A Bouquet of Poems with Dodie Messer Meeks

As alluded to in an earlier post, past FPL Poetry Series poet and artist Dodie Meeks has recently had her illustrations and poems published in A Bouquet of Poems: for children of all ages. A Bouquet of Poems was published by The Lyric, the oldest poetry magazine in the U.S.A. devoted to traditional verse.  We hope to have Dodie back to talk about her book sometime in the New Year.

About the illustrations:

“Dodie Meeks’ brilliant watercolors bring these poems to life… By turns dreamlike and hauntingly realistic, these vivid and riveting paintings will stay with the viewer long after the book is returned to the shelf.  Meeks is the rare painter whose work appeals with equal power both to the child and the aficionado of distinguished art.”

 -- Larry D. Thomas, 2008 Texas Poet Laureate

Dodie Meek’s bold yet subtle art will fire up any child’s imagination.  Just looking at these paintings will send a child’s heart on amazing wanderings.” 

-- Chuck Taylor, author of One True Cat

 

A sample of her work, poems and illustrations, from A Bouquet of Poems:

 

 

 

 

 

Every Day, Every Day 

Marissa, Marissa, you bad sleepyhead,

I’m yanking your blankie right off your bed

And icing your middle.  I have a whole cup.

Marissa, Marissa, you’d better wake up.

 

I’ll make your walls shiver.  I’ll pound on your door.

I’ll dump all your marbles all over the floor

For your father is fuming. Your mother’s in tears.

It’s time to quit faking. I’m on to you, Dear.

 

I’ll pry up your eyelids, I know you’re inside.

You can’t hide from grandma.  I’ll say “Open Wide,”

And toothpaste your tonsils and make you spit foam

And I’ll croak like a Grackle and never go home.

 

Dodie Messer Meeks

 

 

Riding with G’Ma Dodie

 

Gramma Dodie’s Cadillac

smells like a banana,

from peelings left in there from when

we gave a ride to Hannah.

 

Gramma Dodie’s Cadillac

has papers on the floor,

and envelopes and photographs

and poetry galore

 

and maybe a French fried onion

and maybe a small baboon

and maybe a parrot in a tree

planning to fly off soon.

 

Gramma Dodie’s Cadillac

is comfy soft and mellow.

It has a lap, just like her lap

and she’s going to paint it yellow!

 

Dodie Messer Meeks

 

 

 

 

Scarcely Any

 

Scarcely any snails can do

Scarcely any flying.

With those houses on their backs

What’s the point of trying?

 

Dodie Messer Meeks