National Poetry Month

April is fast approaching and we are going to celebrate National Poetry Month and reading poetry for fun. This blog is starting by a short quiz. I may add other questions as we go along.
Good poetry is like sandburs in that bits and pieces will stick to me long after I've finished with the poem. I find verses from the Psalms, humorous pieces and rhyming aphorisms appear unbidden like unintentional RSS feeds from my mind. Of course, committing poetry to memory doesn't hurt the process.

I need to go back through the old lists here and identify those about poetry. One is all about finding poems about trees--better than the Val Kilmer poem.
Let me know your favorite. Let's enjoy them together.

Under the Collar: Ministers in Literature

Berryman, Jeff. Leaving
Ruin
PR3602.E767 L4 2002

Cather, Willa. Death Comes
for the Archbishop
PS3505.A87 A6 1990

Erdrich, Louise. The Last
Report on the Miracles at
Little No Horse
PS3555.R42 L37 2001

Frederic, Harold. The
Damnation of Theron
Ware PS1707.D3

Deland, Margaret. John
Ward Preacher
PS1532.J6 1967

Greene, Graham. The
Power and the Glory
PR6013.R44 P6

Gulley, Philip Home to
Harmony PS3557.U449
H66 2000

Howatch, Susan Glamorous
Powers PR6058.O912 G47
1989

Karon, Jan. In This Mountain
PS3561.A678 I5 2002


Musser, Joe. The Infidel
PS3563.U84 I5 2001


Myers, Bill. The Face of God
PS3563.Y36 F33 2002

Parker, Gary. Beyond a
Reasonable Doubt PS3566
.A6784 B48 1994

O’Connor, Flannery. The
Violent Bear It Away
PS3565.C57 1988


O’Connor, Edwin. The Edge
Of Sadness PS3565.C55
E4

Richter, Conrad. A Simple
Honorable Man
PS3535.I429 S5

Robinson, Marilynne Gilead
PS3568.O3125 G55 2004

Schmidt, Gary D. Lizzie
Bright and the
Buckminster Boy.
PZ7.S3527 Li 2004

Stowe, Harriet Beecher. The
Minister’s Wooing
PS2954.M5 1968


Street, James. The High
Calling
PS3537.T8278 H2

Trollope, A. Fromley
Parsonage PR5684.F7
1962

Turnbull, Agnes. The
Bishop’s Mantle
PS3539.U76 B5

White, Nelia Gardner.
No Trumpet Before
Him PS3545.H562 N6

Wellman, Paul I. The
Chain PS3545.E52859
C45

Non Fiction

Davies, Horton. A Mirror
of the Ministry in
Modern Novels
PS374.C55 D3

Lindvall, Michael. The
Good News from
North Haven.
PS3562.I51266 G6
1991

Positive Fiction

Positive fiction is defined as those books which make one feel good, and laugh a little or a lot.
While positive fiction tackles important topics such as one’s relationship to God or to other people, it does so with a gentle touch and a kindness toward the characters and toward us. And some days a light touch is greatly appreciated.

Bjorn, Thyra F. Mama’s Way PS3552.J6 M3 A story of faith and humor and prayer.

Crutcher, Chris. Ironman PZ7.C89 Ir 1995 “Bo Brewster refuses to play on the football team and wants to become a triathlete.”
Edgerton, Clyde. Raney PS3555.D47 R3 1997
Can the marriage between a small town Baptist and a liberal from Atlanta endure?
Karon, Jan. A Common Life : The Wedding Story PS3561.A678 C6 2001. This last book in the Mitford series covers Father Tim’s Wedding day
Kiellor, G. Lake Wobegon Days PS3561.E3755 L3 1985. Short stories about the town where” all the children are above average.”

Kindl, Patrice. Owl in Love PZ7.K566 Ow 1993.

Mortimer, John. Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders PR6025.O7552 R785 2004
The murder trial which started all or Rumpole’s adventures.

Read, Miss. Fresh from the
Country PR6069.A2 F7 Visit a different English Countryside with the first year og syoung teacher

Rennison, Louise. Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging PZ7.R29114 An2000
A diary of a 14 year old girl and her observations about life.

Salinger, J. D. Franny and Zooey PS3537.A426 F7

Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club PS3570.A48 J6 1990
Forty years of sharing amoung four Chinese mothers and their daughters in San Francisco.

Tashjizn, Janet. The Gospel
According to Larry PZ7.T211135Go 2001

Thirkell, Angela. Miss Bunting PZ3.T3486 Mi
Miss Bunting’s final summer as governess is a hilarious observation of class in England in 1945.

