"So Much Depends" upon Poetry Month & April

Marianne Moore writes about poetry, "I too dislike it. . . ." Archibald MacLeash concludes, "A poem should not mean/ but be." These two poets' thoughts confuse me, yet they make me continue reading poetry, these mostly short word-images. Here's one of the first poems that baffles and intrigues people young and old. Remember it from high school?

The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

Back to Snow

Spring surprised me this morning with snow on the ground . . . just as I was starting to think it was garden time. I had a relaxing weekend felting workshops taught by Shawn Glidden and Elise Kyllo on a beautiful nearby farm. When I left Sunday afternoon, hostess Donna was felting a rug outside, made with wool from sheep she raised. Colorful wool, good conversations and music, and delicious food added to the memorable days.
When I came home, I helped stack wood we split through March and April, kitchen-cookstove wood for year after next.
Just two more days to celebrate Poetry Month:
The First Spring Day by Christina Rossetti
I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,
If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,
If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun
And crocus fires are kindling one by one:
Sing, robin, sing;
I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.
I wonder if the springtide of this year
Will bring another Spring both lost and dear;
If heart and spirit will find out their Spring,
Or if the world alone will bud and sing:
Sing, hope, to me;
Sweet notes, my hope, soft notes for memory.
The sap will surely quicken soon or late,
The tardiest bird will twitter to a mate;
So Spring must dawn again with warmth and bloom,
Or in this world, or in the world to come:
Sing, voice of Spring,
Till I too blossom and rejoice and sing.

Garden Time Again

SE Minnesota is finally warming up. Last week, on one of the first beautiful spring afternoons here, we shoveled a load of manure onto the garden, B. tilled it in, and I started planting. Just 2 rows of onions so far, with a row of lettuce mix in between. Though I'm eager to plant more, it's still a bit early. I'm pleased that two alpine pansies already blossomed in a protected spot near the drive. More soon . . . .
Inside, one pink bloom has almost opened on one of the 6 geranium plants I potted in March. Last fall I shook the dirt away from their roots and stripped off most of the leaves. The plants were stored in paper bags in my unheated basement all winter. Most survived. Next I'll divide some of the lankier ones into two plants each.
Sunday we hosed down the screen house, bleached and scrubbed the floor, and washed the chairs. Ready for summer!
No blossoms on the shamrock plants, but the leaves look healthy.

Just as I wonder / whether it's going to die, / the orchid blossoms // and I can't explain why it / moves my heart...

From The Orchid Flower
by Sam Hamill

Poem in Your Pocket Day

It may not look like one, but here's a poem I found at Poets.org.
Language
by W. S. Merwin

Certain words now in our knowledge we will not use again, and we will never forget them. We need them. Like the back of the picture. Like our marrow, and the color in our veins. We shine the lantern of our sleep on them, to make sure, and there they are, trembling already for the day of witness. They will be buried with us, and rise with the rest.

From The Book of Fables by W.S. Merwin. Copyright © 2007 by W.S. Merwin. Reprinted by permission of Copper Canyon Press.

Thing #23 One Last Thing

At last! Here I am at Thing #23. Here are some last words on the project. I plan to continue this blog.
* Go back to your thoughts/ideas about Library 2.0. Has anything changed as a result of this experience? I tried many different internet activities, starting with this blog.
* What were your favorite Things and discoveries? Investigating LibraryThing led me to Shelfari, a reading-list site that works well.
* How did you connect with others doing the 23 Things On a Stick?I began to make "friends" on interactive sites. I enjoyed sharing notes about the program with others face-to-face.
* Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I learned to use ELM effectively, after having little success before.
* What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or content? Explain Ning earlier.
* If we offered a 23 More Things On a Stick program like this in the future would you participate? Yes.
* How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things On a Stick learning activities to others? A huge project -- very challenging and rewarding.

Thing #22 "What Did I Learn Today?"

I've spent a lot of time on this project and learned way more than 23 things. Reading and trying out so many various sites has shown me the huge challenge ahead and fun, I hope, for the library community.
The video by Charles Leadbeater, author of We Think: The Power of Mass Creativity is a good reminder about how sharing information takes priority in society now. I found the video on a blog I've bookmarked, Dangerously Irrelevant.
I plan to take part in some of the interesting programs like online conversations about library issues and also book discussions at OPAL. I'll also use the ELM features I explored.
Of course, now I'll have time to keep up with Ravelry, one of my favorite social networking sites.

