Wednesday, March 21, 2012

SPRING, TAKE 2

I just discovered a wonderful children's author and illustrator named Karla Kuskin (1932-2009) and had to share her riff on Spring. 

Karla's take on writing echoes my own. In her biography for Scholastic, she writes, "Trying to get a story or poem just the way you want it is hard work. I spend a great deal of time re-writing. But I am very happy, working in my room at my desk ... pushing words around. So I just keep at it." 

Same can be said of our struggles in life, whatever they may be; it's hard work, and we spend a great deal of time on it, but we just keep at it. Because we gotta. 

Here's to Spring, and to Ms. Kuskin.

(copyright 2012 theBigCandMe)
SPRING 
By Karla Kuskin
I'm shouting
I'm singing
I'm swinging through trees
I'm winging sky high
With the buzzing black bees.

I'm the sun
I'm the moon
I'm the dew on the rose.
I'm a rabbit
Whose habit
Is twitching his nose.

I'm lively
I'm lovely
I'm kicking my heels
I'm crying "Come Dance"
To the fresh-water eels.

I'm racing through meadows
Without any coat
I'm a gamboling lamb
I'm a light leaping goat.

I'm a bud
I'm a bloom
I'm a dove on the wing.
I'm running on rooftops
And welcoming Spring!

12 comments:

  1. Marie, thanks — that made me laugh. Happy Spring!

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  2. This is a great poem.
    I will definitely be reading it to my kiddos tomorrow. :)

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  3. Lovely! So full of life and energy, thanks for sharing! Claudia

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  4. Angela & Claudia: Happy to share. Happy Spring!

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  5. A beautiful poem. Thanks, and happy spring to you!

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  6. No fair - you are making me jealous here in the land of two seasons, Wet and Dry!! Lovely to find your blog, Renn - I'm off to add you to my blogroll!
    Cheers
    Liz (in Darwin)

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  7. Jan & Liz: Cheers back at ya! See you on the blog! ;-)

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  8. As one who is "dragging my feet" into spring, this is just what I needed. Lovely poem. Thanks!

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  9. What lovely words they are indeed and while the poem is wonderful your reflection is its match.This is my first visit to your blog but I will be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  10. Thanks for visiting and for your kind words, Nancy and Mary.

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Your comments are encouraging — and encouraged!