Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving Thoughts on Loved Ones
How many times have I assigned students to write that Thanksgiving holiday essay entitled, 'What I Am Thankful for'. Family always tops the list. I'm thankful for my family, always, and in memory of a boy named Michael.
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Writing YA Fiction or Coming-of-Age Stories? 14 Must-Read Authors

Mature Reading for Teen High School Boys and Young Adults
It's a sad fact that the majority of teenage boys and young men do not read anything beyond magazines or newspapers. Here is list of literature guaranteed to get teen boys and men hooked on books. Excellent for YA authors.
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Happy Baby Feet: A Poem to Our Stillborn Daughter Isobella Raine

To Our Daughter, Isobella Raine Sachteleben Born and Died June 28, 2004
It's been five years since baby had to go. A tiny little soul, not quite ready. It's really sad when hello is also goodbye.
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Big Lake Poems: Oak Leaf and Acorn Novembers

Oak Leaf and Acorn Novembers
November in Michigan is leaf gathering time. Autumn harvest of oak and acorn burned on funeral pyre. Poem from the Big Lake Anthology about childhood and fall in Michigan.
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Halloween Haiku: The Dead

The Dead- a Haiku
Another Halloween Haiku from my friends at Associated Content. This is Rissa Watkins prize winning Halloween haiku,'The Dead' Pure creepy in 17 syllables.
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Big Lake Poems: Pink Pickable Ladyslippers

Pink Pickable Ladyslippers
This one is from The Big Lake Poems anthology. The Lake Michigan dunes flora surrounded my growing up and I think they deserve notice in my poems. This one is about lady slippers, childhood and big choices in life.
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Big Lake Poems: The Grama-Grampa House Smell

Fresh-Wind Lake-Green Cedar-Time
More from the Big Lake Poems anthology. I wish that I could make you smell the way my grandparents' house near Lake Michigan smelled. Or that I could smell it again for that matter. Maybe this poem will help.
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Big Lake Poems: Trillium and Pine

Trillium and Pine
I'm creating a volume of poetry that I call 'The Big Lake Poems' about my life and memories growing up near Lake Michigan, or The Big Lake as we called it. This one 'Trillium and Pine' is centered around a white tri-petaled flower, also known as grandiflorum, native to Michigan's old-growth forests and protected by the DNR. This early spring blossom is welcomed every year with a Festival in my home town.
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Big Lake Poems: Lily- Laced Walks

Lily-of-the-Valley Laced Walks
From my volume of poetry entitled 'The Big Lake Poems' is based on my growing up near Lake Michigan, or the Big Lake as we called it. Each poem focuses on a tree, plant or flower, native to Michigan that has significance for me. This one is Lily-of-the-Valley Laced Walks.
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Halloween Haiku: Mind's Eye Halloween

Mind's Eye Halloween
Halloween Haiku; Haiku is the perfect poetry form for Halloween, Harvest, Autumn and fall. Haiku encompasses nature in little seed morsels. The rigor of writing in only 17 syllables makes the poet very choosy about her words. You will be seeing more Halloween Haiku from myself and other writers at Associated Content. And why not ask guests at your Halloween bash to jot down Haikus? Fun and creative party game.
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