Friday, February 22, 2019

paul b. janeczko 1945-2019

Requiem
      for PBJ

Hey, You!
you set our
Worlds Afire
igniting
Poetry from A to Z

you built us a
Brickyard Summer
of Firefly Julys
on That Sweet Diamond

you gave us
A Poke in the I
A Kick in the Head

you put a
A Foot in the Mouth
of our speaking

you showed us
Birds on a Wire
looking up, looking down 
Seeing the Blue Between
unpromising 
Dirty Laundry Piles

meeting you in various
Stardust otels
thronged by starstruck poetry
Wing Nuts,
I would Feel a Little Jumpy Around You
Blushing with admiration, wishing we were 
Very Best (almost) Friends

you were a
Home on the Range
you are still the
Place My Words Are Looking For

but now
The Death of the Hat
feels like sitting on a cold
Stone Bench in an Empty Park


a spine poem ©HM 2019

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The round-up today is hosted by Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge.  May it be a joyful wake of poets!

13 comments:

  1. Amazing tribute to the amazing body of work from Paul Janeczko. What a loss to the children's poetry world.!

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  2. I think this is both brilliantly composed and so loving. I am so glad you wrote this Heidi.
    Janet F.

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  3. I love this! Paul was one of my first favorite poets/poetry collectors. I am so sad he is gone!

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  4. This is wonderful, Heidi, and celebrates not just the poetry, but the person. Thank you. xo

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  5. What a creative way to showcase Paul's books. He leaves us with sad hearts and a great legacy of poetry.

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  6. This wraps me in warm, feeling better, about our huge loss.
    Beautiful spine poem for a beautiful man.

    Many many appreciations.

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  7. This is beautiful, Heidi. What a loving and thoughtful tribute.

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  8. A wonderful tribute, Heidi - thank you for sharing. How he will be missed.

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  9. So many of my favorite collections are included here, Heidi. Thank you for creating this brilliant celebration of Paul and his work.

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  10. They fit together amazingly smoothly -- well done, Heidi.

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  11. Pretty amazing that you were able to create this snappy and endearing poem so quickly after news of his passing. I am kinda wowed by the feel of the virtual calling hours....sitting shiva for someone so beloved in our community. Your words bring comfort and a smile that I know well from mourning. Thank you, Heidi.

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  12. I read this on twitter, Heidi, a loving poem for PBJ that I imagine he would love, too. He gave us many gifts that we'll continue to love.

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  13. A wonderful tribute that makes my heart ache. I imagine he's writing his words in the stars these days.

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Thanks for joining in the wild rumpus!