Thing #21 Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks

It seems there's a social network on the internet for anyone. I joined a sockknitting forum that began in January to share my knitting projects as well as to gain motivation from other knitters. Otherwise, I have dropped by many other similar sites for recipes and other ideas. Today I signed up for the 23 Things on a Stick Ning and wish I'd done that as I began this blog, both for help on the various Things and also for the conversations and more. Gather.com is an example of a broader social community that appeals to many who may not be interested in MySpace or FaceBook. Unpublished authors, for example, may find first large audiences there. Steve Campion writes in "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library" about how social networking can work effectively in libraries. Building an interactive online library requires coordination and constant updating . . . just one more way for libraries to maintain their important presence in communities.

Taylor Mali on What Teachers Make

Thing #20 Libraries and Social Networks

Young people all over use FaceBook and MySpace. Gradually, teachers and librarians are becoming familiar with these and other social networks. I appreciate Librarian Meredith Farkas' discussion of pros and cons of FaceBook and MySpace and agree that these social networking sites offer great opportunites as well as great problems for their subscribers and for libraries. She says that if library patrons are visiting these sites, libraries may want to have a presence there as well, and they should build the library presence effectively. For example, Denver Public Library's MySpace page for teens includes many resources, including a Poem of the Day podcast. The Hennepin County Library MySpace page lists the top ten books for 2007 and asks for added comments.

Thing #19 Podcasts

There's a wealth of information available on podcasts. Directories like Podcast.com list many. One example is NPR Books, now linked to my GoogleReader account. I'm also pleased to learn about telephone-based Gcast, for easy podcast-creating.
Occasionally I listen to MPR podcasts when I miss a show or want to listen again to something of interest. Today I found MPR's "Grammar Grater," Episode 41, which reminds us to say, "I feel bad," rather than "I feel badly." American RadioWorks' Catherine Winter explains how people overcorrect, trying hard to be grammatically correct by saying "badly" when they should say "bad." She emphasizes, "There is no circumstance when you should say 'I feel badly.'" This retired English teacher says thank you so much, Catherine.

Thing #18 YouTube and other Online Videos

YouTube and other onlinevideos entertain and instruct, with a variety of topics, including musical performances, yoga demonstrations, and news broadcasts. I have used them at home and at school and continue to be amazed at how much is available. Today's video is perfect for such a rainy day.
"Time Lapse Blooming of a Geranium"

Thing #17: ELM Productivity Tools

The ELM Productivity Tools include several databases plus web page and notes features to help a person research efficiently. After watching the video and trying unsuccessfully to get the RSS feed for my EBSCO search on youth smoking onto my Google Reader page, I looked at the comments for Thing 17. Thanks to step-by-step directions from "Julie's 23 Web Activities on a Stick," it worked. I created an EBSCO Host folder a few days ago and already found two new articles in the folder.
For Step Two, I created a web page for sock knitting, including text, links, and an illustration. The web page feature would work well for any teaching unit. I sure wish I'd investigated it a few years ago. Step Three's email and downloading of the web page of the refined search about social networking worked well too.
Step four: I created an account in NetLibrary and found the title 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site but got this messge: We're sorry, your library's copies of this eContent are currently in use. I used another ebook about web pages and made a note.
I agree that if I want to help others use the databases, I need to learn to use them efficiently. These exercises are a good way to try out a variety of the ELM resources and extra features.

Thing #16 Student 2.0 Tools

The Research Project Calculator is an excellent step-by-step guide for secondary students to prepare essays, slide presentations, and videos. Very similar material is found in English textbooks, but the Calculator offers lots in one place. I like the precise directions and links to more help right on the screen, as well as the set schedule and availability of email reminders. Student Resources include a rubric, glossary of terms,and more. The Teacher Resources include a variety of printable support materials to help guide students as well as to help the teacher monitor and evaluate student progress. The "No Time? Suggestions for Condensing the Process" section accommodates scheduling and individual differences.
The University of MN Assignment Calendar could be a great help to college students, particularly freshmen as they work on their first papers or other big assignments. Again, the step-by-step guidance could really boost a student's confidence as he or she progresses and succeeds. It's so easy to procrastinate. The availability of email reminders on both of these Student 2.0 Tools is just one of their many effective aspects.
With access to both of these Student 2.0 Tools, librarians may be able to help patrons who are struggling with a variety of projects, in and out of school.

Thing #15 Online Games and Libraries

Though I am a proficient computer solitaire player, online gaming is new to me. After some reading and exploring, I can see that it's useful for librarians to understand Second Life and online gaming. I read about the ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium in Chicago last year, where participants looked at the role of libraries in hosting and / or being informed about online gaming.
I found the video tour of Second Life colorful and lively. There's even a library in Second Life. The Ohio State U. video clip provides interesting information about classes and meetings held in Second Life.
Puzzle Pirates looks like a good place to try out online gaming. I got pretty good at bilging. It seems a bit overwhelming as I begin. I'm glad to see help available in various places.