Day 26 - National Poetry Month 2015 - Sing That Poem!

April 26, 2015, 8:14 am

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Happy National Poetry Month!

Welcome to Day 26 of this Year's Poem Farm Project!

Find the Complete April 2015 Poem and Song List Here

First, I would like to welcome all old and new friends to The Poem Farm this April. Spring is a busy time on all farms, and this one is no exception.  Each April, many poets and bloggers take on special poetry projects, and I'm doing so too.  You can learn all about Sing That Poem! and how to play on my April 1st post, where you will also find the list of the whole month's poems and tunes as I write and share them.  If you'd like to print out a matching game page for yourself, you can find one here, and during April 2015, you'll be able to see the song list right over there in the left hand sidebar.

Yesterday's poem was Life's Door.  Here is the tune that goes along with it, below. Did you figure it out?

And here, below, is today's poem.  Look at the song list in the sidebar or on your matching form to see if you can puzzle out which tune matches this one.

Slice of Bookshelf

Photo by Amy LV

Students - As you may have figured out, I adore books.  In fact, my next poetry collection is titled READ! READ! READ! and will be illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke and published by Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press in the fall of 2017.  

Today I was thinking once again about how many places a book can take a person.  I remembered hearing Gary Paulsen tell a crowd how books helped him through difficulties in his childhood, and I know how different and good I feel when I am in the middle of a great book.  So this poem is just one more celebration of books!  

What do you wish to celebrate today?

Below you can see how I worked on the meter of this poem.  Each dot represents an unstressed syllable, and each slash represents a stressed syllable.  The straight up line shows where lines 3 and 4 each end, and the arrow indicates go back to the beginning.  This may help you puzzle out which tune matches today's words.

Meter Play

by Amy LV

Speaking of books and bookstores, today I am happy to welcome young poet Ada Bastedo, who shared her baseball poem at last Thursday's annual poetry reading at Monkey See, Monkey Do Bookstore in Clarence, NY.  I am always grateful to be a part of this beautiful and cozy evening, and too, I am thankful that Ada offered to share her poem here.  In the spirit of baseball and good sportsmanship, enjoy!

Monkey See, Monkey Do Bookstore

Photo by Amy LV

The Baseball Rules

When you are in a ballgame,

You should make it a fair play 

All throughout the innings

Even when it's not going your way.

When your turn is called

And you are up to bat, 

And you miss three swings.

Please oh please don't throw your hat

For alone in the dugout 

You will have to sit,

So try not to be tempted,

please don't throw a fit.

Just look at pro ballplayers,

When three strikes call them out.

They don't throw a hissy fit

Or cry, or yell, or pout. 

For when the game is over

You may leave in glory or shame,

But you will always want to hear

Your game was so well played. 

by Ada Bastedo, age 9

Warm wishes to all in this last week of National Poetry Month!  

Please share a comment below if you wish.

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Day 27 - National Poetry Month 2015 - Sing That Poem!

April 26, 2015, 9:01 pm

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Happy National Poetry Month!

Welcome to Day 27 of this Year's Poem Farm Project!

Find the Complete April 2015 Poem and Song List Here

First, I would like to welcome all old and new friends to The Poem Farm this April. Spring is a busy time on all farms, and this one is no exception.  Each April, many poets and bloggers take on special poetry projects, and I'm doing so too.  You can learn all about Sing That Poem! and how to play on my April 1st post, where you will also find the list of the whole month's poems and tunes as I write and share them.  If you'd like to print out a matching game page for yourself, you can find one here, and during April 2015, you'll be able to see the song list right over there in the left hand sidebar.

Yesterday's poem was In a Book.  Here is the tune that goes along with it, below. Did you figure it out?  If you listen, you'll hear the song that I meant to write toward, and too, you'll hear the song that Kelly Fineman and student Ada Bastedo heard me sing it to.  Yes, yesterday's poemsong can be sung to two tunes!  Such fun!  Does this remind anyone of the "You are My Sunshine" and "This Land is Your Land" days?

And here, below, is today's poem.  Look at the song list in the sidebar or on your matching form to see if you can puzzle out which tune matches this one.

Busy Stone Wall in Clarence, NY

Video by Amy LV

Students - The video you see above is from last Thursday evening, when I was lucky enough to be part of a poetry event at Monkey See, Monkey Do Children's Bookstore in Clarence, NY.  I drove past the shop by accident, and when I pulled into a driveway to turn around, I paused to look at this stone wall.

That little vole (I turned it into a mouse in the poem) just kept on popping in and out!  I thought - and still think - that it is so cute there, just going backandforth, backandforth, backandforth.  It must be bringing seeds into the wall, don't you think?  And don't you wish that you could shrink down and see the inside of the wall?  I wish I could.

So, of course I took a video, there in the driveway.  And of course I wrote about it. It is amazing to me that these things are happening all around us all of the time. Just think - if I had not driven by the book shop by accident, I never would have seen this vole.  

A mistake ended up a blessing.  This happens often, and when we pay attention and look and see...we will find many blessings in mistakes.  See if you can find one today.  And if you wish, go ahead and write about it.  I would love to read it.

By the way...there really was a crow.  After I took the vole video, I looked at another bit of stone wall where a great black crow stared down into my car window and into my eyes.  Before I could take his picture with my camera, he flew away.  Instead, I take his picture today with my poemcamera.

Always keep your poemcamera ready.

The original version of this poem read differently.  What do you notice is the difference?  Why do you think I changed it?

Alone Outside

I like to watch this old stone wall.

Creatures lives here.

They scamper out to gather food.

Then they pop back in.

Sir Crow sits on the wall and stares

with his big eyes.

I stare back and he flies away

to a branch up high.

If you wait and look

you will always see

creatures are living in this old stone wall

underneath the sycamore tree.

© Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Today's poemsong shares almost the same ending with Poemsong #3, Look.  I realized this just this morning, after posting last night.  It is always fun to notice themes that emerge in series such as this.  I am seeing a thread of "observation" this month.

Margaret Simon's students, Matthew, Tyler, Noah, Jacob, and Vanissa, from Jefferson Island Road Elementary in New Iberia, Louisiana, have also written a poemsong that matches today's tune.  So now you have two to play with today! Thank you to these students for sharing their words with us today.  I will post their singing tomorrow.

