Patricia Franz is hosting this month’s Spiritual Thursday with the topic of “Love is”. I decided to create a collaborative poem with my students. I teach gifted kids at 2 schools in grades 2-6. I wrote their statements in my notebook in the order they gave them to me. It worked like a miracle without changing any words. (The reference to washi tape is due to the fact we are using it in our daily notebook practice.)
Love is
washi, washi, washi tape,
family, friends, teacher,
arts and crafts,
having fun. (A)
The heart of all. (JR)The heart of a human being
when you have kindness in your heart. (J)Spending time with friends and family. (C)
Love is
beautiful. (S)Love is a priceless
treasure, like nothing
else in this world. (M)Something we need, want, and have. (M)
Love is
a melody.
It could be chaotic
or the greatest
song you have heard. (A)Love is
Collaborative poem by Avalyn, John-Robert, James, Carson, Sadie, Max, Marifaye, Adelyn, Kailyn
companionship between
one another. The thought
that someone
would always be there
for you.
This is what love is. (K)
The great wisdom of children amazes me every day.
Whenever I think of Love is, I turn to the well-known verse from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians: “Love is patient. Love is kind.” I think we can measure our love by this verse. How are we doing with our patience, kindness, envy, anger? I also wonder how I am doing with loving myself. If I believe that there is a God-light in me, then I must nurture it. I must turn inward each day to check in. Am I loving myself?
I’ve adopted a daily practice of writing small poems. The Stafford Challenge inspired me to use a quote each day to jump-start my writing. Here is a quote followed by an elfchen poem:
When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself. (Paulo Coelho)
Yes
Margaret Simon, daily elfchen
makes sounds
like the ocean
drawing me to love
Myself
How are you giving love to others while also making time to love yourself?
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, your students are wise beyond their years. This line by S, “Love is beautiful” sums it up perfectly. It is simple, but so true.
Margaret, I just lost my comment so here I go again. I am delighted to read the collaborative poem created by your young poets. Their voices are strong and thoughts full of hope. Love is a priceless treasure and a melody. I always love seeing the group come up through the years. This quote is another bit of wisdom: When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself. (Paulo Coelho). Send my compliments to your writers.
Margaret: Yes, I love the wisdom of your students! I just also read Ruth’s post, though I could not leave a comment, but it speaks to the cost of love. Love is a treasure indeed, and it does cost, but it reminds me of that little song: Love it something if you give it away, you end up having more. Even more for yourself, I hope. Today I soaked in the tub. 🙂
How wonderful that you can compose with your students about love! I especially love
“Oh Love is
a melody.
It could be chaotic
or the greatest
song you have heard. (A)”
Talk about WISDOM! It reminds me of hearing “love is messy” — a reminder that God does not promise everything will be rosy – God just promises to be with us…And there is our model for life, right?
Like Carol, I lost my comment too. Twice! Take three!
Loved the collaborative poem. The line that stood out to me was “Love is companionship between one another.” Today I finally (after weeks of cancelled attempts) met a new friend for lunch, building a new companionship in this new life I’m leading in North Carolina. Making friends at this stage in life is not for sissies. I’ve also started going to exercise classes at the Y and I try to speak to a new person each time I’m there.
I had to look up elfchen. It seems like a perfect short form to challenge our poetic muscles.