April is an exciting month at the Oceanside Library because it is National Poetry Month, and because we are launching our new seed library! As always, we have plenty of books and online resources on these topics and more.
Bloom – is Result – to meet a Flower
And casually glance
Would scarcely cause one to suspect
The minor Circumstance
Assisting in the Bright Affair
So intricately done
Then offered as a Butterfly
To the Meridian –
To pack the Bud – oppose the Worm –
Obtain its right of Dew –
Adjust the Heat – elude the Wind –
Escape the prowling Bee
Great Nature not to disappoint
Awaiting Her that Day –
To be a Flower, is profound
Responsibility –
By Emily Dickinson c. 1865
The Library also has several poetry and gardening programs planned,
so take a look at our events calendar and join us.
More about the seed library: Starting on Saturday, April 20, Oceanside Library patrons can check out up to 5 packets of seeds. We have several varieties of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit available, all for free! Come see us at the Adult information desk to learn more.
Online Resources
- Libby: Check out poetry and gardening ebooks, e-audiobooks, and magazines.
- Gale ebooks: Offers the Poetry for Students series featuring discussion and analysis of poems of all time periods, nations, and cultures. Provides an overview of the poem and discussion of its principal themes, images, form and construction.
- Gale Twayne’s Author Series: Provides in-depth introductions to the lives and works of writers, as well as the history and influence of literary movements and development of literary genres.
- NoveList Plus and NoveList K-8 Plus: NoveList Plus is a comprehensive readers’ advisory resource. You can find titles, articles, and lists for all your fiction and nonfiction needs, including poetry.
Poetry and Gardening Programs
- Poetry Near and Afar (virtual)
- Mondays, April 1 and 15 at 7pm
- Oceanside Garden Club: Building a Secret Garden Even in Small Places
- Tuesday, April 9 at 7pm
- Open Mic Poetry
- Saturday, April 13 at 2pm
- Poetry Palooza (Grades 1-6)
- Sunday, April 14 at 2:30pm
- Nassau County Cornell Cooperative Extension Program: Butterflies, Bees, and Other Pollinators & Their Importance
- Tuesday, April 16 at 2pm
- Creative Writing with Barbara Novack
- Wednesday, April 17 at 7pm
- Poetry Prompt Party: Write a little, read a little, share a little (virtual)
- Thursday, April 18 at 7pm
- Seed Library Launch
- Saturday, April 20 from 9:30am to 5pm
Why Poetry
by Matthew Zapruder
An impassioned call for a return to reading poetry and an incisive argument for poetry’s accessibility to all readers, by critically acclaimed poet Matthew Zapruder
Don’t Read Poetry
by Stephanie Burt
Award-winning poet and literary critic Stephanie Burt offers an accessible introduction to the seemingly daunting task of reading, understanding, and appreciating poetry.
The Trouble with Poetry
by Billy Collins
With his distinct voice and accessible language, America’s two-term Poet Laureate has opened the door to poetry for countless people for whom it might otherwise remain closed.
Call Us What We Carry: Poems
by Amanda Gorman
National Youth Poet Laureate Gorman explores history, language, identity, and erasure through an imaginative and intimate collage. Harnessing the collective grief of a global pandemic, this beautifully designed volume features poems in many inventive styles and structures and shines a light on a moment of reckoning.
How to Read Poetry Like a Professor
No literary form is as admired and feared as poetry. In an entertaining and engaging voice, Foster shows readers how to overcome their fear of poetry and learn to enjoy it once more.
Gardening Your Front Yard
by Tara Nolan
Gardening Your Front Yard is an active, inspiring resource that shows you how to treat your front yard like a backyard without sacrificing beauty, from choosing the right plants to building front patios and walkways.
100 Plants to Feed the Birds
by Laura Erickson
In-depth profiles offer planting and care guidance for 100 native plant species that provide food and shelter for birds throughout the year, from winter all the way through breeding and migrating periods.
The Indestructible Houseplant
by Tovah Martin
Garden writer Tovah Martin eliminates the guesswork by highlighting indoor plants that are tough, beautiful, reliable, and readily available. In addition, this gorgeous book includes tips on care, maintenance, and ideas for combining houseplants in eye-catching indoor displays.
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant
by Veronica Peerless
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant is your guide to every stage of plant parenting for beginners, from identifying exactly what’s in the pot, to helping it flourish and grow. Learn to spot the danger signs and how to rescue an unhealthy plant, and follow easy advice to pick the top plants for your bathroom, cold rooms, desk, and windowsill to create your own indoor oasis.
Grow More Food
by Colin McCrate & Brad Halm
Colin McCrate and Brad Halm, former CSA growers and current owners of the Seattle Urban Farm Company, help readers boost their garden productivity by teaching them how to plan carefully, maximize production in every bed, get the most out of every plant, scale up systems to maximize efficiency, and expand the harvest season with succession planting, intercropping, and season extension.
