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Hello Poets & Poetry Lovers! Spring has definitely arrived here, a time of birth and rebirth. Our field of bluebonnets next to the house is in full bloom - simply beautiful. I watched the weather report this morning, however, and was completely shocked to see that there is a chance of SNOW here for Easter morning. In Louisiana??? I'm making a note to myself to watch Gore's documentary!! My family is doing fine. The first of March, my niece was deployed to Afghanistan. If you pray, I'd appreciate you remembering her. We went to Atlanta for a party to see her off. Friends and family gathered for an all American dinner: fried chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, fried okra (yes...the arteries clogged a little), black eyed peas, fresh tomatoes, and apple pie for dessert. We followed dinner with a flag raising. Without getting into my personal feelings about the war in Iraq, I want to say that I am so proud of her. We are also anxiously awaiting the birth of our second grandson, who will be born the first week of May. My daughter and her husband have recently moved into a smaller house, so she can stay home with the children. She's lucky to have that choice. Those babies are only young once! So yes, a time of change and renewal...I love Spring! Here are a few of my favorite quotes about Spring. You can find these and others at Quote Garden Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go. ~Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain Awake, thou wintry earth - Fling off thy sadness! Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth Your ancient gladness! ~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn" I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet The year's at the spring And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hillside's dew-pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heaven - All's right with the world! ~Robert Browning No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ~Hal Borland Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~Hal Borland Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Laighton In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest. ~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant" Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment. ~Ellis Peters Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. ~Chinese Proverb The naked earth is warm with Spring, And with green grass and bursting trees Leans to the sun's kiss glorying, And quivers in the sunny breeze. ~Julian Grenfell In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind? ~Percy Bysshe Shelley I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth? ~Edward Giobbi The sun was warm but the wind was chill. You know how it is with an April day. ~Robert Frost The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~William Shakespeare The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams Yesterday the twig was brown and bare; To-day the glint of green is there; Tomorrow will be leaflets spare; I know no thing so wondrous fair, No miracle so strangely rare. I wonder what will next be there! ~L.H. Bailey If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. ~Nadine Stair First a howling blizzard woke us, Then the rain came down to soak us, And now before the eye can focus - Crocus. ~Lilja Rogers In springtime, love is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion or kisses whizzing by your head. ~Emma Racine deFleur The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other. ~Arthur Rubenstein Enjoy your Spring! Live large!! Bri OUR OWN This came from Shauna, and I loved it! I hope you'll take a few minutes to read what she's doing with her classroom! I thought I'd pass along to everyone at school a "little project" (sideline?) we're trying in 7th grade. The students have worked on learning about books on www.amazon.com -- how they can find books and authors that are familiar to them and then use that information to find other books of interest. From that, we decided to create our own Amazon "Wish List." On our list, the kids have chosen books that they already have read and like so much that they'd like to have more copies on hand (for example, we have one classroom copy of *What Happened to Cass McBride*, and that has become an in demand book, so the kids would really like to have another copy or few that could be checked out) or books that we don't have at all/yet that they would like to have a copy (or copies) in our classroom library (for example, we do not yet have a copy of this year's Newbery winner or Newbery honor books). The kids are equally eager to get started on posting their own book reviews, too. It's been fun watching them read reviews and find similar reactions or disagree with reviews and want to post their own comments. We look forward to sharing their reviews with everyone soon! Please understand, we are not so much pushing this as we are making it available and having an option. People have in the past asked about giving books or helping the kids' in some way with classroom reading