Celebrating Simple, Humble Objects with Our Words

Winter Projects

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem is a celebration of simple mittens.  I love mittens, I love yarn, and I love the short 'i' sound.  And so today's small temple of words comes together around these three loves.  

Sometimes in life, one goes through times of despair and worry, grumpiness and uncertainty.  I've been feeling these things lately, and so this week I decided to turn my attention toward humble objects that bring me and the world small measures of joy and beauty.  You can see yesterday's notebook words around this idea here --

December 1, 2016 Notebook Snip

Photo by Amy LV

I do spend bits of winter days knitting cozy projects, and today the words and wool come together as one.

Any one of us can choose to turn our attention to the humble nouns around us. Check your closet and pockets.  What do you see, feel drawn to, love?  Try choosing something that does not require batteries or electricity.  Go as simple as you can.  Appreciate small things.  And write about them.

Hand-stitched Notebooks by Stitch Buffalo Refugee Artisans

Photo by Amy LV

In case you missed it last month, just like last year, The Poem Farm will be giving a Christmas gift of free shipping for anyone who would like to order two or more hand-stitched notebooks or bird ornaments.  These are beautiful pieces made by refugee artisan women in Buffalo, NY through Stitch Buffalo.  They do not ship, but only sell locally, so this is a special opportunity. You can read my post and learn more information HERE.  

To read last year's Stitch Buffalo post and poem, visit HERE.  I am so happy and thankful to share that in two weeks, The Poem Farm readers have purchased over $1600 of birds and notebooks, most all of which will go directly to the individual artisans who made each item.  Thank you!

Over at Sharing Our Notebooks, you can find the winner to my latest book giveaway.  And I am currently seeking a new writer over there, so if you are a young student notebook keeper, please let your teacher know if you would be interested in sharing your notebook pages.  Together with your parents and teacher, I would love to celebrate your notebook!

Bridget is hosting today's Poetry Friday fiesta over at wee words for wee ones.  Join her, and all of us, in finding goodness in poetry and life all week long.  Everyone is always invited to Poetry Friday!

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

#280 - Eavesdrop in the Lost and Found

This week, Tricia is back with one of her famous Monday Poetry Stretches over at The Miss Rumphius Effect.  These always push me toward new writing thoughts, and I am grateful to Tricia for introducing us to so many different topics for and styles of poetry.  This week's Poetry Stretch is "lost and found."

Students - before winter break, I took a peek at my children's school lost and found. This is a mountain of gloves, boots, and sweaters, hats, coats, and mittens.  I started to wonder about all of those pieces of clothing and why no one was coming after them.  This made me think two things.  The first is that we are an over-fortunate people if we don't miss our coats in wintertime.  The second is that it must feel sad to be a lost and lonely sock or hat.  So today, when Tricia proposed "lost and found" as a writing topic, I immediately knew what I would write.

I find it very helpful to keep a notebook, in my head and on paper.  One never knows when different images and life-minutes are going to come in handy (I did not try to make a hand-pun here!)

For a whimsical picture book about a little girl and a single mitten, read poet Kristine O'Connell George's ONE MITTEN.  While you're at it, don't miss her wonderful website.

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