#EquationPoem 5

For National Poetry Month 2021, I’m posting an equation poem each day. Maybe with an image, maybe without. I needed something very accessible and doable this year! Maybe you feel the same way? I’d love for you to join me, and here are several options for sharing your own or your students’ equation poems:

  • in the comments below
  • on social media with #EquationPoem–and be sure to tag me, please! (@LauraPSalas on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook)
  • on the Padlet on my bookpage here

Here’s today’s equation poem, inspired by the antics of several buzzards at a dumpster behind a restaurant on Kent Island recently:

 

And if you love equation poems, check out my Snowman-Cold=Puddle: Spring Equations, published by Charlesbridge and with gorgeous art by Micha Archer.

Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations

Happy poeming!

P.S. Click here if you want to see all of this month’s equation poems!

P.P.S. If you like these, you might also love This Plus That, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace, and Mathematickles, by Betsy Franco and Steve Salerno.

10 Responses

  1. Well some species are here to clean things up, right? Thank goodness. In the chain of life we all have a purpose. I am glad yours is poet! I am enjoying writing some of these.…quick writes.…fun and a form I am sure delving into will lead to more insight. All thanks to you.

    (dedication x intelligence) + (practice x 20)+ positive energy = tournament champion once more

    A poem dedicated to the incomparably “good” young golfer who sparks joy at our house, Jordan Spieth!

    PS In your idea of equation poems, do you prefer/or aim that they are as short as you can make them? I tend to be wordier. But I like the idea of tightening and searching for maybe a smaller number of inputs to achieve the “equation poem” . Thanks, Laura.

    1. So glad you’re having fun, and great to celebrate some golfing skill. My personal preference (because there’s no rule to these) is short ones. I love it when I can write one with only three words and have it reveal some kind of surprising idea or new way to look at something. That said, I’m just playing around this month, and many of mine are using more modifiers and elements than I’d really like to. But it’s totally the poet’s choice. I just love very spare poems :>)

      1. Thank you! I know you prefer the sparer poems, I remember you talking about that before and I think that if you can get the “good” ones that way it is golden. That surprise, that aha! I am giving these a go and keeping track trying to see what I might do or where I might go. It is fun living inside a “form” and while short, they are not simple. That’s a deception, I know. Fun to be playing around here, but really when I have more time I am trying hard and looking deeper thanks to you!

        1. I think your poems so far are just lovely! And, I’m relearning how important it is to just play! To enjoy the process and know that if you write 30 equation poems and look back at them at the end of the month, I bet there will be 1–5 that really stand out to you and make you say, “Oh, THIS is what I’m trying to do!” But you have to write all 30 to get to those 1–5. At least I do. (Or more than 30–ha!) And yes, the fun of playing with this form is it makes your look a bit deeper at those everyday things around you:>) Keep having fun, Janet!

    2. Congratulations, Janet! Your long equation poem is perfect.

  2. Laura, what a perfect equation poem for your photo. I love drive-thru. You made me think of a thrilling memory of seeing turkey vultures far away and up close in a span of about an hour and a half. Love the conversation between Janet and you. I’m trying more than thirty equation poems and having so much fun. I usually think in haiku because it’s a quick form for me to write in my head as I’m on the go and easy to remember to write down later. Now, I can think in equation poems when I’m on the go, too. Thank you for your inspiration!

    1. Yes, Gail! Being able to remember them until I get to paper or screen is a big advantage (esp with my poor memory skills). I can even use Android Auto to text one to myself as I’m driving! I’m glad you’re having fun with these!

      1. Great idea to auto text. My memory must be worse then yours because I forget to even use my phone to help me remember. LOL

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