Poetry Friday, Week 49: Winter Poem by Nikki Giovanni

Linda at A Word Edgewise is sharing  poetry play by mashing up two poems together, cento poem.  It's fun to peek at her writing journal.

​We lost a giant in the poetry world this week, Nikki Giovanni.  Poet, professor, activist, her poems resonated in so many ways.  I found  on Nikki Grimes's FB page.  The image of the snowflake is swoony. My former co-worker shared Ego Tripping by Nikki Giovanni with his fourth graders.

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Winter Poem
​once a snowflake fell
on my brow and i loved
it so much and i kissed
it and it was happy and called its cousins
and brothers and a web
of snow engulfed me then
i reached to love them all
and i squeezed them and they became
a spring rain and i stood perfectly
still and was a flower

Nikki Giovanni, “Winter Poem” from The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni. Copyright © 1996 by Nikki Giovanni. Courtesy of HarperCollins Publisher.

I am looking forward to her last collection which will be published fall 2025

2025 Poetry Postcards

2024 New Year Post Card

It's 20 days until the new year! Time to start thinking of sending New Year Post Cards! I've have also been thinking that this is an excellent way to incorporate the small poems that some have been writing thanks to Mary Lee Hahn and the hashtag #haikuforhealing2024 and mine #haikuforresilience2024 and for 2025: #poetryforpersistence

Send five, send ten or send to all?
In Japan, it’s called Nengajo, a Japanese custom of ushering in the new year.​  
How It Works:

• Choose to send five or ten postcards.
• Create a postcard:  you can buy a postcard and write a poem on the other side or you can create one postcard to send to everyone (I use Walgreens or Zazzle)
• Once you get the names, send by January 29, 2025 (start of the Chinese New Years and someone's bday. wonder who?)
• If you choose, you can work in the Chinese animal for 2025: The year of the Wood Snake. It is not required.

Click here to join us: 2025 New Year Post Card Exchange

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Announcement:#haikuforpersistence2025 #poetryforpersistence2025

As we begin 2025, there will be changes and challenges for us. Many of us were hoping for a different outcome last November.  On Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10AM-3 PM EST , 7 AM-12PM PST, I will have a Zoom Writing and Creating Salon as a place to write for ​#haikuforpersistence2025  and #poetryforpersistence2025.

I will be honest, I am a teeny bit scared about hosting this salon.  I am hoping to share some mentor poems (DM me if you have one that would be good), having writing time, and share in community if you feel moved.  Also, I think I want to have a co-host to help me monitoring the Zoom room and tech (DM me if interested)

I am also suggesting that you make a donation to a charity of your choice.  I am seriously considering donating to Planned Parenthood. Details and sign up some. You know,  in some ways this is my OLW (Expand) in action.