Let’s Swim in Poetry

It’s that time of year when I’m preparing to dive into poetry again–a refreshing pool of rhythms and rhymes, puns and pranks– to splash and frolic and dance in the water in ways that I rarely do the rest of the year.

That’s because over the next few months, as one of the poetry panelists for the Cybils 2009-10 Awards, I’ll be swimming with a handful of other people who love poetry, too, and who love sharing favorite poems (and favorite poets) with others.

This is the third year that I’ll be helping out on the Cybils poetry committee, and each year it’s a special treat to find new literary soul mates. This year I’m eager to slide into the water and swim with:

Kelly Fineman, a poet and author (and the organizer of the poetry category) who blogs at Writing and Ruminating: http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com/.

Kristy Dempsey, a poet and children's book author who blogs at Reverie-Abstract Musings on a Hopeful Life: http://kristydempsey.livejournal.com

Patricia M. Stohr-Hunt, a poet who teaches at University of Richmond and blogs at The Miss Rumphius Effect: http://missrumhiuseffect.blogspot.com.

And Sylvia Vardell, a reviewer and author who teaches children's literature at Texas Woman's University and blogs at Poetry for Children: http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/

Just so you know, the nomination process for the Cybils Awards began this past week (nominations opened on October 1st and run through the 15th), and I hope you’ll share your favorites of the past year with us.

To get a better sense of the kind of books we’re seeking, check out the Cybils website http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/ where you can read a little more, too, about the founders of the award, Anne Levy and Kelly Herold, and discover some of the poets who were nominated for awards in previous years.

So, it’s time to dive in. Why not join us and share your favorite poetry books? Let’s swim in poetry together!