Try an Object-Inspired-Advice Poem

Spring Bulbs Peeking Up!
Photo by Amy LV

Students - I have this little basket pot of spring bulbs growing in my study window, and each hour they seem to peek up just a bit more. When the sun was shining so prettily on them the other day, I just had to take their picture. Later, I decided to write this small poem inspired by the bulbs. Remember this, you can always take or sketch pictures for someday-writing-inspiration. You need not always sit down and think of an idea on the spot. Like squirrels gathering acorns for winter, we can prepare ourselves for our writing times by filling our cheeks with thoughts, impressions, and wonderings.

Today's poem gives a little bit of advice and a hope for the reader. And it was inspired by the needs of a plant. This has me wondering what other things in and around me might hvae advice or hopes tucked inside of them. Maybe this old chair wants to tell people to be sure to make time to rest. And perhaps my warm socks and sturdy boots would advise me to stop and think about the places I have been. Or maybe they would tell me to keep going, keep seeking. It is possible they would wish me good journeys.

If you are looking for something to try this week, consider choosing an object or animal or natural living thing to inspire you. Look around you right now. Make a list of the most interesting or inspiring things that catch your eye at this moment (looking out of the window or into your mind's eye is allowed of course!) 

Now, sketch (or photograph if you wish) this thing. Listen to it and to yourself, "What advice or hope would this object or animal offer to me?" Make a list if you wish, thinking about these questions:

• What advice would this object give to me?
• What hope might this object have for people?
• If this could talk, what might it teach me?
• What does things object want me to know and understand?

Allow what you learn to find its way to the page and to your own object-inspired-advice-poem. You may choose to write this poem in your own voice as I did, or you may choose to write it in the voice of the object or animal itself. If I had done this, I might have written something like, I am a plant./I need these things...

Elisabeth is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Unexpected Intersections with a lovely acrostic that flows so naturally from line to line. If you are mostly familiar with acrostic poems that stop severely at the end of each line, do not miss her words about F-E-B-R-U-A-R-Y. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

We have a lot of snow where I live, but I will still tilt my face up to the sky for a bit today. I wish you sun rays on your face as well.

xo,

Amy

Afternoon Update: The bulbs are blooming! The bulbs are blooming! Just LOOK at these tiny irises.

Blooming Bulbs

Photo by Amy LV

Spring Close Up

Photo by Amy LV

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If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.

A Poem Can Be a PSA

Greetings!
by Amy LV

Revised on March 11, 2020 for air hugs instead of elbow bumps.

(We sneeze into our elbows.)

Recording Not Yet Revised

Students - I am lucky to spend time in schools, and yesterday I had the chance to talk with some wise teachers talking about the importance of education around COVID-19 and about keeping each other healthy when sickness is in the air. My mom volunteers in classrooms, and one of the teachers she works with has taught her students to make finger hearts to say hello and goodbye each day. I have been reading articles about ways to greet each other too, because with COVID-19 here, it is important to be responsible and to take care of each other.

Today's poem is a public service announcement (PSA), a poem message to share important information. I am looking for new ways to greet people, and I thought you might be too.

You may have seen some scary pictures and news stories about COVID-19. And there are some pieces of writing out there that are not true at all. This is a time to listen to scientists and to trust their words. Young people usually do not get very sick with this virus, but we need to think of older people and people whose immune systems are not strong. By not touching each other now, we keep other people safe, even if we are young and protected. Some things we do for the community, even if we would prefer to do something else. So while I would like to shake your hand through the screen here today, instead I place my hand on my heart and give you a deep nod.

We can write about what is happening in the world. When we see something that feels like a need....we can add a few words or a bit of art or music to help make sense of things. We can connect with syllables and sentences. 

Rebecca is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Sloth Reads. Visit her blog to read two of her own water-inspired poems written during Laura Shovan's Daily Poem Project last month. 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.

If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.