listen - day 7

  

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

National Poetry Month 2026 Poems 

April 1 - listening, listening

April 2 - clicking kitty

April 3 - spring morning 

April 4 - tea

April 5 - team

April 6 - from far away 

 

Here is poem 7 - 

 

 

Students - Yesterday, as I was out picking daffodils before today's snow...I heard the train whistle that I wrote about yesterday. I don't hear it too often, and so this felt like a little gift. Writing another outside sounds poem today has me thinking how different this month of listen poems would be if they all were written in winter or all about foods or all about animals. I may need to do this exercise regularly!

  

You have probably noticed the many s sounds in today's few lines. They found their way in, and I welcomed each one. You may have also noticed how the poem ends with shorter lines, almost like a funnel. Ending in this way directs a reader to slow down toward the end, to weight the ending, if you will. You may wish to try this sometime. Break up your last line and read it differently, with a wee pause at the end of each line. If you like how it sounds, keep it. If not, switch it up and keep playing! 

 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. 

 

May whatever today's weather brings to you be sweet. 

 

xo,

a. 

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listen - day 6

  

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

National Poetry Month 2026 Poems 

April 1 - listening, listening

April 2 - clicking kitty

April 3 - spring morning 

April 4 - tea

April 5 - team

 

Here is poem 6 - 

 

Students - Yesterday I was visiting my mom who lives in a busier neighborhood than we do. I found myself pausing on her front porch, listening to the sounds of traffic and people going to and fro. This made me consider writing a poem about car sounds, but then, in the night I began thinking about other people-moving sounds, and loved the idea of writing about a train. We have friends who live right near the tracks, and they know the trains' schedules. Where we live, we only hear a long old sigh from time to time, when the wind and air are just right. I am thankful for this tuning of my sound-attention, to the habit my April project is developing inside of me.

 

I did have a writing helper today...Winnie of the clicky picky heels! Here she is atop my desk, such a good furry poet.

 

Winnie the Muse

Photo by Amy LV
 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. 

 

Don't forget to listen to sounds that are close by...and sounds that are far away. All sounds are a part of your listening landscape. 

 

xo,

a. 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.

listen - day 5

  

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

National Poetry Month 2026 Poems 

April 1 - listening, listening

April 2 - clicking kitty

April 3 - spring morning 

April 4 - tea

 

Here is poem 5: 

 

 

Students - Isn't it interesting how each type of wind chime interprets windstories in its own way? If I hung four different windchimes, they would each sing their own song...even in the same winds. I guess we humans do that too - people experience similar events and have different ways of seeing them, different ways of singing them. Today I am going to think more about how a sound can come from an experience the way that wind chimes chime when the wind blows.

 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. 

 

Your song matters! 

 

xo,

a. 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.

listen - day 4

 

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

National Poetry Month 2026 Poems 

April 1 - listening, listening

April 2 - clicking kitty

April 3 - spring morning 

 

Here is poem 4: 

 

 

Students - Sometimes I heat tea water in a mug in the microwave, and sometimes I heat tea water in my metal kettle. Kettle sounds are much more satisfying than microwave sounds, and as I type this, I am deciding to boil water on the stove top whenever I have time to do so. I like the idea as well as the sound of bubbles gathering.

 

Each day so far this month, after writing, I think about where that day's sound-inspiration came from. Today's comes from the kitchen. Perhaps today in my notebook, I will try gathering sounds around their location and time of day and source too: kitchen sounds, morning sounds, night sounds, animal sounds, machine sounds.... What food or drink sounds can you think of? (I have an idea for a future poem right now!)

 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. 

 

I wish we could share a cup of tea. I am boiling for some English breakfast tea, listening to the bubble gathering as I type... 

 

xo,

a. 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.

listen - day 3

 

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

National Poetry Month 2026 Poems 

April 1 - listening, listening

April 2 - clicking kitty

 

Here is poem 3: 

 

 

Students - Happy spring! This morning I woke up, sat in my red chair, and just listened. What I heard was...the spring peepers in our neighbors' pond! I noticed that they are peeping away long before (all night?) the robins and other members of the dawn chorus are singing the sun up. I am usually up quite early, so this poem is for an imagined sleeping-in day.

Are you wondering what to write about? Turn off any devices, turn on all ears, and try writing about what you hear right this minute. 

 

So much love to the warm and welcoming school community of Indian Trail Elementary School in Canal Winchester, Ohio. It was great fun to visit with all twelve first grade classes on Wednesday, and I extend special thank yous to the "Library Ladies" -  Janie Kantner and Valerie Yonnotti and to the PTO for sponsoring my visit.

 

Matt is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme celebrating a year of RAINBOWS. Each Poetry Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community. 

 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. 

 

xo,

a. 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.

listen - day 2

 

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

National Poetry Month 2026 Poems 

April 1 - listening, listening 

 

Here is poem 2: 

 

 

Students - We have three kitties, and only one of them makes clicking sounds when she walks. It's Winnie! I think she sounds like a very fancy lady on the way to a party. Today's small poem is almost difficult for me to read with all of those k and short i sounds. This soft clicking of Winnie's walk is a sound I am thankful for. Do you have a sound you feel thankful for?

 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Click!

 

xo,

a. 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.

listen - day 1

 

 

As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily, handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening. I have begun a new notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide. 

 

I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years, or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects. And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.

 

Here is poem 1:

 

 

Students - Today's card poem is simply me thinking about why I chose listening and sounds as the theme of my National Poetry Month project this year. I do have many favorite sounds, and I do recognize that I can become a much better listener. Many of the best listeners I know...are the wisest people I know. It is interesting to think about listening - and writing - as paths to becoming more thoughtful.

 

I did make a couple of lists of rhyming words (with the help of a favorite tool, RhymeZone) to help me write this poem. And I have a feeling that I will enjoy the challenge of the size-limit of an index card.

 

To learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Enjoy the gifts that float into your ears....

 

xo,

a. 

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Know that your comment will only appear after I approve it.

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment 

with a parent or as part of a group with your teacher.