Tag Archives: poetry

Time’s a Ticking: Day 26

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On Poem in Your Pocket Day my students carried an original poem and a published poem they had studied in their pocket to share with friends and adults around school today.  Although I have heard many of my students’ poems, I heard some I hadn’t yet heard as they shared theirs with me today.  And as always, poems inspire poems…and Jameson’s clock poem inspired my writing today.  Here’s his:

The Clock

 
Tick tock

tick tock

moving every second,

every minute

and every hour.

Watching,

looking

tick tock

observing.

Looking at action,

moments

and memories.

 

Jameson

clock

And my own:

Time

 

Time

ticks and tocks

a metronome

playing life’s rhythms

tapping the beat

insistent, urging

march, dance, move!

 

Time

stands still

frozen in terror

disbelief

or the monotony of boredom

clock hands

stubbornly standing in place

 

Time

races

evaporating like morning fog

gathering clouds of seconds

raining down

in the urgency of time lost

 

Time

hovers

nagging at the edges of consciousness

a stern taskmaster

demanding attention

 

Time

lingers

like sweet kisses

or the taste of chocolate

reminders of precious memories

 

Time

slips and slides

tomorrows become

yesterdays

creating a roadmap of the past

made up of everyday minutes

tick, tick, ticking

 

Time

 

Douillard 2018

We’re in the waning days of our 30-day challenge.  What will inspire today’s poem?

 

Sunset Silhouettes: Day 25

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The upside to a busy day that keeps me away from home much later than usual is that I was driving home as the sun set.  I drove down along the coast, instead of the freeway, so it would be easy to find a place to park and head out with my camera as the sky pinked and the sun dipped lower and lower.

A volleyball game became a silhouette against the sky’s glow.  I snapped, trying to catch the ball in flight.

sunset volleyball

under the net

Sunset Silhouettes

In the pinks and oranges

of sunset’s glow

the world appears in silhouette

sharp black outlines

against a cotton candy sky

painted clouds

shift and drift

a game of hide and seek

the sun hides

and then reappears

beside the lifeguard tower

under the volleyball net

glowing just beyond reach

I chase it through my lens

playing peek-a-boo

until it splashes into the sea

Douillard 2018

sunset splash

And a student poem:

Poetry is…

Poetry is always threading and weaving into your mind,

Poetry is when I hear the birdies sing to the tune of the wind,

Poetry is a river of words splashing and crashing with joy!

Poetry is whatever you adore coming in and flying by.

Alyson

 

Afternoon Walk: Day 24

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I’m a pretty faithful beach walker, often logging miles several days a week out on the shore.  Today, I decided to take an urban walk, exploring a path not far from home.  The first half mile was a pretty steep climb–my device registered it as 19 floors!  I crossed a bridge and headed off a dirt pathway were I had views of the city below.

On my return trip I got the downhill portion of the walk and felt my heart in my throat when I nearly stepped on a snake!  But it did inspire today’s poem.

skinny snake

Skinny Snake

 

Late afternoon

as the sun heads west

is the perfect time

for a walk.

 

The birds chatted

conversing

with squirrels and lizards,

the whitewashed fence

a perfect porch.

 

Drought-stricken trees

strick a pose against

the baby blue April sky.

 

My feet carried me

across the miles

the dirt, the gravel, the leaves

back to the asphalt

where I crossed paths

with skinny snake,

also walking.

 

We froze

in our tracks

scared still

by the sight of the other

until the breeze whispered

and we parted ways.

 

Douillard 2018

bird on a fence

dead tree

And a few poems about poetry written by my students.  It’s such fun to watch their poetry skills grow over the course of the month!

Poetry is Many Things

 

Poetry is a magical treasure of words

in many different forms

hidden away in a jungle
where the birds sing their songs of inspiration

warming the spark in you that makes
you look at the poems in the clear diamonds on leaves.

 

Bryce

I love when a line in a poem catches me by surprise…

Poetry Is

Poetry is ideas floating onto a blank piece of paper

and rivers of words rush onto a page.

Powerful words stick out

like a Ferris wheel at the crowded fair.

