Round-up | Quotes and Poems

Prepping for Popcorn

In preparation for an upcoming storytime at Fulda Memorial Library, I was browsing through A Song of Popcorn: Every Child's Book of Poems. The title is a inspired by a the poem "Song of Popcorn" by Nancy Byrd Turner. I couldn't find what year this poem was published, nor could I find a picture of Turner. This poem is also found at poetry websites under the title "A Pop Corn Song." For a PDF print-out, click on the picture.

Song of Popcorn
by Nancy Byrd Turner (1880-1970)

Sing a song of pop corn 
When the snowstorms rage; 
Fifty little brown men 
Put into a cage. 
Shake them till they laugh and leap 
Crowding to the top; 
Watch them burst their little coats 
Pop!! Pop!! Pop!! 

Sing a song of pop corn 
In the firelight; 
Fifty little fairies 
Robed in fleecy white. 
Through the shining wires see 
How they skip and prance 
To the music of the flames; 
Dance!! Dance!! Dance!! 

Sing a song of pop corn 
Done the frolicking; 
Fifty little fairies 
Strung upon a string. 
Cool and happy, hand in hand, 
Sugar-spangled, fair; 
Isn't that a necklace fit 
For any child to wear? 

Review: Word Warriors

Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution

Edited by Alix Olson

This is what every anthology should be - eclectic and yet relevant. The best part of this book is each poet's personal essay. Each essay is only a few pages long, but together they cover lots of topics, ideas, and emotions. Issues such as... asking ‘why write?' or ‘ why perform?', being transgender, competing in slam poetry, musing about race, raising the quality of art, rejecting labels, teaming up with other artists, etc. Read this if you are a woman or a writer. Read this if you feel young, jaded, creative, or ostracized. You'll find something to identify with, to be inspired by, and to be shocked by. (P.S. Don't be discouraged by the forward. I thought it was the worst poem in the book. Skip the forward and tackle the the rest of the poems with an open mind and heart.)" (Originally posted as SquareSpot onPaperBackSwap.com.)

Review: Walking the Rez Road

Walking the Rez Road

by Jim Northrup

First-hand accounts of contemporary life (post-Vietnam) on a Native Indian reservation through a mix of poetry and short story. I completely enjoyed how Northrup just goes for it in his poetry. (Originally posted as SquareSpot on PaperBackSwap.com.)

My favorite poem includes these lines...

Someone says we begin to die
the minute we're born.
Death is a part of life.
Who knows why the Creator
thins the herd.
Another old saying says
we must all be prepared
to give up those we love
or die first.
Take time to mourn.