Friday, August 24, 2018

A Wish for a Friend - Poemgifts!


Pencil Eraser Stamp
Carving & Photo by Amy LV




Students - Happy New School Year!  Here where I live in Western New York, school is not yet back in session, but I know that many of you have already met your new teachers and classmates, and I have even seen photographs of some of your beautiful new notebooks here online.  The new school year is much like a new notebook, filled with possibility and pages for you to fill with your own curiosity and goodness, observations and dreams.

I wrote today's poem as a gift for Kat Apel, as part of this year's Poetry Friday summer poem swap generously organized by Tabatha Yeatts.  Each year, Tabatha invites us Poetry Friday folks to sign up for their chosen number of poem swaps.  Then she matches us up with each other, and we send each other poems and other surprises in the mail. Most of us have never met in person, so this all feels like having a one time poem pen pal, and it is extremely wonderful of Tabatha to organize this.  Just look at this handmade notebook that I received (along with a magical poem which I will share as soon as I find the notebook I tucked it into!) from Michelle Kogan. I feel so lucky and still have to decide what I will write on these pages.
              
Dream Notebook by Michelle Kogan
Photo by Amy LV

Now I am thinking how wondrous it would be to organize poemswaps between classes of students.  What do you all think about this idea?

My poem, you may have noticed, is a simple list poem of wishes for another writer.  What I would wish for me, I wish for Kat.  It felt good to make wishes for a faraway, nevermet friend, and this is something you might want to try sometime.  You need not write to someone you have never met.  If you prefer, you could write a wish poem for a family member, friend, or even a pet! Poems make fine fine presents.

And just so you know, while I wrote today's poem for Kat earlier this summer, the words hold true for you too.  I wish every one of you every part of this poem...and so much more.

Margaret is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Reflections on the Teche...with the poem swap poem she received and a zeno of her own too!  Each week we gather together, sharing poems, books, and poetry ideas all at one blog.  All are always welcome to visit, comment, and post.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

15 comments:

  1. Your poem is just right for a joyful writer like Kat, who is on the receiving end of old starlight so far away, but near in our hearts!
    Glad you will be writing in a Michelle-decorated notebook! What to put in it??
    Poems DO make fine presents!

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  2. I love the idea of poemswapping students, Amy! And these are wishes I share for all my friends as well -- and YOU! Thank you! xo

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  3. I smiled all the way through your poem, Amy, and thought of Kat's delight in reading it, too! (& of course I love the wee carving). "Old starlight" is a glorious image, shining on all of us. Poem-swapping between students is an awesome idea!! XO

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  4. My students wrote poems for each other one year, within the poetry group. Your idea of poem swapping is terrific, Amy. I love this poem, maybe especially the part after "hiking", makes me happy to imagine. Best wishes & hugs to you & the family in the new changes. When my son left for college, my daughter did not like being the "only child".

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  5. Lovely poem for Kat, it has such a flowing, round rhythm to it. Your song with Barry Lane is gorgeous, I hope it's heard far and wide! Thanks for sharing the journal–if you can't find the poem let me know and I'll send another. I've been looking for a business card that I put somewhere, and hope I'll find it. Thanks Amy! xo

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  6. Oh Amy. How lovely to hear your beautiful, restful voice sharing this poem. Thank-you and thank-you again. xx Such a beautiful notebook from Michelle. Perfect! I do love Tabatha's poetry swaps.

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  7. Oh, that poem suits Kat beautifully! Just as well as Michelle's notebook suits you, I'd say. :) Enjoy your writing, wishing, and dreaming, Amy. I've been thinking about you with another chick leaving the nest for college. I didn't realize until I went through it myself this year what a huge heart tug it would be. xo

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  8. Your poem is just right for any writer. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I love your poem for Kat and want to share it with my students as a wish for them. One of my students still had your site bookmarked on her Chromebook.

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  10. Beautiful wishes from poet to poet - fat pinecones and old starlight - lovely!

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  11. What a lovely wish! I hope you don't mind if I borrow it for myself!!

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  12. Delightful...just delightful. I hope you won't mind. I am going to take those wishes to heart too.

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  13. This is a lovely poem gift and a wonderful wish for all writers!

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  14. Your poem is perfect, Amy. Wishing you "joy in your writing/and all that you do!"

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  15. There is so much to love in this poem! It is a wonderful wish for all writers. I will definitely be sharing the poemswap idea with my teacher colleagues,too. Enjoy writing in your nifty dream notebook!
    xx

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