Onomatopoeia brings poems to life

and similes crash like waves in the ocean.

After all the commotion

a poem is born.

Koa

And when you can feel emotion…

Poetry Is

Poetry is like the last rays of sun on a sunset

it leaves with beauty and sadness at the same time

poetry is like a song that sings forever

and when you forget

it will always whisper back.

Avi

And one more…

Poetry is…

Poetry flows in my mind like the ocean

Softy and gentle like a breeze

Fragrant like a rose

paints a picture in my mind

When I hear poetry it sounds like nature

When I start a poem it tastes ripe and fresh

Poetry is a feeling in your heart

Cody

Enjoy your walk through some poetry today!

 

 

 

 

Poetry Is: Day 23

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Mondays are odd for me…I barely have time with my students as they rush off to their “specials,” leaving me with some precious planning time but also feeling like I have to cram all that I want and need to do into the remaining and minuscule time segments.

Today I read my students Daniel Finds a Poem by  Micha Archer as a way to inspire their poetry as we approach our last 8 days of the 30 day challenge.  In the book, Daniel asks all the animals in the park what poetry is…and they each share an idea which he then combines to create his own poem.  This beautiful book is deceptively simple, yet the language is both approachable and inspiring.  I’ve invited my students to create their own “poetry is” poems–reminding them to use the poetic techniques we brainstormed in class.  Hopefully I’ll have a few to share with you later this week!

We also spent some time in the garden — looking for the letters of the alphabet to photograph. I randomly assigned each student a letter and then we headed off with our iPads to capture those letters in photos to create a “bank” of letters for some upcoming projects.  My students didn’t disappoint.  They not only found all 26 letters, they helped out when someone was having a hard time with their assigned letter.  “S” was hard, “V” was easy.  Now to figure out how to manipulate our letters digitally to spell some words and create some wordy images!  (Any ideas are welcome here!)

My students also inspired my “Poetry Is” poem for today.

Poetry Is…

 

Children’s laughter

bubbling up

and popping in the sun-warmed garden air

 

Skies as blue

as a lizard’s back

as  a jay’s feather

as the blueberries on my morning yogurt

 

a garden

tilled by the smallest hands

with the largest hearts

growing knowledge

and awareness of nature’s abundance

 

paying attention

and noticing

all the world has to offer

 

Douillard 2018

GArden V

And a poem about a favorite topic in the classroom–especially for this student!

People Play Baseball

For a long time people played baseball.
Making contact with the baseball. Single doubles triples and there’s even HOME RUNS!
They are the best!
The ball sails throughout the air over the fence.
Night day people play.

Stone

Are you ready to try a “Poetry Is” poem?  Be sure to share yours in the comments!

Earth Day Green: Day 22

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I spent a beautiful spring morning walking a low-tide beach…the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day.  I watched pelicans swoop and soar, children squeal and run, surfers wait and balance, the waves ebb and flow.  The salty air and sun on my shoulders are the perfect antidote for those worries that creep in and invade the mind as work piles up and time feels short.

Thinking about poetry this afternoon I found myself reflecting on Earth Day and the importance of taking care of this wondrous planet where we live.  I remembered my wonder during spring break as I experienced the greens of Oregon; greens that are not my everyday experience here in San Diego.  I had spent a day listing all the green words I could come up with as we traveled from the coast of Oregon to the mountains.  Although I’m not sure this is an actual poem, I took time today to figure out a way to categorized those greens…and there are a lot of them!  It certainly is not an exhaustive list…I’m interested to know what green words you, kind reader, might add to my list, as well as what categories I have not yet considered.  So here it is…a list poem of sorts.

