A Day Writing Poems from Art

Postcard Pile

Photo by Amy LV

This Wednesday, I was so happy to visit Seely Place School in the Edgemont School District in Scarsdale, NY. While I have been doing some virtual teaching from my camper, this was my first in-person school visit (not counting teaching fourth grade last year) since February 2020. 

And what writers! 

These second grade poets focused on ekphrastic (art) poems during our time together, and their poems were fascinating and thoughtful. They looked at many many postcards, each choosing one that inspired them most. And as they read their poems out loud, each of us was transported to a new place.

Fish in the Sky, 2014

by Ben Giles

Students - For bits of time with the Seely Place second grade poets this week, I wrote too. I chose the above postcard, and those flying fish grabbed my attention. I wrote about them flying, and then the bird made me think about birds swimming...and so it went.

Now, that ending. It was a surprise to me. As you know, I am always working against spending too much time on screens, and so the ending probably came from there. The idea of something fantastic happening and people all missing it felt real, and those words just appeared on the page.

For me, the most fun in writing this poem is the repetition of knew and new which happen to rhyme with blue. It was not a plan, but it feels playful.

I wrote a different draft of a different poem about this postcard too, but I prefer this one. Remember that sometimes revision can mean starting all over again, starting fresh. 

If you're seeking inspiration this week, look to art. You can find art on walls and in books, in museums and on the internet. And each piece of art can take you on an endless number of writing vacations.

Thank you to everyone at Seely Place who spent time with me this week. I am still thinking about your poetry!

Congratulations to Linda Mitchell, winner of Emily Callahan and Debbie Miller's new book with Heinemann! Linda, I've tweeted a note asking for your snail mail address so that I can get your book to you. Thank you again, Emily and poets, for sharing your fabulous poems with all of in this space last week.

Rose is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Imagine the Possibilities with a very cool idea to write poems from book titles and a lovely-book-title-inspired-poem to go with it. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

I hope that you have the opportunity to look at art this week...even for a moment.

xo,

Amy

Please share a comment below if you wish. 

If you are under 13 years old, please only comment with a parent

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

MyPoWriYe #41 - Homework Spot

This week, Tricia's "Monday Poetry Stretch" over at The Miss Rumphius Effect asks us to write a poem about homework.  At first, all I could think of was the very funny "Homework, Oh Homework" by Jack Prelutsky.  Then I remembered doing homework when I was a girl, remembered my pretty white desk, and remembered how I never sat there to solve math problems or write reports.  These memories walked me right into "Homework Spot" below and also posted over at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

Students - if you are ever given a topic for a poem, it's a bit like being given free entry into a house.  You just have to figure out how to get in, which way makes most sense for you.  Lately our cat Firepaw has been sneaking into the basement through a window, and suddenly he's a house cat for a few minutes.  Firepaw has found his way into our house, just as we each need to find our way into the house of a poem.  Will we enter a poem through a main door or through a hole in the basement?  It's up to each of us, every time we sit to write.

Teachers - here is a beautiful Washington Post article about the power of one teacher's belief and enthusiasm. Thank you to Sara Lewis Holmes of Read Write Believe for pointing the way to this inspiring story for teachers and parents too.

It is Children's Book Week this week, from May 10-16; thank you to Aline at Paper Tigers for the heads-up and information.  If you'd like to find book celebration ideas, printable bookmarks, and dates for future Children's Book Weeks, check here.

To help you celebrate this week, read a wonderful book about...a book!  I highly recommend this one for Children's Book Week and always.  Thank you, Gayle Kerman, for sharing another whimsical title with me.  (How thankful I am to have a librarian as a friend.)

Shop Indie Bookstores

(Please click on COMMENTS to share a thought.)