Poetry Friday: Inspired by the Redwood Forests

I’m working on my guidelines for submissions to the anthology project – Nature Poetry In Pictures. While this is not the “official” title it conveys what I am looking for. The guidelines will be posted late next Friday. Submissions are to start soon after.

The work will focus on ekphrastic poetry. If you are not familiar with it, you have a week to read about what it is. I’ll post some helpful descriptions at the end of this post. To give you an idea of what I envision, I include a new poem I wrote and several older ones that combine my photography and my poetry. The photo must evoke the poem in some recognizable way. Since the book is meant for children ages 10 and up, I do not expect many truly abstract poems. You know what I am referring to – the type of poem you read and say – “Huh? What was that all about?” That’s definitely not what I’m going for!

I am looking for pieces celebrating nature – its beauty, the awe it inspires, any concerns for our earth, and human feelings when immersed in nature. I am envisioning an uplifting, beautiful book focusing on all things found in nature. Both the photo and the poem have to be owned (created) by the person submitting.

Specific guidelines and requirements will be posted next week. I hope you consider submitting. I think there is a lot of unrecognized talent in our Poetry Friday group and look to showcase that as well as the talents of others who might participate. Thanks for the consideration. I hope I piqued your interest.

Here is a new ekphrastic poem I wrote this week:

After posting this example, I realized that I would like submissions to be in portrait form, not landscape – as pictured here. It’ll make my life easier when editing if you adhere to this orientation when submitting…more to come on that next week.

Although you can submit haiku, I am not after a book of them, so you may only submit one per person – more one the number of poems you may submit is coming next week. Thank you for your attention to this also.

This haiku is not nature oriented. Please stick to nature when considering your submissions to the anthology. Nature is a huge topic and combines a lot of what I love with the written word and then combines it with my love for children and teaching/enriching them. Poetry and nature can enrich all of us. I hope you have a photo that inspires you to write a poem about it.

As a master’s prepared, and formerly nationally certified, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and master’s prepared Environmental Educator who loves to write and observe nature, I look to this project to combine art and poetry into a book that can be enjoyed by children and the adults in their lives. I am excited about working on it. You have my promise it will be a well-thought-out and presented anthology in its final form.

Anyone that knows me well, is aware of my organizational capabilities. I am anxious to use them to the benefit of all involved! Thanks for your consideration! Please stop back next week for the details on submissions!

Acknowledgment of you as the author-photographer will appear in the book but not the photo, as shown in the examples shown today.

I hope I’ve piqued your interest in this project. Today is Poetry Friday! Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche is our round-up host and she’ll have your mouth watering with a poem she wrote about a strawberry jam gift she received. Be sure to check it out! Thanks for hosting!

Ekphrastic Poetry Resources

Ekphrastic Poetry: How to Write an Ekphrastic Poem

https://www.ekphrastic.net/the-ekphrastic-review/introducing-children-to-writing-ekphrastic-poetry-by-joan-leotta (click the link to take you there).

https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2023/explore-ekphrastic-poems-reading-list (click the link to take you there).

https://www.poetrybones.com/writing-practice-blog/try-writing-ekphrastic-poetry-part-1 click the link to take you there).

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