Book spine poems

Workshop preparation creates mess and chaos in my home. The books hop off the shelves and gather in patches in the corner of the living room floor and on the windowsill. Twenty four of them have built towers on the floor and twenty-nine camp on the windowsill. We'd get an award for diversity. Leadership books mix with well-being, mindfulness and writing books. Some poetry and fiction books have been invited to join as well. Estonian and English books converse easily with each other. The workshop I am preparing for is about the inner resources and self-care of educational leaders. 

Seeing all the books that have escaped the shelves in my living room, I thought it would be easy to create a book spine poetry. Ha. I was wrong. To my surprise and puzzlement the books seemed to be in serious work mode today and refused to join me for the play. I nudged and invited them, then begged and pleaded, finally some old favourites agreed to help me out and they pulled one new one with them. 

Here's the result:

 

Strong ground

Science of happiness

Ways of reading

Your brain on ink

The fourth way

Map

Falling awake

Making the pile I remembered the last time I created book spine poetry. It was during one February Saturday when I had gathered with a group of women for a self-care day. Already when I arrived, I noticed that the hostess had left piles and piles of books on the tables, counters and shelves. My thought instantly made a connection with books spine poetry and to my delight this was one of the invitations during the day. Here's a result of that day:

Translation:

Tomorrow somewhere else

Everything breathes together

Butterfly's footsteps in snow

Time's imprint in stone

Instead of the world

The silence of sound

During this long time

In the heart the woods sing

Until love arrives

Book spine poem

On this quiet Saturday morning, hubby in the countryside, the youngest still asleep, no crows making a ruckus, the sunshine is too bright outside to light a candle for the writing magic. As if I usually did, but I don't because I forget, even though I have tried a few times in a hope for a miraculous writing aura to appear. I'll keep trying. Later. Maybe next fall.

"Magic is something you make" is an inspirational quote that faces me from the living room shelf. I'd like to stay I have strategically placed it there but this would be a lie. I placed it there to think where to hang it, and I never hung it. The accidental spot is the just right spot to nudge me. 

Today it nudges me to leave my sofa and seek out books to make a book spine poem - a fascinating concept and writing form that I learned many years ago and create once a year in March.

The coaching and leadership books and the recent books in Estonian don't speak to me today, not poetically. I bow and leave them be. 

Two books step down from a shelf in the living room, both arrived as cheer-me-ups from a trip to a mall where I struggled with buying, and in truth eventually ending up not buying, a new pair of shoes. The other two books travel from the bedside table to the living room windowsill, depending where I decide to write. Both I ordered after attending a two-day workshop with my favourite writing teacher. From my bedside table I pick a book that I bought in Heathrow Airport to support a workshop idea that my friend and I are brewing. 

Arranging the books this way and that, I look for the order that sounds the best today: 

The science of happiness
the creative act
the art of noticing
your brain on ink
poetic medicine

book spine poems

As soon as I posted yesterday, my writer's block got bored and vanished (probably trying its power with another slicer). My attention free to wander and mind relaxed to play again, I instantly got an idea for today's post: combining Multilingual Friday and Book Spine poetry.

I'll try my best with translation but it's harder than I thought. 

Novels, the first one is Estonian and others are translations that might have completely different titles in English. 

Vaikne ookean

Kuidas vaadata vett

Mida siit näha võib

Sellised väikesed asjad

Kõik mu mured mannetud

Kustunud mälestuste saar

Silent ocean*

How to watch water

What can you see from here

Such little things

All my worries feeble

The island of extinguished memories

*can also translate into Pacific Ocean

Poetry books, all Estonian authors:

Pimeduse tunnil

Sügaval elu hämaras

Janu on kõikidel üks

Paranemine

Aga armastusel on metsalinnu süda

Mu tiivad on mu juured

During the hour of darkness

Deep in the dusk of life

Thirst is the same for everyone

Healing

But love has the heart of a forest bird

My wings are my roots

And one super short in English for fun:

I will judge you by your bookshelf

Books make home

I love you my dears and would never judge you. Hug!

Book spine poem

Yesterday I used "Right Now" (one of my annual go to format) to create my slice.

Today I turn to Book Spine Poem, another regular slice of expressing myself. 

I enjoy choosing the books to see what they have to say together. This year "The Art of Living" was the starter book and I chose others that would go with it. I created one stack, took a photo and returned the books to the shelf. When I was cleaning the kitchen counters and scrubbing the sink, I had an idea to try another order of the books. Only after I had played with my books I looked at the last years' poems only to find out that some books have become regular performers in this creation. 

Art Matters

The Artist's Way

The Book of Beautiful Questions

Atlas of the Heart

The Art of Living

The Book of Beautiful Questions

Atlas of the Heart

The Artist's Way

Art Matters

The Art of Living

Book Spine poem

Tired from the first week of distance learning, brain cells burnt from screen staring, I have reached the place where my own ideas and words are on a strike. Fortunately, they don't mind if I play with words already written. 

Book spine poetry time!