materials, so we thought having a wish list on file would be fun and just make good sense. If someone wanted to purchase a book, then he/she would know what they are choosing and that it would go directly to the source -- into the kids' hands! If we receive multiple copies of any, then we plan to put them in the other language arts classrooms and/or into the leisure reading shelves of other subject areas. On a final note, the kids generated a list of names for "their" Amazon group name -- readerz_chaos -- and they have compiled a list of books they'd like to see more of on our shelves. You might be surprised at the excitement generated when we bring in a box of new books! These kids love to peruse books and have learned the importance of access and variety. We appreciate your time, interest, and support! Feel free to not only browse our list but also to share this email with the explanation and the link below with any friends and family that you think might be interested! Blessings, Shauna Sanders and the Dover Middle School Language Arts 7 students (aka readerz_chaos) Voodoo News If you haven't downloaded Voodoochat yet, you can find it at: Voodoochat.com Be sure to also register a name, or you can enter as a guest. If you already have Voodoochat downloaded, be sure to update to the newest version. It has many cool new features, including Tabs. ! NEWS FROM SPLASHHALL Great things are happening over at Splashhall! First, they have a new home. If you haven't visited them yet, you need to. RG has done a wonderful job developing Splash for both writers and artists. Their new home addy is: Splashhall Also, this release from RG: April 03, 2007 Live Poetry Readings At The Poetry Cafe and SplashHall Poetry. Hello Poets and Friends, We would like to inform you of the new poetry networking project of: The Poetry Cafe & SplashHall Poetry Starting on Monday April 9, 2007, we will be holding scheduled events in both poetry rooms. Mondays [Poetry Cafe] 10:30 PM EST: Host Ivvy will hold an event in The Poetry Cafe on the Xtr0verts server. Wednesdays [Poetry Cafe] 10:30 PM EST: Host lilibon will continue her Cottage Chat Challenge Night on Wednesdays The Poetry Cafe on the Xtr0verts server. Thursdays [SplashHall Poetry Gate] 10:00 PM EST: Lady_Kendred will host in the SpashHall Poetry room on the Treasure Island Server. Saturdays [SplashHall Poetry Gate] 10:00 PM EST: Host Delia will be leading the Saturday Night's Event Treasure Island Server. Both Poetry Rooms are open 24/7 for casual reads, discussion and just good friendship. We are hoping that you will take part, read, share, in this combined community effort and that you will join us for our scheduled Poetry & Social events. Please contact CafeRg or Lady Kendred if you would be interested in networking your poetry group with us. Thank you! BZoO HomeGrown Radio ~ Your American Roots Radio! http://www.bzoo.org Painted Poet Art Gallery! http://splashhall.org/art_gallery/ SplashHall Poetry & Art Forums ~ Showcase, Workshops, Competitions, Audio, Video. http://www.splashhall.org/poetry_forums/ Speakeasy - Past Issues Speakeasy, February, 2007 Speakeasy, Holiday Issue, 2006 Speakeasy, October, 2006 Speakeasy, September, 2006 Speakeasy, August, 2006 Speakeasy, July, 2006 Speakeasy, June, 2006 Speakeasy, May, 2006 If you would like to have these newsletters emailed to you, let me know: Write to Us Have something to say? Write to us concerning anything about the newsletter and we will respond. Feel free to let us know any additional features you'd like to see the newsletter. This month it is my pleasure to spotlight the poetry of an old friend from Ninian's, Acie! Enjoy!! That Perfect Spring Day I dream of that perfect Spring day With the aroma of freshly cut hay A bird singing up in the apple tree Feel wind blowing warm and free Hear the Bob White's mating call See the tortoise with a snails crawl Mow the lawn with its velvet green Pick the prettiest flowers ever seen Watch a farmer plow his corn field Sip water from a bottle he unsealed Listen to flowing water at the brook Sit on a rock and bait a fishing hook Look up and see an unclouded sky Watch a rabbit as he scurries on by A picnic this nice day I want to see In a lovely hideway just Jan and me My Treasure Trove As I hear the rain hitting the sun room roof My memories flow back to a far distant past A house with an old tin roof I can remember I could sleep as long as the rain would last Snuggling down in that tick filled with straw It seemed I could make everything go away Relaxed and warm sleeping in this old bed Felt so especially good on a cold rainy day No electricity did we have in this old house Kerosene lamps would provide us with light Never to be used during the time of daytime Used only during the darkness of night No indoor plumbing was in that old house Still I look back at that house I did so love Happy years did I spend in that old house Now these thoughts are my treasure trove Woody And Bo Bo and Woody watched the game of the century You know Bo said to Woody I wish it would snow That Carr and Tressell are just whippersnappers Only thing they know to do is have their QB throw