Poetry Friday round-up with Kimberley at Written Reflections
Inspired by Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem How Long Peace Takes from 19 Varieties of Gazelle, my students and I wrote our own How Long poems. The repeated line “As long as” followed by images works well to inspire poetry. I wrote one about healing. I am slowly recovering from my tailbone injury. The bayou seems to appear often in my poems and as I am recovering, I have watched the bayou every day. Such a peaceful place to heal.
Peak through the old cypress to the brown bayou.
How Long Healing Takes
As long as reflections of tall trees on a winding bayou.
As long as the slow mowing of a field of grass.
As long as the the thread of soft yarn
winds its way into a baby’s blanket.As long as the body insists
on being separate and human.As long as instinct is ignored
and we just talk louder to each other.As long as the cat
finds a box in the closet,
comfort in cardboard.
She hides all day invisible.As long as the flowers in the vase
smile their peachy-orange smile
and say stay,
rest,
be well.
–Margaret SimonAnd now for a few students’s poems.
How Long Patience Takes
As long as you rise at dawn
As long as the sun rises above
to shine upon usAs long as the teapot sings
a steamy songAs long as long as you make a wish
at 11:11As long as you blow out you candles
on your special dayAs long as you have
patienceAs long as you leave at dusk
–Emily, 5th grade
How Long Creativity Takes
As long as you’re reading
with a smile on your face
so deep in your book
you can’t hear anythingAs long as you’re drawing
letting the pencil control you
light and dark lines
here and thereAs long as you’re brainstorming
with ideas flowing out left and right
shouting them out like you don’t care
while you peacefully think of some moreAs long as you’re writing
with a pen in your hand
as you think of a story
and poem at the same timeAs long as you let your imagination flow
making dreams a reality
and never losing hope
and letting your mind run wildAs long as you never stop believing
believe in the impossible
step out your comfort zone
and live a creative life–Erin, 4th grade
Reflections on the Teche 
Wonderful!!!
Your students amaze me, Margaret–and love your healing list. Hope you are soon well!
I so admire what you are able to bring out in your children Margaret through your own creativity. That bayou looks so soothing – what a great view.
Your poem is so powerful. I had to stop to think about a thread in a blanket and the body insisting on being separate. And Emily’s poem, wow. Please tell her I adored it.
I love Emily’s line “As long as you leave at dusk” – that is beautiful. I love how you used Nye as your mentor text for your students. Hope you recover soon!
You and your students just blow me away. “As long as you rise at dawn..as you leave at dusk.” Whoa! Thank you for sharing these gems.
So, so beautiful, Margaret! I love the unexpectedness of the cat hiding in the closet and Emily’s teapot and Erin’s light and dark lines… gorgeous. I am going to write a How Long poem too. Thank you! xo
Send it to me.
Margaret, I hope that your healing is going well, but if that quiet is helping you to write such beautiful poems, I guess it’s a bit of a blessing. Your poem is wonderful, love every bit, but these lines are favorites: “As long as the body insists/on being separate and human.” The two by your students are terrific too. Your sharing of your knowledge of poetry with the students will be something they’ll keep with them always. Happy Valentine’s Day!
These are amazing!
Those are beautiful and inspiring. I love that start, how long does it take to express your appreciation? As long as a smile, the time it takes to walk a mile, less time than a trial. I hope you heal faster than the spring takes to unfold. Blessings, Brenda
Margaret, your how long poems and your students’ are filled with deep reflection. I agree with Linda that the following line is thoughtful and memorable: As long as the body insists/on being separate and human. Using mentor texts opens eyes to a new thought and allows the writer to create a similar creation with voice that comes from inside. I am glad that the healing is moving forward. Let’s hope that springtime will give you renewed strength.
Love the idea of “how long” poems. You and your students seem to have a wonderful symbiotic relationship of inspiring creativity. Really enjoy the student samples beside your own. Hope the soft yarn is soon completely woven into the baby blanket of healing.
Hi, Margaret. It’s wonderful to see you writing in community with your students. When I do school residencies, the students go crazy when their teachers write and share their work alongside the kids!
A great exercise for the students, and some really good writing, too!
Wow. This is a “form” I want to try. All of these poems are just amazing. (Sorry to hear about your injury, and I’m still trying to process a life experience that doesn’t include tire tracks in a snowy parking lot!!! 🙂
I grew up in central Mississippi and live now in South Louisiana. No snow. Once it snowed enough to make a small snow bunny in our yard. I was pregnant with my second child who is almost 28 years old. That’s the last snow I remember. Sad, huh? I have to live it through images on Facebook and TV.
Count your blessings, Margaret. Snow is sometimes followed up by temperatures below zero. Today, I would trade for your bayou in a heartbeat!
Your poem is gorgeous, Margaret. I love every line, but especially “be well.” My wish for you.
Thanks. Healing is happening. Slowly.
Great writing exercise, Margaret! I’m so sorry to hear about your tailbone. I hurt mine a long time ago and it took a good while for me to be able to sit down without wincing (four months, maybe). Sending you healing wishes!!!
How could I not like a poem with these lines: As long as the cat
finds a box in the closet,
comfort in cardboard.
Brava!
I would love to visit your bayou one day, Margaret. I can easily see why it would be a great source of peace, inspiration, and healing. The lines “As long as the the thread of soft yarn/winds its way into a baby’s blanket” were my favorite. Emily and Erin also make it look easy, so I guess I’ll have to give it a try, myself!
If you try the form, please send it to me. I love that ripple effect we have happen in this community.
I am just in awe of you and your students!! Wow.
I finally wrote my poem based on this idea, and posted it today! Hope you like it. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com