#EthicalELA | Reflections on the Teche

Posts Tagged ‘#EthicalELA’

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Bayou Ducklings

Posted in nature, Photography, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing, tagged #EthicalELA, #poemsofpresence, cascade poem, This Photo Wants to be a Poem on April 15, 2026| 10 Comments »

Muscovy duck with at least a dozen ducklings

I love April! The days start out cool and warm up, but a gentle breeze keeps the heat tolerable. On Sunday, we canoed with friends to the park where there was a symphony concert. The paddling to get there was made harder by the breeze, but we were able to make it just in time for the concert.

On the way, we spotted this Muscovy duck and her babies. The Muscovy is a domestic duck with a warty red bill. Her littles were adorable scrambling around her so quickly that I couldn’t count them.

My quick internet research said, “Aztec rulers wore cloaks made from the feathers of the Muscovy duck, which was considered the totem animal of the Wind God, Ehecatl.” (All about Birds)

At Ethical ELA, Erica Johnson is leading us in writing a “Playful Cascade” which is a poem form that takes each line of the first stanza making them the last line of the next stanzas. I decided to use tercets, 3 lines per stanza.

Muscovy Ducklings Play

Scrambling fluffs navigate water hyacinth
staying in sight of mother duck—
gymnasts in a bayou playground.

We slowly push along stroke by stroke
keeping watch for new spring life, see
scrambling fluffs navigate water hyacinth.

Whose waters are these, I think I know:
these tiny ducklings move so quick
staying in sight of mother duck.

This journey we share is not all ease.
Time and patience required, we are all
gymnasts in a bayou playground.

Margaret Simon, draft

Please join me in writing about this little miracle of life. Be sure to leave encouraging words for other writers.

The Progressive Poem is with Joyce Uglow today.

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NPM26: Day 4: Lazarus

Posted in Poetry, Writing, tagged #EthicalELA, #poemsofpresence, ekphrastic poetry, Good Friday, Lazarus on April 4, 2026| 3 Comments »

Lazarus

Gestures weave
strips of burial cloth
cross-hatching
of sounds
violent and soothing
like a balm
on the day of death.

Jesus wept.

Jesus weeps with me
in joy and sorrow,
frustration and calm.

Our cries do not
go unnoticed.
We tear off
the garment
binding us to darkness,
enter into the Easter
of light eternal.

Margaret Simon, draft

At Ethical ELA, Melissa Heaton prompted us to write an ekphrastic poem, a poem about art. I turned to my father’s illustration of Lazarus. This drawing was in his folder of bible study material. His usual style was pointillism. This drawing, to me, is striking with its wild gestures.

Yesterday, for Good Friday, I led a morning meditation. My friend Carolyn played her singing bowls while the lawn mowers roared outside. At first I was irritated by this invasion, but as I wrote, I found that the juxtaposition of sounds was the point.

Carolyn plays the singing bowls in the sanctuary.

The Progressive Poem is with Donna Smith at Mainely Write.

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Slice of Life: Where I’m From

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged #EthicalELA, Christmas traditions, Where I'm From poem on December 23, 2025| 8 Comments »

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

This weekend was Ethical ELA’s Open Write. On Monday, Gayle Sands led us to use the ever-faithful Where I’m From form to write about holiday traditions. This prompt took me far back into my childhood neighborhood and our Christmas traditions.

I am from
the scent of Douglas fir
on a frosty morning,
Mom on piano playing
”Oh Holy Night”
while Uncle Stu sings
in perfect tenor tone.

I am from
hanging long wool socks
for Santa to fill
with oranges, chocolates, and candy canes.
I sat “Thank you” with a knowing nod to Mom.

I am from
an Advent wreath of purple and pink candles
we argued over whose turn it was to snuff,
watching the miraculous steam rise.

I am from
Aunt Alabel’s Charlotte Russe
on Christmas Eve, her cheerful voice
talking nonstop, whispered giggles
and stolen crescent rolls.

