Seeing the Blue Between

Bibliography

Janeczko, Paul B. Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets. Cambidge: Candlewick Press, 2002. 978-0763629090

Review

Seeing the Blue Between is a collection of poems and advice from thirty two seasoned poets. Just as their advice differs, so does their poetry and their poems’ characteristics especially meaning. “Don’t Tell Me” by Michael Dugan has a consistent rhythm of 3 beats per line and the final word in lines 2 and 4 of the stanza rhyming (Dugan, p. 16). Hoberman’s rhythm in “May Fly” contrasts this consistency by having 4 beats in a line followed by several lines with only 2 beats but varying in their pattern (Hoberman, p. 50).

Alliteration is used within Lillian Moore’s “Waterfall” with a recurring “w” sound in “warm winds” and “we waited” but other words beginning with the letter “w” are scattered throughout the poem, as well (Moore, pgs. 79-80). Moore also uses the sound effects of rhyme to complete her poem, “Poets Go Wishing” by using “fishing” and “wishing” or “match” and “catch” (Moore, p. 81) Even in the poem she talks about a poet choosing whether or not to use rhyme!

A wonderful metaphor is put forth in Jane Yolen’s “Gingerbread Boy” as she compares a person to being a Gingerbread Boy because the world is constantly trying to eat you that you are constantly running (Yolen, p. 117) “Dragonfly” by Georgie Heard on page 41 creates a beautiful metaphor by describing a dragonfly’s wings as “stained-glass windows with sun shining through”.

The mood in this collection changes depending on the author’s choice of poems and their type of advice. Some chose to be more serious while others stay light-hearted, but all give of a welcoming tone that invites young readers into their “club” of writing poetry. I feel that this is an inspiring book to children across the board about the topic of writing, from excited writers to apprehensive ones. I plan on using this in my classroom next year as I introduce writing. Hearing the encouragement of others to write who come from all walks of life is something one teacher alone cannot give a student.

Poem & Connection

Fog

By Marilyn Singer (only a portion of the poem is shown)

The fog is

A river with no direction

A dream with no doors

When it lifts without a whisper

You forget that it was ever there

Except for a tiny tickle in your mind

A trace of goosebumps

On your skin.

(Singer, 109)

Use a piece of dry ice to create a small amount of fog in the classroom or library. Pass out the poem, several flashlights, and turn out the overhead lights. Read the poem to the class and then have the students alternate reading two to three lines as you make sure that a bit of the fog as illuminated with a flashlight.