Friday, January 10, 2014

The Small Red House - Color Words & Whispering Images


Red on White
Photo by Amy LV


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

Students - Today's poem grew from two similar images that popped up in my life this week.  The first one is the new picture on top of this blog.  You might have noticed that things look a wee bit different around here, and this is because website designer Donna Farrell is in the process of making my websites beautiful. For this page, she has selected an illustration by Robbin Gourley, from our book, FOREST HAS A SONG.  All week I have admiring Donna's choice of Robbin's red house for The Poem Farm.

Then, yesterday, after dropping my children off at the ski lodge for ski club, I passed the small red shed you see above.  It looked so beautiful there, just smiling out from white snow.  I turned my car right around, stopped, got out, and took the photograph.

So, today's poem came from a picture that repeated itself in my life this week. Sometimes that happens. You know how when you learn a new word, you often hear it over and over again?  Suddenly the word is everywhere!  This is true with pictures too.  There are times when an image just revisits you, almost whispering, "Write about me.  Write about me."  We must pay attention to these whispering images.

You may have noticed that the house does a lot of things like a person in this poem.  It smiles and feels beautiful, snuggles, and has a favorite season.  When people write poems, they often give animals and objects human characteristics and feelings.  We call this personification, and it's one of my favorite ways to approach a subject.  What would this sugar bowl think?  How does this bicycle feel?  What does it love?

I played with today's poem for quite a while, choosing many color words as I did in The Water Tower, sorting through piles of rhymes, and finally, experimenting with line breaks long and short.

Final Tinkering - Line Breaks
Photo by Amy LV

Donna is hosting today's Poetry Friday party over at Mainely Write. Stop on over for cookies, cocoa, and poems.

Today in our home, we also celebrate Henry's 12th birthday.  Here is the poem I wrote for him when he turned nine.  Happy birthday, sweet boy!  (You can read the Robert Hershon poem I shared in honor of Henry's birthday over at The Poem Farm Facebook Page, the 11th poem shared in 2014 so far.)

If you are interested in receiving a poem each day (my choice, many new favorites) please 'like' my Facebook page for The Poem Farm, and they will pop up each day.  So far there have been 11 because I added a special bonus poem for everyone who was snowed in!

Please share a comment below if you wish.

14 comments:

  1. Amy--What a beautiful poem to go with your beautiful new look. I love the last yellow leaf that drops…

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  2. The redesign is gorgeous. I love your poem too -- I often have very short lines and need to experiment more with length.

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  3. Love the new look! Wonderful poem -- just perfect for the image. I want to live in a small red house. :)

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  4. I love your blog's new look! And how serendipitous that you happened to drive by that shed. Your poem is lovely. After this week I'd like to be with those butterflies seeking "warmer skies." Haven't forgotten about your button request, just haven't had time.

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  5. It's looking very, very good, Amy! How wonderful that you found that scene. I actually thought you were going to say that it was the photo from which the painting came. The poem is wonderful, that sweet little red house! Happy Birthday to Henry!

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  6. I adore this poem and think your new blog looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing it.

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  8. The new look is so pretty! Donna can always make websites sparkle!

    The red house reminds me of Norway, where tiny red shacks often nestle near the bottom of deep fjords.

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  9. Loved the rhythm --- loved the language. Thanks, Amy.

    Cathy

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  10. What a beautiful poem that was! I just discovered your blog via Rosi. I love rhyming poetry when it's done well, and this was just lovely. Great discovery for me.

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  11. Love the new look, and that spunky red house!

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  12. Amy, I love the poem and the story behind it. I'll miss the "old" look of your blog, but I like what you've done with this one so far. You're always up to something fun!

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  13. Amy, I think this is my favorite poem of yours ever. It's so visual, evoking several seasons, but it has the coziness of winter. You must be a fan of the classic PB, The Big Red Barn. It was one of our favorites.

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  14. Congrats on this beautiful blog make-over, Amy! Your site is like that delicious red shed, a perfect place to stop and ponder in busy ol' cyberspace.

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