Poetry Friday round up with Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference.
I received another poem swap gift. Poets are incredibly creative people, so it’s always exciting to see what arrives. Joy Acey sent me a hawk feather, along with an artistic background and original poem. Her poem is a minute poem, 60 syllables. This was a new form for me, so I decided to capture a moment with a student today in my own minute poem, a sort of call and response with Joy’s poem.
Hawk Feather
The hawk soars in sky-high circles
floating on air
around the sun
riding jet streams.Its rust and black feathers flutter
lifting to glide.
A feather drops.
Grab the treasure.Pull the feather across your skin;
caress softness.
It feels so smooth.
Hear the hawk’s dreams.–Joy Acey, 2015, all rights reserved
Joy Comes Back to You
Such joy returned
when I saw your face
upturned to me
from a warm embrace.Summer sun kisses
on your pink cheeks
reflecting light
from your blonde hair streaks.Like a new butterfly
on a wisp of wind,
you lift my spirit
once again,
my student,
my friend.–Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
Lovely presentation with the feather and poem, Joy! A minute poem is a new one to me–I’ll have to give one a try!
Both beautiful, Joy and Margaret. What lovely things these swap gifts are! Hope you’re having a good week, Margaret!
I’d not heard of a minute poem before, but I love both of these examples, so think it’s a form I’ll be trying. Thanks so much for sharing.
What a nice circle these two poems form with soaring spirits and dreamy winds!
What a treasure! Feathers are always mysterious and beautiful. You’ve done a delightful thing in your response poem!
Beautiful call and equally beautiful response. (Plus, beautiful presentation, Joy!) Will have to stick this “minute poem” in my form toolbox.
I love your poem, Margaret. Thank you. I used one of my hawk feathers to make a quill pen. I had lots of fun writing with it. There are directions for making quill pens on the web. Your students might have fun with this old writing tool.
Very fun call and response!
It’s been a long time since I was a regular classroom teacher, but your poem just about killed me, Margaret. The last lines hit me right in my teacher heart. Wonderful pairing of poems.
The pairing, the form and the image you gave me of Joy are beautiful.
VERY COOL feather minute poem! I like your response very much too–hoping the pleasure of seeing familiar faces in my class of 2nd graders (returning to me from kindergarten) will similarly inspire me. I feel SO not ready yet! : )
Margaret, I enjoyed reading both Joy’s and your poems today. I never heard of a minute poem but it does have promise. Would you like your response to go into Summer Splashings or do you have another poem for me to place there?