Poetry Friday Roundup and The Sealey Challenge
I’m the host for this week’s Poetry Friday roundup, so feel free to leave your link below.
I’m excited to read everyone’s posts. I’ll be busy researching on Friday, so I hope to catch the posts in small bits over the weekend.
The Sealey Challenge
Last year I discovered a poetry reading challenge called The Sealey Challenge. The challenge runs through the month of August. The goal is to read a book of poetry every day in the month of August.
Challenging? Yes! But it’s also fun. It also gives you a chance to tackle your TBR list or stack.
The Sealey Challenge 2023
This year, I decided to read the U.S. Poets Laureate. I first took an interest in this back in April when I created a display for my library of Young People’s Poets Laureate.
Then I started looking into the Library of Congress Poets Laureate. As I glanced down through the years and the lists, I found several familiar names. In fact, I’ve read books by most of the recent Poets Laureate. However, I’ll admit, there were some I didn’t know at all–didn’t know their names or their work.
I decided to remedy that and educate myself.
Getting Organized
I let the idea simmer for a few weeks, then once I was sure that’s what I wanted to do, I knew I’d need to get organized. I made a list of 31 Poets Laureate from the current one and 30 previous ones.
I started with my own shelf and I pulled out any collections I already owned (again, mostly more recent poets laureate). I set aside the books I’d already read–I only want to read new-to-me collections. Then I looked on my public library catalog and made a list of what I wanted to put on hold. I created a list and put a note on my calendar for July 1 to put the books on hold.
I also scoured local library book sales and picked up a few books for $1.00 each. What I couldn’t find in all of those places, I ordered inexpensive, used copies from AbeBooks.
I also did research about which book from each poet I’d want to read.
Here’s part of my stack. I’m still waiting on a few books to come in from the public library.
Making My Own Rules
You might notice that some of the books are HUGE. I decided to make my own rules for The Sealey Challenge. My goal is to read at least 20 poems from each Poet Laureate. In some cases, I’ll be able to read the whole book. In some cases (I’m looking at the 300+ pagers), I’ll stick with the 20 poems.
The challenging part about August is that it’s back-to-school time for me and my kids. I’m busy and tired. Reading 20 poems seems workable.
Reflection
I’ll post my progress each week on my Poetry Friday post. I’ll also take notes each day on the books, but I won’t commit to taking notes on each individual poem (like I often do as part of my daily poetry reading routine).
Links
Challenge Accepted?
Is anyone else participating in The Sealey Challenge? If so, I’d love to know what you are going to do.
Haiku of the Week
I’ve been obsessed with the chicory growing in every pavement crack and on every highway shoulder. I snapped this picture on the median at a stoplight.
Then I was able to spot this bloom on a neighborhood road and get a better picture from the sidewalk.
cracks in the pavement
wild blues of chicory
cheer up the highway
Photo Taken: June 26 (highway) & July 4 (neighborhood street)
Haiku Written: June 27
What I’m Reading
by Mary Oliver
Edited by Virginia Konchan and Sarah Giragosian
What I’m Noticing
I’ve still been visiting local parks and libraries, but I didn’t want to make this post too long. So I’ll be back with updates next week. But for now, I leave you with a picture of a purple blossom from a walk to a park in my neighborhood.
43 Comments
Robyn Hood Black
Hi, Marcie – Oh, my hat’s off to you for taking on such a worthy challenge! And thanks for sharing your organizational prowess as well as the links; it makes it all seem tackle-able. Much appreciation for hosting, too, and for your delightful poem and photo. I’m a sucker for beauty in the cracks. Thanks for noticing and sharing.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Robyn!
janice scully
Your post inspires me. It’s totally doable to read twenty poems a day to discover in some depth a few different poets. Let me think about this and get to the library. Loved your haiku with its wild blue in pavement cracks. Great image. Thank you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love that the challenge can be anything you want it to be! Explore your own interests. 🙂
Anastasia Suen
I agree, 20 poems is a great goal! (That’s my July poetry *writing* goal – a new draft for each day of the workweek.) Happy reading, Marcie!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! It’s amazing how much can get done one poem a day. I write 1 haiku a day as my regular practice. I also wrote a recent poetry collection draft in one poem per day. They need revision, but I always think “get it down, then fix it up.” 🙂
Mary Lee Hahn
Thanks for hosting us, Marcie! I am definitely going to do the Sealey Challenge again this August, but I have given ZERO thought to the direction of my reading. I’m inspired by your idea to read from the Poets Laureate. I have a collection of 20 signed volumes by Poets Laureate, including one by Joseph Auslander, the first of the group!