Categories of Green

Tree Green

Fir

Ash

Oak

Birch

Maple

Pine

Animal Green

Frog

Cricket

Alligator

Grasshopper

Turtle

Snake

Praying Mantis

Forest Green

Tree

Bud

Fern

Bud

Ivy

Vine

Lichen

Moss

Fruit and Vegetable Green

Broccoli

Bean

Granny Smith

Lettuce

Avocado

Lime

Olive

Mint

Pea

Ocean Green

Sea foam

Turquoise

Algae

Teal

Seaweed

Farm Green

Crop

Alfalfa

Meadow

Clover

Field

Grass

Gem Green

Emerald

Citron

Jade

Turquoise

Peridot

Malachite

Color Green

Chartreuse

Kelly

Loden

Sage

Kelly

Harlequin

Irish Green

Ireland

Kelly

Shamrock

Leprechaun

Symbol Green

Traffic Light

Recycling

Money

Jealousy

Greed

 

Douillard 2018

Oregon green

And an Earth Day themed student poem:

Things to do if You Are a Leaf

 

Photosynthesize,

lay back, relax,

feel the rays of light feed veins

when you fall, twirl like a ballerina

as light as a feather

when you turn brown and curl up

then crunch, you’re pieces.

 

Kalani

I’m looking forward to learning more greens and green categories…feel free to leave your ideas in the comments!  Happy Earth Day!

At Not Quite Sunset: Day 21

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After a long and productive day spent with my local writing project colleagues, Geoff and I set off for a quick dinner at a local dive.  Afterwards, I talked him into a stop by the beach–even though it was not quite sunset and we were not willing to wait to experience sunset.  (And to be honest, it was a bit grey so the certainty of even being able to see the sunset was in question)

But it didn’t stop me from wandering down the path from the cliff to the shore and snapping some pictures as I breathed in some fresh sea air and stretched out those legs that sat too much today.

not quite sunset

At Not Quite Sunset

 

At not quite sunset

when the clouds gather like cotton candy

blushing pink before the sun dips low

surfers rush

down the narrow cliffside path

in the ocean, they bob and wait for the perfect curl

to launch them toward shore

and I wander, seeking treasures through my lens

finding inspiration in the gray

in the blue, as the waves breathe in and out

at not quite sunset.

 

Douillard 2018

It looks like Max was also inspired by the ocean.  Here’s his poem:

Wave

Let the sunbeam shower on your back
as you fly like a bird with the flow of dolphins
finally, you lay down on the sand to rest for tomorrow
as you hear the waves screaming to the shore.

Max

Where do you find inspiration?

Things to Do: Day 20

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You might remember that I bought the book, Things to Do, when I was at Powell’s in Portland last week.  (See this link for the post I wrote then)  Today I was feeling like my students needed some poetic inspiration…and pulled out the book to read to them.  They were immediately enamored, many of them remembering the poem by the same author, Things to Do if You’re a Pencil, that we read last year.  We noted the poetic techniques used in each poem and then set out to write our own.  As I started hearing the students’ poems, those tingles started running down my spine!

Here’s a sampling, starting with Lauryn’s poem about dolphins.

Things To Do If You Are A Dolphin

 

Play around,

swim, jump,

watch surfboards float over the water like clouds in a race,

use echolocation to have conversations,

be silly, be fun,

and soar out of the water like a bird gliding into different worlds,
pretend to be a shark

and put your fin up so it sticks out of the crystal clear water,

perform a parade at the end of the day

when the sunset leans over the water

admiring itself

until it shines bright

onto the dolphins jumping
in the air at the same time

Lauryn

Here’s Sadie’s about an idea.

Things to do if You’re an Idea

Tiptoe into someone’s mind, hatch like a bird in an egg.

Start to grow big and lively, like the moon does in the darkest night.

Break free from your hidden cage, make an impact on the world.

Sadie

And who can resist the poem from our resident Hamilton-obsessed student! (Think: the musical)

Things to do if you are Hamilton
Stand out from a crowd
fight for what is right
never forget what you are or who you are

do the things that you believe

Oliver

My own poem was also inspired by the reading of the book–along with a photo I took of some bikes when I was UCSD yesterday.

bikes

Things to do if You are a Bike

 

Balance on two wheels

as feet pump

the pedals

Let air rush past

as you glide

downtime steep hillside

Obey traffic rules

without question

And when you are done

Rest in a rack or in a stack

with your bicycle brethren

 

Douillard 2018

We invite you to try out a “things to do” poem…feel free to share yours in the comments!

