Begin with "Somewhere a"

Solstice Sun Gingerbread Cookies

Photo by Amy LV

Students - Here where I live in Western New York, yesterday was our shortest day of the year - the Winter Solstice. My family celebrated with a few friends, many candles and a big bonfire, welcoming the return of the sun and thinking together about the new year ahead. Of course today I am thinking about animals, how they too may mark our longest night and this shift in light.

If you wish to take your brain on a little adventure, just write these words on the next page of your notebook:

Somewhere a

You might write it once and see what appears next. You might write it many times, each time completing the sentence with a surprise from your own heart. Then, if you wish, you might choose one of your Somewhere a ideas and let it offer you a poem.

You can learn a bit more about the Winter Solstice here at CBC Kids News.

Jone is hosting this week's Poetry Friday over at Jone Rush MacCulloch with a joyful solstice post. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

I wish you laughter, love, and light as we begin a new year together. See you again here on January 5, 2024!

xo,

Amy

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A Poem for the Winter Solstice

Warm Wool and a Window Star
Photo (Woolens and Star Too) by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem is an occasion poem...I wrote it for the occasion of the winter solstice which is today!  Today marks the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year.  After tonight at 5:23pm, our days in the Northern Hemisphere will each grow a bit longer.  Can you feel it?

My poem today is not in a special form, and it does not rhyme.  To make it a poem, I did a few things.  You will note the line breaks, some lines holding only one word each.  These line breaks changed many times.  And I read the poem over and over again for rhythm and to select and reselect the very just-right words I needed.  You might notice some repeated sounds.  I love free verse poems, and I plan to write more of them in 2019 as they help me focus more carefully on techniques other than perfect rhyme and counted rhythm.

One line that I may come back to from this poem is you will find me.  I might write a poem saying, Next year/you will find me or Someday/you will find me...  You are welcome to borrow or adapt this line if you like it. I often borrow lines from poems I like.

If you wish, you may learn more about the winter solstice at Wonderopolis.  Who knows...we may be standing outside in our colorful woolens at the same time tonight.  There will be a full moon and a meteor shower too, so it's a big night.

Buffy is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Buffy's Blog with a bit more about the winter solstice and a lovely book recommendation. This community is here and sharing poems and poemlove every Poetry Friday, and everyone is invited to visit, comment, and post.  And if you have a blog, we welcome you to link right in!

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.