Looks like there are 44 books of children’s poetry published in 2023 available at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Maybe that will be my theme!
Chicory is one of my very favorite flowers — thanks for the beautiful closeup and haiku!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love the idea of all children’s poetry published in 2023! That’s an amazing goal! Have fun and make it whatever you want! 🙂
Michelle Kogan
What a wonderful stack of books, looks like your just about ready for the Sealy Challenge… I wouldn’t mind doing that one summer–if summer ever slowsdown… I’ve collected chicory for my art classes to work from, it’s lovely and so is your haiku and image! Thanks for hosting this week Marcie!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, summer rarely slows down. Last year, I got more reading done than I expected because I sprained my ankle and needed daily “ice and elevate” sessions. That gave me my reading time every day. So glad to be much more mobile this year!
Laura Purdie Salas
I remember when you did this last year, Marcie, I was jealous and relieved at the same time. It sounded amazing…and overwhelming. Also, I didn’t learn about it until a few days into August. But now, with this bit of heads up, I’m thinking maybe I could manage this. I have at least 10 poetry collections on my shelves I keep meaning to get to, maybe more. So if I start with those…I also like your 20 poem per day minimum. That makes it less overwhelming. I think, maybe, possibly, I might give this a go this year. Thanks for the reminder! And thank you for hosting.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Have fun with it! Make it whatever you want. So 10 poems, 20 poems? 10 collections spread over 31 days. Do whatever makes you happy! 🙂
Rose Cappelli
Always inspiring, Marcie! I’m intrigued by the Sealy Challenge. May have to join in this year. Thanks for hosting!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
You know I love a good challenge. 🙂 With my parks and libraries challenge, August should be interesting… 🙂
Carmela Martino
Wow, I’m inspired by both your challenge and your poem. My goals are much, MUCH smaller than yours, Marcie. I’m reading 2-4 poems a day for the month of July. Maybe some day I’ll get up to 20, but that doesn’t work for me right now.
I do love your poem and image, and the idea of the chicory cheering up the highway.
Thanks for hosting!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Do whatever works for YOU! 2-4 poems a day is amazing (and is so much better than none).
Alan j Wright
Marcie, you have set yourself a ‘sweet’ challenge- a personal poetic mountain to climb-poet by poet. Such challenges extend and inform us, so I wish you every success in your quest. I did something similar for the month of May where I had to write a poem each day. Each poem was informed by famous historical events for that particular day. It became a compelling force. So satisfying to complete the challenge. I wish you every success.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
What a great challenge! I love “personal poetic mountain to climb.” YES!
Linda Baie
I love hearing about The Sealey Challenge, Marcie, and your choice of how to manage it with various poets’ works. I am a bit more free this August so maybe I could manage it, will at least consider it! You’ve given us some time for that! And the picture of chicory with your poem is so lovely. I love chicory memories of my growing up in Missouri where the roads there are full of them every year. Thanks for hosting and for that final purple pic!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m glad other people love chicory as much as me!!!! Once you see it, it’s hard to unsee it. It’s everywhere.
Carol Varsalona
Marcia, I applaud you for taking on the Sealy challenge for another summer. I look forward to hearing more about your accomplishment, The chikory wildflower is really a beauty and the chosen words are thoughtful and accurate in lines 1-2 with a bit of surprise in the last sentence. Thanks for hosting. I did not have time to write my blog today so I will be sure to have it for tomorrow.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I do love the wild beauty of chicory.
Linda Mitchell
Oh, my. What challenges! I will be reading poetry in August…maybe I’ll set a limit for the number of published poets or books. Geesh, if I just read the books in my own house, I’d be busy every day. I recently took a “throwaway” book on a plane ride. ‘Heave Looks Like a Mall’ by Wendy Mass…and it was/is soooooooo good. It’s a great mentor text for writing and I know want to write like that. LOL. Your book rec ‘Marbles on the Floor’ looks fabulous. I need to take a peek at that one.
Thank you so much for hosting this week and giving us inspiration. I’m wishing you lots of lucky finds in your research and writing.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
The researching was so fun. I love the LOC. 🙂 I’ll put the Mass book on my TBR list. Marbles on the Floor was helpful. It’s definitely for adult chapbooks/collections. Some essays were super helpful. Others didn’t really apply. I did get something out of it.
