a poem for your pocket

April is National Poetry Month! And April 14 is Poem in Your Pocket Day, when you're encouraged to carry around a poem with you all day long.

I joined a swap recently in which you were to send a children's poem to your partner for this occasion, which is good timing since I recently found these amazing old Junior Classics books at a library sale for a dollar each. One of the books was a volume of Poetry for Young Readers, so I went through and chose "A Seal's Lullaby" by Rudyard Kipling and "The Moon's the North Wind's Cooky" by Vachard Lindsay, both of which I really liked. I also picked a funny Shel Silverstein poem called "How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes" since my partner loves his books.

I thought it'd be fun to make a mini accordian-style poetry book instead of sending just one poem, so I printed everything out onto nice stationery, glued extra end papers and pretty cardstock for covers, and sewed on a bit of ribbon to tie it together. I left a blank page in the middle so my partner can add her own poem if she likes, too! I like the idea of knowing someone will be carrying this with her all day long in a couple of weeks. It'll be fun to see the poem I receive in return, too.

i am loved

I keep saying this, but unexpected surprises might be my most favorite kind.

In addition to the washi tape, my friend Linda also sent me some other Valentine-y presents in the mail. I've been saving them up to share because I love them so much! I received a SWAK rubber stamp, pretty salt water taffy in the only flavors I happen to eat, sweet vintage buttons still on their cards, and best of all, a wall hanging she embroidered and framed especially for me.

The wall hanging is actually a delayed Christmas present, but one well worth waiting for. As I've mentioned before, "The Owl and the Pussycat" has special significance to us since it was one of the two poems read at our wedding. I already have a copy of Sonnet 116 from an old book framed for my curio wall and had been looking for something similar for the other poem--and now here it is! 

Linda took an illustration of the poem and embroidered it onto cloth, ingeniously filling in the large spaces with watercolor marker. I love the end result, which looks appropriately like a real children's book illustration. Both the animals are so sweet and dreamy and serene on their moonlit journey, and I can't wait to find a good place to hang this. 

It's always wonderful when someone makes something with you in mind, but when someone chooses something as personal as this, it renders me practically speechless. It's wonderful to have dear friends. Especially when they're both thoughtful and crafty.

romantic poems

I made another poetry booklet recently. I found a selection of poems I liked and paired them with vintage Valentine images and put them all together in a booklet bound together with spray adhesive. After using "The Owl and the Pussycat" for a swap awhile back, I've been wanting to use the other meaningful poem read at our wedding, too, so Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 was the very last poem included in the booklet.

I meant to offer the booklet as a download, but unfortunately the two files were too big for Google docs! So if you'd like a copy to print out for your own Valentine, feel free to message me at thehappyhoneybee(dot)gmail(com) or leave your email address in the comment box and I'll be happy to send you one electronically. The Christina Rossetti booklet I made awhile back would be a pretty accompaniment to any flowers and chocolate you might be sending, too...

two children's poems + download

Do you have a favorite children's poem? There's something about the classics that are endlessly appealing, and I do so enjoy sharing them.

I recently hosted a Share a Favorite Children's Poem swap, and I sent my partner a copy of Nancy Willard's "The King of Cats Sends a Postcard to His Wife." I've loved this poem since I first read it as a young adult, since it's a touching letter that inquires after the well-being of many members of his household. As you read it, however, you begin to realize that the king has a very specific reason for writing...he wants to make sure all is well, since he can no longer be there to take care of everyone himself. It's a well-written, imaginative poem that's also incredibly thoughtful and sweet. I lost my own father right around the time that I first read this poem, so in retrospect it may have struck a particularly poignant note.

I also sent my partner a copy of another poem that means quite a lot to me. When my husband and I were married, we asked one of our best friends if he would read two poems during the ceremony. One of the poems was Shakespeare's beautiful Sonnet 116, of course, and the other was "The Owl and the Pussycat." It's a charming, tripping tale full of humor and whimsy, which was just the right bit of "us" in all the solemnity and quiet of the day.

If you'd like a copy of the poem, I've put it into a pdf that may be downloaded here, and it includes the text from the poem along with Edward Lear's original 1871 sketches. Perhaps you'll enjoy sharing it with a friend, too!

fairy bookmarks, windy poem

I've always loved Australian artist Ida Rentoul Outhwaite's beautiful storybook illustrations, but it can be very difficult and expensive to find any of her vintage books or prints. So for a woodland-themed exchange I'm participating in, I thought I'd make a pretty set of fairy bookmarks paired with quotes about reading.

I printed the bookmarks and laminated them, but then thought that mounting them onto another piece of grey cardstock would be even better. So I stitched them up and they're on their way to Singapore at this very moment, which means they're traveling somewhere I've never even been. Lucky bookmarks!

I actually made four bookmarks (although the exchange only called for one), but one of the quotes was very short and I didn't like the way they appeared on the page once it was printed out. So they were ruthlessly cut and promptly turned into little gift tags, to which I've attached pink velvet ribbon; they'll be very nice for an upcoming gift I'll be wrapping up this weekend. I quite like the way they all turned out.

Also in the mail yesterday: a "discover a new poet" packet I made for Laura in Massachusetts.  Whenever it's windy, my husband will sometimes recite a poem to me called "Who Has Seen the Wind?" by Christina Rossetti, which is a poem his mother used to read to him as a child.

I decided to put together a little booklet of several of Christina's poems to send, which I paired with images of artwork by her brother, the artist Dante Rossetti. I like the vivid imagery in her poetry, as well as the melancholy that seems to run through all of it.

Who Has Seen the Wind?
by Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you.
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I.
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

If you'd like a copy of the poetry booklet I made, you can download a copy for yourself here and here. Enjoy!

I have to say, I really like having quick, focused projects to work on for Swap-Bot. It's almost like being in a writing group--the accountability forces you into action! But since I don't want you to think I'm completely insane, I won't share the paper Christmas envelope I also sent out today. At least, not yet.