In 1996, the Academy of American Poets instituted the nation-wide recognition of American poetry. Now, 15 years later, National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, bringing poets, librarians, teachers, booksellers, and ordinary citizens together. We in the Hood family enjoy reading poetry very much, and Karen herself is a talented poet with several volumes of poetry in print. We hope that you will join us in celebrating American poetry during the month of April.

According to the National Poetry Month website, the goals of this celebration are to:

• Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
• Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry
• Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways
• Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum
• Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
• Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
• Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry

There are literally hundreds of things you can do to participate in National Poetry Month, including attending a poetry reading or organizing one of your own, memorizing a poem, or attend a writing workshop. There are also local events being organized around the country, like the Copper Canyon Press Poetry Reading that will be held on April 5 in Seattle. Check with colleges and bookstores in your area to find out what special events you can attend. If you will be in New York at the end of the month, check out the 9th annual Poetry & the Creative Mind benefit that helps raise funding for the Academy of American Poets. Some of America’s leading artists, scholars, and public figures will participate in this extraordinary evening celebrating the role of contemporary poetry in American culture. Past guest readers at the benefit have included Meryl Streep, Senator Edward Kennedy, Dan Rather, Lauren Bacall, and Alan Alda.

For more ways to participate in NPM, click here! In the meantime, check out this review of Karen Hood’s first volume of poetry, Frost of Spring Green. Whether you are a poetry lover already or someone looking into this art form for the first time, you will be delighted by this book. It’s a great way to kick off the celebration!

Purchase Frost of Spring Green today!

Morning Reflections by Karen Jean Matsko Hood is the first book in the Inspirational Reflections Series by Whispering Pine Press International. I have had this book for several weeks now, and have thoroughly enjoyed waking up to its peaceful and uplifting devotionals. Each page features a Bible verse followed by one of Hood’s original poems, with a brief but insightful prayer completing the day’s reading. The devotionals are centered around themes that are reflected in verse, poem, and prayer alike, and this allows the reader to really concentrate on the message and internalize it. The poems are simple yet poignant, a powerful and often elegant contemplation of various facets of the Christian walk. Thankfulness, praise, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the struggle to live righteously in a difficult world–all these topics and many more are meditated upon in Morning Reflections. I have found that my mornings tend to start much more smoothly when I set aside the time to quietly reflect on God, and Karen Hood‘s gentle, thoughtful words make it easy and enjoyable to do just that.

In the back of the book are three separate indexes that are helpful for finding a particular devotional quickly and easily: Index by First Line, Index by Bible Verse, and an Alphabetical Index. I really appreciated having these indexes handy to help me navigate the book to find my favorite poems and prayers again.

Morning Reflections also offers several other extra touches that I thought were particularly nice. There are several blank pages at the beginning of the book to provide space to write out my own thoughts on the reflection of the day, and there is a another page where you can fill in a personal message if you want to give Morning Reflections as a gift. There is a Reader Feedback form that can be mailed to Whispering Pine Press, something I have never seen before in a book and really appreciated because it shows that the publishers are truly interested in treating their readers right.

Order your copy of Morning Reflections today!

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Karen Hood’s first collection of poetry, Frost of Spring Green, is a masterful collection of poems in a wide range of topics that will delight serious readers of poetry and those new to the genre alike. The poems deal with a wide range of topics including nature, everyday life, social and environmental issues, and the deepest, most profound emotions experienced by all of us.

Hood’s poetry is clear and confident, elegant in its simplicity. She is adept at crafting layers of meaning and impact that work on the heart over time, providing powerful insight into the wonders of the natural world and the human condition. At first glance, her poems appear straightforward and can be easily read and grasped by those inexperienced in the nuances of poetry. A deeper reading, however, will prove that there is much for a more experienced reader to discover beneath the surface.

Frost of Spring Green‘s imagery is powerfully visual, painting vivid pictures that are poignant and breathtaking whether the subject is a beautiful flower or mountain vista, or the cardboard box an orphaned, homeless child has used to construct a home for herself. Hood’s metaphors are equally strong, and with them she is able to bring the reader to a deeper understanding of her themes. Her knowledge of the craft is excellent, and she demonstrates an innate skill with rhyme and meter that enhances the impact of her poetry–although she also knows when to withhold them. Alliteration is used to create greater emphasis on particular phrases that will linger hauntingly long after the book has been set aside. One of Hood’s favorite devices is the use of stark contrasts, comparing and sometimes even equating opposites in such powerful ways that the poem creates a lasting effect on the reader. Personally, I have never encountered a poet who crafts more potent contrasts than Karen Hood.

Frost of Spring Green is a compelling read for anyone who enjoys poetry. It provides the opportunity to slow down and consider the world we live in, in all its beauty and heartbreak–a rare thing in this hectic modern lifestyle. I will close my review with one of my favorite poems from this collection, one that demonstrates the depth and power in Karen Hood’s writing.

~

Night Whistle

Do you remember that
Hot August night?

Iowa humidity so dense
You could backstroke in the breeze.

Mom and Dad, we came home with
You, back to our tiny apartment.

The brassy train whistle
Pierced our silence.

One quiet night with you, now
Dead within my body.

My beautiful dark-haired
First baby boy, still.

The last long night
I shared together with you.

Karen Jean Matsko Hood © 2010

~

Order your copy of Frost of Spring Green today!

Frost of Spring Green ©2010 & 2011

Copyright Year and Binding

2010 Paperback $ 19.95 2011 Paperback $ 19.95 2011 Paperback Large Print $ 22.95

Frost of Spring Green ©2004 & 2005

Copyright Year and Binding

2004 Spiral Bound $ 8.95 2004 Comb Bound $ 8.95 2005 Spiral Bound $ 9.95 2005 Comb Bound $ 9.95