At Ethical ELA this week I wrote poems alongside other teacher-writers in the monthly Open Write. Yesterday the prompt came from Denise Hill. She asked us to use an idiom or metaphor in a mixed up way.
My cousin was in town last week participating in a Plein Air (Art) competition. His picture did not get into our local paper, so I texted him, “Sorry, you are not famous…yet!” And he responded, “Best to keep that chip on my shoulder.” So that is what drove my poem.
Chips
There are good chips
Margaret Simon, draft
and bad chips,
chips that crunch or
chips that splinter your shoulder
making sure
you don’t
get a big head
and fall over.
Keep that chip steady and balanced.
A moment of fame
won’t feed the flame
that drives you forward.
Reflections on the Teche 
Nice poem! You’re the second slice I’ve seen do this, and both are really good. This would challenge me. I’m not sure I could do it!!
So clever. Your poem is terrific. Perhaps I’ll give this a try. Thank you.
I love this somewhat cautionary chip tale!
I love the chips poem! Great inspiration…and I’m sure your cousin will find a way to balance the chips.
Well done, Margaret! I love these lines:
making sure
you don’t
get a big head
and fall over.”
Great sounds with your repetition, consonance, assonance, alliteration, and rhyme. I zoomed in to see your cousin’s picture and the other pictures. All of them are beautiful. thank you for sharing and your inspiration.