Poetry Tag: X. J. Kennedy is IT

Yesterday, J. Patrick Lewis got our game of Poetry Tag started with his contribution of “In a Word” (just scroll down to read it below). Then he tagged his friend, X. J. (Joe) Kennedy who responded, “J. Patrick Lewis’s ‘In a Word’ is full of right words, so it started me thinking. How do we know that a certain word is the best one available? Maybe we never know for sure, but if it sounds good and slips beautifully into place, it’s probably the best we can get. Anyhow, that’s what my little poem is about.” Now here’s Kennedy’s poem:






Just the Right Word
By X. J. Kennedy

Bright golden plumes
Had that rare bird,
That dream I dreamed---
The perfect word!
Sweet, sweet it trilled!
And landing neatly,
It perfectly filled
Its perch completely.

Five fun facts about X. J. Kennedy
*he goes by the name “Joe”
*he served as a journalist in the U.S. Navy
*he won the NCTE Poetry Award for his body of work
*he collaborates on children’s poetry collections with his wife Dorothy Kennedy
*he writes prize-winning poetry for adults as well as for children
[Taken from Poetry People; A Practical Guide to Children’s Poets]

Look for these selected poetry books by X. J. Kennedy:
*Exploding Gravy, Poems to Make You Laugh (Little Brown 2002)
*Elefantina's Dream (Philomel 2002)
*Knock at a Star: A Child's Introduction to Poetry (Little Brown 1999)
*Drat These Brats (McElderry 1993)



Next up: Avis Harley




Look for more Poetry Friday fun at Book Aunt this week.

Posting (not poem) by Sylvia M. Vardell © 2010. All rights reserved.

Image credit: boaeditions.org;frank-joseph.blogspot.com