Listening & A Poetry Peek

Woolly Bear on Wood

Photo by Amy LV

Students - I have been stacking a lot of wood for winter these days, and as I've done so, I have found three soft woolly bears tucked in the load of wood that was dumped in our yard. They are adorable, I simply love them, and I have written about them a few times here.

If you are looking for something to write this week, consider looking at and for creatures. Listen to the creature you choose. If it doesn't say anything, pretend! What might it say. What would you do?

I did tuck every one of those three woolly bears into my gorgeous, freshly-stacked pile. We're all ready for the big Western New York snows now.

You can learn more about woolly bear caterpillars here in The Westborough News "Nature Notes" column written by Annie Reid.

Today is such a special day here! It is the first Poetry Peek in a long time, and I could not feel more excited and grateful to welcome these fourth grade poets -  and their teachers Ms. Lewis and Ms. Miner - from Tioughnioga Riverside Academy in Whitney Point, NY.  These students are regular celebrators of Poetry Friday and are like old friends here at The Poem Farm. Ms. Miner and I have known each other for a long time, and we were reconnected by student poet Maykayla who shared her beautifu list poem "Blue" with me back in November. 

In the slideshow below, you will have the opportunity to read twenty poems, each with a note from the poet about where they found inspiration. I have not spoken with these poets about their process, but reading their words, it is easy to see that they have studied line breaks, careful word selection, repetition, comparisons (similes and metaphors) and solid endings. What do you notice when reading? What will ou learn from them?

As I read each poem and looked carefully at each joyful, thoughtful illustration, I felt as if I got to take twenty small vacations, right from my desk, kittens by my side.

Thank you, poets from Whitney Point! Thank you, Makayla! Today we celebrate you!

And reader friends, please enjoy these poems, a poetry anthology on your screen...

To enlarge the presentation, simply click the three dots at the bottom of it, and select ENTER FULL SCREEN.

Jone is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Jone Rush MacCulloch with a double golden shovel poem, a gift poem, and a call for folks to join the Winter Poem Swap. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

I wish you a warm and woolly week ahead!

xo,

Amy

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