by Kariza Montealegre Exposing children to poetry is important since it allows them to appreciate words better at an early age. From rhymes and sound emphasis to wordplay, reading poetry is not just a fun activity with kids; it could also be instrumental in forming a foundation for their reading. Wondering which poems are best for…
Read MoreBookbed turns 6: 6 Reasons To Enjoy Writing About Reading
We turn six this year, and to celebrate, we came up with six things on why we do what we do here on Bookbed. We hope these encourage you to write about books and reading as well. Enjoy! 1. We write about reading to understand. “Writing about reading helps generate discourse and facilitate understanding.” —WINA PUANGCO of Crossed Wires 2. We…
Read MoreChallenging Creativity: An Interview with Artist Elyoo dela Cruz
by Karz Montealegre In June 2015, artist Elyoo dela Cruz posted on Instagram a portrait she painted of Frida Kahlo. Perfectly capturing Kahlo’s prominent features, it was a vibrant take on the Mexican painter’s portrait that could easily pass as a character from a storybook. View this post on Instagram 1/100: Frida Kahlo. In an attempt…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘Shrinking Women’ by Lily Myers
by Kariza Montealegre Each day is a fight for women’s rights, and each day is a chance to honor women and their contributions to society, so today, I’ll be sharing a spoken word poem I stumbled upon years ago and has stuck with me since. As a woman, it is easy to feel inferior. You doubt your…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘Questions of Travel’ by Elizabeth Bishop
by Kariza Montealegre Welcome to the first Ink Blots post of 2016. I’m sure a lot of you have made a list of sights you want to see, adventures you want to embark in and places you want to discover. I can’t blame you if you have that burning desire to leave home (I am…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘The Invitation’ by Oriah
by Kariza Montealegre It’s been a while since the last Ink Blots, but I hope you’re all good, making the most of the remaining days of the year. (Can you believe 2015 is almost over?) Whatever you may be up to these days, allow me to drizzle you with some inspiration today. Today’s piece is about…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘Mad Girl’s Love Song’ by Sylvia Plath
by Kariza Montealegre Last time, I wrote about a piece in line with Mental Health Day. Today, I’m sharing a poem on madness from a poet who suffered from bipolar disorder and depression and eventually committed suicide—Sylvia Plath. It’s also the birth anniversary of this literary genius this month, so it seems like the perfect time…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘The Madness Vase’ by Andrea Gibson
by Kariza Montealegre Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, and various discussions on suicide prevention have been initiated. With 800,000 lives taken every year because of suicide, it is indeed important to raise awareness on the matter. And today, I would like to share a poem that touches on such subject. Today’s piece is from the…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘Remember How We Forgot’, ‘Here I Am’
by Kariza Montealegre Today’s poems—yes, I am sharing two poems today—are about the revelation of the future to our childhood selves. As they say, we can never predict what life may bring. What we may have dreamed as a child may not be what or where we are now—and yes, that could be frustrating. I have…
Read MoreInk Blots: ‘Girlfriends’ by Charles Bukowski
by Kariza Montealegre Memories are stories we’ve kept in the tiny compartments of our heads. If we look into our minds, they’re probably libraries housing books about our past. One part of that library could be named Past Lovers (which could be in the Restricted Section for some *wink*). If given a chance, would you…
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