Poetry Lovers, I need your help with two things!
- I’m looking for a children’s poem about perseverance, and I need it by the end of today. Ack! It doesn’t need to actually be about it, but it has to demonstrate it. I have to read it to an assembly of K‑5th graders tomorrow, and I want it to be something really accessible. My backup poem is Don’t Quit, but I’d really love something that is more show-don’t-tell, like The Little Engine That Could.
- Any recommendations for poetry collections/anthologies (not novels in verse) about the immigration experience?
Please leave any suggestions in the Comments. Thanks!
Photo: Laura Purdie Salas
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
Here’s a bit of painting. It makes me think of:
1)?A fairy slide
2)?A twirly skirt
3) A spoon diving toward a poached egg
And here’s my poem first draft:
Dress Shopping
Time spins like gravity,
so steady
it is still–
holding prom and promises
in orbit
–by Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
What do you think of when you look at this picture? Take any quick idea and jot down a 15 Words or Less poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme or describe this picture. Just?look at this picture and say, “This makes me think of _________.” Fill in the blank and write about THAT!
194 Responses
Beautiful poem, Laura.
The most beautiful
flowers on our planet
sometimes eat
people.
(I can see lips ;))
Ha! Love your ending — how it didn’t go where I expected it would.
I love your ending as well, Catherine. Reminded me of Little Shop of Horrors! 😉
I’m practising the unexpected lol. Cheers!
Made me think of that play.…with the plant, Audrey, that grows.….very unexpected, but I saw the lips too!!! Fun.
Yes, I see, that despite her coffee, Jennifer is ahead of me.…Little Shop of Horrors. Missed her comment. Funny. I need coffee.
Ha! I’m picturing giant sundews and flytraps and pitcher plants!
Beautiful poem, Laura.
The most beautiful
flowers on our planet
sometimes eat
people.
(I can see lips ;))
Ha! Love your ending — how it didn’t go where I expected it would.
I love your ending as well, Catherine. Reminded me of Little Shop of Horrors! 😉
I’m practising the unexpected lol. Cheers!
Made me think of that play.…with the plant, Audrey, that grows.….very unexpected, but I saw the lips too!!! Fun.
Yes, I see, that despite her coffee, Jennifer is ahead of me.…Little Shop of Horrors. Missed her comment. Funny. I need coffee.
Ha! I’m picturing giant sundews and flytraps and pitcher plants!
Lovely poem, Laura. I saw a mouth on the flower, too, but a bit differently than Catherine did! 🙂
SPEAK TO ME
in petal-soft whispers
of violet nights
and nectar.
Love “violet nights” in the context of this poem!
This is beautiful, Renee!
Renee,
This reminds me of my first attempt, though mine hugely pales in comparison to your violet nights and nectar. But I would have written this one if I could!!! It is so lovely. Either I have to post mine as is or wait until later!!! Think I need coffee!!
Gor. Geous. Sexy, too. Violet Nights and Nectar should be a title for a poetry collection or a film or something else wonderful!
Hm…if only I wrote adult poetry. Or should I say “adult” poetry. 🙂
Lovely poem, Laura. I saw a mouth on the flower, too, but a bit differently than Catherine did! 🙂
SPEAK TO ME
in petal-soft whispers
of violet nights
and nectar.
Love “violet nights” in the context of this poem!
This is beautiful, Renee!
Renee,
This reminds me of my first attempt, though mine hugely pales in comparison to your violet nights and nectar. But I would have written this one if I could!!! It is so lovely. Either I have to post mine as is or wait until later!!! Think I need coffee!!
Gor. Geous. Sexy, too. Violet Nights and Nectar should be a title for a poetry collection or a film or something else wonderful!
Hm…if only I wrote adult poetry. Or should I say “adult” poetry. 🙂
A silky purple petal,
that?s my belief
bound to a stem
by a curling leaf.
This is lovely, Josephine!
Love that curling leaf and the sense of motion it brings to your poem!
Silky purple petals and curling leaf are my favorite lines!
A silky purple petal,
that?s my belief
bound to a stem
by a curling leaf.
This is lovely, Josephine!
Love that curling leaf and the sense of motion it brings to your poem!
