Find more celebration posts at Ruth’s blog.
Jacob’s lovely painting for #More for AKR
Today, I am celebrating Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s birthday. This beacon of lovely died earlier this year, but she has left behind a legacy of kindness that is spreading like the fan of her yellow umbrella. Kirby Larson started a Facebook group. People from every state in the country have joined to celebrate today and do More. Amy’s lovely book I Wish You More has inspired a movement that will be felt globally today on her birthday.
I have been crocheting chemo bags out of fun colorful yarn. Students from my school have donated items to add to these kits. We will be delivering them to a local hospital for kids going through chemo.
I was inspired by Keri to buy a Peter Reynolds poster featuring one of Amy’s quotes. The posters will benefit the AKR Yellow Umbrella Foundation.
Here we are at the end of National Poetry Month, and I am wishing for more. We made it to the letter O for Odes. I read aloud a few of Pablo Naruda’s Ode to Common Things. He was the master. I love the way his odes read like a stream of consciousness. I joined my students in writing odes. And of course, I felt it appropriate to write an Ode to Poetry.
I’ve listen
to your song,
lament,
psalm,
your rhyme,
rhythm–the tap,
tap, tap
of your dancing pen.Oh poetry,
born of Pablo,
Mary,
Naomi,
and Emily.
You hypnotize me.A single line
can make my heart swell.
I can hear my own voice
echoing in your rivers.
Together we roam
the world,
hand in hand
finding flowers,
friends
and geese
along the way.I jump
into your arms,
oh, poetry.
Let me rock
on your squeaky swing,
holding onto
every word.
Pronouncing each syllable
with perfect pitch.
” On 4/29 at 4:20 PM, text someone I love you. This is what I would like for my birthday each year.” AKR
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, this is just gorgeous! “I can hear my own voice
echoing in your rivers.” Yes. Yes. Yes. And the squeaky swing. Oh, my.
One of my students didn’t understand “the river line” but I kept it anyway. Sometimes poetry is meant to be obtrusive.
You know, I tell good friends that I can’t keep up with face to face with enough, that someday we will sit on the porch in our rockers. However, for poetry friends I want to be in the porch squeaky porch swing rocking away to the poetry of our stories. Great poem. Great tribute. The kindness goes on and on.
Your connections with Amy and the gifts of giving back are perfect. I want to swing with my blogging friends someday and let them know how special each and everyone is in my life.
Let me rock on your squeaky swing- such a great line! I like the celebration of AKR that has been going on. I hope you have seen the photos and sentiments her daughter Paris has been posting- I can imagine her heart thrilling to that most beautiful tribute of all.
I love all that others have mentioned, Margaret, “I can hear my own voice
echoing in your rivers.” and that squeaky swing. Have many of us had one? Your gifts for Amy are wonderful and to include your students shows them how to embrace the world and celebrate it, no matter the sorrow.
Margaret, almost 10 years ago I had a lumpectomy to remove a cancerous tumor. While I was in the hospital a volunteer stopped in to visit. She gave me a homemade heart-shaped pillow. I had tons of support from friends and family, and yet that gesture from a stranger meant so much to me. I love that you are crocheting chemo bags and your students are donating items to go inside for kids with cancer. No kid (no person) deserves to have cancer, and those who do deserve every bit of encouragement and kindness we can give them. Please keep up the good work, and let your students know they are making a difference.
Thank you for sharing this. It’s hard to get motivated to do something for a stranger, so it’s nice to hear that it does make a difference.
Margaret, you inspire me! I’ve met Amy thorough your words the past several months and am sad I didn’t know her sooner. I love the PR – AKR poster. And I absolutely ADORE your ode. Have a beautiful week!
I too have been celebrating Amy this month. I did an author study with my kinders and shared her books. I also read Textbook AKR. What an inspirational human. The world is a better place because she was here.
Your beautiful ode makes “my heart swell,” Margaret. And I know you chemo bags will be treasured by all who receive them. What an inspiring project for your students!