JOYCE SIDMAN POETRY

WHAT THE HEART KNOWS: CHANTS, CHARMS & BLESSINGS

Photo Retrieved From Amazon.com

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. WHAT THE HEART KNOWS: CHANTS, CHARMS,& BLESSINGS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston, MA: Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. ISBN 9780544106161

B.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND REVIEW

Joyce Sidman presents a collection of 29 poems arranged by categories.  In Chants and Charms, she uses repetition and rhyming to bring light to the emotions and heart felt wants of every human being.  From chanting for a friendship to come to life again, to help with sleeping. Sidman provides the reader with this self-help poetry, and the reader instantly will connect with her sympathetic  words.  In "Spells and Invocations," Sidman uses a play with words in her poems written to bring forth change.  In Laments and Remembrances, Sidman captures what it is to regret, and wish for what once was.  In Lament For My Old Life, it amazing how she embraces the reader with her words and wanting to go back to what you once had.   In Praise Songs and Blessings, it is the small and everyday things in life that Sidman captures in her words.  The importance and meaning these things have in our lives is so well put in her poetry, and she brings a sense of gratitude for these things through her writing.

These poems are fun, touching, and inspiring.  In the poem, Illness: A Conversation, Sidman gives hope and glory to those who may be feeling ill, aged, or tired.  A new perspective will be gained in an instant, and a challenge may instantly become a hidden blessing.  She writes, “I asked my feet why they could not walk and they said, We are treading water.”  In just that first line of this poem, Sidman opens our perspective on illness, and hope peeks in.  This is amazingly well- written poetry that presents itself almost as prayer.  This fresh insight into how our bodies change and the power we all have to go on is captured so well in this poem.  

Joyce Sidman is an award winning author, and has written other collections such as SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN, DARK EMPEROR, and THIS IS JUST TO SAY.  She is the winner of a Newbery Honor, and this book has received numerous positive reviews.  Illustrator Pamela Zagarenski is a Caldecott Honor winner, and has illustrated other works such as THE WHISPER.

Sidman’s poetry and Zagarenski’s artwork are a wonderful craft put together that will surely speak to every reader’s heart.

The illustrations from award winning illustrator Pamela Zagarenski are absolutely phenomenal.  They are intriguing, captivating, and truly remarkable.  Each one is a piece of art in itself.  They add to the eccentric tone of the book, and bring these chants, spells, and blessings to life.  The illustrations are a mix of media and computer illustrations.  They bring a modern and contemporary vibe to the book, and act as an art studio mixed in with poetry.   There is artwork in every piece of this book, and the creativity spills over from page to page.  

In her author’s note, Sidman introduces her  poetry and explains the nature of her poetry.  She offers insight, and even encourages her readers to become writers themselves.  In her Contents page, she presents the categories of her writing, and a brief definition of each category.  In the book, she provides an additional explanation for each category at each section.  This allows the reader an opportunity to choose what kind of poem they would like to read.

This particular copy has a red book mark ribbon attached to the binding of the book.  This gives a wonderful and personal feel to the book.  As a reader comes along a poem he or she would like to keep a tab, on, the red ribbon serves its purpose.  

C. HIGHLIGHT POEM AND ACTIVITY

Blessings on the Smell of Dog

May the dog always smell of Dog.

May his scent seep through

Perfumed shampoos

Like the rich tang of mud in spring.

May the grass cling to his paws,

The loam of his belly;

May his fur hold the wind’s breath.

May we forgive him

His whiffs of carrion and scat

From the treasures he gathers so diligently.

As we turn from all that is false,

may we praise instead

The warm scent buried like a promise

In that deep-hearted chest:

Den, comfort, home.

Talk about issues with pets.  Sometimes they can be difficult, almost like small children.  Some are kept inside, some outside.  Does this poem bring the smell of a dog to you?  Can you form a mental picture of this smell?

Students can collect photos of their dogs or pets and form a class collage.  Have a copy of the poem and add the pictures to the poem.  Research what animal shelters or rescue centers there are in your area.  The class or group can then present their creation to a local Animal Rescue or Animal Shelter.  The collage can also be kept in class for others to enjoy.