A storm that rolled in the day our daughter recently
winged back home, made me think of poet
JoAnn Early Macken’s WAITING OUT THE STORM.
This gentle prose poem is an appreciation
of finding shelter in a storm, to then watch it in wonder.
A mother and daughter consider the small creatures
who live outdoors as they make their path from
a hill of daffodils,
to their own cozy nest to watch and wait out the weather.
It is illustrated by Susan Gaber in a way that
transports the reader inside veils of rain.
I’m sharing these raindrop lines:
They burst from the cloud
skipping and leaping and laughing out loud
They spin and they tumble.
They bounce on the breeze
They dance to the tune of the world in the trees
2010 JoAnn Early Macken, “Waiting Out The Storm”
You can learn more about JoAnn Early Macken, who
I met through Teaching Authors, at JoAnn’s web site pages.
And in your visit to JoAnn’s site, be sure to look at her, WRITE A POEM
information. This is about her book that I was fortunate to win
more than a year ago.
And also, please check back for one of my favorite rain images
from a few years past, of our gal, appreciating
cascades of drops. It’s not handy at the moment but I expect
to locate it soon.
Mindful that this week’s Poetry Friday gathering, collected at NO WATER RIVER
by Renee La Tulippe arrives the day after Sept. 11 memorials, I offer
JoAnn’s poetry lines, above, as a way of honoring quiet sweet moments in life that
our protectors endeavor to make continuous for us all.
Peace to you this week & always.
Bookseedstudio 
14 responses to “JoAnn Early Macken”
Jan, I’ve never heard of this author or book and I have to say, from your excerpt, I LOVE her writing! I hope my library has this. Checking RIGHT NOW! 😀 Thank you!
LikeLike
The raindrop lines are beautiful – I do love prose poems – there is a fluidity there that makes me catch my breath on occasion with the imagery. Thank you for sharing this. Will be on the lookout for this title.
LikeLike
I picked this up from the library yesterday and fell in love with this book. Thanks so much for making me aware of it, Jan 🙂 I even did a little review on Goodreads, I was so impressed!
https ://www .goodreads. com/review/show/1063554951
LikeLike
Lovely, comforting lines for such a painful time of year. I was in NY visiting my parents when 911 happened. I’ll never forget it.
LikeLike
Thank you for reintroducing me to this lovely book. Oh how I wish there was a storm around MY corner. 🙂
LikeLike
Appreciations for your visit & here’s hoping the drops will fall soon there in lovely CA.
LikeLike
Thanks for featuring JoAnn’s Waiting Out the Storm. Must look for it soon. 🙂 Enjoyed the excerpt!
LikeLike
Appreciations for your visit Jama & a sweet weekend to you.
I expect to enjoy trips to PF sites, after a meeting this afternoon & continuing through out the weekend.
LikeLike
We “waited out the storm” here in Tucson this week – wild monsoon flooding! Thank you for featuring JoAnn’s beautiful poem. = )
LikeLike
Maybe you will make yourself a little poem about that wait, Bridget. Appreciations for your Bookseedstudio visit today.
LikeLike
Jan, thank you for highlighting JoAnn’s poem that I was not familiar with. I love the way you phrased what the illustrator brought to the poem: “in a way that
transports the reader inside veils of rain.” JoAnn is one of the Summer Serenity Gallery writers. After I peruse the Poetry Friday offerings, I am going to finish the last submissions for the gallery and unveil it.
Since 9/11 was such a horrific day in my hometown, I needed to write about that yesterday. My offering is at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2014/09/still-sadness-in-hearts-on-911.html
LikeLike
Appreciations, Carol. I’ll be visiting the Gallery & so glad JoAnn will be there, too. Thanks for the info.
LikeLike
What a lovely surprise on this chilly Wisconsin morning! Thank you for remembering Waiting Out the Storm, which was originally inspired by the horrific events of September 11, 2001. I wrote about the book’s history in a Teaching Authors blog post: http://www.teachingauthors.com/2010/03/waiting-out-storm-part-1-inspiration-to.html
LikeLike
So honored to have you visiting, JoAnn. Your books are important.
LikeLike