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Have you ever wondered what gift to give that special someone in your life? They already have everything they need, and you’ve been racking your brain each holiday and birthday for the last several years to come up with something unique, something that is truly as special as they are–and now you have completely run out of ideas.

A personalized poem by Karen Jean Matsko Hood is the perfect answer. Affordable on any budget, personalized poems can be anything you want: fun and lighthearted, romantic, friendly, or sympathetic; they can be tailored to fit almost any occasion including birthdays, engagements or anniversaries, holidays, bereavement, as well as any other important event or milestone. A Personalized Poem by Karen gives you the opportunity to select extra options that many other personalized poems don’t bother with, such as whether or not you want the poem to rhyme, and whether or not you wish to add artwork or have your poem printed on special paper. Furthermore, most personalized items simply add the name of your gift recipient to an already-existing poem, but a Personalized Poem by Karen is always a unique creation, written specifically for you.

Karen Jean Matsko Hood has been writing poetry for many years, and her poems have appeared in numerous magazines and literary journals both national and international. You can read a review of her first volume of poetry, Frost of Spring Green, here. Karen’s experience and expertise in writing well-crafted, poignant poems makes her a natural for personalized poetry. Her deft touch and finely-woven words are guaranteed to touch the heartstrings no matter the subject or event you are looking to commemorate. Give a gift that will be treasured forever–give a Personalized Poem by Karen.

Happy National Poetry Month, everyone! April is a month-long celebration of American poetry, and to kick it off we’re sharing one of Karen Jean Matsko Hood’s lovely poems from Frost of Spring Green. Hood’s widely acclaimed poetry has been published in numerous national and international literary journals and her words bring meaning and power to the simple, ordinary topics. Frost of Spring Green is her first poetry collection published by Whispering Pine Press International. With its beautiful imagery, poignant symbolism, and meticulous crafting, Hood’s poetry will delight readers and bring them to a new appreciation of the world around them.

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Oaken Planks

Raised grains of sun-bleached oaken planks
lie beneath my calloused feet,
Weary from the days of work.
The prints unfold to read as tea leaves.
Mapped in hardwood below each cracked sole.
Full of pain with every new step
The mighty oak tree weaves a tale,
Seeing eyes of time recorded.
A hundred years of mighty pride,
Producing acorn’s providence
For generations of squirrels
Eager to devour each tender morsel.
Golden leaves spread to the ground
Swirling down to parched souls,
Waiting for the winter frost
To dance across the oaken casts’ thorny thistles.

© Karen Jean Matsko Hood 2011

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Join in the celebration of great American poets like Karen Jean Matsko Hood this month: attend a poetry reading at your local bookstore or library, take a poetry class at the community college, or set yourself the goal of reading one poem a day during April. No matter how you choose to commemorate this special time of year, remember to take a few moments to slow down in your hectic life and notice the small, wondrous details of the world around you. Poetry is everywhere, even in seemingly insignificant things.

Order Frost of Spring Green today as part of your celebration of National Poetry Month!

Copyright Year and Binding

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

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!