Heidi Mordhorst
Aarggh–I spent time just yesterday remarking how yes, all these Enneagram 3 characteristics do apply to me but I’m really not all that competitive…except that now, Marcie, I feel like I have already LOST the Sealey Challenge to someone way more forward-thinking and organized than I am! 😝 Of course, I know it’s not that kind of competitive challenge, so I guess I’ll limp along randomly like I’ve done the past few years, because I’m going to be busy reading MARBLES ON THE FLOOR! Thanks for hosting, Marcie.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
You have not lost. 🙂 You can run your own Sealey Challenge race (or not at all). I didn’t do a poetry project in April (because I was revising a mss). So I’m making up for it.
Tabatha
Your take on the Sealey challenge has inspired us all! I love that you are setting yourself up for success by planning on reading 20 poems of each (instead of insisting on the whole book). Also, let’s hear it for chicory! It would be fun to meet you some day for a flower walk once the weather cools down. Thanks for hosting!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Three cheers for chicory! I’d love a flower walk. 🙂 We need to make that happen.
Tabatha
Have you been to Brookside Gardens? There’s also Glen Echo, which does not have a lot of flowers but is cool. Teddy Roosevelt Island, too. Email me 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I loved Roosevelt Island. Went there during the pandemic. I’ve been to Glen Echo, but only to see CB house, so not really the park itself. Never been to Brookside Gardens. You’re going to make me cross a bridge, aren’t you? 🙂 LOL
Irene Latham
Blues and purples and a new challenge! This is a very “Marcie” post, full of goodness and inspiration. My reading challenge this year, after serving on a national book award committee for three years, has been to catch up on books I own and to follow my reading flights of fancy wherever they take me. The lack of pressure and structure has been delightful! So maybe I’ll save Sealey for another year. xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Flights of fancy is amazing! I was on a state book committee for 3 years and I was glad to get to read what I wanted after that. It’s like when you’re done with college and the choices are ALL yours in the reading world. 🙂
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
What a great journey you have set before yourself, Marcie! I have never taken on this challenge, and I admire your planfulness. You have inspired me to read some of the poetry books that have sat unopened on my shelves too long. I’ll read one of those children’s books each day…thank you to you. Chicory is such a gorgeous little mischievious flower. When it appears on our little road, I always smile. And a brief poem about the flower was one of the first I ever shared with Lee Bennett Hopkins. Thank you for hosting with such graciousness and for the inspiration and memories. xo, a.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Love it! And yes to reading books that have sat unopened. That’s what I did last year.
Margaret Simon
I’ve heard of the Sealy Challenge and for the reason you stated (back to school busy), I’ve always abandoned it. I love your approach. 20 poems a day. Can I do that? I have so many poetry books and using your list, I plan to look through the books I already have. Then I’ll look at the public library. I may start in July to give myself a head start. A good try is better than not at all. And poetry is so good for the soul. Thanks for hosting. I hope to be back later with my link. The Inkling Challenge this month is shall I say, challenging.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, I totally get the back-to-school busy, so you have to make it doable. Definitely scour your shelves. That’s what I did last year too.
Karen Edmisten
I love the challenge you’re doing! And I enjoyed reading the process of putting it together and setting your parameters. Thanks for sharing that.
I see a lot of chicory on my (not quite daily, but shooting for that) walks and I love it too. Your haiku captures the charm. 😀
I’m on the run today and don’t have a poem to share, but wanted to pop in and will enjoy catching up with everyone over the weekend.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes to walks with chicory included!
Carol J. Labuzzetta
Marcie,
Thanks for hosting. I don’t have a link to leave today but wanted to check-in. Firstly, I love your new haiku on Chicory. Secondly, I appreciate the book recommendations, especially the Marbles on the Floor. I will check out out for sure. Take Care, Carol
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Enjoy! I liked some of the essays in Marbles on the Floor.
Molly Hogan
Marcie, Thanks so much for another post filled with inspiration and for hosting this week! I’m sorry for my delayed comment, but I was off the grid in the “wilds” of Canada for a few days. Now, I can finally start to catch up and your haiku was a lovely place to begin. I can’t believe I didn’t know the name for the wild blue chicory! I’m so impressed with your Sealey plans and look forward to reading about your discoveries.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Molly–my husband and youngest kiddo just got back from the wilds of Canada–totally off the grid. It was amazing! I have to give credit to my nature journaling teacher and master naturalist friend, Margaret, who teaches me 95% of the names of things I know.
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