Tag Archives: poetry

Buoyed: #litterati Day 16

Daily beach walks make me keenly aware of the ways that trash finds its way onto the beach. Straws and plastic wrappers are common, along with bottle caps and bits of aluminum from decomposing cans. Sometimes I find more interesting bits of trash–plastic toys, sunglasses, pieces of surfboards and more. Today I found an escaped boat bumper or buoy being tossed in the surf…and it became today’s poetry inspiration.

Taking a photo of trash and then disposing it properly is the habit of many camera wielding activists…the #litterati. Small acts add up to a big difference.

buoyed litterati

Buoyed

Bobbing in the waves

an escaped boat bumper

heads toward shore

Styrofoam bullet

breaking

spreading harmful trash

in its wake

We can all help

one photo

and one piece of trash at a time

#litterati

Douillard 2018

And a student photograph and poem…inspired by the palm tree that stands tall in the center of our playground:

tyler pineapple palm tree

A Pineapple Palm Tree

Way up high in the sky
A pineapple sits on a stem with leaves swaying every which way,

held high by the stem

about as wide as your hug and as high as the
Seagulls soaring above
Us

a rainbow of thought to feed
Your imagination

Tyler

Like photography, poetry offers new perspectives on ordinary objects and actions. What can you see anew today?

Seeking Silence: Day 15

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Today marks the halfway point of my self-imposed 30 day National Poetry Month challenge. And as always happens for me, the more I write, the more easily I’m able to write. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know these poems are not masterpieces…they are, in fact, all first drafts that would benefit from feedback, revision and more revision.

Returning back to school also means that I can involve students in the revision and feedback process as well. What will happen when we take the time to select some of our poems to rework and improve? How can we take inspiration from each other and from published poets as we tackle the difficult task of revising our writing?

Today also marks the last day of spring break for me. It was a lazy day spent reading and running a few errands…with a lovely beach walk squeezed in too. As is often the case, I found myself drawn to the seabirds…

sandpiper silence

Seeking Silence

In a world of noise and constant motion

I seek silence

in the roar of the surf

as turquoise and blue

tumble to frothy white

I seek silence

in the laughter and squeals

of children

plunging headfirst

into the chill of the spring tide

I seek silence

in the bobbing sandpipers

searching for snacks at lowtide

crying out warnings

when my camera comes too close

In the solace of the ocean and its noise and constant motion

I find a way to quiet my mind

and breathe in silence

Douillard 2018

And on this last day of spring break I found a photo and poem from a student in my inbox. (Thanks to the parents who allowed their children to email poems to me over the break.)

Amelia dew

Dew,

Resting its head on its cold plant pillow

Sparkling as the sun shines in them

like a diamond shattered into a million tiny pieces

Showing its power

Amelia

How are you spending this mid-point Sunday in April?

Abundance: Day 14

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Coming home means time for reflection and time to return to the daily routines. When I woke up this morning I was greeted by the overflowing mound of laundry…which led me to thinking about the abundance of the last week.

laundry

Overflow

Days of abundance overflow

wild rivers carry infinite grains of sand

mixing rain and sea water

nature’s elixir

coating my eyes

my throat

my being

freezing to icy whiteness

as we climbed the mountain

high above the city

head in the clouds

droplets run like rivers

down my cheeks and back to the sea

overflowing in a crash

of waterfalls

Traces followed me home

in my head

in my photographs

and in the pile of laundry

overflowing the basket.

Douillard 2018

And I came home to an email…a fun little list poem from a student.

A berry on a bush,

A sizzle from a pan,

A woof from a dog,

A little ladybug’s plan,

A fine line land,

A click from a clock,

And that is how my poem stops.

Hadley

What abundance have you been experiencing?

Utility Pole: Day 13

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As we walked around Portland, we kept seeing utility poles and trees layered in paper fliers until they seemed to bulge in their paper dresses.

utility pole

Utility Pole

Layers of paper

announcing

a sale

tonight’s concert

an upcoming community event

piled,

flier upon flier

telling stories

as fibers melt

running together and joining

to become a part of the pole

expanding girth

paper upon paper upon paper

what is the utility of the pole?

bulletin board

or art?

Douillard 2018

And a student poem:

Guitar

Plucked with delight
Strummed with music

A fat body
Long slender neck
Sounds flowing from the heart

Cody

What object are you seeing and sensing in a new way today?

