Join the Spiritual Thursday round up at Reading, Teaching, Learning.
On Wednesday, I was out of the classroom at an enrichment day for 6th graders. While I was away, my students were still writing poems. At the beginning of this National Poetry Month, I told them that they would write a poem each day. I have provided some kind of prompt activity (video, music, other poems), but this day they just chose to write. I checked our Kidblog site and found new poems. These poems were not sing-songy rhyme poems. They were serious poems about real life.
Poetry can be serious. Poetry can be spiritual, but I’ve not told my students about this aspect. However, writing in poems can bring out deep feelings even in the youngest of poets. In an effort to capture this move to deep thinking, I have found a poem in the poetry of my students.
Secrets are hidden,
the rain doesn’t care;
It’s still pouring down.Life
shining like a precious jewel
is waiting for us.Many don’t
know the comfort
of last words and hopes.Rest is impossible
with all this wonder.A found poem by Margaret Simon from poems by Lani, Tobie, Kaiden, and Erin
Follow the Progressive Poem to Deo Writer with Jone.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, this is beautiful and moving (almost to tears). You are giving your students a great gift by encouraging such discipline and honesty of expression.
(I also want you to know I loved your poem from yesterday. I read it on my ipad, and wasn’t signed in to WP in order to comment, so never said anything then…)
Love that your students are digging deeper even without you there – serious poems about real life! And your found poem is a treasure. I know they were excited to be part of your poem.
Kids have so much to say in their writing, don’t they?! I love that you encourage them to write so much poetry. Your found poem honors their words. Beautiful!