With my students, I am using the recent Ethical ELA book 90 Ways of Community for writing prompts. This week we used two different prompts. The first was from Leilya Pitre about taking a break, a walk, and writing a narrative poem.
Veteran’s Day Walk
Finally, a chilly wind blows my white hair into my eyes reminding me that winter is on its way.
Leaves dapple the playground mulch like confetti left over from a football game. This is how fall is… coming in on a wind soothing my severed soul into a peaceful, place of presence.
The second prompt I used was from Jodi Opager asking us to step into the shoes of another person or object. Avalyn has been exploring putting tone and emotion into her poems. She wrote from the POV of the TV. This poem she wrote breaks my heart for her, but she assures me that she is OK and handling things.
Broken Memories
I turn on again watching the mom and her daughter.
I remember it as clear as day.
I remember how the daughter cried because her mom was fussing for the third time that day.
I remember how the dad stomped upstairs packed his bags and left
but everything was fuzzy because now I sit in the hallway empty dead waiting to be fixed.
by Avalyn, 5th grade
My sister texted me this photo of my mother from the 70’s. I remember this photo and that my mother was pretending to sleep. My perspective writing is from her point of view with memories of a life full of love.
I remember holding Raggedy Ann pretending to sleep next to you after story time.
I remember riding in the backseat of the Delta 88 because you got carsick through the curves of Zion National Park.
I remember roses blooming on the “island” alongside our cypress tree, how your father sketched all day watching our heron fishing.
I remember you when you come, I smile and say, Thank you.
Margaret Simon lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. She teaches gifted elementary students, writes poetry and children's books. Welcome to a space of peace, poetry, and personal reflection. Walk in kindness.
Reflections on the Teche 