My Peacock Sweater
Photo by Amy LV
Click the arrow to hear me read this poem to you.
Students - I love writing about animals. You may have noticed this before, and you will surely notice it again. Sometimes when I drive our children to school, we have to slow the car waaaay down. Why? Well, along our route is a farm with many different types of birds, including peacocks. Some days they are sitting on the porch rail, and some days the male is standing in the sunshine with his tail all fanned out.
I wrote this poem from a few interesting facts about peacocks. I find it a fun challenge to take a handful of facts, toss them up into the sky, and see if they land as a poem! (This actually never happens. Every time, I have to arrange and rearrange and play and play until the poem sounds just the way I like when I read it out loud.) My favorite part of this poem is the end, when they eyes welcome the babies.
Update: Later this afternoon, I checked my e-mail to find this wonderful message, below, from Nancy. Do follow the link to see this beautiful artwork, and consider trying this exercise yourself. I know that I will.
When I read your poem this morning I was reminded of the paintings of a very special artist - Father Paul Plante. I think you'll appreciate his work. Last year I had my 4th graders pick a painting and find the poetry in the painting. Using their observation skills they were able to look "eye to eye" with the painting.
Today's poem is, in a way, a Valentine poem. Happy Valentine's Day to you and all of those you love!
If you have not yet gotten your hands on THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY, edited by Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and written by many of your favorite poets past and present...do find it as soon as you can. This beautiful book just won The Claudia Lewis Award. Congratulations to Pat and to all!
I wrote this poem from a few interesting facts about peacocks. I find it a fun challenge to take a handful of facts, toss them up into the sky, and see if they land as a poem! (This actually never happens. Every time, I have to arrange and rearrange and play and play until the poem sounds just the way I like when I read it out loud.) My favorite part of this poem is the end, when they eyes welcome the babies.
Update: Later this afternoon, I checked my e-mail to find this wonderful message, below, from Nancy. Do follow the link to see this beautiful artwork, and consider trying this exercise yourself. I know that I will.
When I read your poem this morning I was reminded of the paintings of a very special artist - Father Paul Plante. I think you'll appreciate his work. Last year I had my 4th graders pick a painting and find the poetry in the painting. Using their observation skills they were able to look "eye to eye" with the painting.
Today's poem is, in a way, a Valentine poem. Happy Valentine's Day to you and all of those you love!
If you have not yet gotten your hands on THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY, edited by Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis and written by many of your favorite poets past and present...do find it as soon as you can. This beautiful book just won The Claudia Lewis Award. Congratulations to Pat and to all!
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