Trees

Apples fall from apple trees

Watch out! Watch out!

Syrup comes from maple trees,

Sweet, a sticky mess!

Acorns fall from old oak trees.

Squirrels eat them.

Squirrels and humans both alike

all depend on trees.

All depend on trees,

All depend on trees.

Squirrels and humans both alike

All depend on trees! 

by Matthew, Tyler, Noah, Jacob, and Vanissa

Tomorrow I will host the 2015 Progressive Poem here at The Poem Farm. Brainchild of Irene Latham, many folks get together each year - different folks each year - to write a poem, line-by-line, blog-to-blog, throughout the month of April.  Tomorrow I will add line 28...we are in the homestretch indeed.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Day 28 - National Poetry Month 2015 - Sing That Poem!

April 27, 2015, 9:01 pm

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Happy National Poetry Month!

Welcome to Day 28 of this Year's Poem Farm Project!

Find the Complete April 2015 Poem and Song List Here

First, I would like to welcome all old and new friends to The Poem Farm this April. Spring is a busy time on all farms, and this one is no exception.  Each April, many poets and bloggers take on special poetry projects, and I'm doing so too.  You can learn all about Sing That Poem! and how to play on my April 1st post, where you will also find the list of the whole month's poems and tunes as I write and share them.  If you'd like to print out a matching game page for yourself, you can find one here, and during April 2015, you'll be able to see the song list right over there in the left hand sidebar.

Yesterday's poem was Alone Outside.  Here is the tune that goes along with it, below. Did you figure it out?

Margaret Simon's students from Caneview Elementary in New Iberia, Louisiana, have done it again!  You can hear them singing below.

And here is the music to go with yesterday's poem, The Tree Song, written by Margaret's students, Matthew, Tyler, Noah, Jacob, and Vanissa, from Jefferson Island Road Elementary in New Iberia, Louisiana.  As you will hear, this song is to the same tune as "Alone Outside."

And here, below, is today's poem.  Look at the song list in the sidebar or on your matching form to see if you can puzzle out which tune matches this one.

Poems Finding Pockets!

by Amy LV

Students - Poem in Your Pocket Day is on Thursday!  On this special day, people across the United States carry poems in their pockets and share them with friends and strangers.  I wrote today's poemsong in anticipation of this soon-day.

Students often ask me, "Amy, why do you write so many poems?" One reason is because there is a poem for everything.  A poem CAN be happy or sad.  It CAN tell a story or help me remember something from long ago or slow down my mind or help me feel grateful or stand in awe.  It will be hard to know which poem to place in my pocket this week...perhaps I will choose two!

Teachers - Here, at ReadWriteThink, are a few resources if you would like to invite your students to carry poems in their pockets.

Anyone who wishes to share any poem-pocket-joy with me, I'd love to post your pictures and ideas here, perhaps on a brand new Poem in Your Pocket Page!

And if you have not yet seen this new book by Margaret Mcnamara and illustrated by G. Brian Karas, I imagine you will enjoy Elinor's journey to find a just-right poem for her pocket.

Available through IndieBound

And now for another Poetry Month tradition... For the past few years, poet and novelist Irene Latham has invited all interested bloggers to participate in a Progressive Poem.  This poem moves from blog to blog throughout April of each year, and each day, the blogger-of-the-day adds a new line to the growing poem. You can see the travels of this year's poem here at Irene's blog, Live Your Poem - just look in the sidebar during this month of April 2015.

If you'd like to read the Progressive Poems from 2012, 2013, and 2014, you can read them, also at Irene's blog - here.

Yesterday it was my turn to happily receive the poem from Jan at Bookseedstudio, and today I hand it off to Donna at Mainely Write.  You will see the line I added in blue...at the very end.  My apologies for any extra line breaks; these were caused by the width of my blog.  Take it away, Donna!

TO BE TITLED,
2015 Poetry Friday Progressive Poem by an assembly collected by poet Irene Latham

She lives without a net, walking along the alluvium of the delta.
Shoes swing over her shoulder, on her bare feet stick jeweled flecks of dark mica.

Hands faster than fish swing at the ends of bare brown arms.
Her hair flows, snows in wild wind as she digs in the indigo varnished handbag,

pulls out her grandmother’s oval cuffed bracelet,
 strokes the turquoise stones,
and steps through the curved doorway.

Tripping on her tail she slips hair first down the slide…splash!
She glides past glossy water hyacinth to shimmer with a school of shad,
listens to the ibises roosting in the trees of the cypress swamp

an echo of Grandmother’s words, still fresh in her windswept memory;
“Born from the oyster, expect the pearl. Reach for the rainbow reflection on the smallest dewdrop.”

The surface glistens, a shadow slips above her head, a paddle dips
she reaches, seizes. She’s electric energy and turquoise eyes.

Lifted high, she gulps strange air – stares clearly into
 Green pirogue, crawfish trap,
startled fisherman with turquoise eyes, twins of her own, riveted on her wrist–

She’s swifter than a dolphin, slipping away,
leaving him only a handful of memories of his own grandmother’s counsel:

“Watch for her. You’ll have but one chance to 
determine—to decide.
Garner wisdom from the water and from the pearl of the past.”

In a quicksilver flash, an arc of resolution, he leaps
into the shimmering water
where hidden sentries restrain any pursuit
and the bitter taste of impulse rushes into his lungs.

Her flipper flutters his weathered toes – Pearl’s signal –
Stop struggling. The Sentinels will escort you

He stills, closes his eyes,
takes an uncharacteristic breath of…water!

Released, he swims, chasing the glimmer of the bracelet
Gran gave the daughter who reveled in waves.

Straining for fading incandescence, flecks of silver, his eyes and hands clasp cold silt,
flakes of sharp shale seething through fingers – crimson palms stinging.

A sea change ripples his shuddering back.
With a force summoned from the depths, her charged turquoise eyes unsuffer his heart

And holding out her hand to him, she knows. He knows. She speaks --

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Day 29 - National Poetry Month 2015 - Sing That Poem!

April 29, 2015, 5:01 am

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Happy National Poetry Month!

Welcome to Day 29 of this Year's Poem Farm Project!