The City of Books: Day 12

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Today was a day for urban adventures–in the pouring rain, of course. No trip to the Portland area is complete without a visit to Powells, the most amazing bookstore ever. (And trust me, I have been to many, many bookstores. I have many favorite bookstores in many different cities, but Powells is something every book lover should experience.) So my poem for Day 12 was inspired by a book I bought today (one of several) called Things to Do by Elaine Magliaro.

Things to Do if You’re a Book

Open doors to worlds beyond imagination

where characters become dear friends and worst enemies

And offer glimpses into places

our feet haven’t touched.

Introduce us to people and experiences

We haven’t yet encountered

And give us a whirl in their shoes

in their skin, in their minds.

Take us beyond our backyard fences

Where we can hear whispers

Of time gone by and what is still to come.

Unplug us from the virtual world

And let us lose ourselves

In a labyrinth of words.

Douillard 2018

Here’s a student poem full of imagination, apparently inspired by time in the kitchen!

The Pan

So much depends
upon

A sizzle
or
a fry

Just rimmed
with a
simmer and a shine

Beside the
chicken fry

By Hadley

And another inspired by observing a hummingbird in the garden.

Hummingbird

The hummingbird twirls with excitement

so fast

almost as fast as the flash.

Even the rainbow tries to form fast enough

to see the particle effect.

That is the color

that you dream.

Jameson

What’s inspiring your poetry today?

In My Hiking Boots: Day 11

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Footwear in my daily life usually involves flip flops, tennis shoes, and whatever “fashionable” shoes I decide to wear to work. Footwear on this trip to the Pacific Northwest has taught me the importance and value of my hiking boots. I brought them thinking I would need them on days when we decided to do some “real” hiking–but I have worn them everyday…walking on the beach, on the mountain, in the forest, and around town. Here’s a little ode to my hiking boots:

In My Hiking Boots

In my hiking boots

I explore wild and windy coastlines

briny breezes upending my hair

spectacular vistas soothing my eyes

In my hiking boots

I climb snowy mountains

strapped to red snowshoes

breathing in unspoiled air with my head in the clouds

In my hiking boots

I tromp through forests

of a million shades of green

gazing up at waterfalls

that drop torrents of water

feeding ferns, moss, and a wonderland of wildflowers

In my hiking boots

my feet are dry and warm

my heart is full

and life is good.

Douillard 2018

This is a gallery of some of the wildflowers I found along my watery hikes today as we went out in search of waterfalls and witches’ houses!

I got another student poem via email today. Here’s her vision of the night sky…another ode of sorts!

Stars

When the sun melts down into the bleeding horizon,

my twinkling friends appear.

First one, then another, then they all come,

like raindrops falling from the clouds.

They dance as if they are swimming,

making ripples in a watercolored sky.

Their silver images are like a million rockets,

dazzling nocturnal eyes.

Sadie

And here’s another student poem, inspired by Williams’ The Red Wheelbarrow:

The Voice

So much depends upon

People’s voices

Sharp or dull in the day or night

Inside a friend’s heart.

By Kai

What are you appreciating today? Maybe it will find its way into a poem!

Not the Original Plan: Day 10

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Somehow we didn’t plan on snow. We knew when we went to bed last night that our outdoor activities for the day today would involve snow and rain, so after some thinking and a bit of research we decided that we would snowshoe today. No, neither or us had ever snowshoed before but a place up the road offered snowshoe rentals, so why not?

The rain was coming down when we left for our adventures this morning. We bought a couple of emergency rain ponchos in hopes of keeping somewhat dry. The guy who rented us the snowshoes gave a quick demo of how to strap them on…and we were off! How did we not know about snowshoeing before? We hiked miles through the local forests on Mt. Hood…in the rain and in the spaces of unexpected sunshine that we experienced as we walked.

snowshoeing photos

Snowshoeing

Ka-thump, ka-thump

one foot in front of the other

crunching through

the white powdery snow.

Each step takes me deep

into the white of my thoughts

cooled by the frozen landscape

warmed by the blood coursing through my veins.

The forest cradles me

its silence quieting

the noise and rush of daily life

each step brings me closer

to understanding myself.

Ka-thump, ka-thump.

Douillard 2018

blue in the snowy forest

And a bit of whimsy. from my students..a poem about the escape of a hamster:

Hammy time!

