Please note that on Poetry Friday August 23 we will celebrate the life of Lee Bennett Hopkins here at The Poem Farm. At Jone MacCulloch's great suggestion, I invite everyone who wishes to write and share a poem inspired by or including a line from a LBH poem. Tag with #DearOneLBH. Thank you. xo, Amy
Cotton on Linen
Photo by Amy LV
Sky Over Barn Over Thistles
Photo by Amy LV
Students - Poetry Great Lee Bennett Hopkins died yesterday after living a rich, beautiful, word-filled, generous life. I am thankful to call him my teacher as he was teacher to so many. And while I grieve and mourn today, my work is to continue to write the best I can...the way Lee taught me to do.
As I told my children last night, when you wish to learn something deeply, seek a mentor. And my wish for you is that you will be as fortunate as I was in finding one so giving, so funny, so wise.
One day when you are filled with tears, remember that you can turn tears into words. It helps a little. I liked stitching these stitches today, finding the thistles, looking for words and remembering.
Please read about and celebrate Lee's life here at his website and here in yesterday's news. Read one of his books! And suddenly, you may find yourself reading 120 of his books! (Did you know he is in the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS for having edited the most poetry anthologies for children?)
Lee Bennett Hopkins
1938 - 2019
Photo by Charles Egita
May he rest in peace and poetry.
xx
Please share a comment below if you wish.
I'm glad you found a thistle, Amy. Sending hugs to you on this sad day, I'm sure especially for you, so close to Lee.
ReplyDeleteSo simple and so perfect. Hugs to you, Amy.
ReplyDeleteCould any other color have been his favorite? Of course not. (I've always loved purple best, too.) Thank you for these beautiful, perfect, soul-comforting words and pictures today, Dearest Amy, and for the company. XO
ReplyDeleteSending love and hugs because that is what I have for all who loved Lee.
ReplyDeleteTonight even the stars are amethysts. I'm reaching out across the night sky to give you a hug, Amy. xo
ReplyDeleteAmy, perfection in a poem. You captured it all. I shake my head over and over about this shocking news. Gone too soon, but such a life, such a legacy, so much goodness. I, too, was touched by Lee. You know I was so surprised by it and yet so very grateful for his confidence. I love the book I AM SOMEONE ELSE. I get teary just thinking about how much his confidence in me, his love for children and his appreciation for what I do to spread an interest in/love of poetry matters. I just want him to be back here with us, doing more and living longer. But Monday is purple day and so I will wear it happily and remember this wonderful teacher and poet who did so much for so many. Shake my head and pinch myself but that was Lee. Generous, yet discriminating, so determined to make a difference for kids big and small. I grieve with you and miss my mentor. Luckily he sent out so many poets into the world of poetry, there are many who will carry on, be new mentors, but without his visionary leadership. I love your post. Janet F.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Amy, and so perfect. You always know the right words. I miss Lee. I know you do too. xo
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful tribute. Write on. Fill the world with your words of hope and generous love.
ReplyDeleteThe water was not purple--it was the usual sunlit blue--but yesterday as I stroked through my old lady water aerobics class I felt surrounded by the love and grief of Lee's community and cried into the deep end. Sending you especially a deep end's volume of comfort, Amy, and thistles upon amethysts.
ReplyDeleteYou were blessed to have such a great mentor. You are passing on the legacy by being a mentor to me and my students. Hugs. ( Emily started high school yesterday.)
ReplyDeleteLove and Hugs to you, Amy. Your poem is perfect; I know Lee loves it too.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is a lovely tribute to a mentor who inspired so many.
ReplyDeleteI will think of Lee and you Amy as I look upon thistles, amethysts, and purply things which I love to. Thanks for this special poem for Lee, that wraps around us in a hug, xo
ReplyDeleteOh, that is a gorgeous tribute to Lee, Amy. Thank you for sharing both yourself and him with all of us.
ReplyDeleteYour tears turned into beautiful words, Amy. What a perfect tribute, from start to finish.
ReplyDeleteAmy, your photos and poems are so touching. The poem says so much in such few words while the photo of summer reminds me that life is vibrant and yet fragile. I will celebrate with you and the Poetry Friday community next week to honor a champion of poetry who brought so many poems into our lives over the years. Thank you for hosting next week.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy & Jone. This helps & soothes. I feel so sorry for you both & for all of us. I look forward to next Friday. I am so sorry everyone who gleaned the gift of knowing Lee & Charles personally & for everyone who felt heart tugs thru the many decades from his poems, his editing, his advice, his sense of mirth. I am still in shock because I learned minutes ago. Like you I have been away - a lovely family event in Bulgaria. Lee & Charles would have loved the dancing, the music, the stork free-flying overhead. I look forward to the embrace of PF & seeing you & Jone & Crew collected next Friday. More appreciations.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! What a moving tribute. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. Lee is leaving a huge void in the world, but moments like this will help to preserve his legacy. I'm grateful for the people he inspired, who in turn inspire me. Sending you love and hugs as you process and grieve. Contact info: jengreene8@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteAmy, your poem and your tattoo are indicative of just how important this dear one has been to so many of us. I wanted to participate and write a poem launched from one of his lines, but I just couldn’t do it. It is still too new, too raw. I spoke with him on the telephone just a few days before he went into the hospital and he didn’t even say that he was feeling poorly. Lee meant everything to me. Everything. I was ready to give up on poetry when he critiqued one of my poetry collections at the Miami conference in 2018. He believed so much in this collection that he edited it with me for months and then sent it, personally, to an editor and agent. This particular collection is still unpublished and unrepresented, but that doesn’t matter, because Lee gave me everything with his belief in my poetry. And I will not stop writing poetry collections even though they may be a hard sell because Lee believed and believes in me still. He completely validated me as a poet, mentored me, changed my life. I will never forget him.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be entered in the drawing. bjlee@childrensauthorbjlee.com. I have a poem in the sequel and also in another LBH forthcoming anthology.
Thank you for this tribute!