Go Ahead...Give a Direction

 

Winnie in the Chair Fort

Photo by Amy LV

Tuck in the Chair Fort

Photo by Amy LV

Students - You may be thinking, "Didn't Amy just write a poem about animal forts?" And yes. In November, I shared this poem about just that. See, people often do, think about, and write about the same idea over and over again. And here, on New Year's Eve at a strange time in history, making pet forts is a point of happiness in our little home. The one you see above is a simple scarf and chair fort. Today, I think I will make Winnie and Tuck yet another fort out of boxes. And for me, one of blankets and books.

We are standing on a threshold between 2021 and 2022. If you stand where one meets another room, that meeting place is called a threshold, and you can have one foot in each space. Today is kind of like that, with one foot in the old year and one in the new. As one old year meets and touches one new year, I will be making a box fort for cats. Simple. Joy.

What advice do you have for someone at this important time? You might consider beginning or titling a poem with the words, "Go Ahead" and then give a small or big direction to your readers, suggesting something to do or try or think about on this threshold between years. You might write a "Go Ahead" poem about another time of life. It is all up to you, as you are the writer.

Direction-giving poems give our readers something to consider. They can open up tiny and wide possibilities for ways to live. Writing helps me figure out how to live, and I hope it may do this for you too.

Thank you to author Jan Godown Annino. The other day I'd shared a photo of Winnie in this chairscarf fort, and Jan asked me about making a fort for a toy cat. That question stuck with me and led to today's "best stuffed bear" line!

Carol is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Carol's Corner. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

As you cross over to 2022 from 2021, I wish you and your families and loved ones a season of safety and simple joys. Writing can be here for us when times are light and for when times are dark. Poetry is like a little flashlight. Let yours shine.

xo,

Amy

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Curled Kitten & a Poetry Peek with Emily

 

 

Students - Today's verse is about our new kitten, Fiona.  I saw her curled up on Georgia's blanket, and I loved the sound of "kitten" and "camouflage" together.  The rest of the poem just grew around those sounds.  It is fun for me to read.

Can you find other similar sounds in the poem?  

Look for consonants that repeat near each other.  This is called consonance. 

Look for vowels that repeat near each other. This is called assonance.

Alliteration is when sounds at the beginnings of words repeat near each other.

When you write a poem, experiment with the sounds at the starts of words and also the vowels inside of words.  Rhyme is not the only way to play with sound.  

Is there a daily image you love?  If so, do not miss a chance to write about it.  I love seeing Fiona curled all around the house, and now I can read this poem to her as she sleeps.

Today I am honored to welcome Emily, a fourth grade poet from Louisana.  Margaret Simon from Reflections on the Teche, is one of Emily's teachers, and I am thankful to share her poem today at The Poem Farm.  It is an acrostic, but it is so well written that you might not even realize this if we didn't tell you.

I asked Emily if she would be willing to share how she writes.  She replied...

My tips for writing a good poem would be the following:

• You do not want to write a "lazy" poem. 
• Think about descriptive words that other people would be able to imagine.
•  Try to use metaphors that are related to your subject.

I don't really know how I do it; I just love to write.  I want to be a poet.

Emily is a poet already, and I very much hope to have the opportunity to read more of her work.  Students - I recommend trying one of these writing tips when you write.  What do you think Emily means when she refers to a "lazy" poem? 

Much gratitude to both Emily and Margaret for this Poetry Peek today.  

This week's Poetry Friday roundup is over at Today's Little Ditty with Michelle.  Head on over for some new poems and to visit with some new and old friends too. 

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