RhyPiBoMo 2015 Day 3 Jackie Wellington

/ angiekarcher

 Welcome to

RhyPiBoMo 2015 Day 3

Jackie Wellington

RhyPiBoMo 2015 Guest Blogger Badge    RPBM 15 Jackie Wellington

                                                                                  Sketch by Lori Ann Levy Holmes

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I am so excited to introduce today’s Guest Blogger. She is a good friend who I greatly respect and admire. We first met online, as many writers do, but then had the fortune to meet in person last summer at Kristen Fulton’s WOW (Week of Writing) Retreat in Georgia. She is the most dedicated writer I have ever met. She was up at 5:00 a.m. with the Georgia birds and sitting on the deck of the lodge writing every morning when I came to breakfast at the retreat. She was early to bed while many of us chatted and shared writing stories, literally! We did get her to stay up with us night owls a few nights as we toasted her hard work and dedication to this industry. She will be big! That is my prediction and I am not alone in that sentiment. Her writing is thoughtful, elegant, powerful and timely.

I am proud to call her my friend in writing and in life!

Welcome Jackie Wellington!

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RhyPiBoMo 2015 Bird with Feather

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MAYA IN VERSE: THE LEGACY LIVES ON
by Jackie Wellington

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Maya,
Caged bird
Poet
Activist
Dreamer
Actress
Teacher
Humanitarian
Legend
Your legacy lives on!

You left us here on Earth
A void in our hearts
You fluttered away,
no longer a caged bird,
confined,
constrained,
imprisoned,
inhibited
You’re free!
Your activism stands
Your humanitarianism stays
Your legendary efforts stills
Your legacy lives on!

I hoped the angels stood
when you strode into Heaven
stepping
stomping
striding
leaving your “Footprints in the Sand.”
I hoped the harpist strummed
as a “Freedom Fighter” graced his presence.
I hoped they knew who stood amongst them
A legend
Your legacy lives on!

You sprung under the shadows of segregation
But still you shone like a diamond birth from coal
You’ve drank “colored” water
used “colored” restrooms

Sat in “colored” sections
You’ve met dignitaries and presidents
Recited before millions
traveled the world
You’ve marched,
picketed,
and lent your voice to causes.
You’ve blessed us with your poetic prose,
your wonderful writings.
Through you, the world live vicariously
No shame
No regrets
You’re a legend
Your legacy lives on!

You’ve inspired me to be –
“A Phenomenal Woman,”
“The Mothering Blackness,”
Many “Faces” to the younger generation
Like you,
I am a
Poet
Dreamer
Activist
Teacher
“Still I Rise”
Your legacy lives on!

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About Jackie:
Jackie Wellington is a writer, poet, activist, and teacher who have had the pleasure of meeting Maya Angelou. She is inspired by Maya’s actions and intrigued by Maya’s work. When she is not writing, you can find her tutoring statistics to college students, or at a nearby library buried under books.

You can learn more about her at http://thebrownbookshelf.com/2015/02/10/day-10-jackie-wellington/

RhyPiBoMo 2015 tiles with bird

RhyPiBoMo 2015 Optional Writing Prompt: 4

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This is NOT part of the pledge. It is an option for a writing exercise for those interested. You will not publically share this as part of RhyPiBoMo but may keep a journal of your writing this month for your own review.

Today’s writing prompt is to write an Acrostic Poem using Maya Angelou’s name.

An Acrostic is a poem in which the first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase. The word or phrase can be a name, a thing, or whatever you like. There is no need for rhyme or rhythm in this poem. The focus should be on choosing just the right, powerful words to tell a big story with few words.

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For example:

Mother of poetry

Activist

Young at heart

Accepting of all

Angelic words

Never hurtful

Gigantic stories with few words

Empowerment

Liberty for all

One person making a difference

Unique in her style and character

© 2015 Angie Karcher

Thank you Jackie Wellington!

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Don’t Forget…

Saturday, April 4th  7:00 Central Time

Hosted by Jackie Wellington

Maya Angelou image

RhyPiBoMo 2015 Maya Angelou’s Birthday Celebration Webinar

This will be a fun celebration of Maya’s life! The evening is hosted by Jackie Wellington and Angie Karcher. We will read Maya’s poetry plus some of our own poetry written to honor her. We will discuss diversity in children’s books and how through poetry, children may gain a new view of the world around them. Jackie has organized a poetry contest only for those who attend the webinar. The winner will receive a Maya Angelou book donated by Jackie. Details will be given during the webinar.

Don your fanciest hat and put on those pearls and join us for an evening of celebrating this extraordinary person. See you at the party!

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I have now completely lost my voice so Jackie may be doing the talking for both of us.

Can you imagine…me, not talking? lol

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cheers to Maya

Please register in advance as there are limited number of spots available. Once you register you will be emailed a direct link to the webinar as well as a reminder.

Link to register for the webinar:

https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EB57DB87854731

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It’s “WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RHYMING PICTURE BOOK” Friday!

Today is the day that I ask you to choose one of the rhyming picture books that you read this week as part of the challenge and share it with the world. Post a picture of it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) and a link to the authors blog, a link to a book store or a link to anywhere people can find it and buy it. This is the day we celebrate all the wonderful rhyming picture books out in the world already! These authors are our heroes and heroines. We should celebrate the hard work it took them to get to publication! We should buy these books ourselves if we can and share them with friends and family.

Now is the time to promote great rhyme!

