Last week, I shared a poem I helped a group of students write, based on the Most Boring Object Ever. This week, we did it again – with different students and completely different MBOE! Yesterday I visited the students at Sant Bani School in Sanbornton, New Hampshire and discussed writing, picture book creation, and poetry – starting the day off with a poetry workshop for the 6-8 grades. As I did at the previous school, I shared various forms and styles of poetry and explained why I love the compact, intense nature of the genre. I then worked with students to brainstorm ideas around something ..read more

Whew, what a week! I spent time yesterday at Newmarket (NH) Elementary School doing a day-long series of presentations about my books, writing, and creativity. The kids all seemed attentive and engaged, so I’m guessing they must’ve enjoyed it! But that’s not the only reason I’ve been busy. I spent nearly $900 replacing brakes and sundry parts on our car two days before that; took in my 10-year-old’s spring concert Tue. night; and last night joined two local artisans to give a short talk at our local library about my journey as a professional creator to fellow townspeople. Oh, and I’m in the ..read more

It was just a little over a year ago that author Lydia Lukidis stopped by to visit, and share her book DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023). Well, I’m very happy to welcome her back again to celebrate the publication of her newest picture book, DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024)! Lydia is the author of 50+ trade and educational books for children including the Cybils Award-nominated THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST (Kane Press, 2019) and NO BEARS ALLOWED (Clear Fork Media, 2019). A science enthusiast from a ..read more

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago here that I had finally received my author copies – and this week, it’s officially out in the world, just in time for National Poetry Month! The newest poetry anthology from Nancy Tupper Ling & June Cotner is titled Bless the Earth (Convergent/Penguin, 2024), and it’s beautiful! I’m truly grateful to June and Nancy for including not one, but two of my poems. I shared one of them, “The Snow Clouds Know,” back when I first announced the news about my author copies. So today I thought I’d present my other poem – a little thing I call “Honeybee.” . – Image ©2 ..read more

Hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since the children’s poetry anthology The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations (Pomelo Books, 2015) was released. In it, one can find poems about all sorts of celebrations, from Passover and Ramadan to Daylight Savings time and National Pet Week! National Cereal Day, which I’m sad to say I missed, was on Thursday, March 7 this year – but that’s not going to stop me from sharing my poem about it: . Picky Eater I love my Froot Loops, love my Trix, love Cheerios and even Kix. I also like my Apple Jacks – but please don ..read more

SCBWI-IL First, let me just say THANK YOU to the SCBWI of Illinois for inviting me to present a 90-minute workshop/webinar on publishing without an agent last night. What a great time! Well, at least Yours Truly had a great time – you’ll have to ask the attendees themselves what they thought, ha! But I hope everyone got a little something out of it. I shared my own particular journey to publication and offered suggestions as to how to travel the agentless road. So far, it’s been working out! So for today’,’s Poetry Friday post I just had to share what the mailman brought me earlier this week ..read more

I don’t know if it’s because I’m longing more and more for summer or simply because I like to daydream, but I wrote this little poem while imagining myself outside on a summer day – sitting in the yard, watching clouds swirling above the pond and hayfield across the street, as a breeze brushed past my face. It’s simple – but that’s what makes it special. (I hope!) . Affection A cloud kissed me on my cheek. Before I had the chance to speak or even smile, away it blew. Alas, you see, that’s what clouds do. . – ©2024 Matt F. Esenwine, all rights reserved . For today’s complete Poetry Friday roun ..read more

Yesterday was George Washington’s birthday, this past Monday was the official President’s Day, and last week Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was remembered. So today I thought it might be appropriate to share a couple of poems from a fantastic poetry collection by Marilyn Singer titled Rutherford B., Who Was He? Poems about Our Presidents (Hyperion, 2013). Of course, they perfectly paired Honest Abe with the less-than-stellar Andrew Johnson, who found himself president following Lincoln’s assassination: It’s a fun, informative, and eye-opening book, so if you’ve not come across it, I encourage yo ..read more

I’ve been trying to decide which of many, many poems I should share here in honor of National Black History Month. Obviously, I can share more than one – but if I had to pick just one, just ONE, what would it be? Well, after much thinking I decided upon this one. I’ll tell you why after you read it. “Axe“ My father, God bless his axe. He grooved deep in pitch pine. He spun his charm like bachelor galvanise in hurricane. Once I saw him peep through torrential rain likea saint at a killing. And when the wind broke his cassava trees… (continue reading HERE) – Anthony Joseph, from “Sonnets for Al ..read more

Ask my wife her favorite holiday and she won’t say Christmas. She won’t say Thanksgiving, Easter, or Mother’s Day, either. She might say Halloween – but then she’ll be quick to correct herself. It’s Groundhog Day! As an animal lover, it makes perfect sense that her favorite day is one dedicated to hefty little furry rodents. If there were holidays dedicated to squirrels, chinchillas, capybaras, and naked mole rates, she’d celebrate those, too. So I thought it was about time we celebrated Groundhog Day here at the ol’ Triple-R! And what better way to do so than with a poem written by a friend ..read more