Thomas, Rob Rats Saw God PZ7.T36935 Rat 1996
In order to pass English and graduate, Steve York must write a 100 page paper about his life.

Tyler, Anne A Patchwork Planet
PS3570.Y45 P38 1991
Although his family thinks he is a failure, Barney Gaitlin reveals a different kind of success.

Wodehouse, P. G. The Most
of P.G. Wodehouse
PR6045.O53 M63 Bertie Wooster and Jeeves are two famous characters created by Wodehouse. Lots of short stories to enjoy

The Poets' Tree April 2005

Can you identify the poem for or poet of these lines? The answers are on the back.
· I have measured out my life in coffee spoons.

· Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink

· One could do worse than be a swinger of birches

· The road was a ribbon of moonlight
Over a purple moor

· One if by land and two if by sea

· The mirror cracked from side to side

· Nevermore!

· They danced by the light of the moon


Bruchac, J. Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s
Back: A Native American Year of Moons
PS3552.R794 T47 1992

Cummings, E. E. 50 poems
PS3505.U334 F5 1940

Dickinson, E. Judge Tenderly of Me
PS541.J8 1968

DiTerlizzi, T. The Spider and the Fly.
PR4809.H2 S64 2002

Esbensen, B. Echoes for the Eye:
PS3555.S24 E83 1996

Esbensen, B. Swing Around the Sun
PS3555.S24 S94 2003

Field, E. Poems of Childhood
PS1667.P6 1932

Frost, R. Poetry for Young People
PS3511.R94A6 1994

George, K. Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems
PS3557.E488 O4 1998

Janeczko, P. A Poke in the I: A Collection
of Concrete Poems PS593.C63 C66 2001

Kunitz, S. The Collected Poems
PS3521.U7 A17 2000

Lear, E. Poetry for Young People PR4879.L2 A6 2001

Longfellow, H. The Village Blacksmith
PS2271.V5 1885

Yolen, J. Color Me a Rhyme
PS595.N22 Y65 2000


Siebert, D. Heartland
PS3569.H4 1989

Willard, N. A Visit to William Blake’s
Inn PS3573.I444 V5


Williams, C. K. Repair PS3573.I4483 R46 1999

Sources of quotations

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, by T.
S. Eliot

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Birches, by Robert Frost

The Highwayman, by Alfred Noyes

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, by Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow

The Lady of Shalott, by Lord Alfred
Tennyson

The Raven, by E. A. Poe

The Owl and the Pussycat, by Edward Lear

A Feast for the Eyes and Ears

We are entering seasons where food, fellowship and family are paramount in our lives., and these books remind us of their importance. Indulge, for they have no calories.

Bennett, A. The Feast of St.
Friend PR6003.E6 F4

Buechner, F. Love Feast : A Novel
PS35523.L68 1984

Grace, C. 1621: A New Look at
Thanksgiving
GT4975.G72 2001

James, E. O. Seasonal Feasts and
Festivals GT3930.J3 1961

Mckissack, P. Christmas in the
Big House, Christmas in the
Quarters F 213.M36 1994

Soto, G. & Guevara, S. Chato and
the Party Animals
PZ7.S7242 Cj 2000

Wright, V. Velma Still Cooks in
Leeway PS3572.R548 V45
2000

Entrees

Merton, T. Bread in the
Wilderness
BS1430.2.M445 1997

Howard, E. Aunt Flossie’s Hats
( And Crab Cakes Later)
PZ7.H83273Au 1990

Kessler, C. My Great-
Grandmother’s Gourd
PZ7.K4824 My 2000

Soto, G and Martinez, E. Too
Many Tamales
PZ7.S7242 To 1993

Sturges, P. The Little Red Hen
(makes a pizza)
PZ8.1.S934 Li 1999

Eat Your Veggies

Sandburg, C. More Rootabagas

PZ8.S25 Mo 1993

Stevenson, J. Cornflakes
PS3569.T4557 C67 2000
Fruit

Galvin, L. Bumblebee at Apple
Tree Lane
PZ10.3.G153 Bu 2000

Rylant, C. Gooseberry Park
PZ7.R982 Go 1995

Williams, V. Cherries and Cherry
Pits PZ7.W6685 Ci 1986


Desserts

Cormier, R. The Chocolate War
PZ7.C81634 Ch

Field, E. Sister’s Cake and other
poems PS1666.S57

Horvath, P. Everything on a
Waffle PZ7.H79224 Ev 2001

Klaus, A. Blood and Chocolate
PZ7.K67815 Bl 1997

Maughm, W. Cakes and Ale
PR6025.A86 C3

Morley, C. Mince Pie
PS3525.O71 M5 1919

Gibbons, G. The
Pumpkin Book
SB347.G535 1999

Smith, L. Cakewalk
PS3569.M5376 C3 1983

Wells, R. Max’s Chocolate
Chicken
PZ7.W46843 Masj 1989

A little libation?

