This past weekend was the Open Write at Ethical ELA. I am trying to write a poem every day, but it sure helps to have a good prompt. On Sunday, Tammi Belko led us to write in response to the question “What is normal?” You can see her full prompt here.
I was spending the morning with two of my grandchildren. As I sat with my tablet and notebook pondering her prompt, my grands Leo and Stella were drawing. Leo, age 6, has always loved drawing. Now he is old enough to add words to his drawings. Stella, his sister age 4, is following in his footsteps. Her drawings tell stories.
Kid-Time Normal
All they need
is a marker
and paper—
Imagination soars…
Dinosaurs
with super powers,
Bad guys
with two robot arms,
Magical crystal charms…
Transformed
Transfixed
Time stops
on paper.
Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
excellent
Always fun to see what little ones create! Lovely pictures.
I love this! All they need…and then imagination. Isn’t that the beautiful truth of healthy, happy children! That time stopping on the paper recording that part of childhood is beautiful.
Margaret,
We need more of the child normal that you honor in your poem. I think dinosaurs are a universal love and topic for boys.
Margaret, both of your grandkids are creative and your poem shines with your three lines of alliteration. What’s more normal than children espressing their imaginative super powers.
oh I’m so happy to see the story and photos that go with the poem I read from you this weekend! How sweet!
So lovely to see what your grands imagined and drew! Then you turned it into a lovely poem. Clearly, a whole family of creatives!! Thanks for letting me peek in on your morning.
I love this creativity! The magic of doodling and imagining worlds that kids create is such a fun place to be with your own grandchildren.
Margaret, all of you are “super” creative. I love Leo’s detail in his drawing and coloring. I love Stella’s splashing whales. I knew they were splashing as soon as I saw them. She draws in detail, too with the roots on her trees and the sharp points on her monster. I love your happy poem about your normal with your grands. I am especially drawn to the detail in your poem and
“Imagination soars…
dinosaurs”
robot arms
crystal charms…
your alliteration of T’s
and your great ending
“Time stops
on paper.”
Thank you for sharing your fun, poem, and your grands creativity. Also, thanks for including the prompt.