Find the Complete April 2015 Poem and Song List Here

First, I would like to welcome all old and new friends to The Poem Farm this April. Spring is a busy time on all farms, and this one is no exception.  Each April, many poets and bloggers take on special poetry projects, and I'm doing so too.  You can learn all about Sing That Poem! and how to play on my April 1st post, where you will also find the list of the whole month's poems and tunes as I write and share them.  If you'd like to print out a matching game page for yourself, you can find one here, and during April 2015, you'll be able to see the song list right over there in the left hand sidebar.

Yesterday's poem was Pocket Poem Song.  Here is the tune that goes along with it, below. Did you figure it out?

A great big welcome to the  fourth grade students in Bernadette Kearns' class at Beaumont Elementary School in Devon, Pennsylvania.  They got it!  Thank you so much for singing to us all.

And here, below, is today's poem.  Look at the song list in the sidebar or on your matching form to see if you can puzzle out which tune matches this one.

Puzzle Present Box Top

Puzzle by Teacher Sheila Cocilova and Students

Photo by Amy LV

Poem Puzzle

Puzzle by Teacher Sheila Cocilova and Students

Photo by Amy LV

Friendship Puzzle Complete

Puzzle by Mrs. Cocilova & Students

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Yesterday, I had the good fortune to visit three schools - Jefferson Avenue Elementary, Brooks Hill Elementary, and Dudley Elementary - in the Fairport Central School District in Fairport, NY  In each school, I met with the whole second grade class as they are all in the middle of a big poetry writing unit. I felt so welcomed and very inspired by these young writers and their teachers.

Teacher and writer Sheila Cocilova and her second grade students sent me home from Fairport with a puzzle present.  Not a singing puzzle, but a real jigzaw puzzle that they made, and you can see a few pictures of it above.  Below you can read the words that travel around the perimeter.

Poetry is like a puzzle

each word like a single puzzle piece

uniquely fitting together with others

to create a beautiful finished product.

Looking at my new puzzle, reading the names of these students and thinking about all of the students and teachers I visited with yesterday...I felt happy to have been in Fairport, and sad to not be there today. This made me remember times that I have moved from one house to another and times when children I know have told me moving stories.

I often say that one word I love in the English language is bittersweet.  It means that something can be both happy and sad at the same time.  That's how I feel about moving and about visiting schools.  It is sweet to meet new friends...and sad to say goodbye.

It has been said that powerful writing grows when we can hold onto two feelings at once, two feelings like bitter and sweet.  If you can remember a time when you felt both happy and sad...this might give you a powerful start to a new piece of writing.

Afternoon Update PS - This is the poem that I had posted this morning, but upon rereading in the afternoon, I did not like the fourth line or the way the poem read without music.  So, the revised version is above.  My apologies to any students who sang already.  I will still post your voices!  Revision is life!

Earlier Draft of Today's Poem

Remember - tomorrow is Poem in Your Pocket Day!  Don't forget to find a poem for your own pocket, and I hope that you enjoy yesterday's Pocket Poem Song too.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Day 30 - National Poetry Month 2015 - Sing That Poem!

April 29, 2015, 9:01 pm

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Happy National Poetry Month!

Welcome to Day 30, the last day, of this Year's Poem Farm Project!

Find the Complete April 2015 Poem and Song List Here

First, I would like to welcome all old and new friends to The Poem Farm this April. Spring is a busy time on all farms, and this one is no exception.  Each April, many poets and bloggers take on special poetry projects, and I'm doing so too.  You can learn all about Sing That Poem! and how to play on my April 1st post, where you will also find the list of the whole month's poems and tunes as I write and share them.  If you'd like to print out a matching game page for yourself, you can find one here, and during April 2015, you'll be able to see the song list right over there in the left hand sidebar.

Yesterday's poem was For My Friend.  Here is the tune that goes along with it, below. Did you figure it out?

Here are Margaret Simon's students from Caneview Elementary in New Iberia, Louisiana.  They got it again!

And here, below, is today's poem, the final poem of Sing That Poem 2015.  If you have been playing all month, it is the last song left.  If not, just look at the song list in the sidebar or on your matching form to see if you can puzzle out which tune matches this one. 

Storytime

by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem comes from an image I have been carrying in my head and heart for some time.  Two years ago, I received a letter from Joanna, one of my friend Vida's library students.  In her letter, Joanna told me that she read my book to the birds in her yard.

It was the most beautiful compliment and most magical picture I could imagine - reading to birds!  

I did not realize it until right now, but I was saving this beautiful image for this beautiful tune.  For some reason, I seemed to save a tricky tune for the very end of this month, but now I know it was right and hope to have done both image and tune a bit of justice.  I am grateful, for Joanna, for Vida, for birds and words and poetry and images we can't forget, for books, and for you.

Thank you for holding my hand through this Poetry Month.  It has been fun singing with friends old and new.  And now...onto May!

On Sunday evening at 8pm EST, I will help faciliate a TwitterChat with Teach and Celebrate Writers all about...poetry!  Please join us for the poetrylove.  And if you are a teacher who would like to learn more about Twitter so that you can participate, check out The Teacher's Guide to Twitter at EduDemic.

Tomorrow is Poetry Friday!  In my post, please look for the complete page for Sing That Poem 2015, where I will include all poems and songs for easy following for those who have missed anything and for future days and years.  

Please share a comment below if you wish.

May First - Poemsongs and a Poetry Peek

April 30, 2015, 9:01 pm

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Thank you so much for joining me in my project

for National Poetry Month 2015

I am so grateful for all of the fun and fellowship all around the Kidlitosphere throughout this year's National Poetry Month.  Thank you for all that you shared on blogs, with me in person, with the world.

Sing that Poem! 2015 has officially ended with the recording for yesterday's poem, the final poem, Joanna (for the real Joanna).

And now...a Poetry Peek!

Today I am very happy to welcome Librarian Gayle Kerman from Country Parkway Elementary in the Williamsville Central School District in Williamsville, NY. Below she shares her students' experience with Sing That Poem!.

Recently, I got caught up in Amy’s April challenge of matching her poems to the meter/tune of familiar children’s songs.  I decided to try it with my fourth grade students. What a lucky find.  Most of the work was already done for me.

