Sky and Field
Photo by Amy LV
Students - Sometimes a person can have a busy week and yet still have one important word in the background of everything. This afternoon I took a walk with our dogs Cali and Sage around the pasture, and it sounded like the big spruce trees were whispering, Peace. Peace. As I looked at and listened to those trees, I imagined the oceans making the same plea.
It is important to pay attention to the thoughts that return to you. If a word or idea returns to you again and again, it may be asking you to write or make music or art about it. Listen to those thoughts -- they know.
You might wish to try taking a walk outside to get your writing started. Close your eyes and listen to your imagination. Imagine what the nature may be saying to you.
If you'd like, feel free to experiment with a two stanza poem like the one I share here. You might even choose to begin one stanza with the word outside and one stanza with the word inside.
Consider writing a poem focused around just one word. As you write and revise, experiment with repeating it in different ways.
Kat is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Kathryn Apel with a celebration of the release of her new verse novel, WHAT SNAIL KNOWS which I am very excited to read! Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.
Peace.
xo,
Amy
Please share a comment below if you wish.
If you are under 13 years old, please only comment with a parent
or as part of a group with your teacher and class.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Peace murmurs to us through the poem as we read it, even as it murmured in the background of your week. A timely poem for our world today.
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem, Amy. I’ll listen as I walk today and hope and pray for peace.
ReplyDeleteYES, as I walk outside and hear the birds and all things nature I find peace also. Peace can be simple and peace can be hard. Thank you for reminding us about an easy way to find peace, it's not always easy.
ReplyDeleteAmy, this is a wonderful lesson for students. Thanks for sharing it. I love how you heard the word PEACE being whispered over and over by the natural world. This fits with forest bathing - have you heard of that? I will remember to listen to nature. ~Carol~
ReplyDeleteI love this! Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful poems. I teach second grade and we use your poems in each of our lessons. I do have a question though! I am having trouble viewing the images of the poems you have written over the years. I can see your newest ones but there is an error image over where poems were previously. How do I fix this? Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind note, Stephanie. As you will see in my sidebar, I am having some troubles. If you know the names of the poems you seek, I can email the to you (please contact me through the CONTACT ME button). At this time, you can find most of them by Googling the titles as well. Take good care. Peace, Amy
DeleteThe rain is weeping and stomping its feet, crying 'Peace', as birds trill their hopeful 'peace' chorus. Praying for peace, here, too.
ReplyDeleteAmen and amen...and thank you.
ReplyDeletePraying others around our world are listening/hearing this word also! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. PEACE is indeed the "one important word in the background of everything"
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Amy. You capture the attention, the current preoccupation, the insistence, the desperate wish.
ReplyDelete