Silky purple petals and curling leaf are my favorite lines!
Soft, silken slipper
suspended mid-dance.
Floating, twirling partners,
entwined, entranced.
LOVED yours Laura, every word. Prom and promises — yet also the season for heartbreaks.
This is beautiful, Ellie. I love slippers suspended mid-dance!
Oh, I so agree with what you wrote about Laura’s poem. Just perfect, Laura. I am almost too intimidated to leave my quick poem this week!!! Yours is so full of images and that idea of a slipper, suspended mid-air. Wish I had written yours, too, ellie.
Oh, my–don’t ever feel that way! Luckily, I share plenty of crappy quickie poems, so that should ease any intimidation factor! I just never know what will come out…
Oh, this is like a freeze-frame of a great period movie with some renaissance dance going on. Well, that’s what it calls to mind for me, anyway. I love that suspended slipper. And thanks for your kind words. Maddie just bought a prom dress, and you can see it influenced me:>)
Soft, silken slipper
suspended mid-dance.
Floating, twirling partners,
entwined, entranced.
LOVED yours Laura, every word. Prom and promises — yet also the season for heartbreaks.
This is beautiful, Ellie. I love slippers suspended mid-dance!
Oh, I so agree with what you wrote about Laura’s poem. Just perfect, Laura. I am almost too intimidated to leave my quick poem this week!!! Yours is so full of images and that idea of a slipper, suspended mid-air. Wish I had written yours, too, ellie.
Oh, my–don’t ever feel that way! Luckily, I share plenty of crappy quickie poems, so that should ease any intimidation factor! I just never know what will come out…
Oh, this is like a freeze-frame of a great period movie with some renaissance dance going on. Well, that’s what it calls to mind for me, anyway. I love that suspended slipper. And thanks for your kind words. Maddie just bought a prom dress, and you can see it influenced me:>)
Purple or Pink?
Lily or Peonie?
Dress shopping-
What fun
For Fairies
All these poems are so creative and pretty! Us girls- dresses always come to mind first. 😉
Lovely, Amelia!
Yes, reminded me instantly of Thumbelina for whom I always had a great fondness! Love how you blended the colors, the flowers and the dresses for fairies.
Yes! What a great image–I’m picture a delicate little gaggle of fairies. Lovely!
Purple or Pink?
Lily or Peonie?
Dress shopping-
What fun
For Fairies
All these poems are so creative and pretty! Us girls- dresses always come to mind first. 😉
Lovely, Amelia!
Yes, reminded me instantly of Thumbelina for whom I always had a great fondness! Love how you blended the colors, the flowers and the dresses for fairies.
Yes! What a great image–I’m picture a delicate little gaggle of fairies. Lovely!
Mother Nature
Tired of green.
I?ll paint with purple
and orange.
See my sunsets?
?Kate Coombs
This creates such lovely images, Kate!
Oh, this is really wonderful, Kate. I love it. I can see the paintbrush!!
Love Mother Nature as an artiste!
Mother Nature
Tired of green.
I?ll paint with purple
and orange.
See my sunsets?
?Kate Coombs
This creates such lovely images, Kate!
Oh, this is really wonderful, Kate. I love it. I can see the paintbrush!!
Love Mother Nature as an artiste!
Interesting photo! It has brought forth a lot of beautiful images and it’s only 8 am!
vernal pond…
swan dips its neck into
the sunset
© Diane Mayr
Oh my — breathtaking!
YES! Exactly, ellie and Diane!
This is gorgeous!
Oh, the image of something doing an action it can’t possibly do gets me every single time. Stunning.
As the others replied-beautiful Diane.
Interesting photo! It has brought forth a lot of beautiful images and it’s only 8 am!
vernal pond…
swan dips its neck into
the sunset
© Diane Mayr
Oh my — breathtaking!
YES! Exactly, ellie and Diane!
This is gorgeous!
Oh, the image of something doing an action it can’t possibly do gets me every single time. Stunning.
As the others replied-beautiful Diane.
Satin smooth petals
sun rise with glory
bring your ears close
and I’ll tell you my story.
I should never write before coffee…I apparently can’t follow directions without it! Sorry I went over the word limit!
