Godzilla Movie Marathon... Now With Haiku!

Well.  I did it, guys.  I faced the inevitable reality that Summer Reading is coming close and the thought that I should probably start planning events yesterday.  I looked at a chapter from the CSLP manual yesterday, that has to count for something, right?  Right.

I'm in charge of bringing the Chapter Six: Science Fiction & Fun into life for the annual Summer Reading Program workshop hosted by the Ramapo Central Catskills Library System on Monday, so the next few posts are going to either be directly related or additional ideas building on the science fiction theme.  How on earth did the manual contributors miss a chance for a Godzilla movie marathon?!  First of all, the new Godzilla movie is scheduled to debut in May 2014, just before Summer Reading kicks off.  Second of all, have they seen Godzilla Haiku?  Have you?  No?  Check these guys out:

If you have a creative writing group I would like to first inform you that I'm super jealous because I've tried to start one at my library more frequently than Gretchen Wieners tried to make "fetch" happen and it still won't stick. BUT if you have alchemical processes working in your favor and have a successful writing group (or would like to start one) might I recommend making your own Godzilla haikus?   You can find stills of the old Godzilla movies and have the teens write their own.  There are many ways you could execute this and as it has been a while since I've had the opportunity to profess my love for bulleted lists, I will do so now to demonstrate the possibilities: 

• Passive Program: Create a bulletin board of 3-5 Godzilla still frames asking for Godzilla haikus.  Provide smaller examples from the tumblr so teens have an idea what you are looking for. Create a haiku printable (doesn't have to be too fancy) and provide a submission box so no one can read the poems already entered.  Label each Godzilla screenshot with a number or letter so that teens can easily communicate which picture corresponds with their poem, fully knowing at least one teen will mess up and yet another will ask you relentless questions no matter how easy you attempt to make it.  Once you have enough submissions, slap those haikus over the appropriate image with meme font, also known as Impact in white with a black outline.  If you do not have Photoshop, might I recommend using Ribbet?  
• During the Movie Marathon: This one is less exciting, but you are more likely to get a bunch of results. You can print out the Godzilla screenshots with lines underneath them so the teens can write them in as they watch the movies.  While you are almost guaranteed more haikus this route, you will miss out on the opportunity to use the completed product as a marketing tool for the movie marathon. 
• Teens as Content Creators: The ideal situation involves using Web 2.0 apps, like Ribbet, to allow the teens to create the content themselves.  You can either offer them some sort of SRP club credit for creating it online and emailing it to you or you can have a program using library computers that allows them to do it in a group all together.  The latter suggestion would not work in my library, so I am aware that it might not work for you.  I'm talking in ideals here people! 
• Contest: Using any of the above ideas or combination thereof, you can make a contest for the best Godzilla haiku.  Teens are competitive. Having a prize at the end of the haiku tunnel might help some reluctant poets enter the mix. 

Poetry Friday

Since I'm nursing a "I was too proactive with my blog this weekend" hangover resulting in epic blog laziness, I felt it appropriate to use a villanelle I wrote about the subject (since I was also too lazy to write a new poem).

[ ]

Walking is tough, but moving is profane.

Why stir when there’s so much sitting to do?

Hell, I’m too lazy to make a second refrain.

I don’t defend myself much, it’s not worth the pain

Of opening my jaw only to argue:

Talking is tough, but moving is profane.

I plop down more than pigeons spew white rain

For laying down feels better than sex used to.

Hell, I’m too lazy to make a second refrain.

I had a crush once, he had some sexy brains;

But he never called and I was never one to woo:

Stalking is tough, but moving is profane.

I once watched a three hour infomercial for Rogaine

Since a two-cushion-remote-stretch was too much ado.

Hell, I’m too lazy to make a second refrain.

I look upon marathons with utmost disdain,

For why run when there’s so much sitting to do?

Walking is tough, but moving is profane.

Hell, I’m too lazy to make a second refrain.

Poetry Friday

I don't oft participate in Poetry Friday despite my love of poetry (both reading and creating). It's odd, really, considering my blog is actually named after a poem I wrote in college. I couldn't think of a proper blog name and it reminded me of the poem and I opted to use "Purple Polka" until a more fitting title struck me and as the months go by and the posts go up I can still think of no better name.

So, Purple Polka, this one's for you--

that which we call purple
by any other name would not cling to my walls
in such exuberant purplocity if my walls be coated
by the likes of Lilac Bouquet or Touch Of Violet.
‘twould be far too light, but not nearly as odd
as perhaps the dried renditions of Veronica’s Sash
( for i’ve not the faintest knowledge of this Veronica, nor
why one would desire to drape her ribbon ‘bout their study).
and while the word may lurk in Mystic Purple’s moniker,
‘tis far too airy to comprise a Proper Purple.

paint brush i implore you to shroud my halls–
Purple Polka take my walls.

Oh Lilo

In honor of Miss Lohan's recent dumping, here is a poem. Seemed a good time, what with it being National Poetry Month and all.

::Twinkle Twinkle Little Starlets::

Twinkle, twinkle little starlets
More and more resembling harlots
Up above the world so high--
Celebrity's fame's the reason why.

::Other Goose: Recycled Rhymes for our Fragile Times:: Barbara Whyn Klunder::

Thanks to Sara (of Librarian Boredom) to putting this random, random book in my hands!

Poetry Friday

For the first time ever I've decided to participate in Poetry Friday. However, instead of supplying you with the poem I am going to urge you to read Meow Ruff: A story in concrete poetry by Joyce Sidman. My favorite style of poetry is concrete poetry and this book is the perfect balance of adorable illustration and awe-inspiring poetry. I've taken the first page from the Amazon Look Here feature so you can get a feel for it, but keep in mind that it by no means does this book justice. Check it out of your library yesterday if you haven't had the pleasure of viewing it!