Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Secrets and Sharing Soda.

My selection is "Birds on a Wire: a Renga 'round town" written by J. Patrick Lewis and Paul B. Janeczko with illustrations by Gary Lippincott.

A Renga is a Japanese form of verse for two or more poets in which each writer creates a verse inspired by and linked to the previous poem thus producing an ongoing narrative.  Lewis and Janeczko demonstrate this form with skill as they move from the real to the abstract, shift viewpoints, and lead readers on a contemplative and sometimes surprising ramble through a small town to explore nature, its people and the community. 

Lippincott's soft, nostalgic illustrations take their cue from the poetry.  Each spread references the previous artwork and hints at what is to come, providing a visual affirmation of the text.