Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

A Fantasy Football Cinquain!

Football on Tee by GreatdesignplusJulie,
I wanted to share this cinquain* with you by my 12 yo son who claims to not like writing. I know you like sports so I thought you would enjoy this.

Sara

Fantasy Football
yell, choose
takes up time
win happy, lose mad
managing

 

*A cinquain is a five-lined poem and can be written various ways (some cinquains use different numbers of syllables for each line). For young writers we recommend:

One word (a noun, the subject of the poem)
Two words (adjectives that describe the subject in line 1)
Three words (-ing action verbs (participles) that relate to the subject in line 1)
Four words (a phrase or sentence that relates feelings about the subject in line 1)
One word (a synonym for the subject in line 1 or a word that sums it up)

Image © Greatdesignplusdotcom | Dreamstime.com

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Teacher spotlight: Susanne Barrett

The Artist's Wife Knitting

Yesterday we highlighted a student’s fragment poem based on a Daily Writing Tip and the building game, Minecraft. One of our lovely instructors, Susanne Barrett, also wrote a fragment poem. Hers was inspired by e. e. cummings’ unconventional sonnet, “the Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls.”

fragments of Cambridge ladies

by Susanne Barrett
after e. e. cummings

not caring,
not them—
as they bandy coy scandal,
fluttering eyelashes and tongues
simultaneously.

their perfectly-furnished souls
so stale and unbeautiful,
padded to stifle spirit.
cornered in futile cornerlessness
the precise hue of the invariably
lavender sky.

while the moon rises
presently writing,
trembling its poignant phrases
with mind wailing,
distinctly un.comfortable.

rattling, dull needles
ever knitting,
pearling,
knitting,
twisting
ever twisting
into the unscented, the shapeless.
ever ripping reputations
into miniscule shreds
ever fragmenting.

while the sky-lavender sky
refuses to blame the candy
for its righteous anger.

The image above is of “The Artist’s Wife Knitting” by William James Glackens

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Brave Writer spotlight: Tom

MINECRAFT! ZOMBIES!The following fragment poem was inspired by a Daily Writing Tip (see below).

 

Minecraft
by Tom (age 13)

As zombies gather.
Blocky and cubular*.
While I craft.
When I build.
Awaiting me.

 

*Cubular: to have a very cubeish nature; to be cubey.

Also, for the few who may not know what Minecraft is: “Minecraft is a game about breaking and placing blocks. At first, people built structures to protect against nocturnal monsters, but as the game grew players worked together to create wonderful, imaginative things.” ~from the official website

Image by crdotx

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Brave Writer spotlight: Hannah

Hens in the Sunshine by Heidi Malott“Hens in the Sunshine” by Heidi Malott

From Brave Writer mom, Joanna:

Julie,

I thought I would share this with you because “Since Hanna Moved Away” is one of your favorite poems. Using your poetry guide, my 10-year-old daughter Hannah wrote this about her beloved chickens that were lost to predators. We usually try to stay away from the verb “went,” but in this case it was perfect; her most honest choice for the title because it allowed her a little emotional separation in its vagueness.

Enjoy!
Joanna

Since the Chickens Went Away

by Hannah (age 10)

Mommy’s pie smells like bad breath
The piano keys won’t play
My favorite song moans like death
Since the chickens went away

Apples taste like rotten fish
Halloween’s called off today
Santa kept my Christmas wish
Since the chickens went away

The chicken coop’s an old mouse trap
On the dirt dead flowers lay
In my heart there is a gap
Since the chickens went away

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Brave Writer spotlight: Kayleigh

Grosso_Silhouettes

From Brave Writer mom, Mary:

Julie,

I read your Daily Writing Tip daily and while I can’t even attempt to implement them all (kids ages 11, 9, 6, and 4), I enjoy your thoughts and ideas and we attempt them when we can.

I have noticed that they change my way of thinking – they are “tools” in the back of my mind. I see everything as a writing opportunity – a chance to teach them that THEIR thoughts are valuable and we don’t have to edit them to death either. (Not that I make them write all of the time – but I look more for natural opportunities.)

Well, we just moved from MD to NC and it has been tough emotionally on my 11 year old because she missed her BFF from our street. She sent her a letter the other day and came in tears to tell me that it was hard to write the address because it made her so sad…the streets are different now (used to be on the same street) it was hard to write our old street.

As we talked, I mentioned what a beautiful way that was to capture her emotion, the way a poet might…an everyday moment that signifies something so important and emotional. Anyway, I encouraged her to write a poem about it if she wanted. (As I still have my poem from 9th grade when my BFF moved and have shared it with her before.)

We are also at the end of Inside Out and Back Again (which we love) and here is what she wrote that night:

Missing My Friend

by Kayleigh (age 11)

My friend is left behind
forever
gone
I wish we were still together

She was across the street

Now across the state of Virginia

Long and
Far Away

I miss her much
And I can’t get over

her
being
gone.

THANK YOU for all of your tips and encouragement. I loved this poem, especially the line when she parallels the street and state…BRILLIANT if I do say so myself.

I hope this all makes sense. It’s a busy morning and I have been meaning to make time to email you. But I must get back to the muffins in the oven that are baking for Tea Time Tuesday! So excuse the typos and jumpy thoughts!

Mary

Cross-posted on facebook.

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