 I think there may be a Mother's Day theme throughout the Poetry Friday crowd. Cathy at Cathy Stenquist is hosting with a beautiful reflection about that first Mother's Day without your mom. I originally planned to share kinder poems and process this week. Then the teacher I was subbing for as if I could do some Mother's Day poetry with her fourth graders. So we wrote odes. I shared "French Twist" , "A Letter to Mom", and some student written odes to set the stage. Then we created a word bank for reference. This is a chatty group but as they wrote their poems, you could her a pin drop. They really dug in. The love for their moms is evident. I left the job with my heart full. Some days there is just magic in the moment. Rose at Imagine the Possibilities is hosting Poetry Friday today. She shares some of her poetry project for April. I'm sharing some photos o my book launch. It was a wonderful evening and well attended. My friend, Susan Blackaby, asked questions, some that were hard! Two of my college friends surprised me and I'm difficult to surprise. I was touched that the mother of the boy who tragically died in second grade (the inspiration for the book) and his siblings were in attendance. Later, the Mom said it was perfect. On Sunday, we went to the coast for three nights. I wanted some time to decompress and walk on the beach.  Top: Moi, Johnny's mom and siblings, Needed a stool to see everyone. Middle: Susan and me, my college pals, Chuck and I. Bottom: Writing critique group, flowers, tea. So now the hard work begins. Making sure that the Tilt gets into the hands of readers. It's a powerful story. I'm looking for ways to get readings and talk to groups. I'm preparing a press sheet to send to schools and groups. I'm hoping to find some podcasts that talk about books. This week, Carol Labuzzetta has a thorough and thoughtful review of my book. I appreciate this poetry community supporting one another. If you would like to write a blog post about Tilt, ask some questions or know a posdcaster, I'd like to offer you a Review PDF of Tilt. Please let me know in the comments. You can purchase a copy through Amazon or contact me via email for a signed copy. Finally, How I Closed the Book Launch I wrote it last Saturday morning. I surprised myself.
April 25, 2026 Dear Darrah, Jackson, and Lily, Tonight I launch my book, Tilt into the world. For twenty years I have carried you in my heart, head, and hand. Always writing, revising, getting feedback. Once I stepped away for almost a year so it could all simmer in a word soup. Darrah, do you remember I first had you in a swing, “Whoosh up, down splat! Whoosh up, down splat!” I wrote it in prose and there were hardly enough pages that said book. I had these images in my head that needed to find their way to the page. I didn’t know at the time that you were a fifth grader reflecting on what happened in second grade. Jackson, you were there but as Stevie. You’d become a Grant for a while. But returned to Jackson as it also spells mischief and a bright flame. Lily, you were in the background and not in the first draft. You were waiting for the changes I would make. It was getting the words down, the images, the emotions, and the impact of Johnny’s life on our school community. It’s how I processed the trauma and the grief I felt of losing a student so tragically. It’s how I processed the conversations with the students in the library. I didn’t know it would take me almost twenty years to publish. For starters, what did I know about writing a book? My first pages lacked the tension and the and the answer to “So what? Why as a reader do I care?” Thus, I began taking classes, going to conferences, and reading more books. I held written conversations between Darrah and I to figure out what she needed. How she needed to learn to speak up, how she wasn’t responsible for Jackson’s death. It took awhile to figure out how to create a space for the topic of childhood death and how children cope with grief. The shift to writing in poems created the white space for the grief, loss, and forgiveness to come through. Lily, I’m so glad that you arrived in the story. You were the third leg I needed for the three legged stool. I know I spent a long time writing your character arc and am sorry that in the end I cut it out. However, that process was key in helping me to understand Darrah’s pain with such clarity. So now you are in the world. I hope you’ll reach many readers. That they will pick up the book and spend an afternoon under a tree, preferably an oak tree to read. I hope they will remember what elementary school was like. That sometimes just being a kid has unseen consequences and we need to be able to tilt. You three have given me a community of writers and supportive readers. I would not have stumbled into the rich poetry community that has supported me. You three have given me a voice. I am forever grateful to you. Love always, Jone Here we are the last Friday of April. Irene at Live Your Poem. Twenty-two years ago, I woke to the news that a second grader from my school had be mauled by dogs and died. I didn't know it that day but in the coming weeks and talking to his classmates, a seed was planted for a story. On Saturday, I'll be doing my book launch for Tilt. I'm excited and nervous. I'm also deeply moved that the real Jackson's family members will be in attendance. It seems fitting to be reading poetry the last Saturday of the month. 2026 Midterm Videos from Texas Women's UniversityThe midterms from my TWU students are finished and I'll be sharing them over the next few weeks. The poems are made available from Heidi Bee Roemer and STEAM Powered Poetry Contest. I highly encourage the students to submit to the contest. My Shadow video by Carrie Brown Welcome to the Science Lab video by Jennifer Davman Wash You Hands video by Danette Diaz Moon Faces and Phases by Sallie Wolf, video by Talia Sifuentes Farmer’s Market by Heidi Bee Roemer, video by Katherine Sullivan Mew for Milk by Heidi Bee Roemer, video by Zayde Ortiz Art Smart by Ravel Howell, video by Isabel Valderas Moving Art by Heidi Bee Roemer, video by Amy Mihok The International Space Station by Linda Kulp Trout, video by Lauren Vincent 2026 Kidlit Progressive Poem Tabatha Yeats started us off not only with a first line, but also with a beautiful map. People have added place names to the map. I'm writing on Thursday, April 23rd, so the poem is updated with Heidi Mordhost's inviting line. The Land of Poetry On my first trip to the Land of Poetry, I saw anthologies of every color, tall as buildings. A world of words, wonder