This week my teaching artist position has taken me to the Hilliard Museum with 5th graders. I was excited when the creative writing lesson was on poetry and about one of my favorite poetic tools, anaphora.
To prepare, I went to the exhibit at the museum and wrote anaphoric poems on sticky notes. The exhibit is a fascinating show by Curtis Patterson, a sculpture artist from Shreveport, LA. It surprised me to find out that this is his first museum exhibition in his home state. I will be attending an artist led tour next week.
His sculpture work is done in bronze and steel. He uses some repeated motifs that are said to reflect his connection to Jazz music. The show is titled “Persistent Vision” and is symbolic of the African diaspora that began in the 16th century.
Today I am sharing one of my poems. I don’t have permission to share some of the students’ work, but within the structure of the repeated line, they were able to express metaphor and emotions in their poems.
Diasporic Rhythm
Inside this steel, I imagine instruments.
Inside this steel, an ancient song echoes.
Inside this steel, puzzle pieces arranged.
Inside this steel, copper glows.
Inside this steel, friends reach out.
Inside this steel, hope rides on waves.
Margaret Simon, draft