Jameson, S. A Cup of Tea
for Mr. Thorgill
PR6019.A67 C8

Say, A. Tea with Milk
PZ7.S2744 Te 1999

Thomas, J. Brown Honey
in Broomwheat Tea
PS3570.M565 B7 1993

Snacking Allowed

Stevenson, J. Candy Corn
PS3569.T4557 C36 1999

Stevenson, J. Popcorn
PS3569.T4557 P67 1998

Shorts

As a genre short stories provide enormous entertainment. They are an excellent avenue to become acquainted with a previously undiscovered author.
Here are some anthologies of short stories for your consideration. Perfect reading for busy lives.

Around the World
PZ7.B46173Th 1990. Begby, James A Thief in the Village and other Stories of Jamaica.

PT2621.A26 A258 1993. Kafka, Franz.
The Metamorphosis and other stories.
These stories by one of the great German authors are
classics.

PL984.E8 L36 1993 Land of Exile: Contemporary Korean Fiction.
Twelve short stories from Korea.

PS648.C45 S77 2000 The Story Teller’s Collection. : Tales of Faraway Places.
Travel to a different part of the world with each
story


PL865.O7138 K5813 1994 Yoshmoto, Banana. Kitchen.
Two short novels by a young Japanese writer.


At Home
PS653.A8 American short stories of the nineteenth century.
Includes both male and female American writers of
the short story such as Henry James and Sara Orne
Jewett.

PZ1.B446235 2001 The Best American Short Stories.
This is an annual publication. The library’s collec
tion goes back to 1916, and is a collection of sto
ries previously published in magazines.

PZ1.G794 Go12 The Golden Argosy: a collection of the most celebrated short stories in the English language.
Includes “The Gift of the Magi,” “ The Lady or
the Tiger,” and “The Man who would be
King.”

PS648.S5 O94 1992. The Oxford book of American short stories.
Something for everyone., from Washington Irving to
Amy Tan and E.A. Poe to William Carlos Williams

PZ1.O11 1974 Prize Stories 1974
The O. Henry Award Winners.

PS659 .H57 Ten Years of Holiday.
Short stories published in Holiday Magazine

Ethnic America

PS647.A35 C35 1992 Calling the Wind: Twentieth-century African-American Short Stories.
An historical collection of African-American short
story from the earliest stories to present.

PS647.A35 C5 1995 Children of the Night:
Best short stories by Black Writers 1967 to the
present.

PS647.H58 G76 1993. Growing up Latina: Memoirs and stories.
Covers a variety of Hispanic experiences in America.

PZ1.M992 Aae 2000 Meyers, Walter Dean. 145th Street: Short stories.
Stories of life in New York City

PZ7.S7242 Bas 1990 Soto Gary, Baseball in April and other Stories.
Eleven short stories about Young Hispanics in
California.

One Author

PZ7.A2695 Ne 3 Aiken, Joan A Necklace of Raindrops.
8 short stories by renowned children’s author

PZ7.C89 At 1991. Crutcher, Chris. Athletic shorts.
Six short stories exploring social andpsychological
problems of young adults.

PZ8.D37 Tal 4 De La Mare, Walter. Tales told again.
Retelling of many familiar folktales

PS2110.F82 James, Hemry. The Complete Tales.
A master of the short story, this multivolume collec
tion includes such favorietes as Turn of the Screw,
The Beast in the Jungle, and Daisy Miller.

PZ8.S25 Ros 1988 Sandburg, Carl. Rootabaga Stories
Carl Sandburg wrote these stories for his children.

PS3539.H94 F8 Thurber, James. Further fables for our time.
If you like to laugh, don’t miss Thurber’s
inimitable style and characterizations.

Genres

PS648.B4 1980. The Edgar winners
An anthology published by the Mystery Writers
of America

PS657.W6 H5 1985 Hidden Hands: An anthology of Women writers.

PS648.S3 The Road to Science Fiction:
Most of Science Fiction’s evolution is traced
through short stories. Each volume covers differ
ent periods of history.

PZ5.S619 1965. Sixteen: Short stories by outstanding writers for Young adults.

