Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was my choice! And I chose short poems (6 lines or fewer) about animals that had to include three words (or forms thereof): spike, roof, and shadow.
I was inspired by two books: Myra Cohn Livingston’s I Am Writing a Poem About… and Sandford Lyne’s Writing Poetry from the Inside Out, both of which include this kind of poem.
I always think it’s so cool to take a word and try to work it into a poem that perhaps it wouldn’t ordinarily fit in. Sometimes you end up with magical word combinations and images that way. I’m not sure if I ended up with magic, exactly, but here’s my favorite of the several I wrote:
I know you’ll enjoy reading what my Poetry Sisters have come up with! And maybe you even want to give this a try for yourself?
Kelly
Liz
Sara
Tanita
Tricia
Andi joined us this month–so pleased to have her here!
Click here to see all our previous Poetry Princesses collaborations.
Tabatha at the Opposite of Indifference is kindly hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup today!
27 Responses
Love this challenge! It will be interesting to see how similar or different all your poems will be.…
I haven’t done a word group poem in a while. Did you ever know Sandy Lyne? He lived here before his death, and I was privileged to know him both as a friend and a mentor. He was amazing with kids.
I love “shadow of snow.” I’ve never seen a snowy owl, but I walk daily to the sound of barred owls.
No, I didn’t! Lucky you. I love Soft Rain Will Catch You and his other compilation of student poems. I bet he WAS amazing…
One of those gentle poet souls.
Your poem is perfect for the image.
Thanks so much! Poem came first, but I was pretty happy with the image to go with it.
I’ve enjoyed the written challenges from yours so far, Laura. And now, you seem to be thinking of winter coming with the “silent in night’s icy spikes”. Mice are shivering!
Thanks, Linda! Owls are just so fierce and mighty, and winter is … well,
… the same! Plus I had to figure out SOME way to use spikes;)
I love the idea that the owl is a shadow of the snow.…
This is beautiful. And thank you for the challenge.…
Thanks, Liz. So grateful the group embraced it and created such beauty. And…Andi!
This is so beautiful!!! I love how you have paired the image with the poem. Perfect.
Thanks, Andi. I was happy to find this pic in Canva 🙂
Beautifully done! “night’s icy spikes” — so evocative!
Thanks, Jane!
We always whine that the challenges are well-nigh impossible but this one FELT that way. And yet, I love how we all rose to the challenge!
Me, too. I think we made some magic 🙂
I have enjoyed reading all the responses to your challenge! I love the image of the owl as a shadow of snow
Thank you, Kay:)
Wow, I have to say that starting with “shadow of snow” makes this poem magical from the start. What an amazing way to describe the sweep and glory of an owl. (I need to dive back into our Google Docs and read your other poems. I was lucky to even make it in with a post this month. Your challenge was a great one, though!)
Thanks, Sara–love your sharp, ominous raven!
I am amazed that you pulled that off in only three sparse lines. Brava!!
Thanks!
I think you did a marvelous job with this challenge, and I love that you packed so much into 3 lines. I may have been dragged kicking and screaming into this one, but you really brought out the best in us with this challenge.
I like your imagery of an owl being a “Shadow of snow,” beautiful pic too–it works so well with the poem. Inspiring challenge, thanks Laura!
Simply beautiful. I love the surprise of “shadow of snow” and, “dark sky for a roof”. I really love how you challenge us to find powerful meaning in short. Nicely done. I need to check out those books!
Beautiful poem, Laura! You offered quite a challenge.
I tried to write a poem for you as a response, but I could only get two of the three words in it!