Sweet Peas: Day 19

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I found myself searching for the flowers without knowing they were there.  The distinctive smell of sweet peas wafted through the office, and even as I headed out the door, I had stop to both smell them and take a photo.  I’m wondering if they came from our school garden.

sweet peas

Is it Summer Yet?

 

I could smell them

before I could see them

fragrance afloat

drifting down the hallways of my mind

a time machine of smells

taking me back

to those warm carefree

barefoot

backyard days

when the smell of sweet peas

spring’s perfume

hints

that summer is near

 

Douillard 2018

Some of my students have gotten quite playful in their poetic compositions–both created as found poems.  The first about dogs…

Tail Wagging Fun

Puppies, dogs all
All chasing their tails
Wagging tails this is
Cutie the cure for boredom
Companion circle time!

Rylan

and the second about dance.

Dance

 

Musical instruments

An art form

Music in the air

The grace, strength, and poise of the dancers

The art form

Ballet

Balance, flexibility, posture

Dance

 

Amelia

Day 19 is a perfect day to play around with topics and ideas for your poetry.  What will you write today?

More Found Poems: Day 18

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As promised in yesterday’s entry, today’s post will include some of my students’ found poems. This was not an easy process–many students expressed frustration with not having all the words they wanted to use.  Many stuck to the topic of the Wonder they picked, a few branched out to a different topic.

Koa read Do You Like Grapefruit? and “found” this poem in it.

Grapefruits

Grapefruits are

so sweet

so large

and kind of sour

the forbidden

fruit sinks

into your teeth

a citrusy snack

of wonder and joy

growing

in big clusters

grapefruits

Koa

Grayson chose to learn about pandas and wrote this poem:

China Pandas

Cuddly bamboo lovers

black and white

adorable creatures

with love and peace

they climb giants

and spread happiness

in China.

Grayson

And Avi, who has a passion for motorcycles, choose an article about motorcycles to “find” his motorcycle poem.

The Motorcycle

 

Complex

physical

a motorcycle

full of force

maintaining stability

keeping upright

a motorcycle

Avi

I sent my students home today with an invitation to explore a math wonder and “find” a math poem in the process.  Here’s my poem, “found” in this article about triangles.

Geometry

Sides, angles

square, rectangle, triangle

mathematicians

great minds

classify, name

a variety of triangles

equilateral

isosceles

scalene

and angles

acute

obtuse

right

combine and count

it’s geometry

the experts decided

Douillard 2018

And all that thinking about triangles and angles reminded me of the bridges I saw and crossed in Portland last week.  So here’s some geometry in action!

bridge angles

Take a look around for some mathematical inspiration for your poetry!

 

Found: Day 17

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Inspired by blogger Molly Hogan over at Nix the Comfort Zone, I decided to try my hand at some found poetry…and to introduce my students to this process as well.  To ensure student choice and accessible reading, I decided to head over to Wonderopolis and choose a Wonder of the Day as my source for a found poem.

I picked the article, Where Does Sea Glass Come From? and set off to select words that would become my own original poem.  Following Molly’s model, I decided that I would only use words I “found,” not changing word endings or adding any words of my own.

sea glass

Sea Glass

 

Stained

Works of art

Ocean recycles

Frosted, smooth

Mermaid’s tears

 

Tumbling

Water, waves, and sand

Tossed

Etches

Bottles, jars

 

Treasures

Collect glass

Collect art

 

Examine colors

Green

Brown

Blue

And clear

Weathered

Scarcity

Sea glass

 

Douillard 2018

My students selected their own wonders today and started reading and selecting the words they would use for their own found poems.  We ran out of time before they finished, so you’ll have to wait until tomorrow for some examples of their found poetry.

I do have a couple of Haiku from the two students who have not yet had a poem appear on my blog yet this month.  The first is a Haiku about Haiku:

Haiku

a Haiku makes you
use cuts and say five seven five
made 12th centuries
Gus
The other was inspired by a plant:
Plant

Lush green reaching up
to the shady blue, never ending
sculpture with stained white
Max
Where are you finding poems today?