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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

12/24/2020

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For the holiday season this year, I wanted to share my "Christmas Crab" poem, in hopes of bringing a little joy to the world with these beautiful, colorful crabs! Though this year has been grim, there is still much in the world to celebrate, such as Christmas Crabs performing their mating rituals uninterrupted. I look forward to a time when we humans can get back on track. I wish you all peace and pray for a better year in 2021!
The Red Crabs of Christmas Island

From the forest, males are sprawling.
Over craggy cliffs, they’re crawling,
scuttling toward the sea.
 
Into sandy shores, they furrow,
digging a protective burrow,
near the sounding sea.
 
Now the frantic females hurry.
To the waiting males they scurry,
skittering toward the sea.
 
Eggs are laid where water’s creeping.                                                                       
Waves come closer, sweeping, sweeping
egg sacs out to sea. 
 
Baby crabs, born in the ocean,                              
synchronize their sideways motion.                    
Millions leave the seas,                                   
 
and head back to the trees.

published in The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry, 2015, ed. J. Patrick Lewis, 
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When Pat Lewis asked me for a poem for this upcoming anthology, I had several ideas. One of them was to write a poem using Christmas metaphors. Here it is:

The Red Crabs of Christmas Island
 
The crabs of Christmas Island,
work hard to give their gifts. 
They scuttle miles from forest homes,
and crawl down craggy cliffs.
 
The female crabs lay treasures,
then wrap them in a sac.
They leave their gifts for tides to take,
and then they double back.
 
In one month, newborn crablets
come tumbling from the foam.
Then, like their parents, they climb up
to find a forest home.



But though I was happy with the Christmas metaphors I managed to squeeze into this version, I was ultimately unhappy with this poem, and drafted another version (the one above). I'm glad I did!

Here's to a new year of poetry, light and happiness. Wishing you all the best in 2021!
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Cover Reveal: There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth

11/14/2018

48 Comments

 
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​I'm very excited to be revealing the cover of my upcoming debut picture book, There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth, launching February 15, 2019, but first a little bit about the book and my journey. First let me say, since I come to children's literature via poetry, I am very happy that my first solo book is in rhyme, and cumulative rhyme to boot.

Gator lives in a Southern bayou, where he encounters many animals of the lagoon and can't help but…well…swallow them. These include a crab, ray, eel, pelican, panther, manatee and shark. But it really all starts with the moth:

There was an old gator who swallowed a moth
I don't know why he swallowed the moth.
It made him cough...



I'm thrilled with the illustrator, the very talented David Opie, who did my words proud and captured Gator in all his gluttonous glory.
 

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I also love the look on Gator's face when he realizes he may have gone a tad too far. I know I've sometimes felt this way after a particularly indulgent Thanksgiving dinner.

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A big shout out of thanks also to my editor and publicists at Pelican Publishing. You all did and continue to do an amazing job! I'll be forever grateful to you for bringing my first picture book to life.

Thank you all for letting me share my good news with you and I hope you will spread the word about There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth. I think kids will really enjoy the pictures and words as they build to the climax, as well as the many animals depicted in this book.

Now for the cover reveal (drum roll):

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Available for pre-order at:
​Amazon
 l Barnes & Noble l IndieBound
48 Comments

Happy New Year to all of Poetry Friday!

12/28/2017

36 Comments

 

I'm not much for resolutions, but this year felt different. I'm looking forward to a productive writing year and hope you all have productive years as well. In that spirit, here is a poem I wrote describing my writing resolution for the new year. Blessings to all and Peace on Earth!

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Thank you to Heidi for hosting. It is a fun day to be hosting to be sure. Best wishes for a wonderful year, Heidi!
36 Comments

My First School Visit Including Student Poems

12/14/2017

47 Comments

 
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Reading my "Bird on the Brain" poem, inspired by Paul Klee's painting with my little Crazy Bird looking on. A bird on the brain can be one great big pain...!

I spoke to 4 classes of 5th graders at Pinecrest Elementary for The Great American Teachin on 11/16/17 involving Ms. Gould, Ms. Galvin, Ms. Sparks and Ms. Boyle. Pinecrest Elementary is in Lithia, FL, a beautiful, very large elementary school in a rural town. It was lovely!

​My power point presentation included poem readings, poem performances, and discussion of the poems. The students were welcoming and seemed to be enjoying my talk. Since many of my poems were about animals, I asked the students to do "homework" - write a poem about an animal - any animal - or write a poem in the voice of an animal. Here is the wonderful and heart-warming smorgasbord of poems and pictures that I received, not to mention the lovely letters of appreciation!

​Let's start out with a poem by Levi, who wrote:
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Love that last line, Levi!

​Here's a note and poem by Savannah!
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Here's a fun poem by Joleigh!
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Nice, Joleigh! Got to get rid of that hair
​                                   sittin' everywhere!


And a lovely note and poem from Evan!
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That's a good ending, Evan!

Next, a poem by Jacob M.
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.That's a wonderful poem, Jacob, and what a long-lived dog! I wish every dog would live that long! :)

​Thank you for sending a poem about losing a pet, Eric! This poem is by an anonymous poet and can be found HERE
Thank you, also, to Lenis G. for your lovely note! 

Thank you, thank you, Lithia Elementary, for welcoming me. I had a wonderful time sharing my poetry with your 5th graders! And to you 5th graders - you know who you are - keep on writing!  All the Best, B.J. Lee
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47 Comments

A Wife and a Husband With Penny Parker Klostermann

10/6/2017

4 Comments

 
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Today, I have the pleasure of being featured on Penny Parker Klostermann's blog in her fabulous series "A Great Nephew and a Great Aunt." I have written an ekphrastic poem, "The Storm Queen," in response to an abstract painting of my husband's, Malcolm Deeley. Many thanks to Penny, friend and former crit partner in The Poet's Garage, for hosting us today! The post looks wonderful. Also, a shout out to my husband, Mal, who is not only a talented artist, but a poet, author, photographer, and the love of my life! Check out his books of poetry on Amazon!
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The Roseate Spoonbill

6/21/2017

41 Comments

 
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Happy Summer! We have been lucky to see several Roseate Spoonbills this year! I love the spoonbills because of their beautiful pink color and their unusual bills. Photographing them is difficult, however, because the ones we've seen were busy feeding, swishing their bills around in the water very quickly. As a consequence, all of our photographs  turned out blurry. I don't mind, though, because this frustration sparked a poem, a limerick.
The Roseate Spoonbill
 
Her bill is a long slotted spoon.
She dips it down in the lagoon.
With hoovering swishes,
she captures small fishes--
in the pink on a June afternoon.

© B.J. Lee 2017

Thanks to Heidi for hosting!
41 Comments

The 2017 Progressive Poem is here!

4/19/2017

38 Comments

 
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What a joy to be part of Irene Latham's Progressive Poem! It's been a blast watching this poem grow from blog to blog and I'm thankful to Irene for coordinating this effort each year! I wanted to be somewhere in the middle – not responsible for a beginning or ending. S4’s exhortation to "find the book," was just up my street! S5 included a brief departure from the mission as our protagonist couldn't resist the temptation to spout a few words while on stage - so true to her nature! (Yes, I think the protagonist is a she although I know some of you feel she is a he!) Pat, on S5L3, took up the quest once again but added another twist - apparently the book quest is part of a prophecy! Just wow! With this whole "find the book" couched in a prophecy plot twist, I feel like this poem could easily go another month! But I'll play along. I'll take the plunge. In fact, I'll dive in headfirst:

I’m fidget, friction, ragged edges--
I sprout stories that frazzle-dazzle,
stories of castles, of fires that crackle
with dragonwords that smoke and sizzle.
 
But edges sometimes need sandpaper,
like swords need stone and clouds need vapour.
So I shimmy out of my spurs and armour
facing the day as my fickle, freckled self.
 
I thread the crowd, wear freedom in my smile,
and warm to the coals of conversation.
Enticed to the stage by strands of story,
I skip up the stairs in anticipation.
 
Flip around, face the crowd, and freeze!
Shiver me. Look who’s here. Must I disappear?
By hook or by crook, I deserve a second look!
I cheer. Please, have no fear. Find the book.
 
But wait! I’ll share the lines I know by heart.
Mythicalhowls, fierytones slip from my lip
Blue scales flash, claws rip, the prophecy begins
Dragonworld weaves webs that grip. I take a trip…

Next up, Donna at Mainely Write. Take it away, Donna!

38 Comments

In Just Spring

3/30/2017

29 Comments

 
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public domain art

In Just Spring
by e.e. cummings

in Just-

spring          when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman


whistles          far          and wee


and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring


when the world is puddle-wonderful


the queer

old balloonman whistles

far          and             wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing


from hop-scotch and jump-rope and


it's

spring

and


         the


                  goat-footed


balloonMan          whistles

far

and

wee



I have loved this poem for as long as I can remember. I think the first time I heard it was in the first grade - although the exact grade is somewhat hazy in my memory - when our teacher read it while we were following along in a book. I was instantly entranced and thrilled by this poem. Who was the balloonMan and why was he lame? Why did he have goats' feet? Did having goats' feet make him lame? I loved the way the words ran together - BettyandIsabel - just perfect. I loved the phrases Mud-luscious and Puddle-wonderful. I loved the way the poet's name was in the lower case. I loved the way the poem was set up on the page. In short, I loved the whole thing! And for me, hearing and reading this poem in my early grammar school days was my first memory of poetry being awakeed inside me. e.e. cummings, along with A.A. Milne, may be two of the reasons I became a children's poet, and perhaps - although I'm just making this connection now, why I chose to publish using my initials, B.J. Lee. Hmmm...