PS648.S3 M36 1990 Vintage Science fiction: Short novels of the 1960’s.
Ten short novels are included, among them Poul
Anderson and Isaac Asimov

Single Subject


PS648.C64 A34 1966 All Problems are simple. And other nineteen views of the college years.

PS648.F36 F3 1990 Fathers and Daughters: Portraits in Fiction
Twenty-three stories are given here whose theme focuses on
fathers and daughters.

PS648.B37 Fielder’s choices. A collection of short stories about baseball.

PZ8.V55Ru 2000 Velde, Vivian Vande. The Rumplestiltskin Problem.
A series of short stories suggesting answers to the fairy tale
Rumplestiltskin.

PS647.W6 W66 1991 Women’s Friendships: a collection of short stories.

A PLACE AND TIME : Summer 2003

The setting of a book sometimes serves as merely a backdrop for the story, but in other books, the setting and time become as important as the plot and characters. Here are some worthy considerations.

We can’t travel in time nor can we often visit places, but the magic of stories enables us to
savor those places and times. And best of all, we don’t need a passport, a car, plane, boat or a time machine.

Berry, Wendell. Jayber Crow. PS3552.E75 J39 2000 (Kentucky Mid 20th century)

Buechner, Frederick. The Storm. PS3552.U35 S76 1998. (Florida)

Cather, Willa. O Pioneers! PS3505.A87 O2 1992 (Nebraska 19th Century)

De Angeli, Marguerite. The Door in the Wall. PZ7.D35 Do (England. Middle Ages)

De La Roche, Mazo. Jalna. PR6007.E34 M65. (Ontario Canada.19th century. This is one of a series of books)

Dellilo, Don. Libra. PS3554.E4425 L43 1988 (United States 1960’s)

Dillard, Annie. The Living. PS3554.I398 L5 1992 (Pacific Northwest 1850’s.)

Doctorow, E. L. Ragtime. PS3554.O3 R3. (New York 1920's)

Duggan, Alfred. My life is for my sheep. DA209.T4 D78 1957. (England Twelfth Century)

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. PS3511.I9 G7. (United States. 1920’s)
Flagg, Fannie. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. PS3556.L26 F7 1988 (Alabama 1980’s)

Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain. PS3556.R3599 C6 1998. (American South. Post Civil War)

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. PS3557.A355 L47 1994. (Louisiana 1940’s.)

George, Margaret. Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles. PS3557.E49 M37 1992. (England and Scotland. 16th Century)

Hoeg, Peter. Smilla’s Sense of Snow. PT8176.18.O335 F7613. (Denmark. 20th century.)

Karon, Jan At Home in Mitford PS3562. A678 A92 1994. (North Carolina Late 20th century.)


McMurtry, Larry. Lonesome Dove. PS3563.A319 L6 1995. (American West. 19th Century)

Michener, James. Caravans. PS3525.I19
C3. (Afghanistan)

Michener often takes a geographic
location and explores it from prehis-
tory to the twentieth century. Hawaii
is his most well known work.

Pears, Iain. An Instance of the Finger
post.PR6066.E167 I57 1998
(Restoration England, 1660s)

Peters, Ellis. The Summer of the Danes.
PR6031.A49 S8 1992 & The Potter’s
Field. PR6031.A49 P66 1991
(England. Twelfth Century)

Renault, Mary. The Persian Boy. PR6035.
C55 P5. (Ancient Near East)

Rolvaag, Ole. Giants in the Earth.
(North Dakota 19th century)

Santmyer, Helen. And Ladies of the Club.
PS3537.A775 A82 1985. (Ohio 1860-
1920’s)

Shaara, Michael. The Killer Angels.
PS3584.H2 K5 1987. (Gettysburg,
Pa. Civil War)

Smiley, Jane. A Thousand Acres.
PS3589.M39 T47 1991. (Iowa 1979)

Tyler, Anne. Saint Maybe. PS3570.Y45
S25 1991. (Baltimore. 1965)

Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome PS3545.
H16 E7 1939. (New England)

Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the
Prairie PZ7.W6461 Lit2. (Kansas
1867.)


Walker, Margaret. Winter Wheat.
PS3545.A524 W5 (Montana,
1940s)

Willis, Connie. The Doomsday Book
PS3573.I4562 D66 1993.
(England. Black Death)

Wolfe, Tom The Bonfire of the
Vanities. PS3573.O526 B6 1988.
(New York City Twentieth Cen-
tury)

Additional lists for similar works:
“Zeitgeist Novels.” http://www.webrary.org/rs/flbklists/Zeitgeist.html.

“A Sense of Place”
http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/lists/adult/place.htm.