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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Celebrate Something!

 

My Feet in the Garden This Morning

Photo by Amy LV

 

Students - Happy First Day of Spring! I am celebrating! Here in Western New York, we are alternating daily between warm sunny days and cold snowy days, but happily, spring bulb flowers are strong and can weather storms. Above you can see some little grape hyacinths and daffodils sprouting up in the garden outside my writing shed, Gratitude. We, too, can weather storms.

Today's poem is a poem of celebration. I have been visiting the gardens every day, walking around and welcoming each new sprout.  They feel like old friends coming back after a long trip to the Land of Winter. Today's poem also follows a particular form - the pantoum. I could only find one pantoum that I've written here at The Poem Farm....a poem about wearing masks, posted on July 3, 2020.

 The pantoum form is interesting in that it follows a particular repetition scheme but not a special meter. I was reminded of it by reading Stephen Dunning and William Stafford's book GETTING THE KNACK: 20 POETRY WRITING EXERCISES. You will notice in my spring pantoum that each stanza includes four lines, and in each stanza, the second and fourth lines repeat the first and third lines of the following stanza.

I love seeing messy drafts, so below you'll find mine from this morning. The numbers in parenthesis are a reminder to me that this line should repeat the line that is numbered in the parenthesis. I used a poem in Dunning and Stafford's book as a mentor for my rhyme and meter.

 

Pantoum Draft with Many Crossouts

Photo by Amy LV 

 

If you are ever unsure of what to write about on any given day, try walking around a part of your day and finding something to celebrate. Not only will you have a new bit of writing, you will lift your spirits too. 

Tanita is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Tanita S. Davis with wise words about how poems are songs and how songs can give us strength. Each Poetry Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community. 

May you find warmth where you live this week, outside in the weather and inside of your heart. Remember that the way you act in the world can provide warmth and goodness for others too. Peace.

 xo,

Amy 

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 

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