Ah, those lips. Like your poem and the idea of whispering our stories! That word limit is sometimes a “killer”.….especially if rushing off or “sans” coffee.
Hehe–I’ll let it slide THIS time, Jennifer–you lawbreaker! Love the image of this flower as storyteller. Beautiful!
And now I want to know what the story is. That dang word limit!
Me! Me! I wanna hear the story of the flower. What secrets does she hold?
Satin smooth petals
sun rise with glory
bring your ears close
and I’ll tell you my story.
I should never write before coffee…I apparently can’t follow directions without it! Sorry I went over the word limit!
Ah, those lips. Like your poem and the idea of whispering our stories! That word limit is sometimes a “killer”.….especially if rushing off or “sans” coffee.
Hehe–I’ll let it slide THIS time, Jennifer–you lawbreaker! Love the image of this flower as storyteller. Beautiful!
And now I want to know what the story is. That dang word limit!
Me! Me! I wanna hear the story of the flower. What secrets does she hold?
Love your poem, Laura. I’m not coming up with any ideas of poems to fit your needs for your presentation. Sorry!
Here’s mine.
Bee Buffet
It?s honey of a
sunshiny,
hum-a-buzz,
bee-buffet day?
pollinatingly perfect.
~Penny Klostermann
Oh, once again. You have that way with words, just rolling off your tongue. Love your title and all of it. Kids will ove this. When are YOU publishing YOUR book, Penny???? Or maybe you have one I don’t know about? Hmmmmm
Janet~You’re a honey-of-a-commenter! Thanks! No books yet :?)
Oh, honey on the mind this day!! Thanks, Penny. All very-well deserved by you!!
Penny, this is delightful. One of my favorites of yours! So fun to read aloud! What kids would not want to say this, over and over?
And no worries about the recommendations–just thought if anyone knew of something off-hand:>)
What she said!
We have a class who is keeping bees this year; I’ll share this with them, Penny! Love that ‘honey of a sunshiny’.
This is great, Penny. What a fun one to say and share with kids learning about pollination.
Oh Penny, you know how I feel about you and your way with words. A bee-buffet day, too perfect!
pollinatingly perfect indeed!
Love your poem, Laura. I’m not coming up with any ideas of poems to fit your needs for your presentation. Sorry!
Here’s mine.
Bee Buffet
It?s honey of a
sunshiny,
hum-a-buzz,
bee-buffet day?
pollinatingly perfect.
~Penny Klostermann
Oh, once again. You have that way with words, just rolling off your tongue. Love your title and all of it. Kids will ove this. When are YOU publishing YOUR book, Penny???? Or maybe you have one I don’t know about? Hmmmmm
Janet~You’re a honey-of-a-commenter! Thanks! No books yet :?)
Oh, honey on the mind this day!! Thanks, Penny. All very-well deserved by you!!
Penny, this is delightful. One of my favorites of yours! So fun to read aloud! What kids would not want to say this, over and over?
And no worries about the recommendations–just thought if anyone knew of something off-hand:>)
What she said!
We have a class who is keeping bees this year; I’ll share this with them, Penny! Love that ‘honey of a sunshiny’.
This is great, Penny. What a fun one to say and share with kids learning about pollination.
Oh Penny, you know how I feel about you and your way with words. A bee-buffet day, too perfect!
pollinatingly perfect indeed!
Grandmother?s kiss
spackled
with sunshine,
grazed
my delicate nose,
then
slid into moonlight
too soon.
Another attempt, meant to be broadly interpreted, not necessarily romantic!
Too close to the fire
your kiss
wraps me in honey
burns like the sun.
See, Catherine, I, too, saw those lips!!!
Spackled with sunshine–ahhhhhh. Love that! Gets age and beauty both in there!
I like both, but especially that ‘wraps me in honey’. It is romantic, to me!
Well.…poems are open to interpretation! I’ll never tell, but there is a PG level here, too, if you read the poems as complementary!!! 🙂
Grandmother?s kiss
spackled
with sunshine,
grazed
my delicate nose,
then
slid into moonlight
too soon.
Another attempt, meant to be broadly interpreted, not necessarily romantic!
Too close to the fire
your kiss
wraps me in honey
burns like the sun.
