Friday, January 31, 2020

Songs - Poems Can Compare



Raindrops and Snowflakes
by Amy LV




Students -There is a certain stillness on country winter days, and yesterday morning, while moving cars around in the driveway, I paused to look at white snow, green trees, pink sky. When I sat down to write about it, this poem appeared on the page. The silence of winter snow at once highlighted to me the noisiness of rain. I adore both, weather-silence and weather-sound.

Winter Morning in the Country
Photo by Amy LV

You may be wondering what filigree is. Filigree is a type of fancy and complex metalwork, often seen in jewelry and looking like lace. Filigree is made of bits of metal thread and beads, and the delicacy of the work reminds many people of snowflakes. If I were a newly born snowflake, I imagine that I might need to concentrate very hard on my fancy angles and never-before-seen exquisiteness. It would be too much to speak.

Google Search for 'Filigree'

After I wrote my poem, I remembered that I had heard the word filigree to describe a snowflake before. And yes, it was in this wonderful poem, below, by Walter de la Mare (1873 - 1956). You will note that Walter's poem is in the voice of one snowflake, speaking to a human. This is different from my poem which simply compares one aspect of snow with one aspect of rain: sound. The same subject, even with a same word or two, can spin many different poems indeed!

The Snowflake

Before I melt,
Come, look at me!
This lovely, icy filigree!
Of a great forest
In one night
I make a wilderness
Of white:
By skyey cold
Of crystals made,
All softly, on
Your finger laid,
I pause, that you
My beauty see:
Breathe; and I vanish
Instantly.

by Walter de la Mare
This poem is in the public domain.


Admiring the morning sky, writing a small poem, considering the intricacy of snowflakes, remembering other Walter de la Mare poems...one thing leads to another in writing. Today I will add two words to my current notebook's 'Favorite Word List': filigree and intricate. Maybe delicate too. Make it three. Definitely make it three.

I have often thought about the quietness of snow, but I have never compared it to rain. If you seek a writing subject, consider rummaging through your notebook or mind or heart, to find a thought you think often. Might you compare it to something else in one particular way? If so, you, too, could write two small stanzas, each describing that one particular way the two objects are different...or the same.

Do raindrops and snowflakes really sing? No...but it seems like they do. When you give a non-human thing living qualities or intentions, we call that personification. This poem uses that technique.

It is a pleasure to welcome Stephanie Affinito to my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks. Simply visit that space to check out her delightful 'One Little Thing' notebook, and comment by February 2 for a chance to win a copy of Ralph Fletcher's A WRITER'S NOTEBOOK. And if you keep a notebook and wish to share it over there, please just send me an e-mail.

Jone is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Deowriter with poetry postcards and a sweet journal giveaway. We invite everybody to join in each Friday as we share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship. Check out my left sidebar to learn where to find this poetry goodness each week of the year.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

8 comments:

  1. Two wonderful poems! I like the comparison poem as a mentor text for my students.

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  2. You are always inspirational, Amy. Thank you for the idea of making comparisons.

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  3. It is a quiet time when snow appears. Your poem is lovely & I am happy to share that we had some 'quiet time' last night, much desired! Thanks for the de la Mare poem, too, Amy!

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  4. I love the quiet sounds of snow. Your poem (and Walter's, too) is perfect for me today since I woke up to softly falling snow that wrapped the trees in white and then melted away.

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  5. What a wonderful lesson! And the poems! Beautiful. I have tried writing about a snowstorm that did make sound... like sand coming down. Now, after reading your post, I may have to try again. Thanks for this...

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  6. I am in LOVE with your rhyme of lookatme and filigree! Brilliant.

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  7. How wonderful to compare a snowflake to filigree, Amy. Thanks also for de la Mare's poem with these lines: I make a wilderness
    Of white...'

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  8. Will your snowflake poem bring me some snow please? I like thinking about the different sounds of raindrops and snowflakes.

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