I am an elementary school librarian and since I only see the students once a week, I was looking for something that would fit into a 30-minute period.  I selected eight of Amy’s poems and pasted them into a Word document. I also made up an answer sheet that listed the 8 songs that matched the poems.  I only had to do a quick introduction to get the class started.  I used a few examples from Alan Katz’s book I’m Still Here in the Bathtub just to give students a better idea of what they should expect once they got started.

Many of the students were already familiar with the Katz book and were big fans to boot, so they were excited about this new challenge ahead of them.  Before turning them loose, we quickly sang the original version of the 8 songs on their answer sheet to be sure that the tunes were familiar to them.

They worked in groups of two or four.  It was a fun activity and many students chuckled over the idea of having “music class in the library!!”

I circled the room for any questions, but the activity really just hummed.  The students LOVED it…both girls AND boys.  I noticed two boys who were intently focusing and enjoying the activity so much I had to pull out my iPhone to take this video of them.

Joseph and Emilio from Mrs. Moser's Fourth Grade Class

Play Sing That Poem! in the Library at Country Parkway Elementary

Video by Librarian Gayle Kerman

During the last 5 minutes of class the solutions were revealed and we sang each poem to the matched tune.  I plan to select 8-10 more poems from the last half of Amy’s April posts and use them at the end of the school year when I will really need some fun stuff!

I am so grateful to Gayle, Joseph, and Emilio for sharing this story and video here today.  I love that we spent some of our National Poetry Month together.

Today, I would like to welcome you to the new page I made with all of my Sing That Poem! poemsongs from April 2015. You can find this page here, and it is filed under the FIND A POEM tab that you see atop this site.

You can find today's Poetry Friday roundup with Ellen at Space City Scribes.

Letterpress Print by Chris

Moon Rabbit Press

(Thank you, Chris, for allowing me to share.)

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Walking Stick, Fifth Grade Poets, & Kindness

May 8, 2015, 5:44 am

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Swiss Army Knife

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Spring is here in Western New York, and that means we'll all be out hiking more regularly.  Hiking often means finding and carving walking sticks...we love to peel the bark and carve into sticks, watching the wood chips fall to earth.  Today's poem celebrates this small joy and captures the feeling I have in the woods when I whittle and walk with a stick that I found.

This poem is one of many that I wrote for my forthcoming collection with Clarion/Houghton Mifflin - WITH MY HANDS: POEMS ABOUT MAKING THINGS.  I have been finishing my revisions on this collection (so excited) and know now that this poem will not actually be in the book.  I just wanted to share it here for all of you hikers and whittlers.

Today I am very happy to welcome fifth grade teacher Adrienne Moran and her poets from Douglas J. Regan Intermediate School in the Starpoint Central School District in Lockport, NY.  They spent a lot of time this winter/spring reading and writing poetry, and it is a joy to have the chance to share their work here.  Thank you, poets!  Please enjoy this slideshow of these fifth graders' poetry and process.

You can control the speed of the slideshow with the arrows on the right bottom corner.

So much gratitude to Adrienne Moran and her students.  I am thrilled that they were willing to share their poetry..and their process...here on this beautiful spring day.

And now for a giveaway...

Learn More at Force Field for Good

I am excited and grateful to offer a giveaway of two copies of Force Field For Good, the kindness CD by my friend, great person and writing teacher extraordinaire, Barry Lane.  Barry asked me to share "More Than a Number,""Xenophobia" and also to contribute to a few of the songs on this CD, and I am honored to be part of it. I asked Barry to offer a few words about Force Field for Good, and he responded:

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
~Aristotle

At this time of unprecedented peace in the history of humanity, we need songs and anthems to help both young and old see that peace and unity are not unrealistic fantasies. Peace and unity are possible through belief and active daily struggle.

Like the Starship Enterprise, this CD of 17 songs is a vessel to carry forth an ever- advancing civilization toward unity. Sing these songs with your children and your students. Teach them that the dream of peace becomes real when we know our higher selves and offer our gifts to others.

This CD is also part of a book and curriculum of the same title, Force Field for Good, by Barry and Colleen Mestdagh.  Barry has offered two CDs to two commenters on today's post.  Please leave a comment to enter, and I will announce the two winners next week.

Thank you, Barry!

Michelle is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Today's Little Ditty.  All are welcome!

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Puppets and a Poetry Peek

May 12, 2015, 4:56 am

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Friends

Puppets by Children and Photo by Amy LV

Students - I wrote today's puppet poem for a purpose.  (Now there's some alliteration...)  I was visiting a kindergarten class, and I wanted a puppet poem. So...I wrote one!  

Sometimes there are occasions or moments in life where we are looking for words and are might not be able to find the exact words we seek.  Then it's time to pull out our pencils and write something new.

And now for a Poetry Peek!

Yesterday I was fortunate to visit Nancy Johnstone's and Marilyn Delucia's kindergarten classes as part of the extended day program with Mercier Literacy for Children at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School #9, the school where I student taught in 1992.  We had a few adults working together with children in poetry centers, and I am still smiling to think about it.

In Center One, children made the paper bag puppets you see above and recited the silly poem.

In Center Two, children read poetry books together from a suitcase full of books.

In Center Three, children made up poems and shared them orally in the voices of fuzzy puppets.  

And in Center Four, children wrote poems together with teacher Nancy Johnstone. Today they will be reading these group  poems (I typed them) and painting their own individual color poem books.

Enjoy reading these delightful images and playful color poems illustrated in watercolors.

Thank you very much to Nancy for inviting me to join her for an afternoon of poetry and time with these beautiful children.  It was a delight!

There is still a giveaway going on at last Friday's post.  If you're interested in winning a copy of Barry Lane's great CD, FORCE FIELD FOR GOOD, head on over to Friday's post and leave comment to be entered into Friday's drawing.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

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Pigeon Poem, Poetry Peek, & Skype Celebration!

May 15, 2015, 5:16 am

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Pigeon

by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem grew from the fact that I have been spending more time in the city than I normally do.  This change of scenery is giving me new mindpictures and new thoughts.  With these come new poems.  I hope to spend more time in the city and encourage you to try something you do not usually try, do something you do not usually do.  Stretch the boundaries of who you have always been and make room for new mindpictures, new thoughts, new poems.

