Go Ahead...Give a Direction

 

Winnie in the Chair Fort

Photo by Amy LV

Tuck in the Chair Fort

Photo by Amy LV

Students - You may be thinking, "Didn't Amy just write a poem about animal forts?" And yes. In November, I shared this poem about just that. See, people often do, think about, and write about the same idea over and over again. And here, on New Year's Eve at a strange time in history, making pet forts is a point of happiness in our little home. The one you see above is a simple scarf and chair fort. Today, I think I will make Winnie and Tuck yet another fort out of boxes. And for me, one of blankets and books.

We are standing on a threshold between 2021 and 2022. If you stand where one meets another room, that meeting place is called a threshold, and you can have one foot in each space. Today is kind of like that, with one foot in the old year and one in the new. As one old year meets and touches one new year, I will be making a box fort for cats. Simple. Joy.

What advice do you have for someone at this important time? You might consider beginning or titling a poem with the words, "Go Ahead" and then give a small or big direction to your readers, suggesting something to do or try or think about on this threshold between years. You might write a "Go Ahead" poem about another time of life. It is all up to you, as you are the writer.

Direction-giving poems give our readers something to consider. They can open up tiny and wide possibilities for ways to live. Writing helps me figure out how to live, and I hope it may do this for you too.

Thank you to author Jan Godown Annino. The other day I'd shared a photo of Winnie in this chairscarf fort, and Jan asked me about making a fort for a toy cat. That question stuck with me and led to today's "best stuffed bear" line!

Carol is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Carol's Corner. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.

As you cross over to 2022 from 2021, I wish you and your families and loved ones a season of safety and simple joys. Writing can be here for us when times are light and for when times are dark. Poetry is like a little flashlight. Let yours shine.

xo,

Amy

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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

Please share a comment below if you wish. 

If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.