Poetry Friday posts are with Irene at Live Your Poem
Last week, my friend, poet, blogger, writing partner Linda Mitchell posted her found haiku along with the inspirational poem Letter in October by Ted Kooser. See her post here. I took it all to create a lesson for my students. After study of and talk about Ted Kooser’s poem, I shared Linda’s haiku and talked about how these haiku could stand separate from the original poem. I challenged my students to try finding haiku.
Madison created this lovely poem, but first she gave the form a name “re-ku” as in recycled haiku.
A late light dawning
finding a world of darkness.
Silhouettes of thelost leaves, soaring
on a draft. They have lost
their way. I watch thedarkness, sipping tea.
The night has wrapped the light, sowing
reflections ‘cross
my window. Watch.Madison, 4th grade
Free image
I’m fascinated by the rhythm and repetition that Noah used to create his artistic expression of A Letter in December.
The icy water
a letter in December
Sowing reflections
The icy writing
a letter in December
in the window pane
The icy fingers
a letter in December
wrapped around the hearth
The icy shingles
a letter in December
frozen in its place.
–Noah, 6th grade
Reflections on the Teche 
I always loved working with children. They can so create so much better than I could. These poems are gold. Connie
Oh Madison just continues to bless the page with her words, doesn’t she? Love “re-ku”! And Noah’s icy shingles… gorgeous! Thank you, Margaret. xo
I love the student writing that you share with us all. I feel like I know some of your students just through their words.
I am sitting on my back porch, putting finishing touches on an assignment. Reading this, along with Linda’s poem, makes me want to take time out and just write! It is a glorious day here – hope yours is also!
Wow! Your students are quite the inspiration with their words and re-ku! I am so glad you share their writing with us. Today’s examples take my breath away.
What talented word-weavers you’ve got there, Margaret!
Wow, both wonderful. I love Madison’s “The night has wrapped the light, sowing
reflections ‘cross/my window.” and Noah’s wise use of repetition. The class must have loved your lesson, Margaret!
Absolutely fun to see the joy these young people took in stringing words together. I love both Madison & Noah’s poems. I want to go poem hunting for poetry that has great syllables for re-ku. I feel like I’ve really gotten to look at poems differently when counting the syllables and thinking about re-kuing their meaning. Rock on, kiddos!
I love Madison’s ambiguous line breaks! And such a clever little study by Noah. What a wonderful week of words!
Kooser’s poem uses enjambment. We talked about this I feel so proud when my students practice craft moves.
Wow! Such wonderful poems from your students. I love how the creativity flowed from Ted Kooser, to Linda Mitchell, to you and then to them.
I like that notion of the re-ku. Your students take such a fresh view. It’s a good thing to do.
These are two strong and moving poems Margaret! I also like how your student Noah begins his poem in icy but still fluid water and it ends with frozen shingles, thanks!
Margaret, another great post. I do so love when your students write and you share their work. Can you ask Madison if she would like to offer her poem to my Autumn Ablaze Gallery. If she could find a photo to accompany the poem, I would like that.