It Might Have Been Different - Listening for Echoes

Amy, November 1970
Photo by Debby or George Ludwig

Students - Today's poem is, I suppose, a cross between my own curiosity about what my life would have been like if I'd been born elsewhere (would I be me?) and my sadness about racism and fighting and war.  Each of us is plopped into a life situation beyond our control, and at some point....we begin controlling it more and more.  I feel very fortunate to live in a peaceful place, yet I am very aware that it could have been different.

Writing that last sentence, I heard an echo in it.  In her wonderful poem Otherwise, poet Jane Kenyon repeats the line, "It might/have been otherwise."  And at this moment, I know for certain that the title of today's poem came straight from Kenyon's poem, one I have read over and over again.

Remember to reread poems and books that you love.  When we do this, the rhythms and melodies of line and story become embroidered upon our own writing hearts.

Over at my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, you can find out who won the book giveaway of Aimee Buckner's NOTEBOOK KNOW-HOW.  Coming next over there is recent high school graduate, Alexandra Zurbrick, and I am excited to welcome her.

Today you can find Poetry Friday over at Tabatha's place, Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference. Please stop on by and check out this week's poetry joy.

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

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

Listening & Writing from Our Repeated Thoughts and Words

Cat Chat

by Amy LV

Students - Today's poem idea grew from a question that I often ask my cats, "Where did you come from?  Where did you live before you lived with me?  Where was your home before this was your home?"  We have four cats that appeared mysteriously at our home (and one that was given to us with our blessing), and I frequently think about their unknown pasts.  I especially think about Mini Monster, the cat I wonder most about.  What is his history?  I will never know, and so I invent it with sweet tuna-gifting grandma who sang...

Pay attention to stories you often tell or questions you often ask.  We each have recurring lines in our lives, repeated wonders and wishes and hopes and stories that we tell over and over again.  These refrains are rich writing territory, and I encourage you to listen to your own voice, to ask, "What do I hear myself say or feel myself think again and again?"

I may have written a poem about this same topic before.  Or not...I honestly do not remember.  But if I have, I am happy to explore the same material more than one time.  By doing so, I can follow my changing thinking.  And so can you.  Allow yourself to write about the same ideas in new ways - you will surprise yourself.

And if you always try to rhyme, play with free verse.  I'm working on that too.

If you missed my last week' post (on a Wednesday, not a Friday, and I did not link in on Friday), please do visit, enjoy, and leave a comment for the young writers.  It's a wonderful collection of blackout poems all made from the same poem by fourth grade students from Easthampton, Massachusetts and taught by Carol Weis and Jodi Alatalo.  I loved seeing how differently all of their poems turned out!

Over at Sharing Our Notebooks, I am so happy to host teacher Katie Liseo and her adventurous student notebookers with a very inspiring post and giveaway of Aimee Buckner's NOTEBOOK KNOW-HOW. And HERE you can find out who won the signed copy of Laura Shovan's fabulous verse novel, THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY.  Too, please remember that there is a whole treasure chest of summer notebooking ideas at Sharing Our Notebooks.  Find those at the tab atop the blog or just click HERE.

Today's Poetry Friday roundup is over at Check it Out, in the wise and generous hands of Jone.  Come on by, meet some poetry friends, and feel free to link right in if you wish.  Poetry Friday is for everyone!

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.