This is Just to Say
I have forgotten
the words
to that song
you sang to me
and which
you are probably
humming in your head
while you sleep.
Forgive me:
I will sing
along with you
anyway.
Margaret Simon, after William Carlos Williams
I believe in daily poetry, but I fell off the Stanford Challenge for writing a poem a day. Lately the new book from Sarah Donovan, Mo Daley, and Maureen Young Ingram, 90 Ways of Community is helping. Each day I present one of the prompts to my students and write alongside them. They are responding so well to this daily practice. I hope you don’t mind if I share a few here. First up is a skinny poem by Grayson.
White void endless space just
waiting
wondering
no
thoughts
waiting,
I’m
tired
of
waiting
in this endless void, white space that is just too empty.by Grayson, 5th grade
We’ve explored ourselves and written I am From poems.
I am from
crunching leaves
and windy days.
I am from
books, and books,
and even more books.
I am from the Bayou,
and I am from the
trees.
I come from murky waters
and lush green leaves
and sturdy branches.
I am from
the scratching of
a pen,
and the flick of a brush.
I am from
the smell of
cigarette smoke
and an autumn evening.
I am
from a household,
a household holding
four.
A mother of books,
a father of autumn,
a daughter of both,
and a sister
of all.
by Adelyn, 6th grade
Each week I invite my students to write to a photograph. They are free to choose their own form even as I model a form for them.
Old tree
Stays in the backyard
Is surrounded by water and ferns
Waiting outside on the porch for the sunrise
Lovely morning
by Marifaye, 5th grade
If you would like to write a poem to a photo, please join me on this blog on Wednesdays: This Photo Wants to be a Poem. I wish for you daily poetry.
Reflections on the Teche 