In January I was looking for everything about Amanda Gorman, the inaugural poet and National Youth Poet Laureate, and I found a poetry prompt video from April, the beginning of the pandemic. The program was done by the 826 National Network called #agoodtimetowrite. Amanda called it a book scavenger hunt.
It’s a quick writing prompt. Everyone usually has a book nearby to grab. Select 3 random pages and one word from each page. List those words, then write for 5 minutes. I’ve done it a few times, and the results can be really fun, so I challenged my Sunday night Swaggers to try it out.
This week was Read Across America Week which is still called Dr. Seuss Week at my school. Every day was a different dress up day. On Thursday, we dressed as our favorite characters. Lots of Cats-in-the-hat and Things 1 & 2. One of my students was Cindy Lou Who.
With this fun-filled week and words from a nearby book (LifeBoat by Susan Hood), I selected the words movie star, peaches, and tantalizing. This is my original draft:
Mouthwatering delight
Margaret Simon, draft
the movie star of flavors–
pour Skittles into an open palm–
tantalizing
irresistible
like bacon in the frying pan
or syrup on pancakes
or melted chocolate
inside a s’mores,
peachy pink bubble
satisfied my sweet tooth,
gift from a girl
dressed like Cindy Lou Who
on the playground.
See how my Poetry Swagger friends met the challenge:
Heidi Mordhorst
Catherine Flynn
Linda Mitchell
Molly Hogan
If you would like to sign up to participate in the 2021 National Poetry Month Progressive Poem, go to this post.
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh, this is wonderful….those skittles. They really ARE the movie star of flavors. Just thinking of them brings the flavor to mind. What a fun and easy to follow prompt. We have to do this again! I want to try it with students.
What a “sweet” poem, Margaret! Who can resist the tantalizing flavors of Skittles! And thanks also for the great idea from Amanda Gorman. I’ve been feeling a bit stuck with my poetry lately. Maybe trying the scavenger hunt will help.
We had so much fun with this strategy for poetry writing back in January in third grade- I was so impressed with the way it managed to inspire. I loved your food images!
I think I’ll have to think of you as my sweet fruity friend; because I always remember your mandarin sky and orange pop fizz – and now I can swirl in some peachy pink bubbles.🧡
Margaret, I love the poem about the sweets from the little Cindy Lou Who look alike.
Sorry, I wasn’t finished with the comment, but at least I finished a sentence. You thought of so many tantalizing and irresistible foods to compare your Skittles to.
tantalizing
irresistible
like bacon in the frying pan
or syrup on pancakes
I’m going to take the challenge!
The warm sun in your photo is tantalizing for me, the movie star of sky flavors! You had fun with this and grabbed a LaMiPoFri moment too. Thanks for the prompt–I really enjoyed it.
Oh, this is a wonderful writing prompt–and thank you for linking to this resource. I always forget about 826! I’m going to try this with my students when we are back in the classroom.
I did it again today. It works again and again.
Such a simple, yet accessible writing prompt. Glad Ms Gorman thought of it and you shared it with us today. I really like your line “the movie star of flavors” – your poem made me hungry. 🙂
Your “irresistible” Skittles from Cindy Lou Who is simply the best for Read Across American, Margaret. What fun it looks like this week!
[…] Mordhorst @ My Juicy Little UniverseLinda Mitchell @ A Word EdgewiseMargaret Simon @ Reflections on the TecheMolly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort […]
I loved Amanda Gorman’s poem – and yours! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Your poetry sings, Margaret – colors spill forth into the mind, as does the joy.
I read your slice/poem this morning but did not have time to respond so here I am rereading. Margaret, you look so happy in the photo and I love the picture you took of your student. Reading week/Dr. Seuss/Amamda’s Book Scavenger Hunt are all super events to bring on the love of reading.
Margaret, I love this prompt. I already told Molly that I need to steal it to use with my students. Your poem makes my mouth water!
Kim
Thanks again, Swaggers, for this poetry prompt! You’ve shown us how verse-atile it is!
What fun! I love Skittles, and a gift from a student is the best :>)
Delightful poem and photos and another idea on how to write a poem, so much food for thought!
Your poem is making me hungry, Margaret! Little Cindy-Lou is adorable! The perfect illustration of your sweet poem.
What a fun prompt-I want to try it sometime.
Your student dressed as Cindy Lou Who is as sweet as your poem. I like how you worked your words in there. Thank you for the link to Amanda Gorham and the poetry prompt. Amanda is sweet, too. I texted the link to my sister-in-law who teaches 9th grade English in Massena in northern part of NYS fifteen minutes from Canada. It feel like 9 degrees there and 12 degrees here in Ballston Spa. Both you and your librarian look wonderful! Thank you for sharing your joy and fun.
[…] Friday, I joined my writing group in posting poems written from an Amanda Gorman prompt. This Book Scavenger Hunt can work over and over again with different books, different moods, and a different page in the […]