Welcome to National Poetry Month. In the next few weeks we’ll join the celebration by sharing posts from readers, teachers, authors, and poets. Here’s our first, from poet Charles Waters.
Ever tried.
Ever failed.
No matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail better.
–Samuel Beckett
Those 12 words by Mr. Beckett pretty much describe what human existence is all about. No one is great at EVERYTHING. There’s always room for improvement, room to allow grace to come in and take you in a journey, whatever it may be. I’m coming up on the 10 year anniversary of when I wrote my first poem, and in that time I realized that no matter how many children’s poems I write (or rewrite as it were) the process humbles me.
To get you started on your poetic quest I suggest that you dear readers follow the advice of Uncle Charles and read children’s poems by the boatload. Heaven knows there are enough books for you to get lost in. Go to Section 811 of your library; pick out anything by old school masters such as Langston Hughes, Myra Cohn Livingston, Valerie Worth, Eve Merriam and David McCord as well as contemporary poets like Lee Bennett Hopkins, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Nikki Grimes, J. Patrick Lewis, Jane Yolen, Arnold Adoff and Allan Wolf. That’s just for starters. I advise you to take it one poem at a time, say the words at loud, read it multiple times, let the words flow out of your mouth into the universe. This is what I did 10 years ago and the words of these poets and many others have never let me down.
When you write your own poems please don’t be afraid to make mistakes, you should make mistakes, otherwise you’re not writing. Cross out words that don’t feel or sound right when you say them, flip sentences around, think in metaphors and similes, think about how your day was and write about it, think about your summer vacation, time spent with your beloved pet or pets, describe what usually happens at your family dinners. There’s so much material you have inside you … unlock it. One last bit of advice, believe in yourself because Uncle Charles believes in you.
SANCTUARY
Gazing at gothic,
Rib-vaulted ceiling
I pray for gentle hugs
To be received
Throughout humanity.
© Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.
Charles Waters’ poems have appeared in several anthologies: Amazing Places, edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins (2015), The National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry, edited by J. Patrick Lewis (former Children’s Poet Laureate), The Poetry Friday Anthology, The Poetry Anthology for Science and The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School, edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, The Arrow Finds Its Mark: A Book of Found Poems, edited by Georgia Heard and The Crowd Goes Wild: A Global Gathering of Sports Poems, edited by Carol-Ann Hoyte and Heidi Bee Roemer.
Charles conducts his one man show POETRY TIME, as well as poetry performance workshops for elementary and middle school audiences all over the nation.
You can find him in the following places:
Website: www.charleswaterspoetry.com
Blog: www.charleswaterspoetry.com/#!blog/c16qh
Facebook: www.facebook.com/charleswaterspoetry
YouTube: www.youtube.com/thecharleswaters
Twitter: www.twitter.com/waterscharles
Charles’s poems add so much to our books in The Poetry Friday Anthology series! His range of topics is incredible: from the persistence of a kid trying to build a toy . . . to a 3rd generation fisherman . . . to a science lab frog dissection . . . to a teen who thinks he needs to shave–and even more!
Most times a children’s poet is only as good as their editor/mentor which is what you are to me Janet. As well as being a writer whose work I study closely.
So happy to meet up with Charles today. The advice will be taken. The MMPoetry has helped my students tremendously in their confidence with words and pushing to write better. We are writing together every day. Poems are gentle hugs. Thanks for the hug today.
Hello Margaret. The fact that you’re awesome students are writing everyday warms my heart to no end. Thanks for your kind words.
Thank you so much Caroline for including me in your blog. You rock!
And thank you for being a part of National Poetry Month!
Someday I want to be in the back of an auditorium as Charles performs his Poetry Time show. His energy and kindness shines out of him like a thousand candles. Thank you for this feature of his work and words today. Happy Poetry Friday!
Amy, I’d like to be in the audience as well when you perform your heartfelt poems. You motivate me so much to keep writing and getting better. Thanks for gently pushing me to start a proper blog on my website. What a talent you are, and an even nicer person too!