Happy National Poetry Month!
Welcome to Day 10 of this Year's Poem Farm Project!
Find the Complete April 2015 Poem and Song List Here
First, I would like to welcome all old and new friends to The Poem Farm this April. Spring is a busy time on all farms, and this one is no exception. Each April, many poets and bloggers take on special poetry projects, and I'm doing so too. You can learn all about Sing That Poem! and how to play on my April 1st post, where you will also find the list of the whole month's poems and tunes as I write and share them. If you'd like to print out a matching game page for yourself, you can find one here, and during April 2015, you'll be able to see the song list right over there in the left hand sidebar.
Yesterday's poem was There is a Poem. Here is the tune that goes along with it, below. Did you figure it out?
Yesterday I had the good fortune to visit Arcade Elementary in Arcade, NY, and I learned that many fourth graders have been following along with Sing That Poem! Lindsey Staub's class told me that they had figured out yesterday's puzzle...and they were right.
Margaret Simon's students from Caneview Elementary in New Iberia, Louisiana figured out yesterday's song too. Ms. Simon says, "We wrote out the syllable count, sang almost all the songs, used YouTube to find the tune, sang through to practice about 3 times, and recorded twice. Whew. I am sure they are still singing it in their minds as I am."
Way to stick with it, folks!
And here, below, is today's poem. Look at the song list in the sidebar or on your matching form to see if you can puzzle out which tune matches this one.
I welcome any classes who figure it out to share your own SoundCloud (free app, really easy) recording with me via e-mail, and I will include your voices right here too.
View from the Duquesne Incline - Pittsburgh, PA
Photo by Amy LV
Students - Twenty-one years ago, I lived in New York City for one year. It was such a wonderful time, and I wrote pages and pages full of impressions and loves. Cities are magical, and even though I live in the country now, I have a campfire in my heart for the hustle and bustle and sounds and colors and excitement of cities. Because I live in the country now, I often write about the things I do and see here in nature. But lately I have been thinking that I would like to write more about the glories of cities. So today's poem is a start.
This can be a good way to find a writing idea. Ask yourself, "What DON'T I write about very often? What is something I may be ignoring? What is something that I like very much but have not written so much about?" You may find a whole secret stash of ideas just waiting for you.
Now, if you're having trouble naming today's tune, I recommend counting out the syllables in the first couple of lines and then finding which song from the matching form has the same number of syllables in the first two lines. Then keep checking, line-by-line. And keep singing and listening to see if the song you choose matches the rhythm of this poem. The more people I talk with, the more I hear that this is getting easier and easier for those who are practicing each day.
You know what? This is true for just about everything in life. Keep at it...no matter what it is!
Laura is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Writing the World for Kids. If you visit her place, you'll find out about so many wonderful poetry happenings in the Kidlitosphere today and this week. We gather and share every Friday all year long, and everyone is always welcome.
Please share a comment below if you wish.
Amy in New York City! I didn't know that!! Thank you for this city poem... have been listening to my son compose a song for Birmingham called "In the City" so kind of on a theme! xo
ReplyDeleteI lived in NYC once, long ago, and it could inspire many poems and has done. Thanks for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteNYC -- such a fabulous place! Love your poem (and I think I know the song it goes with). :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed hearing Margaret's class sing too. Thanks for this wonderful PM game, Amy! So much fun.
Those Caneview singers are pretty awesome. :) I lived in NYC for a time, as well. It's kind of strange, but for me, there's something comforting about having that background noise 24/7. When I was young, I used to love going to sleep when my mother was vacuuming too!
ReplyDeleteMy students are loving this game. We guessed again today. I love that they are learning classic songs, rhythm, syllable count, and just plain having fun. Thanks for making them feel famous too!
ReplyDelete"It never gets lonely or dark." Love that you wrote about cities, & that you lived in NYC for a year. I wish I were closer sometimes, to be able to drive in for a day would be wonderful. Fun to hear all the singing this day. I'm getting better at catching the tune. This is fun to guess, Amy.
ReplyDeleteI love the pairing of yesterday's poem and its tune!
ReplyDeleteThis project is so fun! That stanza beginning with "Musicians sing songs..." is just wonderful. I think we need to celebrate cities and suburbs as much as we celebrate rural homes/areas :>)
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