The books on the shelf, as if sensing how much I need their help, generously offer their titles. The wordless feeling inside me guides my search. Mostly English titles, some old, some fresh, and one Estonian title (with an author with the same first name as mine) cooperatively leave their comfy home spots and wait for my guidance. I pile them on top of each other, adjust them to centre the titles and snap a photo.  

Looking at the photo, I realise that the books speak the truth. Art matters. I am glad I am writing. I am glad I played with the titles today. Though after this week I need the wintering and calm to restore, it is the  art that becomes the tipping point in restoring me.

This is what I can offer today.

This book spine poem is joining the other ones from past years.

Wintering

Calm

Restart

The Artist's Way

The Tipping Point

Untamed

Art Matters

A book spine poem feat. journal

I was startled to find out that we have only ten days left of this challenge. For the past nine years I have always included a book spine poem as one slice. This time I looked a the PD book pile I had brought home as I prepared for a conference presentation (cancelled), and the pile of picture books for family stories unit (knowing we might be at home next month too), mentor texts for writing workshop, poetry books for April, the read aloud book we are still reading (all for the school closure time), and thought I might be able to make one poem for each pile from the books I had brought from school. I played and played but it didn't seem right. I looked at the titles and listened to what they said, picked just some, and realised there were lines missing. These words came from a journal I have and a beautiful collection of letters to young readers. This is my poem for today's Sunday morning:

word after word after word

day by day

things to write about

of primary importance

all the places to love

each kindness

once upon a memory

velocity of being

A book spine poem

What would March be without book spine poetry?

 I have seen these poems popping up here and there already this March.

After school today I had a school board meeting at my daughter's school and then got home to pack for a short conference travel. I am super good at packing (even if I say so myself). This is one area where I go minimalist. I pack the smallest number of shirts and socks possible. Nevertheless, with the late board meeting and packing it is almost bedtime. Not enough time to craft a wordy post, enough time to play with the books, especially when the book titles have been trying to get my attention during previous days. I decided to write today because I don't know whether I would  have time to write anything tomorrow.

A Little Life

Useless magic

Silence

Then again

Dear Life

The things you can see

only when you slow down

Anything is possible

Daring Greatly

Release 

Big Magic

A book spine poem

Thank you, Amy and Leigh Anne, for the reminder to create a book spine poem. I have created book spine poems almost every year I have participated at SOLSC during the past years.  


As the challenge approaches the finish line, it may feel that the ideas and words are done, exhausted, and there is nothing to write about. Book Spine poetry is a playful way to write. So many choices of titles, so many choices of arranging them, so many possibilities. When I thought of the books to use for today, I knew instantly about the books I had seen in Grade 3 classroom next door. I'll share my poem, the covers of the books, and a page from each to get you curious in case you have not read the books. I hope this will give you inspiration and nudge in case you didn't know what to write today.

Wild ideas

Any questions?

What do you do with an idea?

The most Magnificent Thing

Wild Ideas

What Do You Do With an Idea

The Most Magnificent Thing

Any questions?

I hope that you will have words floating around that spark an idea. Capture them gently and write them down.

Book spine poems

Before SOLSC 2017 I made a list of possible topics to write about. I haven't looked at it once. This year the slices gladly roll out to the screen. I seem to have more slices than days in March.  Number 32 on my list is a book spine poem. I have created one during challenge for the past six years and today is time for this year's poems.
One is in English, another one in Estonian.

1. The first one was almost ready before I started. All but the top book stood next to each other on my shelf.

How to have great ideas?

Calm

Quiet

Very Good Lives

Daring Greatly

Big Magic

2. The second one is a combination of poetry books, one novel, and two short story collection. This one  played around a bit more, adding and taking away titles, arranging and rearranging several times until it felt right. The translating was a bit more challenging. it doesn't translate word to word, but I was able to deliver the idea.

From time to time

Women on journey

At the end of the world

Rain and wine

Short and ordinary stories

A book of closeness

Life poetry

Inviting you to try your own book spine poem poetry if you haven't created it yet this March.

Previous years:
e-book spine poem
post with links to my other book spine poems

a bookspine poem with e-books

Day 28 of March Slice of Life Story Challenge

I thought of skipping writing a slice today. The thought crossed my mind when I was reading school's self study standard B7, the lunch time had already passed, I had three more sections to read, I felt I was getting an allergic reaction to all the criteria and evidence and sneezed five times in a row, there was a likelihood of missing my train, and I couldn't see the writing time fitting neither before making dinner nor after the dance lesson in the evening.

What a silly idea to skip writing with only four days left of the March Slice of Life Writing Challenge. I realized this when I had sat down in the train (after a very brisk walk through the old town, the sun and movement making me hot, forcing me to unbutton my coat, so the flapping wings of the coat making me look like a large black bird), calmed my breathing, and took out a small book of vignettes a friend gave to me, looked at the colorful teacup and read the sweet note my other friend gifted to me, still felt the after taste of a halva and sour cream cake a third friend had made for me. Self-study aside the day had had so many great moments - the birthday hugs and wishes, and the fact I had caught the train.

