Look Out of a Window

Morning Flight

Drawing by Amy LV

Students - There are times when I am not in the mood to write, but still I sit down and do it. Every time this happens (and it is often as it is difficult to begin writing), I am so glad that I did. I love surprising myself with new words that come from mysterious places. So my first piece of advice today is to do the thing that future you wishes you had done....even if you are not in the mood!

When I sat at my desk this morning, I looked out the window wondering, "What should I write?" Between several trees in the distance, I saw a few birds swooping around and imagined being one of them. Then, my pen began to move.

If you are nosy like me, perhaps you'll enjoy seeing my draft. Yes, I do write by hand as I love the fluidity of my hand moving across the page, making messy letters and scribbles and sometimes racing faster than I expect. I am a fast typist, but writing with ink on paper is my true poetry home.

Draft of "You Ask Why I'm Singing"

(Click to Enlarge)

by Amy LV

Not sure what to write? Look out your window. Any window will do. I wish you flight!

Carol is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at The Apples in My Orchard. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

I look forward to meeting the students of Coleman School in Glen Rock, New Jersey next week!

xo,

Amy

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A Magical Power...Meow!

Claude in His Tunnel

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Our newest cat Claude is a chatty and loving little soul. Every once in a while he will just walk around the house calling for his pal Winnie. For today's poem, I just imagined that I had the magical power I've always wished for: the ability to understand animals. (But just for one day...)

Today's poem is a story poem which quickly jumps into the realm of fiction yet was inspired by my meow-y young fuzzface. 

If you're looking for a writing idea, you might allow yourself to muse about a magical power you would love to have. You might write it as a story of living with this power, as I have. Or you might write a list of all of the things you would do with this power. I think I might be able to write a lot of these poems.

If you don't feel like having a magical power, perhaps you would like to simply write about a wish that you have had, you have now, or that someone else has or once had. Real...or imagined. You, my friend, are the writer.

And remember. If you ever aren't sure of how to title a poem, you can always name it after the spot where it takes place.

Right now I am happily in Denver, Colorado, teaching two sessions about poetry at the CCIRA 2023 conference. I feel so fortunate to be here, back amongst thoughtful educators and old friends.

Carol is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Beyond Literacy Link with a postcard swap share. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship

Meow! I love you!

xo,

Amy

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The Real Me - Who Are You?

Maple Leaf

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem grew from an exercise in which I wrote from the line "In my other life..." I free wrote from this line earlier this week and revisited that list to write this list poem. In revisions, I changed the phrase "In my other life..." to the phrase "I am" because it felt and sounded right to me. This initial "In my other life" exercise comes from THE ART OF VOICE by Tony Hoagland with Kay Cosgrove, a book I am working through chapter by chapter. Writers are always trying to grow, and I am too.

Some of you may be familiar with George Ella Lyon's famous poem and type of poem to write - the Where I'm From poem. The difference here is that these things I say I am in today's poem are not clearly traced back to my own tracable history but instead, are linked to my imagination and dreams. We are each from reality and we are each from imagination too. My words today take me beyond my daily life to other "me's" I could be.

Who is the the imagination-and-dreams-you?

This week you will find Linda hosting the Poetry Friday roundup over at TeacherDance. Visit her site for this week's offerings as well as a cover reveal and introduction to the forthcoming DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD (February 2020) by Irene Latham and Charles Waters and illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Please know that we gather each Friday, sharing poems and poemlove, and all are always welcome.

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.