Friday, February 1, 2013

New Old Friends - Free Verse


I Think We Know Each Other Already
by Amy LV



Click the arrow to hear me read this poem to you.

Students - I have a new friend.  She is an artist, and we have been teaching together.  When I first met her, I felt like we'd known each other forever.  Did you ever have a friend like that?  Today's poem is a poem about an unusual feeling, a magical feeling.  We all have those buried in us, and sometimes...like little hibernating animals...they come out and greet us!  Sometimes we have to be really quiet to see or feel magic.  We have to pay attention to our hearts.  Try doing that sometime soon.  Just sit quietly and think.  Or write quietly and see what magical thought looks up at you from your paper.

Today's poem does not rhyme; it is a free verse poem.  When I write a poem such as this one, it is necessary for me to read it out loud, to hear if the lines sound good to my ear.  When I write a poem with a particular meter, I simply tap the syllables out on my table, counting to see if things are right.  But with a free verse poem, listening to the words in a different way, out loud, is very important. I break up lines that feel too quick, and I read and change again and again until everything settles in.

In the tremendous surprise department, our Children's Poet Laureate, J. Patrick Lewis, has selected my soon-to-be-published FOREST HAS A SONG as his February Book Pick.  You can read what he has to say over at the Poetry Foundation!

Tomorrow, Saturday, is Groundhog Day.  The next day is not Groundhog Day.  I don't have a Groundhog Day poem for you, but I do have a poem for February 3, that next day.  What a very strange day that must be for Mr. Phil.

Thank you to April and her adorable monkey who are hosting today's Poetry Friday tea.  Stroll on over to Teaching Authors to visit today's roundup!  Happy Poetry Friday!

Please share a comment below if you wish.
To find a poem by topic, click here. To find a poem by technique, click here.
Like The Poem Farm on Facebook for more poems, articles, and poemquotes!

14 comments:

  1. You're MY new old friend, Amy! I love it when that happens. Also when you don't see someone for years, and then you do, and all that time slips away like nothing. I like your celebration poem. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this poem. This is how I felt when I met you in November. I am so excited for that new book that has been preordered for a long time!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have had that happen to me and it is magical. Love this poem!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a simple yet beautiful way of expressing that sentiment - in a way kids AND adults can appreciate!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this friendship poem. I, too, love when you make a connection with someone.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, lovely! Your poem is a burst of sunshine. It made me smile because it is something I can relate to. Thanks for sharing, Amy!! =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Every once in a twinkle while....I love that line! Friendship is like that, isn't it - you feel a connection that belies time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You've captured this unexplainable magical connection perfectly, Amy! Fun poem. Thanks for sharing. =)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just a magical feeling, as you write, when you come upon someone you know will be a special friend. I even see it happen in the classroom, with someone new. They connect easily, and know it will be a good year. Congratulations on your book being chosen. You are in quite a list on that page, Amy!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love "twinkle-while"! And how the "air around us changes into friendship I can touch." Beautiful and so true.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats on the nod from JPL! Woot!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very happy about the February Book Pick! :-) Go, Amy!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, yes--a little hibernating animal feeling! You've touched something universal, Amy.

    And stupendous wonderfulness about FOREST HAS A SONG and Mr. Lewis--woo-woo!

    ReplyDelete