My students and I are reading Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. In the book, there is a poem “On the Road with Arley” that begins with line “Here’s the way I figure it, my place in the world is at the piano.” It’s been fun to find music of the time period and write alongside it. My students worked hard to create poems using this beginning line. I asked them to use imagery to create a tone. I wrote a model poem about my place in the world.
In a Canoe
Here’s the way I figure it, my place in the world is on the bayou lazing about in a canoe with you.
I’m just a mamere wanting the best time to be outside watching for eagles slipping through slow current listening for Mr. Owl to cook-cook-for-you!
My place is in open toes among cypress knees sniffing catfish air hearing cicadas buzz when the sun goes down.
Here’s the way I figure it, my place in the world is in a canoe with you.
I love the carefree tone of your poem and then the wistful tone of Adelyn’s. Wonderful dance between mentor text and written poems. That Mr. Owl is a delight.
Ack! I wrote a comment and then it disappeared. I really love the tone of your poem of being on the bayou. It is relaxed and carefree. Mr. Owl is a delight. I want to meet him! Adelyn’s tone is different–wistful. She makes great word choices of mythical and escape and wind, wind, wind. What a fun exercise!
Oh! What a great line to write from. I’m tucking this one into my notebook for sure! Both of your poems are fabulous. I particularly like the juxtaposition of your toes and cypress knees and really, that entire third stanza just sings! Your poem reads like a love poem to nature and to your companion. Wonderful!
Thanks for bringing us along the road with you and Arley and Adelyn. I’m noodling–spinning even–so much at the moment about my place in this world. It’s good to hear the certainty in both these voices, “slow current/open toes/catfish air,” a venture away to a world “crumbling even more than mine is.” You do good work in the world.
I love OUT OF THE DUST (and really, all of Karen’s work), and loved hearing that one line again. Your poem and Adelyn’s are lovely, and wonderfully moving.
Between you and Rose, I was inspired to start OUT OF THE DUST, too. I love reading NIVs –hoping it will inspire me in my own poetry. I love the model you carved out — finding your place of joy and contentment in your precious bayou. And thank you so much for including sweet Adelyn’s words! She has a future as a poet!
Margaret, I remember how happy I was that Out of the Dust won the Newberry! What a powerful verse novel to read with your students. I just looked through my copy to find the poem you inspired your students to use the beginning line from. I loved how Karen Hesse wrote Billy Joe’s voice.
I like how you repeated the first line again in your last stanza. I felt like I was with you looking for eagles and hearing the owl. Yay to your next stanza with those /s/ sounds in open toes, cypress knees, sniffing catfish air, (I can smell that.), and I hear the cicadas buzz as the sun sets.
Adelyn’s poem moved me.
“my place in the world is out of it
far away from here
a mythical world,
or one that is crumbling (Love her word choice of crumbling! I
even more than mine is. feel the emotion in these lines.)
I read, and I’m free. (YES, to escaping in a book.)
Oh such lovely words from both you and Adelyn! Thanks for sharing these mentor texts with us. I’m saving them for our writing group. I’ll continue looking to nature and books as the best kind of escapes.
Margaret, I love the poem you shared about the canoe and your place in the world. It sounds so peaceful and full of love for nature and the person traveling with you (? a grandchild). Love your continued work with TAG students and how you mentor them. Kudos. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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 
I love the carefree tone of your poem and then the wistful tone of Adelyn’s. Wonderful dance between mentor text and written poems. That Mr. Owl is a delight.
Ack! I wrote a comment and then it disappeared. I really love the tone of your poem of being on the bayou. It is relaxed and carefree. Mr. Owl is a delight. I want to meet him! Adelyn’s tone is different–wistful. She makes great word choices of mythical and escape and wind, wind, wind. What a fun exercise!
Oh! What a great line to write from. I’m tucking this one into my notebook for sure! Both of your poems are fabulous. I particularly like the juxtaposition of your toes and cypress knees and really, that entire third stanza just sings! Your poem reads like a love poem to nature and to your companion. Wonderful!
Beautiful poems from both you and Adelyn, Margaret. I am also tucking this line away and will write from it…maybe today. Thank you, Margaret.
Thanks for bringing us along the road with you and Arley and Adelyn. I’m noodling–spinning even–so much at the moment about my place in this world. It’s good to hear the certainty in both these voices, “slow current/open toes/catfish air,” a venture away to a world “crumbling even more than mine is.” You do good work in the world.
I love OUT OF THE DUST (and really, all of Karen’s work), and loved hearing that one line again. Your poem and Adelyn’s are lovely, and wonderfully moving.
Between you and Rose, I was inspired to start OUT OF THE DUST, too. I love reading NIVs –hoping it will inspire me in my own poetry. I love the model you carved out — finding your place of joy and contentment in your precious bayou. And thank you so much for including sweet Adelyn’s words! She has a future as a poet!
Margaret, I remember how happy I was that Out of the Dust won the Newberry! What a powerful verse novel to read with your students. I just looked through my copy to find the poem you inspired your students to use the beginning line from. I loved how Karen Hesse wrote Billy Joe’s voice.
I like how you repeated the first line again in your last stanza. I felt like I was with you looking for eagles and hearing the owl. Yay to your next stanza with those /s/ sounds in open toes, cypress knees, sniffing catfish air, (I can smell that.), and I hear the cicadas buzz as the sun sets.
Adelyn’s poem moved me.
“my place in the world is out of it
far away from here
a mythical world,
or one that is crumbling (Love her word choice of crumbling! I
even more than mine is. feel the emotion in these lines.)
I read, and I’m free. (YES, to escaping in a book.)
(Nice ending with the question.)
Oh such lovely words from both you and Adelyn! Thanks for sharing these mentor texts with us. I’m saving them for our writing group. I’ll continue looking to nature and books as the best kind of escapes.
Margaret, I love the poem you shared about the canoe and your place in the world. It sounds so peaceful and full of love for nature and the person traveling with you (? a grandchild). Love your continued work with TAG students and how you mentor them. Kudos. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Margaret, what a lovely mentor poem/exercise. Your poem had me longing for a lazy summer weekend and Adalyn’s poem had me tearing up.