There may be a prize for one lucky RhyPiBoMoer

I see post something Friday…just sayin’!

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What if you are not on social media?

That is no problem. Just share titles with friends, family, teachers, librarians, book store owners…anyone who will listen. Word of mouth is very powerful! Go to a book store and ask for a specific title. If they don’t have it ask them to order it. You can certainly do our part without social media!

It would be great if you would also add the link to my blog so folks can see what we are doing here.

Here’s the link:

https://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/rhypibomo-2015-day-2-nikki-grimes/?preview=true&preview_id=3722&preview_nonce=51465bf1a5&post_format=aside

*RhyPiBoMo 2015 Bird with Feather

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PLEASE REMEMBER!!!

Add both your FIRST and LAST names to your daily comment! This is what enables you to be eligible for a prize that day. Many people are forgetting!! I request this because the reply section doesn’t give me your name unless it’s a part of your email address. And even then sometimes it’s very hard for me to figure out the exact name.

How I choose daily winners…Late each Saturday night, I will go back to Monday’s comments and count how many there are. I then type that number into a randomizer program that choose a number for me. I count from the first post down to that number and that is the daily winner. If that post doesn’t have a first and last name listed it will not win. I will then go to the next post that has a first and last name listed. I will do this for each day of the week and announce the winners on the following Monday.

Please DO NOT go back now and add another comment now as I need each person to only comment one time to keep things fair. Thanks!

Good Luck and ADD YOR FIRST and LAST NAME to your comment!!!! = )

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More information coming soon concerning

Rhyming Critique Groups,

the Barnes and Noble BookFair and

the Official Golden Quill Poetry Contest!

Stay tuned!

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Official RhyPiBoMo 2015 Registration ends on April 8th, Midnight Central Time

so register now!

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If you are not officially registered you will not be able to participate in the Golden Quill Poetry Contest, in Rhyming Critique Groups or will not be eligible for daily prizes.

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To see if you are registered go to the Master Registration List on the drop down menu under the RhyPiBoMo Blog tab above.

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Registration Link:

https://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/rhypibomo-2015-registration/

*RhyPiBoMo 2015 Pledge

Please comment below. You MUST add your FIRST and LAST names

to be eligible for today’s prize!

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129 thoughts on “RhyPiBoMo 2015 Day 3 Jackie Wellington”

  5. I read “I Know Why the Caged Bird” sings for the first time only a few months ago. Hats off to this amazing lady who went through so much and saw so much and still came out on top – beyond on top –she went clear up to the stratosphere!

    Reply

  7. What a beautiful tribute to a Phenomenal Woman. You’ve done her proud. glad I stopped by to participate. Pamela Courtney

    Reply

    • Lori, I agree. She was an amazing human being. Now we have to make sure we live in her spirit, keeping her legacy alive.

      Reply

  13. Mandy Yates
    Nice! Caged Bird and Still I Rise are my favorites. There is something about her poetry that has a smooth rhythm to it that moves you inside and out, literally and figuratively.

    Reply

    • Mandy, there is something special about Maya’s poems which lingers in our hearts. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply

  27. You must stop tempting me with all these goodies at RhyPiBoMo! I’m not signing up for it this year, I’m not! 🙂

    Lovely poem, Jackie–someone will be writing about you and your influence on the kidlit world one day.

    And I know Dr. Seuss doesn’t need it, but I always have and always will like him best when it comes to rhyming. IT’S SO HARD TO CHOOSE!!! (But I’ll go with Green Eggs and Ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam-I-Am.)

    Reply

  32. Charlotte Dixon- Soulful and heartfelt, Jackie. Your tribute to Maya rings strong for this lady’s endowment to the human race. You are going to bring that same kind of wisdom and grace to your work. I am grateful to call you friend and sister in this journey through life.

    Reply

  39. Hi Jackie! Thank you for sharing your verse about Maya Angelou. I’ve only recently heard of her, but now I want to know more. Thanks for broadening my horizons for the second time in two days! Enjoyed meeting you on google hang out yesterday! 🙂

    Reply

  40. Sydney O’Neill – Jackie, I read Maya’s MOM AND ME AND MOM last year and it still frequently comes to mind. Both her poetry and her prose will continue to inspire for generations.

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  41. Rita Allmon– Thanks, Jackie, for sharing your lovely poetry with us… a beautiful bouquet of words for an exquisite lady.

    Reply

  42. Jackie thank you so much for the tribute to Maya. Beautifully written and celebrating her life and contributions. Best of luck with your writing.

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  43. Beautiful poem, Jackie. Maya Angelou continues to inspire, even after her death. I feel fortunate to have lived in Arkansas, just as she once did, and share that connection with her. It’s a small one, but one I treasure nonetheless! Thank you for posting.

    Reply

  47. CARRIE CHARLEY BROWN needs to get her poetry butt in gear and start reading Maya Angelou! (I can hear the gasping in the background! No, I have not read her work yet. That’s why I’m hear at RhyPiBoMo…to learn more.) Jackie, your poetry is powerful! Congrats! Today’s prompt will be difficult until I get into Maya’s head more. Awesome, exciting challenge! 🙂

    Reply

  48. Karen Nordseth Roos

    I am still getting my feet wet and figuring out how things work around here! I loved today’s focus on Maya Angelou. Thank you for the prompt, too! I’m about to go and share my rhyming picture book on my Facebook. 🙂 Wonderful opportunities this month. And I thank you for that!

    Reply

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