on wings, waiting just for me! Birding for words shimmering, flecked in golden gilding. Binoculars ready, I toured boulevards and side streets exploring vibrant verses, verses so honest and tender, feathery lyrics, bright flitting avian athletes soaring ‘cross pages in rhythmic splendor. In the Land of Poetry, I am the conductor, seeking oodles of poems that tug at my heart, a musical medley of sound and structure, An open mic in Frost Forest! Wonder who’ll take part? There’s a pause in the program; no one takes the stage the trees quiver, the audience looks up. Raven lands, singing Earth’s message of the sage. “Poetry in motion will be forevermore, from forests to sands.” “Scatter,” she croaked. “Beyond Wilde Pond, to each and every beach.” Meek Dove mustered courage and sang, “Instill humanity with compassion and peace. Let Thackeray’s middle name, from this thicket, hearts reach!” Her gentle coo-ooo-ooos reverberate, soft as fleece. Words dart, dimple—Do I dare warble what's in my soul? I’ve inhaled inspiration…yes, I’ll risk my refrain. I fly to the mic, chanting "Tadpole, mole and oriole! Check out Mary Lee Hahn at A(nother) Year of Reading tomorrow for the next post. April 1 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference April 2 Cathy Stenquist at A Little Bit of This and That April 3 Patricia Franz at Reverie April 4 Donna Smith at Mainely Write April 5 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse April 6 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care April 7 Ruth Hersey at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town April 8 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities April 9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche April 10 Janet Clare Fagel at Reflections on the Teche April 11 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry April 12 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance April 13 Linda Mitchell at Another Word Edgewise April 14 Jone MacCulloch at Jone Rush MacCulloch April 15 Joyce Uglow at Storied Ink April 16 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link April 17 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge April 18 Michele Kogan at More Art for All April 19 Kim Johnson at Common Threads April 20 Buffy Silverman April 21 Irene Latham at Live Your Poem April 22 Karen Edmisten April 23 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe April 24 Mary Lee Hahn at A(nother) Year of Reading April 25 Tanita Davis at Fiction, instead of Lies April 26 Sharon Roy at Pedaling Poet April 27 Tracey Kiff-Judson at Tangles and Tails Heidi at my juicy little universe is hosting this week. I'm happy to say that she's has an informative video, "We Teach Poetry". She invited Margaret Simon and me to share our thoughts. It was a lively discussion. Happy Book Birthday! Tilt is in the world. It's here. In the world. Twenty years of work with the bulk of it done these last five years after I retired. Born out of tragedy that impacted the lives of many, I have made good on a promise made to fifth graders who lost their classmate in second grade. The hard cover and Kindle are available now. The soft cover will be available April 18th. On Saturday, April 25, I'll launch the book. It means so much to me to have this debut book finally out. My Poem from the Pop-Up Poetry Salon, April 11th.
2026 Midterm Videos from Texas Women's UniversityThe midterms from my TWU students are finished and I'll be sharing them over the next few weeks. The poems are made available from Heidi Bee Roemer and STEAM Powered Poetry Contest. I highly encourage the students to submit to the contest. My Shadow video by Carrie Brown Welcome to the Science Lab video by Jennifer Davman Wash You Hands video by Danette Diaz Moon Faces and Phases by Sallie Wolf, video by Talia Sifuentes Farmer’s Market by Heidi Bee Roemer, video by Katherine Sullivan Mew for Milk by Heidi Bee Roemer, video by Zayde Ortiz 2026 Kidlit Progressive Poem Tabatha Yeats started us off not only with a first line, but also with a beautiful map. People have added place names to the map.
April 1 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference April 2 Cathy Stenquist at A Little Bit of This and That April 3 Patricia Franz at Reverie April 4 Donna Smith at Mainely Write April 5 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse April 6 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care April 7 Ruth Hersey at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town April 8 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities April 9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche April 10 Janet Clare Fagel at Reflections on the Teche April 11 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry April 12 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance April 13 Linda Mitchell at Another Word Edgewise April 14 Jone MacCulloch at Jone Rush MacCulloch April 15 Joyce Uglow at Storied Ink April 16 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link April 17 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge April 18 Michele Kogan at More Art for All April 19 Kim Johnson at Common Threads April 20 Buffy Silverman April 21 Irene Latham at Live Your Poem April 22 Karen Edmisten April 23 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe April 24 Mary Lee Hahn at A(nother) Year of Reading April 25 Tanita Davis at Fiction, instead of Lies April 26 Sharon Roy at Pedaling Poet April 27 Tracey Kiff-Judson at Tangles and Tails Also, there are still 3 days left to participate. If we don’t fill those last three days, we will end the poem on April 27th. The Land of Poetry On my first trip to the Land of Poetry, I saw anthologies of every color, tall as buildings. A world of words, wonder on wings, waiting just for me! Birding for words shimmering, flecked in golden gilding. Binoculars ready, I toured boulevards and side streets exploring vibrant verses, verses so honest and tender, feathery lyrics, bright flitting avian athletes soaring ‘cross pages in rhythmic splendor. In the Land of Poetry, I am the conductor. the trees quiver, the audience looks up. Raven lands, singing Earth's message of the sage. "Poetry" Poetry in motion will be forevermore, from forests to sands." Visit Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge Friday, April 17, to see where Robyn takes us.. |
AuthorAll photos and poems in these blog posts are copyrighted to Jone Rush MacCulloch 2006- Present. Please do not copy, reprint or reproduce without written permission from me. 
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