Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

Brave Writer spotlight: Brett Greer

What grown-ups should doFrom Brave Writer mom, Lorie:

My family is originally from the U.S. but currently live in West Bengal, India. My son [Brett, age 10] and I are really enjoying September’s Arrow book selection, “Inside Out and Back Again.” Living in Asia really brings it to life, since many of the customs and ideas are similar where we live. I don’t think I would have picked the book out if I had seen it on the library shelf, because I would have incorrectly assumed my son wouldn’t have enjoyed the poetic form. I’m so grateful you selected it; we really would have missed out on a great book. I should probably include that my son read the rest of “The Lemonade War” series after reading the first one last month, and I passed the titles on to my sister who is a 4th and 5th grade teacher.

You invited subscriber’s to share, so here is the free-verse poem my son worked on today. Enjoy!

The Slide

by Brett Greer

One time,
I was playing with a kid.

We were racing
down a slide.

But,
I didn’t want to slide anymore.

So,
I went down,
and the kid
pushed me
at the bottom.

I fell
into
some sticks.

It hurt my back.

I was
surprised.

That was
not necessary.

His dad was
there too,
and he got
in big
trouble.

I smiled.

Posted in Poetry, Students | 2 Comments »

Let it come

African Profile at Peace with the WorldImage by Ken Bosma

Let it come.

Let the growth, grow.

Let the joy, bubble up.

Let the healing, begin.

Don’t chase.
Don’t fight with taut muscles and tight lips.

Lean back.
Let the rope between you go slack.

Mind your own business.

Breathe your own breaths.

Believe in the power of lessons learned the hard way.

Let it come.

Look lovingly on your worries.
Gentle them with a long “Shhhhh.”

Let your eyes lose focus.
Let your cheeks soften.

Stop explaining, analyzing, fixing, solving.
Stop projecting, predicting, prophesying, prying.

Give up. Give in.

It’s not up to you to see around corners.
If you could, you would have.

It’s not up to you to solve the puzzle.

You can’t be both people in the relationship.

You can’t be the motivation, the change, the vision, or the kindness for anyone else.

You won’t find your answer hidden like a penny in the corners of your couch.

Let it come…

like the wave that curls,

like the moon that waxes,

like the snow that drifts,

like the bloom that opens.

Crescendo, diminuendo, the vibration of life.

Let it come.

Cross-posted on facebook.

Posted in Homeschool Advice, Poetry | 1 Comment »

A Morning of Cinquain Poems

How to Write Cinquain Poems

Dear Julie,

This morning we had a wonderful time writing cinquain poems.* I thought I’d share some of our’ poems with you so you can see first hand what you’re inspiring.

By Fallon (10 yrs):

Sloane
Cute, cuddly
Running, hugging, kissing
I love Sloane
Sister

Dragons
Big, friendly
Flying, eating, sleeping
He burns my hand
Friends

Describing her drawing of a robot couple!

Robot
Metal, electric
Loving, scanning, talking
He loves his wife
Husband

By Eamonn (8 yrs):

Sword
Thin, diamond
Slicing, dicing, ricing
My sword is my hoard
Dagger

By Mama:

Mountains
Majestic, miraculous
Moving, morphing, mourning
Marking many millennia
Monumental

Thanks for all the work you do to inspire and cheer us all on. We appreciate it so much!

Warmly,
Melanie

*How to Write a Cinquain Poem

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 and beginners we recommend:

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

Posted in Email, Poetry | Comments Off on A Morning of Cinquain Poems

Poetry Teatime: Poems to Learn by Heart

Poetry Teatime

“If we learn poems by heart, we will always have their wisdom to draw on, and we gain understanding that no one can take away.” ~Caroline Kennedy

Set out some yummy snacks, a pot of hot tea, and a lovely book of poems. For your next Poetry Teatime consider reading from Caroline Kennedy’s, Poems to Learn by Heart.

Kennedy (daughter of J.F.K. and editor of numerous books) has lovingly put together a collection of almost two hundred poems that not only delight and engage readers of all ages, but are also intended to be memorized. The book is illustrated by Jon J Muth.

Each section is begun by a brief essay, where Kennedy shares thoughts (“Poetry can help us resist the pulls and tugs of life”) and tidbits (did you know that fairies have become increasingly smaller in modern poems?) and stories (a Little League coach shared a poem with his players at the end of every game and gave poetry as much credit as practice for his team’s success).

You and your children will have fun selecting verses to share around the table. There are poems about nature and nonsense, sports and school, family and friends, plus monsters and gnomes.

Enjoy!

Poetry Teatime

Visit our Poetry Teatime website!

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Teatime | 1 Comment »

April: National Poetry Month

SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK!

To get you started, check out our SPECIAL:

The Arrow Poetry Guide is only $4.99 this week (April 1-8). Regular price: $9.95.

 

    You Read to Me...

 

If you’ve never tried the Tuesday Poetry Teatimes, this is the month to start! There are many benefits to reading poetry, not the least of which is the sugar-sweet fun of rhyme, and the playful pop of alliteration and consonance as words trip their way over your tongue.

For the intimidated (you know who you are—you worry that you don’t “get” poetry or that you’ll fail at discovering meanings and themes and imagery), I have tips to make it easy for you to wade into these (I promise) friendly waters.
 

    Bapa

 

  1. Start with limericks and nursery rhymes. They’re easy to read/say, easy to understand (insofar as understanding even matters), and easy to repeat (leading your family in reciting them together. I don’t know why Jack jumped a candlestick or how an old woman turned a shoe into a family home, but for children, these images are direct and delightful. And that’s all that matters in this poetry ready. You’re delighting in sound, silly images, words, and linguistic music. You get to “go dense” on meaning for a change and know that that’s okay!

    2.  

  2. Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein. Get their books, ready them, enjoy them. One poem at a time— no need to read like a chapter book. Note that these two “get” children. They share the same sense of humor and level of insight that children enjoy.

    3.  

  3. Riddles and jokes are a kind of poetry. They may not rhyme and they don’t follow poetic structure, exactly. But they are all about puns and language play. Include them in your poetry teatimes.

    4.  

  4. Read poems in tandem. The poetry book featured above is one my grandfather gave me in junior high (you can tell it was well-loved as the frayed paper cover indicates). In it is a collection of poems that are written in alternating blue and black ink. Each reader picks a color and together, two people read a poem aloud! This book You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You is still in print, if you want to try it.

That’s enough to get your started. Seriously!

Set the table for tea, pull out the Oreo cookies or bake a batch of brownies or slice Pippin apples! Whatever is your family’s pleasure. Then, read aloud, laugh, read to yourself, try your hand at making your own rhymes, and notice all the while that you’re doing what you always say you want to do—bringing learning to life.

We’ll post some poetry resources on the blog over the course of the month so stay tuned!

SPECIAL OFFER THIS WEEK!

To get you started, check out our SPECIAL:

The Arrow Poetry Guide is only $4.99 this week (April 1-8). Regular price: $9.95.

Posted in General, Poetry, Poetry Teatime | 2 Comments »