I am from
bright lights in our eyes
on Christmas morning. Mom held the light bar
while Dad rolled the movie camera. Our silent
Oohs and Aahs as the three of us explored
the land of toys. Chatty Cathy waited quietly on the couch.

I am from
rising at dawn,
Mannheim Steamroller on the record player,
comparing gifts with the neighbors,
all of us outside on new bikes,
roller skates, a bouncy basketball.
Middle America
on Beechcrest Drive.

My granddaughter Stella snuffs the Advent candle.

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National Poetry Month Day 22: You Matter

Posted in being mamére, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged #beingmamére, #EthicalELA, #verselove, musical lyrics, National Poetry Month on April 22, 2025| 8 Comments »

I’ve been writing this month with Ethical ELA’s #Verselove. On Sunday, Susan Ahlbrand led us in a prompt called “Lingering Lines.” We could choose a song from a musical to use as inspiration. One of my favorite musicals is Waitress by Sarah Bareilles, and my favorite song is You Matter to Me. Try to listen to it without crying. I can’t.

This weekend my daughter was visiting with her son, Thomas, who is now 5 and a half. How time flies! He is the sweetest boy with an active imagination and crystal blue eyes. He loves me without condition which warms my mamére heart. I borrowed the song lyric and wrote a short poem for Thomas.

You Matter to Me

I find sea glass treasure in your eyes.
You look in my heart as a mirror
and smile for the picture frame.
You matter to me.

I sing a lullaby love song
and you think I’m magical.
You say “I love you” like they’re
the easiest words to say.

I know your love is true
innocence of a 5 year old
simple and free, no baggage
or judgement. You see
You matter to me.

Margaret Simon, draft

Kidlit Progressive Poem Update: Patricia had a family emergency, so Rose is taking her line today (at Imagine the Possibilities). That is one thing I love about this community. We can lean on each other.

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National Poetry Month Day 20: Things to Do if You’re Mamére

Posted in being mamére, Poetry, Writing, tagged #EthicalELA, #verselove, Barred Owl Cam, food poem, Things to Do Poem on April 20, 2025| 1 Comment »

In my book Bayou Song: Creative Explorations of the Southern Louisiana Landscape , I have a Things to Do poem about the alligator snapping turtle. You can see the poem and poem prompt here. On Friday, I was looking at the Barred Owl Cam from All about Birds with a young poetry student. We wrote Things to Do poems. From Ethical ELA, Tammi Belko suggested using random words to write a poem. This prompt fit well with our Things to Do poems. We looked at AI generated words about barred owlets and made a list of words to use in our poems.

On Saturday #Verselove, the prompt came from Jordan Stamper. She asked us to think about food memories. What she didn’t know was that very morning I was making a food memory with my grandson Thomas.

Banana Bread (first line from Billy Collins)

I love the sound of
a grandson in the morning
finding the muffin tins
and demanding to bake with me.

We gather flour, sugar, butter, eggs–
Stir the dry.
Whisk the wet.
Smash dappled sweet bananas.

“When will the banana bread be ready? he whines,
melting my heart
with his crystal blue eyes.
Goodness takes time to rise.

Margaret Simon, draft

The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Mary Lee Hahn today at A(nother) Year of Reading.

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National Poetry Month Day 17: Search it Up

Posted in Poetry, tagged #EthicalELA, #nationalpoetrymonth, #searchpoem on April 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We are raising a new generation of children who still thirst for knowledge; however, every little thing is at their fingertips through Google search engine. Do you miss the scent of encyclopedias?

Angie Braaten introduced us to Leila Chatti’s poem Google, which is an abecedarian poem from phrases typed into Google. At first I was skeptical. Can you really write a meaningful poem using searched up phrases? I found that once I started, things flowed. And I am satisfied with the result. Like a found poem, it seems like cheating. But a poet’s job is to put the words in the right order.

The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Kim Johnson at Common Threads.

