"COW PIE
never get to accidentally step
in a cow pie. You never find them
fresh, steaming on a concrete street
near a parking meter
in front of the French bakery.
No one puts alfalfa in a pie
the way a cow does."
I love this poem. I have had the pleasure of avoiding more cow pies than I stepped in; still, I remember wandering through farm pastures as a city kid and being quite astounded at how many there were. Many of the poems in this book have made an impression. They call me back to read them again and again. It is a very refreshing read.
This quote from Ted Kooser sums up the way he writes his poetry. It must be much the same for his partner in writing. Readers don't know who wrote which poem, and that is as it should be, I think. It's fun to wonder and imagine, just as the poets want readers to do as they read the thirty poems here.
"I write for other people with the hope that I can help them to see the wonderful things within their everyday experiences. In short, I want to show people how interesting the ordinary world can be if you pay attention."
Paying close attention is exactly what they have done for this collection. The poems will encourage intrigued readers to do the same. They will inspire anyone who takes time to carefully consider how much there is to notice around us. Presented in four sections - fire, water, air and earth - and noting such things as a thunderstorm, a secret, autumn leaves, a walk, guppies, houseflies, a harpist, a book, a barn, and the tv remote bring common items and expanded imagination to the forefront. You will find much to admire and love as you read the poems again and again.
The expressive language offers an awareness that is fresh and thoughtful. The illustrations, created in paint and edited digitally, provide perfect companion pieces that are the absolute best choice every time. Afterwords by each poet are insightful, and show how important it is to use our gift of imagination. My favorite from this wonderful collection is ... nope, I absolutely cannot bring myself to choose only one. There are many, for many distinct reasons.
"TURTLE
The turtle never married.
Every day he swam
laps around the lake
to clean his house.
Sometimes he heard
a knock on his shell,
but "Do come in"
he never said.
The turtle was very
attached to where he lived
and never wandered far.
His shell was the shape
of a tiny old car
with turtle feet for wheels,
a tail instead of a trunk,
and zero room for
nosy passengers."
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