found by Patricia Hubbell, pg. 4) and "NICKNAMES IN THE NBA" (poem found by J. Patrick Lewis, pg. 12). The locations of the "found writing" varied immensely, from book titles in a library or on a child's bookshelf, to street signs, a teacher's memo, the dictionary, Facebook, a cleaning supplies container, calendars, speeches, a computer drop-down menu, other artists' work, such as Van Gogh painting titles, and the words of WALDEN POND by Thoreau.
Here is a sample from the poem, "PLACES I'D LOVE TO VAN GOGH SOMEDAY," found by Bob Raczka: "Field with Poppies/Orchard with Blossoming Plum Trees... The Dance Hall at Arles/Cafe Terrace at Night" (pg. 22). The images are startling and beautiful, especially in this current arrangement.
Another fascinating sample is this one from "A BIRD POETRY READER," poem found by J. Patrick Lewis, from a book about bird songs in the wild: "see-wee...see-it...seedle-ee...see-o-wit...see-yer/oong-k'-choonk, oong-k'-choonk, oong-k'-choonk," (pg. 30). The poem features the bird calls of 19 different birds, and the poem begs to be read aloud and imitated. This poem is onomatopoeia at its best. What a perfect poem for a story time with children, or for an introduction to a science lesson about birds in the wild.
The specific set of guidelines that governed the creation of poems in this collection included the following: poets were "encouraged not to change, add, or rearrange words," the poems must be created from text that already exists, they may "change punctuation, tense, plurals, and capitalization," and the titles may be original, in order to give "the poems depth and [add] another layer of meaning" (from the Introduction). The book includes 40 different poems from a variety of poets, including Georgia Heard herself.
Some of the interesting original titles include: "A POEM TO SNEAK ONTO THE WALL OF A SCHOOL LUNCHROOM" (poem found by Patricia Hubbell, pg. 4) and "NICKNAMES IN THE NBA" (poem found by J. Patrick Lewis, pg. 12). The locations of the "found writing" varied immensely, from book titles in a library or on a child's bookshelf, to street signs, a teacher's memo, the dictionary, Facebook, a cleaning supplies container, calendars, speeches, a computer drop-down menu, other artists' work, such as Van Gogh painting titles, and the words of WALDEN POND by Thoreau.
Here is a sample from the poem, "PLACES I'D LOVE TO VAN GOGH SOMEDAY," found by Bob Raczka: "Field with Poppies/Orchard with Blossoming Plum Trees... The Dance Hall at Arles/Cafe Terrace at Night" (pg. 22). The images are startling and beautiful, especially in this current arrangement.
Another fascinating sample is this one from "A BIRD POETRY READER," poem found by J. Patrick Lewis, from a book about bird songs in the wild: "see-wee...see-it...seedle-ee...see-o-wit...see-yer/oong-k'-choonk, oong-k'-choonk, oong-k'-choonk," (pg. 30). The poem features the bird calls of 19 different birds, and the poem begs to be read aloud and imitated. This poem is onomatopoeia at its best. What a perfect poem for a story time with children, or for an introduction to a science lesson about birds in the wild.
The poems vary in length, anywhere from two lines to two pages or more. This collection would appeal to younger children, up to reading age, and beyond, especially if they have already had some exposure to the authors, as well as anyone who is fascinated by found words or items. This book proves the point of its challenge- to find poems in the words all around us, literally everywhere we look.
3. POEM HIGHLIGHT
The poem I would like to highlight from this outstanding collection is the one that caused me to gasp out loud, with delight. It was found by Susan Marie Swanson, in the American Heritage Dictionary, from the first entry for the word "light." As a fun and educational follow-up activity, the children would look in newspapers, magazines, and around the room (at book titles, etc.) to create their own "found poems," with the option of sharing aloud.
THINKING ABOUT LIGHT WITH THE DICTIONARY OPEN
Light
may be
the human eye.
The brightness of a lamp.
Illumination.
Daybreak.
A source of fire or awareness.
Understanding.
A way of looking
set on fire.
(Found poem by Susan Marie Swanson)
The poem I would like to highlight from this outstanding collection is the one that caused me to gasp out loud, with delight. It was found by Susan Marie Swanson, in the American Heritage Dictionary, from the first entry for the word "light." As a fun and educational follow-up activity, the children would look in newspapers, magazines, and around the room (at book titles, etc.) to create their own "found poems," with the option of sharing aloud.
THINKING ABOUT LIGHT WITH THE DICTIONARY OPEN
Light
may be
the human eye.
The brightness of a lamp.
Illumination.
Daybreak.
A source of fire or awareness.
Understanding.
A way of looking
set on fire.
(Found poem by Susan Marie Swanson)
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