My book of the week this week is Pirates, a picture book poetry collection by David L. Harrison, and illustrated by Dan Burr. I love this book! And I have pirates on the brain anyway, since I’m working on a pirate-related book for an educational publisher. This collection is emotional and sometimes violent and not a "pretty" picture of life as a pirate. I think 3rd graders or so will love it–and many other ages, too. Here’s an excerpt (which should be centered, but I can’t seem to center just the poem):
Cat-o’-Nine-Tails
Why was I such a fool?
Unh!
Why is it always me?
Shouldn’t a broke a rule
Unh!
where everyone could see.
Shouldn’t a picked a fight
Unh!
knowin’ it never fails
ta earn ye the cut and bite
Unh!
of the cat-o-the-nine-long-tails!
–by David L. Harrison
Fantastic!
Also, four other things.
First, if you ever felt left out in high school, check out my triolet called Conspicuously Absent. It was part of Pensieve’s Poetic License challenge.
Second, if you have a book (of any form) in progress, forthcoming, or already published, write a poem about it for your chance to win a poetry book and a DVD of The Nightmare Before Christmas. (Note: Your book/poem won’t have anything to do with The Nightmare Before Christmas.)
Third, if you’re not sick of me yet, check out this nice review of my Capstone poetry books at the Children’s Literature Network.
And finally, the Poetry Friday roundup is at Charlotte’s Library. End your summer with some great poems!
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