Last week I took my students out to the playground to find photos. I wrote about the activity yesterday. I was surprised by the variety and interest their photos generated. Without any direction, Adelyn straddled the drainage and folded herself in half and took this photo upside down. When I asked if I could use her photo for the poetry prompt, she said, “Be sure to give me credit.” Of course. She wrote this equation poem: Investigation = question + adventure.
Now it’s your turn. What do you see? Write a small poem in the comments. Support other writers with your comments.
Follow your curiosity.
Margaret Simon, draft
Landing among the stones,
Explore a mystery.
Reflections on the Teche 
Winter is over, soundless sleepers
Come forth from your humble habitat
Into the light and warmth of spring
There is so much soft, lyrical beauty in your use of alliteration. Soundless sleepers and humble habitat. Such perfect images as I watch the sun rise outside my window.
Thank you, Susan! My Kindergarteners are fascinated by all the creatures who hibernate within a stone wall, of which our campus has several. They were my inspiration here.
I love this call for spring!
I’m holding on to your words on this gray, cold March day!
Please do. All good things will return, as you well know from On a Snow-Melting Day. My Kindergarten poets loved that! 🙂
“soundless sleepers Come forth” is so inviting!
“your humble habitat”–sweet!
oooh! What a fun equation poem. I like adventure…I’m in for the ride.
Loving those words, too, “winter is over,” I’m done with it! Bring on the spring.
Rocks in a Drainage Ditch
Piled
rocks
striated
and
cut
rocks
quarry
wise
transferred
rocks
are still drainage ditch rocks
I love how you have piled the words! Great precision and enlightening, equalizing perspective.
So much truth in this skinny. We do not have rocks here in south Louisiana. These are transferred. Love the word choices, striated, quarry, wise…
I like what your poem discovers in that piled up stack-o-rocks!
Love all those rock words (but at the end I want to ask, are they? You made me see them as more!)
I think those “quarry wise transferred rocks” are holding untold secrets!
like “a rose is a rose”? Great pile of precisely chosen words!
What lovely gifts you give to your students each day! Here is what the rocks said to me:
Weary of the load,
I cast my burdens down and
live unencumbered.
Ah, if only we could “cast burdens down”.
Good messages, gives us an extra breath!
“cast my burdens down”–love that outlook!
I see this as a metaphor of rocks as burdens. Live life freely!
OK, I want adventure AND casting down my burdens.
Oooh! Let’s do it!
Such a great idea. What dramatic stones! Thank you.
Your whole explore-process and adventure sounds exciting Margaret. Please thank Adelyn for her rich pic and creative poem! I like the mystery your poem discovers!
Thank you both for this portal today…
Light shines
bejeweling-gem possibilities
denying darkness
Michelle Kogan
I love the power of “denying darkness.”
Love the view of light as shining possibilities.
Love that you focused on that bit of light finding the possibilities.
Love “bejeweling-gem”
Yes, deny the darkness!
I appreciate the strength of the light “denying darkness,” Michelle.
Beautiful Christie, I love your “soundless sleepers
I “borrowed” inspiration from your description of Adelyn, and as she instructed, am giving you credit, Margaret!
Viewfinder
fold yourself in half,
view a vista upside down–
snap a new mindset
I went back and read Margaret’s “fold yourself in half” words a couple of times. I loved the intrigue. Thank you for using them again!
I’ll share this snapshot of Adelyn with her. Love the “new mindset” as often my students readjust my lens.
OK, that’s a great take on this…love that the photographer is in your poem.
This is a great point of view exercise, Buffy!
Thank you, Margaret, for always making me feel like I’m back in the classroom through your students’ work.
A Bit of Advice
Beware of boulders
that block treasures
of the heart.
Love the alliteration of your small poem, as well as the warning.
Oh, yes, get those boulders out of the way, Rose!
Beware is such a great first word.
I so love students’ perspective in photos (and writing)! Great photo Adelyn!
Wow so many responses. What a great photo!
This is my attempt…
Perspective
A stone
May appear as
A mountain
The light just too far
To reach
You need to
Change your
Perspective
Good advice for when one feels overwhelmed.
I love that Adelyn requested credit. You have trained her well.
Margret, I love Adelyn’s picture and process, as well as your poetic invitation to daring. Here’s my go:
Obstacles.
Are they really boulders
Or only pebbles
To cast aside?