Poetry Friday is at Teaching Authors.
If you’ve been following my National Poetry Month project, you know I’ve been teaching a poetry form each day to my students. I am learning so much about the benefits of writing a poem each day, but most of all, I glow when my students skip into class each day asking what are we writing today?
Writing a poem each day stretches your writing muscles. Like in a yoga practice, you find new muscles that you didn’t know you had. Word play leads us to discover deeper meanings for every day language.
Today I am sharing two of my poems from this week. The kyrielle is probably the most challenging form we have tried. Noah wrote a Kyrielle about dirt. I know I’ve reached my boys when they can adapt any poetry form to a typical boy topic.
Kyrielle Poem on Dirt
A substance covering the ground.
Laying on the ground all around.
Not making any sound at all.
Tracked by dirty feet down the hall.
Noah, 5th grade
For list poems, I turned to Falling Down the Page by Georgia Heard. We read the poems that started with “Things to do if you are…”
My student, Jacob, shouted, “Sky!” Then Madison said, “Always change colors!” and this poem was born.
Things to do if you’re the Sky
Always change colors.
Hold onto clouds.
Sparkle like diamonds.
Water the garden.
Dance with the wind.
Paint treetops green.
Wake up the morning glories.
Invite birds over for tea.
Make every day beautiful.
—Margaret Simon (with a little help from Jacob and Madison)
Yesterday, Michelle Heidenrich Barnes featured Madison’s cinquain on Today’s Little Ditty. Madison wrote her poem after pulling a cadet blue crayon from the crayon box. My students are feeling like “real” poets this month. Thanks, Michelle for the affirmation.
You can read more of my students’ poem on our Kidblog site.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love the creative, imaginative expression of children – I wish we could all hold on to that confidence and enthusiasm, which sadly so many of us lose as we grow up. 😦
I’m impressed you and your students have tackled a new poetic form every day. Wow!
I wouldn’t be surprised if your students know more forms than I do at this point! I bet they could teach me a thing or two. But for now, I’ll just practice being the sky. 🙂
I think I’ve said this before, but am so happy that you are doing this with your students. What a gift you are giiving them, Margaret. Your poem’s repeating line is wonderful, along with all the rest. And that sky, also terrific, love “invite the birds for tea”.
“Always change colors” is such a true observation, dirt is a great topic, and I like “Nature knows how much is enough.” We just watched the Planet Earth II episode about deserts, and it is remarkable how nature knows how to thrive, how much is enough. Well done all of you!
Wow, that is some great poetry. I love that your kids walk in excited to take on the new challenge of the day. You sound like the very best kind of teacher. I love that last poem.
I love all these poems, Margaret, especially “Things to do If You’re the Sky.” And who doesn’t enjoy a poem about dirt?
A poetic form every single day–that’s amazing, Margaret! Love the dirt poem–my favorite thing to share with Ss is that poetry can be about ANY topic they want. And that sky poem. Sigh. Inviting birds over for tea–fabulous.