Imagine a Conversation

Sumacs

Photo by Amy LV

Sunset

Photo by Georgia VanDerwater

Students - Today's poem idea popped into my head sometime over the past few days, probably because the sumacs are so stunningly orange and red and because Halloween is on my mind. Somehow the idea of two orange nature friends dressing up as each other just made me smile.

It is playful to invent conversations between people, animals, or objects, and when we do this, we explore new and different writing territories. Consider taking a walk outside. Which two outside beings or objects might you imagine talking with each other? What might they say? Try making a little list and see where it brings you.

Remember, you do not always have to keep your mind on a leash. It is important to let your mind run in the field of ideas or at the idea park...with all of those other ideas.

Below is one of my first published poems, many years ago in LADYBUG magazine, and again several years later in BABYBUG. I will never stop feeling thankful for seeing the many different ways that talented illustrators bring my small words to life.

It was again a joy and an honor to visit Wyckoff, NJ this week, to work with wise and kind teachers and to think about writing together. Thank you, Wyckoff friends, for teaching me as always and for the good laughs. See you in January!

Carol is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at The Apples in My Orchard with a celebration of bats for this International Bat Week. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.

Tonight I hope to carve a pumpkin beside a bonfire. I wish cozy to you and yours...

xo,

Amy

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First Poem of April - NaPoWriMo

My Grandpa Norman played the tenor banjo, a 1936 Montana Silver Bell.  Now his banjo is mine, with its mother-of-pearl tuning pegs (a gift from Grandma) and his initials (NHD) on the back.  This poem is a triolet, a form featured today in Alice Schertle's poem on GottaBook.

Grandpa's Banjo

Standing silent so long

Grandpa's banjo is still.

Grandpa's music is gone

standing silent so long.

I cannot play one song

but I promise I will.

Standing silent so long

Grandpa's banjo is still.

© Amy LV

Thank you, Kyle, for inspiring these stringed-thoughts with your ukulele music.

It was fun today, finding myself constantly muttering, "This could be a poem!" about everything from spiders in the shower to cattails on a roadside.  It seems that this "poem a day" for thirty days will be healthy in more ways than one.

Today I received April's issue of LADYBUG magazine.  I have a poem in this issue, illustrated by Aaron Boyd.  Thank you, Aaron, for your permission to include this whimsical & realistic artwork here.

My daughters and I ate many books tonight at Buffalo's Edible Book Festival, and we'll be sure to go back next year, perhaps even with an entry of our own.