This Creek

Please note that next Poetry Friday, August 23, we will celebrate the life of Lee Bennett Hopkins here at The Poem Farm. At Jone MacCulloch's great suggestion, I invite everyone who wishes to write and share a poem inspired by or including a line from a LBH poem. Tag with #DearOneLBH. Thank you. xo, Amy

Sounds of the Creek

Family Camp, August 2019

Video by Amy LV

Students - I am away camping this week and sat to write in my notebook by this creek. I did not plan to write about the creek, but its song in my ears came through my pen.

When we sit down to write, we need not have a plan. Sometimes we can simply listen. At times, we will find ideas we like and wish to follow. At times, we will not. But always always it is worth a try.

Christie is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Wandering and Wondering with a joyous celebration of trees!  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.

It Might Have Been Different - Listening for Echoes

Amy, November 1970
Photo by Debby or George Ludwig

Students - Today's poem is, I suppose, a cross between my own curiosity about what my life would have been like if I'd been born elsewhere (would I be me?) and my sadness about racism and fighting and war.  Each of us is plopped into a life situation beyond our control, and at some point....we begin controlling it more and more.  I feel very fortunate to live in a peaceful place, yet I am very aware that it could have been different.

Writing that last sentence, I heard an echo in it.  In her wonderful poem Otherwise, poet Jane Kenyon repeats the line, "It might/have been otherwise."  And at this moment, I know for certain that the title of today's poem came straight from Kenyon's poem, one I have read over and over again.

Remember to reread poems and books that you love.  When we do this, the rhythms and melodies of line and story become embroidered upon our own writing hearts.

Over at my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, you can find out who won the book giveaway of Aimee Buckner's NOTEBOOK KNOW-HOW.  Coming next over there is recent high school graduate, Alexandra Zurbrick, and I am excited to welcome her.

Today you can find Poetry Friday over at Tabatha's place, Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference. Please stop on by and check out this week's poetry joy.

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.