Hammy I’m sorry
That I left your cage
Open that night, you were
Gnawing at chemicals, partying
In the walls racing through tunnels,
Hiding in the lower sink,and sleeping under
The couch. I’m sorry for what I did, even though you liked it, I really really missed you.

By Rylan

And a fun one about bear slippers that just came via my email!

Bear Slippers

Bear slippers

on my bare feet

even though it scares my dogs

it’s still funny

like them

cozy slippers on my feet

Brayden

Small Poems: Day 9

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Today’s adventures took us from the seashore to the mountains…and from cold and windy rain to mild and sunny snow. We hiked…in search of waterfalls and views of the expansive and stunning Mt. Hood. (We found both!)

But today is a day for a small poem.

In Search of Waterfalls

fairy waterfall

trickles down the mountainside

greening with its touch

Douillard 2018

Fairy waterfall

And here’s a small poem written by a student:

Hummingbird

A silver streak of lightning and rainbow

they pollinate love and peace

that is their purpose.

Grayson

And another:

Sparkles of Diamonds

As the sun rises

the mist falls on leaves like pieces of diamonds overhead,

I wake up

and glide into the cutting edge of the forest,

there I feel peace.

Bryce

What small poems are you writing today?

Poetry Day 8

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With a forecast of nonstop rain for today, our plan was to find ways to be out exploring…and also to not spend our entire day drenched to the skin. We did pretty well, starting our day with some time in Seaside’s tiny aquarium. I have mixed feelings about places like aquariums and zoos, but I also know that the opportunity to see and learn about animals helps to build empathy and ultimately, appreciation and a sense of protectiveness for wildlife and nature.

I was drawn to the octopus. I read The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery a couple of years ago,, an account of the author’s experience with an octopus at an aquarium. These strong and nimble creatures are purported to be smart, the problem solvers of the sea. I was lucky enough to be in front of the tank when the octopus began moving this morning. I was fascinated as I watched its suction-cupped arms navigate the glass pane of the aquarium wall.

octopus

Great Pacific Octopus

master of disguise

color changer

hide out finder

squeezing into the tightest space

Armed times eight

thousands of suckers in place

climber, acrobat, magician

practicing sleight of suction

on rocks and clear glass windows

showing agility and strength

only possible from this

shell-less mollusk

Giant Pacific Octopus

Douillard 2018

Here’s a student poem that seems to capture my mood for today:

The Peace of Wild Things

When wonder for the world

grows in me

and I wake in the shining rays of the sun,

I drag myself out of bed and to the water’s edge

where I feel the peace of wild things.

Oliver

And another that is more reflective of a southern CA perspective on rain:

Wait for Wet

I wait for wet.

I wait for the gentle pitter-patter of wet on my green umbrella that waits on a dusty hook in the closet.

I wait for the sound of rubber boots splashing and stomping through wet, sprouting a tail of murky water in wet’s wake.

So much depends on a light sprinkle of wet that tumbles through the clouds and dusts my eager face.

Sadie

For tomorrow, I am waiting for dry…and off from the seashore to explore mountains! And of course, continue my April poem-a-day adventure.

Poetry on Day 7

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My day started early today, with a flight at the crack of dawn. On the first official day of spring break I was thinking about my students and wondering if they would continue their daily poetry without being at school. Imagine my delight when I found a couple of poems in my inbox this morning!

Amelia spring signals

Spring’s Signals

Showers of love, chicks hatching, flowers blooming

You know that spring’s warm scented air will come soon

To bundle you up

and say you’re safe here

Photo and poem by Amelia

Alyson stump

alysons poem

(Photo and poem by Alyson)

My own poetry was inspired by some pretty unfamiliar weather for me… I left mild San Diego to arrive in northern Oregon, experiencing a nonstop rainstorm, complete with howling winds. It hasn’t dampened our spirits (although my raincoat is pretty darn soggy!). After being buffeted by wind and rain as we explored coastal Seaside, I found inspiration in the idea of music…and of course, a seagull!

A Stormy Symphony

She blows, her instrument tuned

to the pitch of the sea

sounding a somber melody

crescendoing to a dramatic roar.

A steady drip drop

creates the back beat in syncopated rhythm.

Birds dance, pushing their bodies

against the currents, spinning in the updrafts.

A lone seagull listens

humming along

to the stormy symphony.

Douillard 2018