You will notice two sets of rhyming words in this short poem.  And you may also have noticed that there are fewer syllables in lines 7 and 8 than in lines 3 and 4...this may have surprised you.  I considered having the last two lines read someting such as:

he starts my school day with delight (8 syllables - a match to - that when his feathers shimmer-glow)

instead of:

he fills me with delight (6 syllables)

But in the end, I decided to go for the shorter ending, to clip it a bit, to break what was to be an expected pattern.  Working and reworking endings is something we often must do as writers of all genres.

It is a treat today to welcome fifth grade teacher Lindsey Holt and her poets from the LaDue Fifth Grade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, to The Poem Farm.  Enjoy this peek into their spring poetry unit.

Here are some strategies that really helped my students find their inner poets!

One of the rituals we stuck to throughout our study of poetry was a read-aloud. We began with Sharon Creech's LOVE THAT DOG.  We used a few guiding questions throughout:  What are Jack's feelings about poetry?  What are the elements of poetry as told by Jack?  How does Jack's perspective on poetry change throughout the book and why?  We kept these posted on anchor charts, and the students added post-its with evidence from the book throughout the unit.

The students felt a connection with the main character Jack because our study mimicked what his class did in the book.  I also had students who did not necessarily love the idea of poetry, and this character validated their feelings.  However, his transformation showed them that if he, the most reluctant of poets, was able to become passionate about it and proud of his work, then they could too.  We also read the sequel, HATE THAT CAT, and my students are very disappointed that there is not a third!  I would recommend that elementary teachers use these books during any study of poetry.

I also made sure to use a variety of mentor texts (both individual poems and volumes of poetry), and I had a bin full of books accessible to students throughout the unit (I've listed some of my and the students' favorites at the bottom).  One of my favorite teacher books is STUDY DRIVEN by Katie Wood Ray, and in it she talks about the idea that students must first read widely that which you want them to write.  We certainly did that, and along the way, my students discovered that poetry can be found out in the world but also in our hearts.  Really, poetry is everywhere.  Thus, when it was time for students to write their own poetry, it seemed very natural to them; it was no longer an intimidating or daunting task of writing.

Our favorite texts:

A POKE IN THE EYE: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS by P.B. Janeczko
A KICK IN THE HEAD:  AN EVERYDAY GUIDE TO POETIC FORMS by P.B. Janeczko
A FULL MOON IS RISING by Marilyn Singer
AFRICAN ACROSTICS by A. Harley
SPLASH! POEMS OF OUR WATERY WORLD by C. Levy
CONFETTI: POEMS FOR CHILDREN by P. Mora
POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: ANIMAL POEMS by J. Hollander
EDGAR ALLAN POE'S PIE:  MATH PUZZLERS IN CLASSIC POEMS by J. Patrick Lewis
WHEN YOU'RE A PIRATE DOG AND OTHER PIRATE POEMS by Eric Ode
BEHOLD THE BOLD UMBRELLAPHANT AND OTHER POEMS  by Jack Prelutsky

And here are some poems from our class:

Ghost of the Sea

Swimming quickly through

the sea

Swaying side to side

like a tree

I am the spider of

the sea.

What could I be?

It's a mystery.

I am a slippery, smooth, and

scary sight to see.

An octopus, an octopus

that's me.

Ghost of the sea.

by Jackson

Quatrain

I watch YouTube

While eating food

A lot to choose from

but I like only some

by Zac

Ripples

Rivers

Oceans and Streams

Swimming Quietly I

Believe that water has power

Not greed

by Jackson

Brother and Sister

Brother

Mad, Angry

Fighting, Hurting, Kicking

Always Crazy, Always Calm

Helping, Whispering, Quiet

Caring, Sweet

Sister

by Harrison

Sugar and Spice

Sugar

sweet, white

dumping, raining, dancing

You love it or hate it

burning, flaming, stining

hot, steamy

Spice.

by Lily

Spicy

Sweet?  Oh no it's not,

Please escape my tongue.

I declare

Care!

Yummm, milk

by Lily

Mount. Poem

Grab a shovel

and come with me

to dig in the

mountain of poetry

Dig all day

the hole will grow

deeper into

the poem you'll go

When you've dug

a great big hole

you'll crash into 

the poem's soul

An enormous cave

full of gold

words and wonders

poems untold

And when you've explored 

every crook

bring a friend

to have a look

But never ever

fill up the hole

keep coming down

take a stroll

For the moment

that it is gone

You forget everything

in a single yawn

Read a poem

let it teach

all the things

that you can reach.

by Anika

Clang Went the Chime

Clang went the chime,
As it fell to the ground.
Clang went the chime,
As it fell to the ground.

Bang went the car,
As its door closed.
Bang went the car,
As its door closed.

Kaching went the cash register,
As money was made.
Kaching went the cash register,
As money was made.

by Alexandra

Robin

As I sat outside,
I saw the little robin,
Yes, and smiled he did.

by Alexandra

Much gratitude to Lindsey Holt and her students for joining us this Poetry Friday with their writing voices and ideas for learning more about poetry.

In celebration fun, today I finished a three visit Skype-through-Spring with the first graders at Darby Creek Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio.  This morning I was treated to a sharing of children's poems, some written by individual students and some written together.  And at the end of our time today, these young poets were surprised to each receive a copy of FOREST HAS A SONG, purchased by the Darby Creek PTO with signed bookplates I sent last week.

So many thank yous to the teachers and parents who made this exciting series possible.  I learned a lot and loved following the journey of these poets through their teachers, their blogs, their Padlets, and their voices and faces on Skype.  Here you can see teacher Cathy Mere's Tweet, posted the moment before children received their books!

From Teacher Cathy Mere's Twitter Stream

Skype Celebration - May 15, 2015

Photo Collage by Cathy Mere

The winners of last week's giveaway of Barry Lane's FORCE FIELD FOR GOOD CD are Linda A. and Rosi!  Please send me an e-mail to amy at amylv dot com with your address, and I will pass it along to Barry.  Thank you, Barry!

In case you did not see Tuesday's post, I had an extra this week.  Click here to read the paper bag puppet poem and visit some kindergarten poets from Rochester, NY.

Today's Poetry Friday roundup is with Diane Mayr at Random Noodling.  Noodle on over to her place to join in on the festivities.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Writing, Brains, and Notebooks

May 22, 2015, 5:09 am

≫ Next: Firepaw and Charlie - a Friendship Poem

≪ Previous: Pigeon Poem, Poetry Peek, & Skype Celebration!

