This week we welcome Kip Wilson to Ethical ELA. Her new historical novel in verse, White Rose, was released earlier this month, and she has been traveling with Kwame Alexander to launch the new imprint, Versify. We are so happy to have her with us this week to share her writing and inspire us to stretch our thinking and craft!
Inspiration
Spine poetry. We can find inspiration all around us, but there’s a certain wonderful pleasure that comes from arranging titles from one’s own bookshelf into a connected whole.
Process
Scour your shelves for a handful of YA or MG titles that can be arranged into a meaningful whole. My theme with these titles was raising our voices, but depending on the titles you find, you can simply use them to capture a mood or an image instead.
Part of the fun comes from where to put the line breaks—you can certainly break up titles across lines or combine titles in a single line.
Sometimes it can be challenging to make complete sense from titles you want to use, so I’ve included a couple of phrases in parentheses to show how you can add in a bit of transition if necessary.
Email Sarah an image of your book stack, and she will create a collage for us: sarah.j.donovan9@gmail.com. (Sorry images cannot be attached in the comments.)
Kip’s Poem
(Raising Our) Voices
Shout the weight
of our sky
sacrifice the weight
of feathers
watch us rise
outrun the moon:
(these are)
ordinary
hazards.
Some spine poetry images from Kim, Anna, and Glenda.
Teaching in the Age of Standardized Testing
Readicide
Harm done
Little fires everywhere
A visit from the goon squad
Mala
Brass knuckles
Life’s Literacy lessons
Working
We rise, we resist, we raise our voices
On the come up
Love, again
The undefeated
You can fly
This is simply brilliant. Well done.
I love your poem, your chose books, AND this exercise, Sarah! Here’s my spine poem:
“Watch Us Rise”
we hold hands as
the weight of the sky
teems with shouting
voices
sacrifices turn ordinary hazards
into the weight of feathers
soon we are inspired to see
our kids outrun the moon
The poems are so different even with the same titles. It’s fun to see how the subtle changes shift meaning. I can visualize kids outrunning the moon—achieving their dreams.
Regina — This turned into such a hopeful poem. Very nicely done! Susie
Ahhhh, I love the way this turned out! It’s amazing to see the same words create something completely different. Love that last line particularly.
THE HELP
THE HELP
rises
OUT OF THE DUST
like
A WHITE BIRD FLYING,
gliding and turning
above
THE RIM OF THE PRAIRIE.
THE HELP,
a harbinger,
Bringing hope and
NEWS OF THE WORLD,
To shake loose
THE GREAT ALONE;
To inspire faith
among the lost.
Gail, I like the way the article “The” functions to identify a specific “help,” suggesting specificity as opposed to a vague notion of help. Repeating “The Help” further emphasizes your ideas about hope and not losing it. Inspiring.
Lovely and powerful. The first few lines really set the stage, and the last perfectly wrap it up.
Gail, I’m a fan of your word choice. “Harbinger” is such a great word, but I also like “shake loose” and “among the lost.” The simplicity of those phrases really works for me.
In this poem, I’ve capitalized the BOOK TITLES.
They’re Gonna Make It, Too
Women through the ages
Have had to walk a MONKEY BRIDGE.
Our BRAIDED LIVES enrich us.
We cheer some as we watch.
We sometimes get discouraged,
When the going gets so rough.
We seldom admit we’re jealous.
When others keep on going
When the going gets terribly tough.
Instead about the dreamers
We say “THEIR EYES ARE WATCHING GOD!
That’s just a BROWN GIRL DREAMING!
That road’s too tough to trod.”
Yet, despite the challenges they face,
Because of the RUMORS OF PEACE they hear
Teens like SULA stand on the ridge,
Watching and wobbling
Wishing and wondering if
They’ll have the courage like
Women of the ages
Who persist and make it humbly
Yet triumphantly
Through and around the troubles
Across that swinging
Across that swaying of
Their trembling MONKEY BRIDGE.
Anna, this makes me think of the Adventure Book Club we took to Selma in March. As I was reading your poem, I thought of Lowery’s Turning Fifteen on the Road To Freedom and the feelings of the young girl who wrote that book (we met her in Selma, and she signed our group’s books). I am in awe of Jacqueline Woodson and Brown Girl Dreaming, and I love Toni Morrison also – – and Hurston. You adeptly joined these titles to craft a poem that is heartfelt and timely.
Wow, Anna! This took my breath away. The book titles were both allusions to the stories and vivid detail within the larger narrative of this verse. I love all the anaphora, repeated phrases that show movement of time “when” and place “across.” I love the lines “who persist and make it humbly/yet triumphantly.”
So much to love here–the weaving in of the titles and stories into a larger whole, along with the word choices and repetition. Beautiful.