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National Poetry Month Day 15: Sunrise

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Progressive poem, Slice of Life, Writing, tagged #EthicalELA, #griefpoem, #nature, #poemsofpresence, #sunrise, #verselove on April 15, 2025| 8 Comments »

I am writing daily poems with Ethical ELA’s #verselove. Today’s prompt is with Brittany Saulnier.

Visiting my mother is filled with emotions for me. Bittersweet is a good word because she’s still here with us, but in many ways she is far from us. Her Alzheimer’s is advancing slowly at this point. Each visit she’s thinner and less able. Yet, she knows me and loves me and tries so hard to talk to me. This morning I will visit her before I drive back to Louisiana. Will this be the last time? Who knows?

At the hotel, I looked out at a beautiful sunrise. It reminded me of days sitting on the back porch with Mom and Dad looking at the lake behind their house. How I long for those easy days. There was always a heron that came to perch. All of these thoughts came when I read Brittany’s prompt to write about nature using 3 different colors.

Outside the hotel window in Ridgeland, MS.

Sunrise

I wake to sky color–
golden-white-lined gap
in purple-blue clouds

where sun rays sparkle
through
like angel wings.

Bittersweet grey clouds
hover high
like heaven’s shroud

reflected in heron’s stealth.

I imagine you next to me
with the news (all ghastly)
and your coffee mug steaming.

We sit in silence,
the silence of years between us
looking for the heron.

Margaret Simon, draft

The Kidlit Progressive Poem continues its ride through spring with Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link.

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Words that Mend

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing, tagged #90WaysofCommunity, #EthicalELA, #JustYA, #WordsThatMend, Ethical ELA, poetry in the classroom, Sarah Donovan, teacher healing on September 3, 2024| 9 Comments »

Writing in a community of writers has led me to so many wonderful connections with other teacher-writers from all over the world. I discovered the writing community at Ethical ELA in the spring of 2020 when we were all isolated. Being able to find meaningful writing prompts and support from others helped me feel less alone.

Now, four years later, I am honored to be involved in a book project. I have two chapters in a book that gives teachers an understanding of how poetry can be healing in our classrooms and beyond. Words that Mend is here, alongside its sister books 90 Ways of Community and Just YA.

One of my chapters in Words that Mend appears in the section Teacher Healing titled Walking through Grief with Poetry. I wrote about my grief journey after my father’s death and how writing poems helped me process that grief. The comments others left for me on my poems felt authentic and caring. Healing from grief doesn’t happen quickly, if ever, but finding a space for sharing my thoughts in poetry gave me a purpose. And having this book now out in the world gives me purpose.

The second chapter I wrote is titled Write Along with Me, An Invitation Accepted. I wrote about how one of my students used poetry in my class to carry her through grief and how she reached out to me to start a small after school writing group. In that chapter, you can find writing prompts that worked for me as I worked with her. In fact, each chapter includes a section for a prompt for teachers and students.

Penny Kittle wrote this about Words that Mend:

“My time reading Words that Mend was not only worth it, it has multiplied my thinking about teachers as writers in profound ways. These chapters contain the lives and experiences of teachers—written like a colleague who pulls up a chair to sit beside you—and you lean in, listening with intensity and joy. What a gift this book is: it holds so much. Words that Mend is the invitation each of us needs to write in community. In celebration. In support. In discovery of what it means to bring poetry into the lives of all those we know. There is a particular generosity in this book: one of personal experiences, yes, but also the hesitations all writers feel to show their lives in writing. You will find beginnings here (even a notebook page of first thoughts) that will inspire you to write. You will find lesson plans already worn and weathered by use in classrooms. Do not turn from the gift of Words that Mend: you need it more than you might think you do.”

~Penny Kittle, author Write Beside Them, Book Love, and Micro Mentor Texts

Words that Mend is now available for purchase on Amazon (for printing cost only) and a free pdf download on Ethical ELA here.

Sarah Donovan, Oklahoma State University, curator of Ethical ELA tells our story on YouTube: