  Poetry
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One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
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The Gift of Poetry
The song “Running On Empty” played in my head as I looked over my checkbook this weekend. There are only three words that will save me this holiday season: creative gift giving.
Giving the gift of poetry is deeply personal, which translates into thoughtful gift giving. Anyone can grab a handful of gift cards and be done. It takes a lot to come up with the perfect poem and the perfect way to present it. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
There are three things you will need to focus on: the person the gift is for, the subject of the poem, and the way you will present your poem.
The Person Getting the Gift
This is obviously the most important part. You want to make this gift something they’ll love, cherish, use, or all three. Think about their hobbies, occupation, and style. If she (or he) is a secretary that collects frogs and gardens in her (or his) spare time, you have many options to go with. Some I can think of right away are frogs, flowers, and nature.
The Subject of Poem
If you’ve already done the brainstorming I talked about above, then this part will be easier. You can create or select a poem about the person, about something they like, about the item you choose as your way of presenting your poem (which we will talk about in a moment), use their favorite poem, or a combination of any of these.
The Presentation of the Poetry
So, how are you going to present your gift of poetry? The classic option is to mat the poem and frame it in a style and color that will match their décor. However, I was never one to settle for classic if I could do something creatively.
Here are some unique ways to present your poem:
*Play with a photo program and integrate a picture with your poem.
*Select a shirt, hat, tote, or other clothing type item and pen your poem on it with fabric paints. Remember to read the directions to properly set your paint so your words will last as long as possible. You can also find iron on paper that you can put through your printer, if you don’t have a steady hand or like your handwriting.
*The following list of items can be written on in different ways (like paint pens, printed up and then put in place with decoupage, etc.), so make sure you read your directions for safety, and find out when you need to use sealants to preserve your work. In the case of something your gift recipient might accidentally or prefer to eat off of or use with food, make sure you tell them if your medium is safe for this purpose. Some ceramic paints are safe and some are not, so be careful when choosing and let your recipient know.
***Mugs, plates, serving dishes, serving bowls
***Frames, signboards, wood cutouts in various shapes, tiles, and mirrors.
***Chairs, end tables, coffee tables, serving trays
***Flowerpots, pails, lamps and lampshades
***Make a necklace with a short poem that you write on the beads
***Piggy banks, ceramic figures, jewelry boxes, and more.
I came up with this list by taking a walk in my local craft store. There are numerous items that are blank and ready for decoration. For the larger table and chair items, getting them new might not be an affordable option. In this case, try your local thrift shop. Get a sturdy item there, clean it up, decorate it and then cover in a sealant. You could also choose to paint, varnish, or stain your item before you decorate if you aren’t happy with its current color.
Your poem might even reflect the object it is written on. For example, you might want to reflect and write about how your recipient might use the object: If I were to choose a serving tray for my grandmother because she enjoys cooking and sharing the treats she creates, I might create a poem that talks about cooking and sharing, or even a special time I remember eating those treats.
Whether you are like me and need to come up with creative gifts this year due to the economy, or you simply want to make your gifts personal; giving the gift of poetry can be something very special for both you and the one who is lucky enough to receive your poetic present.
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Theme: Poetry given as gifts or about gifts.
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Have a question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name Red Writing Hood <3 and send it through email.
Comments on last month's newsletter:
Submitted By: Keith (Dutch) Kuttner 
Submitted Comment:
I just wanted to thank you for sharing such a wonderful poetry form with us in this last newsletter. The Ekphrastic form has been a pleasure to experiment with. I've already written two poems in this form since your newsletter, and can't wait to get started on some more. Thank you very much for being so informative. God bless and keep writing...
Submitted By: spidey 
Submitted Comment:
Very interesting newsletter! I enjoyed learning the differences between Elegy, Epitaph, Epigram and Monody. I'd be interested in seeing examples of each to further illustrate their differences. Great newsletter!
Submitted By: Thomas
Submitted Comment:
It's open to everyone but they don't advertise beyond the local area. I don't know how long the link will be active, but here are the photos for this year:
http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/page0016.html
They don't usually post the poems online, but they do put out a CD that has the winning photos alongside their winning poems.
FOLLOW up of a question I asked in last month's newsletter about an Ekphrastic contest. Thank you for answering Thomas ! -Holly
Submitted By: monty31802
Submitted Comment:
A very informative newsletter, I am writing the name of each down and do some researching.
Submitted By: A thinker never sleeps
Submitted Comment:
Spike Milligan's tombstone. "I told you I was ill." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3742443.stm
A great and informative newsletter.
Submitted By: dmerrysilver
Submitted Comment:
Hi! That's a very interesting and informative topic! Thanks for elaborating on the history and formats! Perhaps I might try writing something in this genre soon 
Submitted By: twyls
Submitted Item: "Invalid Item"
Submitted Comment:
Holly,
Thanks for featuring my elegy, "Death Might Overlook". I think your readers might also be interested in my poetry contest (linked above). Wonderful newsletter. I'm inspired to write another elegy. - Amanda
Thank you all so much for you comments, tidbits, and added information! You invigorate me for the new year! Thank you 
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Poetry: November 12, 2008 Issue [#2715]
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