My plan was to create a small book spine poem. The only problem being that I couldn't find enough English books at home.  At least not the ones I could stack up. My Kindle hosts several books. Screen shots and cropping make up the e-book poem making process. This is the best I was able to create between the dinner and a dance lesson. Not perfect but enough for a day when I thought of skipping writing.

Love you all, my dear readers. I appreciate your visits and comments.

Book covers used for this poem. Most of them I have read earlier. Still Writing and Make Just One Change are from this month. Doesn't our reading shelf tell a story about us too? You can see more of my bookshelf on Goodreads.

Day 16: my daughters; book spine poems

Read more slices at Two Writing Teachers

My daughters

The Oldest

This is My Daughter

The Book Thief

Fangirl

Heir of Fire

Daring Greatly

Champion

The Middle Daughter:

This is My Daughter

Quiet

Makin' numbers

Energy and Reactions

The Story of Chocolate

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

The Youngest:

This is My Daughter

The Dreamer

Mosaic of Thought

Creativity

The Child of Wonder

Book Spine poem 2014

Book Spine Poem 2013

Book Spine Poem 2012

Book Spine Poem 2011

Book spine poems

Enjoy slices at Two Writing Teachers blog

At least once during the March challenge I try a book spine poem.

Plan A:

Fascinating concept: use the spines of different books to create a poem. Not as easy as it might sound.

To write an extraordinary poem you need: a poet's brain to weave a delicate or a powerful message, a poet's eye to choose the most marvelous titles, and the poet's ears to combine them to sound musical. Take your time, spread the books, arrange, rearrange, add and remove titles. Wait. Read. Redo.

Plan B:

Fascinating concept: use the titles of different books to create a poem. As easy as it sounds.

To write a playful poemish piece you need: a dreamer's brain to imagine possibilities, a hawk's eye to scan the room for suitable titles,  a forgiving heart to accept the imperfection and approximation of the desired result. Use the free time you have. Work quickly to be able to return the books before the next lesson starts. Make a mental note to use plan A next time.

I went with Plan B.

The brain works in strange ways. It fills in the gaps in between the titles because it knows the images, feelings and thought of the one assembling the books. Believe me, the poems made sense to me, when I put them together and took photos. I hope they speak to some of the readers too. 

Boy

So you want to be an explorer?

Jump right in

Splish, splash

Wish for a fish

How to Write Your Life Story

If I were in charge of the world

Falling up

Sky magic

Once around the sun

Earthdance

The place where my words are looking for

where the sidewalk ends

under a blue umbrella.

Once upon a poem

The long, long letter,

this is just to say

wonderful words.

Days like this

I like to be me.

Book spine poem 2013

Book stacks and book spine poem 2012

Book spine poem 2011

book spine poem feat. Memory

The SOLSC challenge wouldn't be complete without a book spine poem. It was on my list. I had a plan to spend time in our school library, choosing the just right books. I forgot. Only two days left, I searched for some books on the book shelves at home. Most of them are in Estonian. Most books in English are PD books. The books that had been in the poems last year and the year before, said they were not interested. Fortunately my daughters allowed to borrow some of their books. I piled different books in different order. Something was missing. I invited a guest performer - Memory game. This is my poem today. As with any writing, on a different day, the words would line up in a different order to deliver another message. 

Ink Heart

Quiet

Divergent

Memory

Fragile Eternity

Never Let Me Go

book spine poem 2011
book stacks and book spine poem 2012

Book stacks and book spine poem

Inspired by Christy's post and the different book spine poems

The books in my home have a tendency to escape form the shelves and have casual gatherins around the apartment.

The books on the bedside table are civil and patient, waiting for their time to be read. Some are young and freshly out of the bookstores, others have seen the world with their different owners.

Then the professional books like to chat during their PD meetings on the kitchen table that changed a career, stopped serving food and became an office table instead. It still stays in the kitchen and curiously listens how old and experienced books change ideas with the younger ones.
The children books like to have festivals on the floor next to my bed. They get to leave the shelf in groups, getting their pages flipped and the pictures pointed at with little fingers. They like that their stories are read out loud. Oh, they are clever. They know that people are too tired in the evening to put them back and way too busy in the morning to notice them. They have a secret hope that people would be occupied with tons of things, so they wouldn't get to the word "cleaning" on their to-do list too often, and the party can grow and continue.

Sometimes the children books hang out on both sides of the bed.
As we all know the little follow the example of the big. So the small books have started their own play dates and pajama parties on Mimm's bedside table. Sometimes they invite guest books for bed time stories.
Sadly the parties have to end sometimes. For example on Saturday mornings the books left on the shelves call out: "Come back, come back. Next time it is our turn."
The only books that have some discipline are the cook books. They leave the shelf only during a day and in orderly manner. They may get some grease and flour stains but they usually return before the end of the day. They sometimes get to visit the living room and are allowed to stay overnight.

After I took the pics of the escaping books I asked for volunteers for a book spine poem. Most of the books are in Estonian and they are too timid to make an appearance. Besides thoughts might get lost in translation. The books in English are minority. I was lucky to find some brave (or vain) volunteers.

Have a lovely Saturday!