Woody said three thing happen and two are bad Real football is three yards and a cloud of dust I figured if we got rid of that coach called Cooper We had found us a good coach we could trust Ah yes its the same way with that Carr said Bo He has runners but he has to pass just the same I am telling you Woody it aint the way it once was All these new coachs are ruining our football game Just then Henne had a pass sail out of bounds A receiver was open and it made old Bo cough Bo then turned to Woody and with a grim face Football aint the same, lets play a round of golf Our Military Traveling on a road in the hot desert sands Never knowing what they might face ahead These young heros hide their fears of doubt Thinking of the love ones back home instead When they got to this awful forbidding land Some had just passed their teenage years As they look back to just about a year ago They couldn't legally have a few cold beers Becoming adults these Soldiers and Marines Growing up amid these times that are trying They will become veterans on that very day They see one of their own lying there dying Don't forget these young men and women For without them our country would not be Through all the years America has existed Our military has fought to keep us all free Old Banjo Man He still picks that old five string banjo This old man of eighty years and more Sitting on his porch on Saturday night Playing his tunes from old country lore We would all gather around to listen He looked funny with his flat straw hat Firing up the strings on the five string He would play us a dab of this or that His skinny fingers are a little weaker Still he grasps that banjo by the neck Caressing strings like a younger man He'll show them young ones by heck He has nothing left but that old banjo Since his sweet wife has passed away He longs for the time they meet again There to pick her a lovely tune that day Down At The Square They gather every warm day at the square Some to play checkers while others to talk A few of them drive here in their automobile While the ones that are able prefer to walk Some of the tales they spin are really funny While other stories are nothing but a big lie A widower will tell them about his loving wife Sadly some will shake their heads then cry Some years ago the city installed spitoons As many of the old men like to take a chew Some had Red Man others had Mail Pouch To many of the old timers any brand will do Wintertime will find that old square empty They will be staying home to do their thing So lonesome to see their old friends again How many will be missing come the Spring copyright © By Acie I'd like to thank Acie for allowing us to post his poetry. I'd also like to urge you to visit his site at: Acie's Poetry He has literally hundreds of his poems posted there. Good reading!! Write On would like to welcome its newest member, Inkblot. If you haven't found your way to our poetry boards yet, I hope you will now! We've been in existence for a little over a year and currently have 226 members. Each poet has his/her own folder for poetry, and there are also many other discussion and challenge areas. You can visit and read as a guest or join the boards and also post! You can find us at: Write On! See the last 20 posts here. Visit us to search for live & virtual poetry cafes, poetry chats, poetry boards, poetry ezines, poetry journals, poetry resources, individual poetry pages, poetry publishers and more! Newest Site Submission: Poetrypoem.com: Poems by Michael Lee Johnson Mr. Michael Lee Johnson lives in Chicago, IL. after spending 10 years in Edmonton, Alberta Canada during the Viet Nam era. He is a freelance writer and poet. He is heavy influenced by Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, & William Carlos Williams, Leonard Cohen. He is a member of Poets & Writers, Inc; Directory of American Poets & Fictions Writers: http://www.pw.org/directory/. 5 Top Things Mr. Johnson likes in his life: 1) His interests in the study of spirituality, religions. 2) Nikki, his beloved kitten. 3) His fire deep in his belly for universal health care in the United States so everyone has access to care, not just the rich or extreme poor. 4) His drive to find a way to survive old age in poverty. 5) His need to leave a legacy behind for others, no matter how humble or small the contribution. He is presently self-employed, with a previous background in social service areas. He has a B.A. degree in sociology, worked on a Masters Program in Correctional Administration, started a pre-Phd program & quit. He took a creative writing course in university on a pass/fail basis-he failed. A sample of published poems can be found at: The Orange Room Review Bolts of Silk The Flask Review Apollo's Lyre Chantarelle's Notebook Fresh! Online Literary Magazine The Foliate Oak Online Literary Magazine Poetry Cemetary Poets & Writers, Inc.; Directory of Poets & Fiction Writers Poetry Boards  | Online Cafes  | Live Cafes  | Poetry Ezines  | Poetry Journals  | Poetry Pages Poetry Publishers  | Poetry News/Events  | Poetry Resources  | Contact Us  |  Home

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