June 12, Poetry Friday Starts Here

I'm hosting the round-up this week. Join us!

Hello Poetry Writers, Readers, and Lovers, my post for this week is below with instructions for joining Poetry Friday. These folks are getting our party started:

Jama shares Sarah Freligh's poem, "Wondrous."

Michelle has a Triolet about sisters and a trip to Minneapolis

Patricia is a Steller’s Jay Plea this weekend (live on Friday):

Tabatha is on vacay but shares a beautiful painting and poems

Jone is the substitute teacher I needed in fifth grade. Color poems!

Jane is part of the Baby Beluga generation…you?

Carol brings the beauty with photos and news of her vacay!

Alan shares a poem inspired by summer time in NYC—I love his word, slumber.

Linda has been busy but found some time to squeeze in some writing. Thank goodness!

Rose shares a beautiful summer memory poem inspired by Matthew Zapruder

Irene has been having fun with dinosaur poems

Margaret was busy traveling but managed to create a lovely poem in the lupine

Jill is doodling and daring herself to teach some new workshops (spoiler—they’ll be great!)

Karen has some great writing advice in the form of quotes by famous writers. Thanks!

Susan brings a favorite poem by Nikki Giovanni with a perfect summer vibe.

Haiku story? Yes, please and thanks to Mona.

Carol offers thoughts and images of digipoetry on a day of many weather moods.

Friday, June 12, 2026, is the last day of this school year for me. It’s been quite a ride. Now, I will enjoy a few weeks of rest, travel, and connecting with loved ones.

^{(artwork: Children Playing in Fountain Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures, www.publicdomainpictures.)}

I’m celebrating by hosting this week’s poetry round-up. If you want to know more about what Poetry Friday is, click HERE.

As you may know, I’ve annually chosen a word to inspire a daily and weekly writing practice patterned much after Irene Latham’s Artspeak. This year, my OLW is child.

Today, I offer you some collected quotations about childhood:

“The roots of a child’s ability to cope and thrive lie in having had a small, safe place in which they could discover that they are lovable.” Fred Rogers

“If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as they and we are, then we would have come very close to an ultimate understanding of what ‘good’ parenting means.” Fred Rogers

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” Albert Einstein

“Always kiss your children goodnight, even if they’re already asleep.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglas

“One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”
Malala Yousafzai

“If we wish to create a lasting peace, we must begin with the children.”
Mahatma Gandhi

One of the above quotes will inspire you in some way—I hope it shows up in your writing. I look forward to your poetry.

Join the poetry party by commenting generously on poet posts and adding your link to a comment below. (I had Mr. Linky working in a trial run earlier in the week…and now it won’t work. Ha! I think I tried too hard.