Poetry Friday posts are with Leigh Anne at A Day in the Life
Last week my students and I studied the poem “A Letter in October” by Ted Kooser. In response, some of us wrote golden shovel poems. A golden shovel is a poem that uses the line of another poem stretched out down the right hand margin. The writer then fills in words to create a whole new poem. This method of writing a poem forces the writer to use enjambment in an interesting way. Today I am sharing two student responses as well as my own.
I lay still in my bed in the moonlit night
A sweet blowing breeze passes in
And out filling my room with its
soft and warm thick
Scent of snow and hushed winter
Whispers wrapping me in a chilly jacket.
–Erin, 6th grade
You are sitting. Watching
while birds fly around the
trees. The sun going down, light
fading. You hear kids walk
down the street. The sun is down,
everybody collecting the candy the
people are giving out. You look at the hill.
You see something, a pumpkin. You carve it.–Andrew, 5th grade
Every day I drive by a mighty oak tucked between the frontage road and the highway, Mr. Al. In South Louisiana, the oldest oaks are named and cataloged and cared for. Mr. Al has had an interesting journey as he was transplanted by the state highway department about 3 years ago. He is thriving in his new home.
Mr. Al in October.
An oak tree spreads its mighty wings then
beckons us to see
another way the
world can be. Light
dances with the leaves, a casual step,
strong and easy, bouncing out
the noisy beats upon.
-Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
I love the idea of a state naming and caring for its trees!
I still haven’t completed even one decent a golden shovel, but you certainly have, Margaret.
Wow! That is quite a feat to transplant a tree of that size. I’m glad it’s thriving, and that it inspired your golden shovel poem.
I know a few trees in Missouri that are named and cared for, love hearing about your trees, Margaret. That is terrific! Golden Shovel poems do surprise and take different tangents one might not ever imagine in other settings. Your students’ voices are strong, and I love “another way the world can be.”
I’m with Kay — a tree that large and old is thriving after a transplant?!?!? Inspiring! (Side note — have you read The Hidden Life of Trees? Mr. Al is likely lonely in ways you can’t imagine!!)
A few years ago, some students wanted to do a project about Mr. Al and add signage and benches. We consulted the expert and he said, “Just go visit him”, so we planned a field trip to visit and draw and write. We eventually made a presentation in our local museum to encourage others to do the same. https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2015/03/27/wonder-of-an-old-oak-tree/
Hard to believe you could transplant successfully such an enormous tree. The GS poems are a delight.
Every time I read a golden shovel, I always ask myself, “Why have I not tried this before?” And so I say it again. My favorite line today comes from Erin, “winter whispers wrapping me in a chilly jacket.” Lovely student work…as always!
Golden shovels are always a treat! I like the ending of Andrew’s — something so matter-of-fact about it. Mr. Al is looking good!
What a wonderful post, Margaret! Ted Kooser is an all-time favorite, but this poem is new to me, so thank you for sharing it. And these Golden Shovels are amazing. I love these lines of yours: “…beckons us to see/another way the/world can be…” Thank you for sharing!
My goodness, those are some talented young poets!
Margaret, I always love when you post the children’s work, along with your own. Golden shovel poems take some time to create the right balance and it was done very nicely in this post. May I capture your poem and Andrew’s for my fall gallery, Autumn Ablaze?
Your poem really complements the line that it grew from. Beautiful embrace from this old tree, thanks Margaret! I’m glad Mr. Al is thriving after his move, he looks like a mighty and grand old tree.