While reading poetry books is the heart of The Sealey Challenge, I do like to write reviews when I can.
Here is my review of Christine Butterworth McDermott’s new poetry collection that Harbor Review published. https://www.harbor-review.com/the-spellbook-of-fruit-and-flowers
Here are some reviews of poetry books I recently posted on Goodreads:
Margaret Duda’s I Come From Immigrants (note: book is similar in content to Elizabeth Gauffreau’s Grief Songs, since it is memoir-ish poetry paired with personal photographs)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/180625112-i-come-from-immigrants
Laurie Kuntz has two recent books out, and both of them are wonderfully personal about her relationships with husband and adult son.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59748231-the-moon-over-my-mother-s-house
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80351487-talking-me-off-the-roof
#TANKATUESDAY
Colleen Chesebro’s #TankaTuesday poetry prompt for this week is to write a syllabic poem using collective animal nouns.
Topic: Collective animal nouns
A murder of crows
brings me stones and an earring
for feeding their young.
My dearest clowder of cats
whines all day long for their food.
**
I had to look up whether to use singular or plural for the verbs. It was hard for me to determine the correct usage, but it seems that this tanka called for a singular verb.
Cute kitties below are my daughter’s kittens, but this photo is already months old! They are playing Mouse for Cats on my iPad.
REVIEW OF ROOTED AND WINGED
Richard Allen Taylor published a review of my collection Rooted and Winged in the new issue of Main Street Rag. I think it’s a pretty funny review. Posting images of the journal pages.
Even cats have video games!
The gardener doesn’t like cats playing them. Thinks they might get addicted.
Slippery slope and all that! 🙂
Right! Hahaha
Cute tanka, and interesting review. I wasn’t sure if he liked your book or not till I got to the end! 🙂
I felt like he didn’t until then!
I’m glad it wasn’t just me, but worse for you! 🙂
Excellent reviews, Luanne. Lovely review for Rooted and Winged and fascinating poem.
Did you think it was a good review for RAW? It seemed not until the end. Such a funny review IMO. Thanks, John!
I thought it was an outstanding review. Here is someone who actually was moved by the poetry trying to explain what that movement meant to him. There were questions he wanted answered but then came to realize he had to answer them himself. I loved the opening about “oh no not another poem about writing.” He set up what could be called a complaint but had to acknowledge the William Carlos Williams’ advice about poetry fit the occasion exactly and he had to read on. This person has a great intellect and I think he did your work justice.
Oh thank you! I love your take on it!!!!
Yes. You should be pleased with the review. I’ll admit a little quirky but still a good one
I love the connection of the two Luanne (and your photos!) ❤️
Thank you so much! Haha, the kitties are so spoiled. Food all day long . . . . Therefore, ungrateful!
I like how a small poem can say so much! Well-done Luanne.
Thank you, Balroop! Much appreciated!
Such a thoughtful review of Rooted and Winged.
How wonderful to pose questions with no answers, and possibly answers to questions not asked. Bravo.
Thank you, Sheila. I wasn’t sure about that review, but y’all are making me feel better!
Congratulations on the Rooted and Winged review! What I particularly liked about it was how the reviewer was engaging in a personal conversation with the text.
Oh, I am glad you like it. I felt a little uncertain and amused!
A clowder of cats is new to me! As is having the clowder play video games. That is a charming review of Rooted and Winged. Brava!
Clowder of cats is new to me, too
I always wanted to do that…leave a gift for a crow and see what happens. I know they are so extremely smart and do remember people.
A clowder of cats is so interesting. I looked up “clowder,” and it looks like the word was created just to be used as a clowder of cats! Who knew? Congratulations on the outstanding review. xx
In just a few words, you’ve captured so much. Beautiful, Luanne. And the review is an interesting one – thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing. 😊
I love the crow poem. I recently read a quip that when a group of crows come together unintentionally it’s called a manslaughter of crows. 🙂
Hahahaha. So funny.
Hi Luanne, I am also reading a lot of poetry currently. I like your poem, a few poets chose ravens. Mine was a bit left field – giggle. I knew what Colleen expected from me so I teased her a little. The review is intriguing and would make me purchase the book just to understand what he meant.
Thanks, Robbie! Heading over there now.