This month’s Inkling challenge is from Molly Hogan. She asked us to try a form we’ve been wanting to try. One of her form suggestions was a tricube. Matt Forrest Esenwine wrote about the form here. Matt said the form seems simple, yet it is challenging to say what you want to say in so few syllables. The form uses a mathematical sequence of three, cubed. 3 syllables, 3 lines, 3 stanzas. I wrote one here for my daughters after they treated me to a wonderful birthday weekend.
In my classroom, the gratitude poet-tree has been such a success that we decided to keep it going in December with a Christmas poet-tree. One of my students lost her beloved dog over the break, so I was thinking about how grateful I am for my walking companion Charlie. Charlie is 14 and has a heart murmur, but he still loves to go out for walks with me in the morning.
On Monday, my two students came in chatting about their break. They were talking about how their friend had left the school. Katie said she cried, but she would not admit that to anyone but me. She said, “You’re my closest teacher.” This made my heart swell. Trying to capture this emotion in a tricube.
You’re my Closest Teacher
Open door
to comfort,
welcoming.Freely said,
“I’ll tell you”
words of truth.Close teacher
Margaret Simon, draft for Katie
listens well.
You matter.
Linda: A Word Edgewise
Heidi: my juicy little universe
Catherine: Reading to the Core
Mary Lee: A(nother) Year of Reading
Reflections on the Teche 
You and Catherine both wrote gorgeous tricubes. I’ll have to give them another go. You two are my mentors!
And isn’t it true, when you feel like you can’t go on another day, you get a gift like the one Katie gave, and you remember so clearly your WHY? I’m glad you bottled that moment, and your walk with Charlie, so that you can come back to them when you need them again.
That is so heartfelt and beautiful, Margaret. What a gift to be recognized for what you bring to life and your teaching and lucky students. I must work on some tricubes. I can tell that they are going to be a challenge. I second what Mary Lee wrote. And that poet-tree for Christmas following gratitude….brilliant and wonderful. Have a beautiful day. We have been dusted with snow (again) but it is pretty albeit quite chilly and I have miles to errand, before I sleep!!
Both of these are wonderful examples of the form – I especially love your last stanza (Bless his paws. Bless my feet.) Nicely done!
What a wonderful gift that your students give you their trust and affection! Love the poem. “I’ll tell you” is the heart of it.
Love your two heartfelt poems Margaret! Such a feel-good moment from your student Katie and then shared in your poem. And your poem to Charlie melts me away, so touching and flows with movement, thanks!
Beautiful poems, Margaret. “Bless his paws. Bless my feet” When you share work from your students It makes me wish I was back in the schools…almost. I like to think I can live vicariously through you!
I’m learning so much today–yay for Poetry Friday! Tricubes are brand-new to me. These are lovely.
A poet tree is a great idea! How wonderful for you that your student said, You are her closest teacher. Your tricube poems are beautiful and nice tributes: I feel your emotion. In your poem about Charlie, I especially love “We are two/partner dance/flawless beat.” In the You’re My Closest Teacher poem, I especially love the last stanza “Close teacher/listens well./You matter.” Thank you for sharing and your inspiration. I have to try this form. Can I please use your poems for mentor poems in my binder? Your name will be written under the poems.
Enjoyed your tricubes, Margaret! Two views of love.
These moments are such a gift. But imagine the gifts you have given to your student to make her feel this way. You’ve captured the essence of teaching in a few short lines. Well done, Margaret!
Two beautiful poems, Margaret. I think one of the things I love most about PoetryFriday is the backstory of poems. Like this. And I’m going to have to play with a tricube. I love short form poems!
Today’s Word for the Day from gratefulness dot org was “Admitting grief does not diminish us, it strengthens us and makes us more compassionate.” –Trebbe Johnson So true, and yet we so often just think it makes us look weak. I’m not at all surprised you create such a safe space with your students that they KNOW you will hear all they say with compassion. How wonderful that you’ve extended your poetree for another month!
I don’t know how I missed this, Margaret. Your persistence with this form is paying off. I love “bless his paws. bless my feet.”
I love how a tricube distills an idea down to the essential. “closest teacher.” What a compliment and sunbeam to hold onto. Hooray for the Poetree. It’s a fabulous idea and…it directly addresses social-emotional learning! Win-win. A delightful post for me to read before work on Monday morning! Thank you.