Michelle is hosting today at Today’s Little Ditty!
Poets are some of my favorite people. I want to be one, so sometimes I try on their clothes. I shared this confession with my students. One of my poet-heroes, Laura Shovan, tried on Naomi Shihab Nye’s list poem, Words in my Pillow, that you can find in Georgia Heard’s collection Falling Down the Page. I shared Naomi’s poem as well as Laura’s with my students.
My students are smart kids who are really stubborn about wanting to break the mold, but I told them, “This is the form we are trying on today.” When the third student asked about breaking the form, I turned to them and said, “What did I say?”
“We are trying this one on today!” Sometimes when you try on another poet’s form, it is confining and doesn’t fit at all. Not this one. I was surprised at how well this poem fit.
Words in my Bathroom
I keep words in my bathroom,
Words that keep me clean.SOAP
TOWEL
SHAMPOONo one sees them
Until I put them on,
But I know they’re there.BATHROBE
FACE CREAM
BODY WASH
HAND SOAP
LEFTOVER CLOTHING
TOILET PAPERTOILET is in there.
BATHTUB is in there.The words wish they were something else
When I’m not looking.
This TOWEL and that RACK
like being together.
CANDLES brighten up my bathroom
TOILET yells NO
in my bathroom.My friends the words
know better than I do
what makes me feel good.
–Tobie
Words under the Couch Cushions
I keep words under the couch cushions.
Words that make me cool.HANDSOME
BLACK
STYLISHNo one sees them until
I put them on.
But I know what’s in there.REMOTE
TOYS
PAPER
FEATHERSWHITE SOCK is in there.
GOOGLY EYES are in there.The words make a PUPPET
when I am not looking.TISSUE
GUM
CARDMy friends the words know how to fluff a cushion
better than I do.
But I love them.
–Jacob
Words in my Closet
There are words in my closet that say “you’re chic!”
OLD NAVY
GAP
JUSTICE
“No one sees them until I put them on, but I know what’s in there–”
SILK
SPARKELS
POLKA-DOTS
RHINESTONES
“DENIM”
FLOWERS
SHOES are in there.
EXTRA LACES are in there.
The words choose my outfits.
I’m just not around when they do.
This SHIRT those SHORTS Already pieced together.NEON colors brighten up my closet.
LSU shirts shout “GO TIGERS” in my closet.My friends the words
know me the best.
–Emily
Words in my Journal
I keep words in my journal.
Words that dance from
my thoughts to the page.
BUZZY
PATIENCE
BOUQUETS
No one sees them
like LOVE LETTERS I hide in a box,
but I know what’s in there.
PURPLE
SKY
VICTORY
UMBRELLA
STARLINGS flit in there.
Even DILLY-DALLY trots a page.
The words make poems together
when I’m not looking.
LAKE
MAZE
WONDER
RUSH
My friends the words know better than I do
how to sing songs.
–Margaret Simon
This form fit reluctant poets as well as confident ones. Laura Shovan is posting student poems, too, from a writer in residence program. Check them out here.
Reflections on the Teche 
Was wondering where you were today, Margaret. So glad you arrived! 🙂
I so enjoyed reading these poems. Tobie’s “TOILET yells NO,” Jacob’s “Words that make me cool,” Emily’s “SPARKELS/POLKA-DOTS/RHINESTONES” and LSU shirts, and your… well, pretty much EVERYTHING about your poem!
I was late because I had to get these gemstone poems from my kids. I am always amazed at what comes out of them.
This is my favorite: WHITE SOCK is in there.
GOOGLY EYES are in there.
The words make a PUPPET
when I am not looking.
So very kid-like!
What fabulous details your students included in their poems, Margaret, and what stylish poets you have! I loved the googly-eyes and the starlings. My third graders are going to love Tobie’s bathroom poem — especially because we just spoke about how the word “stanza” means “room” in Italian.
These are amazing, Margaret! Your students are so talented, and your list poem is just wonderful. “The words make poems together/when I’m not looking.” Sigh.
Margaret, creativity is all over this post today-yours and your students. How special to try on other poet’s clothes to fit your own style. You’ve taken Laura’s direction and made it your own for your young writers.
Each of these made me smile for different reasons. I’m going to have to try this out with my kiddos this week.
I’m not sure why this works so well. It’s an open-ended prompt as the one I tried earlier Reasons to Write a Poem. The personality of the student comes through.
It’s true, your students are talented, Margaret, but it takes a great teacher to bring the talent out. Congratulations – these are wonderful!