The Bookstore and my Grandchildren

bookstore When I’m not working – or reading – I love taking my grandchildren to the bookstore. My four-year-old will make a bee-line for the children’s section and judiciously choose not only a book for herself but for various siblings and cousins who are not there....

Formation – Poetry by Xianna Michaels

Books “Formation” was written at the beach and completely surprised me. I thought I was simply writing about seagulls. But it turned out to be about something else entirely. Formation Seagulls in precise formation. The shape: a children’s kite. Above the waves a...

Whispers – Poetry by Xianna Michaels

Books “Whispers” is a poem for children about writing poetry. It came unexpectedly to me as I prepared to give a poetry workshop to third grade girls! Whispers I do not know where morning went;   It up and ran away. I did not see the time I spent...

The Fall – Poetry by Xianna Michaels

Books I don’t have most of my childhood poems, but I’ve never forgotten the very first one. Written at the beginning of the school year, it was called simply, “The Fall.” The Fall (New York, 1959) Some leaves turn red and some turn brown, Then the leaves come tumbling...

Release Me – Poetry by Xianna Michaels

release “Release Me” is a sonnet written during an unaccustomed period when I could not seem to carve out time to write. It is unnerving for me to read it today, because about two years after I wrote it I suffered a literal, catastrophic fall and broke my jaw and my...