Friday, September 3, 2021

Look Outside, Note the Date

 

Apple Morning
Photo by Amy LV



Students - It is September 3, and here in Western New York, fall is upon us. For me, fall is all about bonfires and sweaters, cool mornings and apples baked and squished into cider. This morning I went out to have a look around, and I smiled at our bowing apple tree. (I am not picking those apples because my nephews are visiting, and I want to let them do it.)

Any day that you are unsure of what to write, try going outside, looking around, and making yourself notice something new. This apple tree was easy to notice, but yesterday I sat in the driveway with our cat Fiona, and within minutes, a hummingbird was zipping all around the Rose of Sharon next to me. We can notice ants, weeds, the way the sun shines on our faces. You might even include the date in your poem. Or, you can write about a date you remember.

The first part of today's poem is true. The second part of this poem is not true. I do this a lot. Start with truth...and then off into make-believe!

And, when in need of more inspiration, I always read. Today I read some pages from this book, and it got my brain chugging along. 

Read Before Writing
Photo by Amy LV

Heidi is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at my juicy little universe with a ghazal (and information about ghazals) and a climate action poem (and important information about climate). Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

11 comments:

  1. Amy, I’m always inspired by your work. I love this poem. And I love that you always talk about your inspirations and process. I look to you as my writing teacher, especially when it comes to poetry. I am writing each day and spend time on writing poems but I’m never really sure of my work. My family always like what I write but I don’t get feedback from a poets eyes. What have you done when it comes to sharing your work? Thanks for your feedback! Hugs, Amy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amy! I am going to write you a note on your blog. I have a paper that you might find useful! xo, Amy

      Delete
  2. Love the mirror in this poem and the dialog. It's fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Terrific to let the tree "see" what wonders it has produced, and then "wind". I imagine students will love this one, Amy. What fun!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That ending with onomatopoeia is great. We don't have apple trees, but we watch the satsuma to know when fall is here. They ripen in October.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that talking to the trees--so intimate and real and funny.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your poem along with Susan T. aka Chicken Spaghetti's "Midtown Listing" would be a fun pair to study!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the image of the apples as dangling earrings, and the sense of story that plays out to an unexpected ending. Thanks for posting this!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such a perfect tip - look outside, note the date.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amy...you hold up a mirror to young writers, so they will know, so they will see their own fancyness.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great idea to record the reading. That was cool. "Look outside, notice the date" is good advice; I was attempting to get at that, too, in my poem this week: Look right beside you, see what you've had in your grasp all along.

    ReplyDelete