Thank you all, especially Kip for inviting us to look at the books on our shelves and reflect on what they say to us today. I plan to check out the titles mentioned in other poems to explore the work of authors new to me.
Anna — I really appreciate these strong images of women as they get “through and around” so many obstacles. The “monkey bridge” feels so familiar, that “trembling” and uncertain path. Our lives are, indeed, “braided.” Your poem captures these titles so well and deliver a cohesive message. Three cheers for the gender at all the stages. Susie
MG/YA SPINE POETRY
Having no children and therefore no grandkids,
Our library MG’s are few,
THE KINGDOM OF FUNGI and John Le Carre
Might induce a hearty “pee-yew”.
And YA’s? Not likely, unless there’s an interest
In mayhem: THE TURN OF THE SCREW,
Or Coben or Ginsberg or Dame Edith Sitwell,
ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY by Pugh.
A teen digging into HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW,
Is bored beyond words, in my view.
Our spines don’t appeal to young readers who visit,
But give it a year or two.
Love how you worked in the rhyming here!
Your perspective on age and titles – rhymes – hopes for future appeal at the end, and naming the titles as examples to show your categories – all brilliant writing strategies to make this poem enchanting.
Jackie, Your final lines made me chuckle. I love this glimpse into your library and how you are acknowledging the visiting readers’ being now and becoming soon. I have added a few titles to my to-read list, too.
Jackie, you poem shows us the value of hope. Our current middle schoolers may not yet be drawn to this stack of book, but according to your closing line “But give it a year or two.” suggests that their taste for topics and authors will mature. We certainly hope so!
Jackie — This is such a fun peak into your library that has a bit of you and yours on the shelves. Again, you’ve produced an honest voice and offered a chuckle in the end, as we are all evolving readers. I can’t imagine wanting to read all the same types of books for the rest of my life… I love that reading satisfies the various shades of “me.” Yea for a culture that continues to produce an endless mix of books…choices in what we read are at the core of liberty. You are a poet and a reader liberated, for sure! 🙂 Susie
Jackie, this made me smile. I chose poetry books because I’ve given away many of the titles in my classroom library. I love that you constructed a poem about reading habits both fitting the reader in a home and books awaiting a reader to grow into them. What would a YA novel in verse by Ginsberg look like?
Ha, I shudder to think, Glenda! I’m 70-mm-mm and there are days I’m not sure I’m old enough to read him!
Jackie, Your titles definitely reflect a more adult library. I love the spines you chose, and how you made them work for you!
I decided to use poetry books currently sitting on my desk at school for my book spine poem. Titles are in all Caps.
“LESSONS ON EXPULSION”
Here’s ONE LAST WORD
if THEY COME FOR US.
LOOK, AMERIKYA
don’t fear WATER AND SALT.
WADE IN THE WATER
be our NATIVE GUARD
In this never-ending
SAND OPERA.
Who is the real CITIZEN ILLEGAL?
This ain’t no AMERICAN SONNET.
You, AMERIKYA, are MY PAST PAST
AND FUTURE ASSASSIN.
Wow, well done. Love that ending.
You make me wish I’d capitalized all my titles, too. Your clever weavings of titles make this writer’s conversation on expulsion captivating – and I enjoy how you designed the ending two lines to capture past and present in titles. By the way, I love Natasha Trethewey – – Native Guard is one of my favorites!
Whoa! The last three lines are fierce — “This ain’t no AMERICAN SONNET./You, AMERIKYA, are MY PAST PAST/AND FUTURE ASSASIN.” Breaking up the title into two lines really creates drama and urgency. So cool.
Glenda — “Be our native guard” seems like a challenge for our nation. This poem holds a strong meaning. Your titles were well-selected and thoughtfully arranged to really reflect your message. Thanks for sharing.
Note: My book spines carry these titles (some YA, some not):
POOR WHITE by Sherwood Anderson
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Gwendoline Brooks
WHITE TEETH by Zadie Smith
BROWN GIRL DREAMIKNG by Jacqueline Woodson
REFUGEE by Alan Kratz
FULL BODY BURDEN by Kristen Iversen
LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds
HOLES by Louis Sachar
BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande
SPINE
I come from poor white,
but still from people of the book,
our reading ways and my oh-so-white teeth,
and by that osmosis
grew up lucky,
privileged
in ways I did not understand,
till I read, listened, shared books,
moved about the land,
paid attention, asked questions,
of the brown girl dreaming
of when she need not have “the talk” with her son,
of refugees streaming
to a promise
to fill the holes
from the maw of persecution and fear,
and began to see
the full body
burden of not being white,
of being a long way down
the power strata
of a country with a history
told differently around the tables
across the time zones,
north, south, east, west of the don’t-cross lines;
as I edge into each day that moves too fast,
I see
being mortal presses on the spine,
demands I always step back,
shift my weight,
borrow your glasses,
see a wider, truer view
and walk with you.
by Susie Morice
Powerful poem. Love how the titles flow in so naturally.