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Writing is Exploring is Writing

by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem is really a how-to poem, but not a clear cut how-to such as "How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich." Rather, it is a poem about how to do something that is in a way concrete, and in a way, mysterious - writing.

You will notice that I compare writing to walking a dog.  That's because when I walk my dog, I never know where she will want to go.  We have discoveries and adventures.  Such a sense of discovery and adventure is writing at its best too.

When I started writing this poem, I had no idea where it would go.  Rather, I just followed my pen and mind and there appeared the tracks.

Trust yourself.  If you don't know what you wish to exactly write, just get started, and see where you go.   Allow your pen to find its way into the brambles of metaphor and the secret paths of simile. You may well find a hidden room.

Today I am tickled to welcome English Language Arts director, Mary Wheeler, from St. John School in Houston, Texas with this zany Poetry Peek!  Enjoy!

Thank you, Mary, for e-mailing me these joyous pictures to share here today.  If anyone tries this way to display poetry, or if you have another way that you like to share students' poems, please let me know as I would love to feature it.

Now that our brains are feeling colorful, I would like to extend an invitation to all. In the past week, my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, has lit up like a bonfire. It started when Kimberley Moran of iWrite in Maine wrote and asked me about hosting some ideas for student notebooking over the summer.  She wrote the first one, and now we already have 27 entries!  All are welcome to contribute, and you can see the list of how to post here and the list of entries already up here.

Here's how easy it is to share.  Just think of one way you get inspired to write in your notebook (or on your napkin or on your computer or on your arm...) and then write up a paragraph sharing that idea/exercise. Then, snap a photo of a page (or napkin or screen or arm...) and e-mail or Google Doc it to me with a brief bio. Then, I put it up with all the others, and we all have a wondrous list of writing exercises to inspire not only our students...but us too.

All are welcome - students, teachers, writers, artists, mechanics, chefs, jotters, scribblers of all types.  The more variety, the merrier.  I welcome you to share and hope that you will.

Here's an easy Tweet if you just want to copy and use it -

@amylvpoemfarm is collecting #notebook ideas! Share your short paragraph, photo, bio here to join the fun - http://bit.ly/1LbP1K1 #writing

Matt Forrest is hosting today's Poetry Friday party at Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme...with wonderful news.  Please stop by, enjoy all of the poetry offerings, and congratulate Matt on his book contract!

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Firepaw and Charlie - a Friendship Poem

May 28, 2015, 9:18 pm

≫ Next: Apology - A Poem of Address

≪ Previous: Writing, Brains, and Notebooks

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Charlie

Photo by Elizabeth Pellette

Firepaw
Photo by Amy LV

Students - This is a true poem.  Firepaw is really our cat.  And Charlie was really our neighbor cat.  They loved each other.  When Charlie died earlier this year, I wished that Firepaw could understand English, even if just for a moment.  I wanted so dearly to explain that Charlie was gone, would not be coming back.  When I see Firepaw waiting down by the mailbox these days, I wish I could help him understand.

We all have feelings that come up again and again, good feelings, sad feelings, confused feelings, lonely feelings, surprising feelings.  We might talk about our feelings and wishes with other people, or we might want to keep them to ourselves. Writing is a way to help make sense of these things, to see them on the page, and both celebrate inside and heal our hearts too.

Firepaw still does have his sister, Pickles.  She is another one of our cats.  They love each other too...so Firepaw is not alone.  But we still miss Charlie.

In news this week, I have been very busy at my other blog.  A bit less than two weeks ago, Kimberley Moran from iWrite in Maine suggested that I host a Summer Edition of ideas at Sharing Our Notebooks. Well, 43 entries of crowdsourcing later, the collection of ideas is beautiful and rich, and I welcome your voice too! You can read about the project here and check out the list of ideas here. Teachers, be sure to check out the bookmarks in the Sharing Our Notebooks sidebar too.  So many wonderful ideas for summer!  I am truly grateful to host this collection and cannot wait to see where it goes.

Margaret is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Reflections on the Teche.  Visit her online home to learn about all of the delicious poetry goodies around the Kidlitosphere today.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Apology - A Poem of Address

June 4, 2015, 9:01 pm

≫ Next: writing about humble things

≪ Previous: Firepaw and Charlie - a Friendship Poem

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Wood Thrush - After Hitting a Window

Photo by Amy LV

Doing OK

Photo by Amy LV

Flown Away!

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem tells the story I share with a little wood thrush, a story this bird and I lived together just yesterday morning.  It is a story with a happy ending, but I at first I could not know how it would end.  I was worried about this pretty bird who hit my living room window, worried about this small body so beautiful in its feathers.

My poem above is a poem of address, a poem which speaks directly to someone or something, in this case - a small soft wood thrush.  Have you ever found yourself talking to something that cannot talk back to you?  Sometimes I talk to keys and socks that I cannot find, asking them to come out and make themselves seen.  Sometimes I talk to my kitten.  Sometimes I talk to my car.  In a poem of address, you can come right out and talk to whatever, whomever you wish.

So many congratulations to the wise and wonderful Jacqueline Woodson, who this week was named by The Poetry Foundation as our new Young People's Poet Laureate.  Author of BROWN GIRL DREAMING, THE OTHER SIDE, SHOW WAY, LOCOMOTION, and many more books for young readers, Jackie is a gift to us all.  I can't wait to see what she does for poetry...for children...for humanity...in her new position.

It is summertime now, and I wish everyone many beautiful adventures outside. Don't forget, though, to take your notebook with you!  You may lalready know that I am collecting ideas for summer notebooking ideas over at my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, and I invite you to visit and share your own idea too.  It is great fun to learn about all of the ways people find writing and drawing ideas - 66 and counting!

Today I'd like to especially thank third grade teacher Kim Doele and her students from Wealthy Elementary in East Grand Rapids Michigan.  These students have shared so many great posts and ideas at Sharing Our Notebooks. Many readers have already told me through Twitter how excited they are to try these students' notebooking ideas.

Below you can find links to these students' specific posts at Sharing Our Notebooks. Big hugs to all of you!

