Wishing you all health, peace, joy, connection, poetry, and time to enjoy the natural world. Liz ..read more

I am winter’s meadow   I am winter’s meadow grasses gone to seed wearing frayed regalia drained of summer’s green. I will stand here steadfast in sun, sleet, snow waiting for the someday life rises from below.   Yesterday my youngest asked me to read what he was working on–a one paragraph discussion of a poem by Emily Dickinson. Back in my office I continued reading chapter 3 of Ted Kooser’s The Poetry Home Repair Manual (which I am enjoying very much!). Kooser describes a poem as a moment at the window in which one sees both a reflection of the writer and the view outside the windo ..read more

Last night our oldest came to the Thanksgiving table prepared. He read to us about the Piscataway Tribe, the indigenous people who lived on the land where we live and where we were sitting down to eat. After dinner he showed us the movie Awake: A Dream from Standing Rock (on Vimeo). It was a poem and a documentary. It was beautiful and heart-breaking and inspiring. This morning I am feeling grateful for his leadership, his learning, his teaching, for the abundance we share, for this year’s reminders to be grateful for everything, for people who stand up to injustice, for people who make ..read more

I wrote this yesterday. I suppose it’s more of a first draft. It’s something I’ve been thinking about, especially as I look at maps colored red and blue and wonder how we might begin to stitch ourselves back together. I hope you’re all hanging in there. Liz ..read more

  Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong have done it again! Hop to It is their latest anthology of wonderful and current children’s poetry. This is truly the book kids need right now–a third of the poems are about movement, a third are about the pandemic, and a third are about social justice. Here’s my poem about juggling a soccer ball.   Footwork for Soccer Players Stuck Inside (for use with a regular, mini, soft, or imaginary ball) tip it tap it back and forth trap it stop it on the floor lift it juggle it foot to foot send it higher thigh to thigh higher still use your head count your t ..read more

  A World Full of Poems: Inspiring Poetry for Children, edited by Sylvia Vardell, had a birthday this week, so I thought I would celebrate by sharing some of the many things I love about this book. The Size–I love how big it is! It is a big, fat beautiful book with a shiny green ribbon and would make a perfect birthday present or holiday gift. The Illustrations–I love the fun, colorful illustrations! I love the little guy reading on the title page. I love the diverse loving families. I love the black cat, the kite, and the eyes peeking out of dark holes. The Size of the print–I love that ..read more

I don’t practice yoga, but before the pandemic I did take pilates from a wonderful teacher who also teaches yoga. She taught us about breathing in our pilates classes, and she inspired this poem. Here I am reading it, if you’d like to listen and focus on your breath. https://elizabethsteinglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/New-Recording-2.m4a   Jone has the roundup today at her new website, where she’s celebrating Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong’s new anthology HOP TO IT. I’m jumping for joy for this one and thrilled to be included! Liz   ..read more

  Earlier this week when I sat down to decide what to post today, I got an email from Laura Purdie Salas that said “Ready for Talk Like a Pirate Day?” “Am I?” I wondered. I thought for a few minutes, remembered this poem, and happily realized I am! In a world with so many awful things going on, let’s, if we can, take a few moments to talk like a pirate, be silly, feel joy. Matt Forrest Esenwine has the round-up today at his blog Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. Liz             ..read more