Where do I even begin with all there is to love about this poem? The first two lines got me hooked, and then moved to “grew up lucky, privileged in ways I did not understand, till I read, listened, shared books” and then the time zones of the north, south, east, west don’t cross lines……then borrowing your glasses to see a wider, truer view – and walk with you! I adore this poem on perspective – – the ways the speaker did not understand, and then putting on glasses to see things a different way. If I were the ump I’d call this a grand slam home run, friend.
Just stunning, Susie. This is a tribute to titles, stories, and readers – -recognizing the perspectives and all their intersections. “The power strata/of a country with a history/told differently around the tables” — these lines (among so many others) really make the argument for choice reading in schools! Amen!
Susie, You used a fresh image of “walk a mile in my shoes” with your
“borrow your glasses,
see a wider, truer view
and walk with you.”
This points out that just walking with changing how we view what we see will not bring about the change in thinking needed among some of us…for one reason or another.
Your reference to “history told differently around the table” further advances the idea that we should be talking about what we read and how this impacts our behavior.
Thanks.
Susie, I felt as though I was reading about my own life w/ your opening words: I come from poor white,?
but still from people of the book,” and of course I could not help but think about “My Antonia” while reading your poem. I don’t know if you had Cather’s words on your mind, but that seen in which Jim’s mother throws away the Shitake mushrooms wrenches my heart. The image of sitting at the table and telling history based on our economic conditions is really powerful. Please send your poetry muse my way.
A Second Letter
The Yellow Envelope
contains The Secret –
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
Three Days Missing
After The Funeral,
Eat
Pray
Love
as you are Learning To Walk In The Dark
there is A Hope in the Unseen
when you feel Alone
may you find Peace Like A River
Remember Me Always
i’ll be Where The Heart Is
-Kim Johnson
So lovely and heartfelt. Love how many titles you fit in!
Kim — I love how this rings like a letter… fascinating to read. I read several times out loud, and am truly taken by how it flows as a loving letter. At first, when I read the prompt, I thought this might be one that just wouldn’t work…but I was totally wrong. This is fun! Thanks for getting this up early today! Happy Monday! Susie
Oh, Kim, I love this poem. I feel like, within these lines, I am getting little whispers of all the books that welcome me to their pages. The hope, walk, peace, and the word “alone” always brings me to my book and its memory of writing. At that last line “Were the Heart Is” — your poetry and participation this month has certainly found a place in my heart.
Kim, your poem is lyrical. Love the way it also tells a story. I remember a thread on the ECN years ago about books people “hate.” “Eat, Pray, Love” was named most often, but it’s a book I love, so it makes me very happy to see it in your poem about healing in a time of grief.
THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL by Stacey Lu
ALL THE GREYS ON GREENE STREET by Laura Tucker
STONE RIVER CROSSING by TIm TIngle
THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA by Julia Drake
FRANKLY IN LOVE by David Yoon
The downstairs girl
cannot be defined by the
“alls” as she is the only one
not named “Grey” on
Greene Street.
She lives her life
as a stone, letting their
river of taunts wash
over, crossing her into
Sanctuary.
A journal and verse —
the last true poets
of the sea she travels
in script,
frankly in love
with words where
she is not the
downstairs girl.
*more of a found-spine poem
Sarah, I love the way you extended the simplex spine poem into a new form. I think my favorite part of this is seeing “The Downstairs Girl” repeated.
My favorite part of this poem is “cannot be defined by the ‘alls’ as she is the only one.” Your own license with combining spine and found poetry keeps the originality of the approach – and the poem – creative and fresh. I like the poem, and I like the mindset of the downstairs girl. I’m confident that she is grateful she’s not defined by the alls.
Love the creative license here! Gorgeous poem. Also, I’m reading THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL right now. 🙂
Sarah — Cool! I absolutely love the weaving involved in this one. The “downstairs girl” and “defined by the alls” really makes me love the girl. A girl who is strong and as a stone becomes polished and all the more beautiful. Such a terrific image…stone in a “river of taunts” – wowza! Whodda thunk we could turn book titles into a meaningful poem!? I’m really liking how goofy but effective this prompt is turning out to be. Thanks to Kip and you for perking up my Monday morning! Susie
Other readers have highlighted many of the same strong poetic features of this poem, primarily the poetic license where you’ve taken the “assignment” and made it your own, yet not straying so far afield that one can say you didn’t do it right.
May I be a flexible with students who do the same!
Sarah — The theme of books as both a means of escape and method of expanding the world of the reader rings true to me. You incorporated your titles seamlessly. I had to keep going back to your list to see where they fit!