Inspire Yourself with Walks and Books - by Finn

Write About People You Love to Be With - by Eoghan

Begin With the Day's Weather - by Greta

Write as Something or Someone Else - by Hayden

Compare Two Ways to Do Something - by Julia

Write About a Subject You're Interested In - by Mo

Look at One Object in Many Different Ways - by Teagan

Write Two Poems about Alike/Different Things - by Alyssa

Get Writing Ideas at Wonderopolis - by Henry

Buffy Silverman is hosting today's Poetry Friday extravaganza over at Buffy's Blog. Head right on over there to join in the poetry fun!

Please share a comment below if you wish.

writing about humble things

June 12, 2015, 6:04 am

≫ Next: Bottles - Writing from Words People Say

≪ Previous: Apology - A Poem of Address

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Bookmark

by Amy LV

Students - A couple of weeks ago, our family went once again on the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage, a beautiful weekend of learning at Allegany State Park in Salamanca, NY.  During this weekend, I took a class about drawing from nature, a class that built on the art strategies taught in Zentangles.  It was entrancing and wonderful to get lost in drawing the same few flowers over and over again, a reminder of how any object we study closely can become fascinating and even beautiful.

You may have noticed that I did not capitalize any letters in this poem, and you may be wondering why.  The reason is because this poem is about humble flowers, small unfancy flowers.  I wanted my alphabet to match that feel.

You can learn more about buttercups here at Eat the Weeds and more about veronica here at Turf Files.

Look around today for small, maybe unnoticed, humble beauties and surprises. See if you can find one to write about.  Elevate the little!

Today I couldn't be more tickled to be visiting Sylvia Vardell's blog, Poetry for Children, as part of her "Poet to Poet" series.  I had the opportunity to ask Lee Wardlaw about her fun new book, WON TON AND CHOPSTICK, and she was so generous in her teachings about process.  I learned a lot from Lee in this interview, and I look forward to sharing her words with young writers.  Thank you, Lee, and Sylvia, for the chance to take part in this great series.  Meow!

Sylvia Vardell of Poetry for Children 

Photo by Russell Vardell

Lee Vardell, Two of Lee's Books, & Amy LV
Lee's Photo from her Website

Please know that all are welcome to participate in the Summer Edition of Sharing Our Notebooks.  If you visit my other blog, you'll find 70 generous posts full of ideas for notebook-writing, and I welcome yours too! 

Jama is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at her delicious blog, Jama's Alphabet Soup.  Today she offers a beautiful book and poem, congratulations to two new wondrous Poet Laureates, and blueberries!

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Bottles - Writing from Words People Say

June 18, 2015, 9:01 pm

≫ Next: Finding and Keeping Delight - Free Verse in Nature

≪ Previous: writing about humble things

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Memory Bottles

by Amy LV

Students - There are many reasons to keep a notebook, and one of them is to find out what will surface in your mind when you are free to roam the pages like a dog in a huge field.  No limits, no assignments, just you and the page.  What will happen?  What idea, thought, memory, or opinion will rise to the top of your writing heart?

Yesterday, I was doing just this, roaming the blank pages like a joyful beagle, and I found myself writing words that my mother used to and still does say -

Notebook Blip

by Amy LV

Why did I write this?  Who knows!  But there it was...and off I went.  Lately, I've been struck by the number of red-winged blackbirds out on these country roads, and so that beautiful animal made its way into today's poem as well.

For me, poems are a way to celebrate the people and things I love.  And often, sitting to write, I do not know what I will write about at all.  This happens to all writers, I think, and it is always fun to be surprised by our own selves.

What are some words that people have said to you in your life, words that come back to revisit you when you are alone?  Any one of these phrases might be a great place to begin a poem or story or piece of your own.

Sometimes people ask about where to break stanzas.  With this poem, I thought about breaking it into quatrains, as the rhymes fall.  But then I thought again and decided to break it into two parts: the first part about the bottles and today's collecting and the second part reflecting on the importance of these bottles.  There is no right way to break stanzas, but it is important to understand and be able to talk about the decisions we make.

Teachers and Adult Readers - Something I found inspiring yesterday is  Dani Shapiro's most recent blog post which you can find here.  It is always good to find others who find themselves by first allowing themselves to get lost.  A relief, indeed, not to be alone.

Mary Lee, who so wisely and graciously rounds all of us up all year long here on Poetry Fridays, is hosting today's roundup with a fun sounding book (baa!) over at A Year of Reading.  Gallop on over to her place to learn about the poetry happenings all 'round the Kidlitosphere this week.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Finding and Keeping Delight - Free Verse in Nature

June 26, 2015, 11:23 am

≫ Next: Tiny Artwork Everywhere! Just Look Around!

≪ Previous: Bottles - Writing from Words People Say

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Spotted Charm

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Lately, I have been recording more of my everyday delights and moments-to-be-grateful-for in my notebook.  And this week, finding a woodpecker feather was a highlight.  I had brought my recycling out to the roadside, and when I looked down...there it was.  Delight!  There is something magical in finding a surprise, and magic is always worth writing about.  You might wish to make a list of things that you have found in your notebook.  There will likely be some fine writing ideas hidden (or jumping out at you) there.

Today's poem is a free verse poem following no particular pattern or rhyme scheme.  You may have noticed, though, that there is one rhyme at the end. Sometimes I like writing without rhyme but for a bit of a twist at the end.

This month's posts have all celebrated the small goodnesses in nature.  From June 5th's Apology to a wood thrush to June 12's celebration of weeds to June 19th's Bottles to today's poem, I have been once more falling in love with the world outside.  I wonder what July will bring.  May it bring you many charms and delights, spotted and otherwise!

Carol is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Carol's Corner.  Join her for a post full of rain, Billy Collins goodness, and so many fabulous links of poetry loving friends.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

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Tiny Artwork Everywhere! Just Look Around!

July 3, 2015, 9:04 am

≫ Next: Something I Do - Free Verse & a Padlet

≪ Previous: Finding and Keeping Delight - Free Verse in Nature

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Tiny Artwork

Photo by Amy LV

Students - This morning, I went outside to write.  We have had many days of rain in a row, and so it was a treat to sit outside and feel sun on my shoulders. Writing was a little bit tricky because our cats all wanted cuddling, and Pickles kept on rubbing her head against me, begging for attention.  I petted her a bit...but then it was back to writing.