Here's another stellar poem by e.e. cummings: "anyone lived in a pretty how town."

And here's a bio of e.e. cummings at The Poetry Foundation.


Happy Spring, everyone and Happy National Poetry Month!

Thank you to Amy VanderWater for hosting Poetry Friday!

29 Comments

A Rhysling Award Nomination

2/22/2017

22 Comments

 
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Don’t Call Me a Fairy
 
Don’t call me a fairy
though I may be fae.
Watch over your child
lest I take her away.
I want to trade places
and live in your world,
grow up dressed in satin,
be prettily pearled.
I’ll make the change quickly.
Don’t worry: your gain!
Your real child will flourish
in wind and in rain,
out in the woods
with the best faery folk.
No, I’m not kidding.
This isn’t a joke.
 
Don’t call me a faery;
a real child I’ll be.
We’ll see if you notice
when your child is me.


(c) B.J. Lee 2013

Yes! I have had a poem nominated for The Rhysling Award! No, this isn’t it. I didn’t want to post that poem until after the votes were in. This poem, “Don’t Call Me a Fairy,” was nominated for the same award in 2014. It didn't win. It's about the European (especially Irish) folklore tradition of "changelings"-- fairies exchanging one of their own for a human child, a properly fantastical speculative topic.

I wanted to share a little bit about speculative poetry since I have so much fun writing it and because not everyone may be familiar with it. I only learned about spec. poetry because my husband, poet Malcolm Deeley, used to write a lot of it before turning to novel writing (he's got five volumes on Amazon.) Speculative poetry comprises science fiction, fantasy and horror; obviously for children, that would be very mild horror.

Writing speculative poetry is a nice change from writing purely children’s poetry. While most spec. markets are for adult poetry, there are a number of markets for younger children, MG and YA - Spaceports and Spidersilk and Frostfire Worlds are two that come to mind. If you are interested, check here for additional markets and check out the SFPA (Science Fiction Poetry Association) site in general if you would like  more information and/or to view the various awards and contests the SFPA offers.

A big thank you to Karen for hosting Poetry Friday today. Happy Poetry Friday, everyone!


22 Comments

Announcement: Opening(s) in Poets' Garage

2/3/2017

14 Comments

 
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Happy Poetry Friday!

My post, today, is an announcement. There is at least one opening (maybe more) in The Poets’ Garage, an online workshop for children’s’poets, where I have been a member for nearly10 years. I have found it to be an invaluable resource for improving my poetry craft and knowledge. Check out our WEBSITE to get a better idea of who we are. We are seeking active members.

Here is the announcement from our leader:
 
Hello Poets,

Poets' Garage currently has an opening for membership.  If you are already on our waiting list, you will receive an application shortly.

Poets' Garage is a children's poetry critique group which formed in 2005. We have our own private message board where we post and critique poetry.

The majority of our poetry is metrical but free verse and all forms are welcome.  Our authors write poems for various ages from baby to young adult. We also will crit rhyming picture book text of up to 1000 words. Over the years, our members have sold countless poems and a number of rhyming picture books.

Our Requirements:

Members are to critique a minimum of TWO poems each month.

Members are to post a minimum of TWO poems for critique each quarter.

Members are expected to give about the same number of critiques as they receive.

If you think the Garage would be a good fit for you - we are looking for active members as opposed to members who may want to just do minimums - request an application from Bill at widepe@gmail.com. Thank you! Looking forward to seeing one or more of you in the Poet's Garage soon!

Many thanks to Penny Parker Klostermann for hosting!


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    Author

    B. J. Lee is a children’s author and poet. Her picture book, There Was an Old Gator Who Swallowed a Moth, is launching with Pelican Publishing on February 15, 2019. She has poems in 25 poetry anthologies published by  Little, Brown, Wordsong, BloomsburyUK, National Geographic, Otter-Barry Books, Pomelo Books, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has worked with anthologists Lee Bennett Hopkins, J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt. She has written poems for such children’s magazines as Spider, Highlights and The School Magazine. Follow her on Twitter @bjlee_writer.

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    Poets' Garage website
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    Includes my poem "Skateboard Girl"

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    Includes my poem "The Red Crabs of Christmas Island"

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    Coming in 2018 National Geographic's book of US: 200 Poems of People, Places, and Passions (edited by J. Patrick Lewis.)
    Will include my poem, "Groundhognostication"

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    Includes my story, "Alice and Snowball"

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    Includes my poem, "High Dive"
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    Includes my nominated poem, "Dream Train"
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    Includes my nominated poem, "The Tortoise's Encounter"
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    Includes my nominated poem, "The Legend of the Flying Dutchman"

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    Includes my poem, "A Streetcar Named Happily Ever After"

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