This week I have been fortunate to serve as Artist in Residence at Greenacres Elementary School in Scarsdale, NY. I had planned to write about crayon colors with the second grade students on Tuesday, and the evening before, I walked into my hotel only to find his broken crayon on the sidewalk in front of the door.
Broken Cerise Colored Crayon
Photo by Amy LV
Of course I picked it up. It was meant to be! I must write about this red color. My memory took me back to French class in high school where we learned that cerise means cherry in French.
Close-Up of Cerise
Photo by Amy LV
Students - If you were to ask me what I love most about writing, it is this element of surprise. We may think we have no ideas, but when we sit and work...the ideas will appear. We may think we are too tired to write, but when we sit and work...writing wil show up. We may think that all of the good ideas have already been taken, but when we sit and work...again and again...our brains will give us gifts. Our brains will surprise us. Where did this old lady come from? I am not sure. Perhaps from here:
Someone's Broken Crayon + High School French Class + My Tree Planting Husband = A Poem
As we think about finding ideas in new ways, today I am so happy to welcome Adela, a thoughtful poet from Karen Caine's sixth grade ELA class at Hommocks Middle School in Larchmont, NY. As her poem creates an enchanted sense of place, you may wish to close your eyes and have someone read it aloud to you.
Adela was able to find the idea for her magical moment-in-the-forest-poem by writing outside. She allowed an idea find her by placing her body in a new location. This week, consider trying what she has done, and write in a new place. In this new place, new ideas will find their way to you. Much gratitude to Adela for her generosity in sharing her poem with us today.
Michelle Kogan is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup over at Michelle Kogan along with a celebration of poems by poets with May birthdays...including herself. Happy birthday, Michelle! Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.
Thank you, Adela! Thank you, Greenacres! Thank you, Greenacres second grader who suggested a wonderful idea for a future poem! Thank you, Michelle! Friends, may you be found by ideas!
xo,
Amy
ps - Guess what I found on Thursday morning on the hotel sidewalk? Cerulean.
The Broken Cerulean Crayon Wants to be Next
Photo by Amy LV
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Adela's poem makes me feel like I am in the forest and listening to the echoes and the sounds. Thank you! What a truly lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteAmy, fascinating how a cherry-colored story poured out of your mind when prodded by that stump of cerise crayon. Inspiration is everywhere, but you take notice more than most, I think.
ReplyDeleteAdela’s narrative made me think about drawing. I have been doing some sketching every day, trying to draw what I see very literally and forget the preconceived construct of the object that exists in my brain. Adela’s words made me realize that poetry could work much the same way. Thank you, Adela!
Adela, what a beautiful way to capture the feel of the forest. I’ve also always been intrigued by the soundtrack of Earth. Your words took me right into the outdoors.
ReplyDeleteAmy, you’ve created a full and love-filled life in a handful of lines. Joy and connection in a bowl of cherries. 🍒❤️🍒
Beautiful poem, Adela. Your words bring back many happy memories of searching the sky for the magic of the stars while enjoying the night sounds of the forest.
ReplyDeleteAdela’s poem took me to a magical forest. It transported me back to my childhood when I was eight, and actually lived in the woods with my aunt and uncle in a home built of logs, with a well outside, and kerosene lamps for light, and I went to school in a little school house. It was magical, as was Adela’s poem. It’s also not lost on me that my last name is also Forest…so thank you from the bottom of my heart Adela for bringing this time back to life for me. You are a true poet, please keep writing.
ReplyDeleteAdela’s poem had me reconnect with nature! I loved the line “silence starts to come alive”. Very true and very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAdela's poem is a wonderful example of how an artist uses her senses in the natural world to pay keen attention to her surroundings. "Silence starts to come alive." How lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a spectacular poem, Adela. I love how you took an ordinary moment of just being outside and sat with it in your mind. My favorite line: Silence starts to come alive. I am going to spend some time outside today because of you and I am going to slow down and experience life as a writer today. just as you did in this poem.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to imagine the forest that Adela brought us, Amy, and I love your beautiful love poem, from looking down, to a cerise crayon, to cherries - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou and tired go together well, Amy! Such a delightful image of an old couple in cherry-love!
ReplyDeleteTwo beautiful poems from both you and Adela, Amy. Now I want to write about that Cerulean crayon. Is someone leaving you breadcrumbs to ideas?
ReplyDeleteSeems like The Universe is throwing down crayons in front of you, demanding poems about colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy for your in-the-moment filled post, from taking notice around oneself! Love your "Cherries on Her Ears" poem and the circular transition it makes from beginning to end, also emphasizing the sphere of a cherry, all delicious! And the lovely nature filled poem by Adela. I look forward to hearing about cerulean…
ReplyDeleteAdela’s poem uses beautiful imagery and language that pulled me into the forest. Simple, powerful, memorable. Thank you for this wonderful piece of writing.
ReplyDeleteAdela, I loved the language and imagery in your poem. I felt the journey through the forest as I read with you.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky these forgotten crayons are, to be found by a poet!
ReplyDelete