When I looked out across the lawn, I saw the spider web that you see above, just twinkling in the morning light.  It asked me to write about it, and so I did.  As I wrote, I loved the idea of Spider and Dew working together to make something so lovely, a tiny artwork that brightened my day from the very start.

Pay attention to what sits at your feet, flies in your sky, comes across your path. Sometimes it might feel to you as if an idea is saying, "Write about me!" Always listen.

If you are curious about spiders, as I am, you can learn more about them at Wonderopolis:

Why Do Spiders Spin Webs?
Why Don't Spiders Get Caught in Their Webs?
How Strong is Silk?

Donna is hosting today's Poetry Friday party over at Mainely Write.  Visit her place to celebrate poems and poetry with friends old and new.

I wish you the eyes to find tiny artworks in your life all week, all life long!  Keep a list...who knows what it any one idea will become?

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Something I Do - Free Verse & a Padlet

July 10, 2015, 7:32 am

≫ Next: Pluto! - Writing from Current Events

≪ Previous: Tiny Artwork Everywhere! Just Look Around!

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Poem Path

by Amy LV

Students - I do collect poems and do sometimes feel like they are spilling out from my pockets and onto the earth.  But you know what, I still always wish to learn and collect more.  Poems are my way of understanding the world - both reading poems and writing poems helps me make sense of life on both the dark and the very sunny days.  Poems are both song and like medicine to me.

Today's poem is a free verse poem, not following any special rhyme scheme or meter. Yet still, I read the poem many times out loud to listen to the pauses and rhythms and repetition.

What is something you do?  Might that be a good start to a notebook entry or poem?  "Something I do..."

As I learn more about using digital technologies to share and publish writing, I hope that you will occasionally hold my hand on the journey.  Today I truly am collecting poems...favorite poems of favorite people.  Please visit my Padlet and leave a note with your name, telling about, and maybe even linking to, one of your own favorite poems. We all become wiser through sharing, and I feel fortunate to share with you.

Please be sure to include your own name if you leave a poem on the Padlet. Only with a name will I approve the note.

Created with Padlet

Katie is hosting today's Poetry Friday extravaganza over at The Logonauts.  Visit her online home to enjoy this week's poetry offerings all around the Kidlitosphere.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Pluto! - Writing from Current Events

July 17, 2015, 7:09 am

≫ Next: Sometimes I Sit and Wonder - A List Poem

≪ Previous: Something I Do - Free Verse & a Padlet

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Portrait of Pluto

Taken July 13, 2015 by the New Horizons Spacecraft

Photo Permission

Students - This may be the first time I have posted a poem picture here that was not taken or drawn by someone in my family or by a good friend. But it's a clear and beautiful image of Pluto, and so I could not resist.  This past Tuesday, July 14, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto, and it was the first spacecraft to do so.  It took nine and a half years to make the three billion mile trip, and they did it.  

When I listened to the news on Tuesday and Wednesday and saw the Pluto pictures, I knew that I would write about this exciting day and event.  Every single day, millions of interesting things happen in the world.  By reading or listening to the news, a writer can find many many ideas.  Try taking a peek at the newspaper or listening to radio news.  You might watch a bit of TV news or check out a news site here online, and let it inspire a new poem or piece of writing in you.

If you wish to read a bit more about the New Horizons fly-by, visit The New York Times. To see a timelapse video showing how our knowledge of Pluto has grown, visit NASA.  And this little NASA clip shows you Pluto's mountains:

This week I was over the moon excited to receive my contributor copies of the latest book by Lee Bennett Hopkins - JUMPING OFF LIBRARY SHELVES. Gorgeously illustrated by Jane Manning, this is a warm, wise, and whimsical celebration of poems celebrating the goodness of libraries.  My poem, "Book Pillows," could not be happier to be included, and I am looking forward to September when the book is available. Today, though, I am offering a giveaway to a commenter on this post. Simply comment with a way to reach you below, and I'll draw one name and announce the winner next Friday.

Available through Your Local Bookstore

or Amazon

If you'd like to see how the Favorite Poem Padlet is growing, click here to check it out.  You can still add your favorite.  Just double click anywhere on the gray with your left mouse button, and begin typing!

This week's Poetry Friday party is with Kimberley over at Google +.  Visit there to read a beautiful poem and to learn about links to poetry goodness all around.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Sometimes I Sit and Wonder - A List Poem

July 24, 2015, 7:28 am

≫ Next: Sad - Writing about Feelings

≪ Previous: Pluto! - Writing from Current Events

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Talking Barn

by Amy LV

Students - This, as you have likely noticed, is a list poem.  Yesterday I was sitting at a picnic table in our back pasture, writing as I looked around the world.  When my eyes landed on our barn, I found myself thinking about way back before our time, when cows lived in there.  I started wondering if the barn misses those cows, and...well...one thing led to another.  It was fun to think about the different things in my life that might wish to tell me something.

Do you ever just sit outside, look around, and think and wonder?  I highly recommend it as a neat way to find out what's rattling around up in your attic mind!

The winner of last week's giveaway of JUMPING OFF LIBRARY SHELVES, the latest beautiful anthology by Lee Bennett Hopkins, is Janet.  Janet - please send me your address in an e-mail to amy at amylv dot com, and I will get it in the mail to you.  Congratulations!

Visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for a beautiful summer swap gift share and today's roundup.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Sad - Writing about Feelings

July 31, 2015, 10:04 am

≫ Next: New Teacher New Year - A First Day of School Poem

≪ Previous: Sometimes I Sit and Wonder - A List Poem

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Sad but Dreaming

by Amy LV

Students - I write poems for all kinds of reasons: to be silly, to express fascination, to play with words, to wonder, to describe what I see in my everyday life.  Sometimes, though, I simply write about feelings - feelings I am having now, feelings I see others living with, and feelings I have felt before.  Writing about our feelings helps us make sense of them, helps us become more human.

We don't always have to show our writing-about-feelings with others, but just getting something on paper can help us figure out what we think, can help us know what to do next.  This is just one reason that I keep a notebook, to have a place to keep my feelings.

Keri is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Keri Recommends.  Enjoy Keri's great note and gorgeous eggs, Irene's beautiful gift poemcollage and all of the lovely offerings today.

Please share a comment below if you wish.