Douglas Florian

"Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery - it's the sincerest form of learning." — George Bernard Shaw

Welcome to Day 2 of FEET IN THE CREEK! Today's poet is author/illustrator Douglas Florian. See the review for his latest book, The Wonderful Habbits of Rabbits, at his blog, Florian Cafe. Admire his artwork here.

For each day of National Poetry Month, I have chosen a favorite poem, a favorite poet, or a favorite friend. I will look at the work, decide what draws me to it, what makes it resonate for me, and then write my own poem about the creek with those techniques in mind. These are first drafts, so nothing will be especially polished, but they will be starting points for revision after the month is done. Feel free to follow along or join in. 

Artwork by Douglas Florian, ©2002

from Summersaults, reprinted with the poet's permission.

Summersaults


                               l
                           u     t
                        a          i
Summer is a v                n
                                        g thing.

It summersaults its way past spring.
Turns cartwheels,
       backflips,
Has a ball
Until it t
              u
                 m
                      b
                          l
                             e
                                 s into fall.

© Douglas Florian, ©2002. Used with permission of the author.

My Intention: Write a poem in which visual placement of the letters of a word express the action taking place.

Skipping Stones
by Doraine Bennett

My hand grips the perfect stone.
I flip my wrist. The rock whips through air,

              i
          l        p
It    c               s    the water's surface

                                     i
                                  l      p
               it             f              s

                                                            i
                                                        r      p  
                                     it             t               s
                                                                   

                                                                  it                 i
                                                                                 l      p  
                                                                              s              s  

                                                                                       beneath the surface
                                                                                               and is gone.

© 2016 Doraine Bennett. All rights reserved.