See, Catherine, I, too, saw those lips!!!
Spackled with sunshine–ahhhhhh. Love that! Gets age and beauty both in there!
I like both, but especially that ‘wraps me in honey’. It is romantic, to me!
Well.…poems are open to interpretation! I’ll never tell, but there is a PG level here, too, if you read the poems as complementary!!! 🙂
Soft edges allow for discernment:
seeing through the edge;
Opposites a medley in purple-gold.
Jeanne Poland
I am a shades of gray person, medlies, blending, seeing the possible. Your poem speaks to me!!
Janet:
There is nothing like being touched by the fine point of an artist’s brush (comment)
especially on this site (erudite).
Jeanne
Why thank you, Jeanne!! (I was going to mention “not that shades of grey” by the way!) and am sure you knew exactly what I meant.
I love this–translucency is one of my favorite…textures? qualities? Not sure what to call it. That second line is just gorgeous.
I like that first line about soft edges & discernment-speaks to those who are especially thoughtful.
Oooh, love this!
Soft edges allow for discernment:
seeing through the edge;
Opposites a medley in purple-gold.
Jeanne Poland
I am a shades of gray person, medlies, blending, seeing the possible. Your poem speaks to me!!
Janet:
There is nothing like being touched by the fine point of an artist’s brush (comment)
especially on this site (erudite).
Jeanne
Why thank you, Jeanne!! (I was going to mention “not that shades of grey” by the way!) and am sure you knew exactly what I meant.
I love this–translucency is one of my favorite…textures? qualities? Not sure what to call it. That second line is just gorgeous.
I like that first line about soft edges & discernment-speaks to those who are especially thoughtful.
Oooh, love this!
Hi Laura,
Will give a look for both poem and book. Janet Wong’s books might help with the immigrant experience. I have a file of all sorts of online sources/interviews about her. I will look later. I might not reply to you until after 6pm EST, but I will try. Not wide awake enough today and rushing.
Hi Janet–Oh, gosh–don’t put yourself out! I do have Janet’s SUITCASE OF SEAWEED and GOOD LUCK GOLD on my list. Get some rest:>)
Hi Laura,
Will give a look for both poem and book. Janet Wong’s books might help with the immigrant experience. I have a file of all sorts of online sources/interviews about her. I will look later. I might not reply to you until after 6pm EST, but I will try. Not wide awake enough today and rushing.
Hi Janet–Oh, gosh–don’t put yourself out! I do have Janet’s SUITCASE OF SEAWEED and GOOD LUCK GOLD on my list. Get some rest:>)
I actually looked online for a persevering poem with action Laura & found one that you may think is too tough. It’s about Robert Bruce (Bruce And The Spider) by Bernard Barton, the English king who didn’t give up because of his observations of a spider. And, my class studied immigration a few years ago and I used several of Naomi Shihab Nye’s anthologies-This Same Sky & some by Gary Soto, like A Fire In My Hands.
Your poem makes me see those colors for spring, prom dresses in lines in the stores in the photo, blurry, wishing.
I know artichokes are not green, but this is what I saw, kind of a spring thing, too!
Taste Wishes
artichokes dipping,
slipping into
bowl of melted
butter
worth the work
tastebuds sated
Thanks for those suggestions, Linda–I’ll pass them along and check out the perseverance one, too. This is lovely–I can totally see the artichoke petal or whatever it’s called. Very sensual poem–like the artichokes are skinny-dipping!
I might use your word & revise Laura-love the ‘skinny-dipping’ idea!
Oh yes, I can definitely feel the zing of skinny-dipping!! Though I have never cooked an artichoke. I must have been missing a lot!
Your poem is reminding me to go make lunch! Love the image and sounds of dipping, slipping into butter.
This is making me drool, Linda!
this poem (along with the image) just reminded me of how the artichoke gets purple toward the heart (and wonder about the origins of a purple heart), and how nature sometimes hides its beauty in plain sight.
oh, and anything that’s a delivery device for butter!
I actually looked online for a persevering poem with action Laura & found one that you may think is too tough. It’s about Robert Bruce (Bruce And The Spider) by Bernard Barton, the English king who didn’t give up because of his observations of a spider. And, my class studied immigration a few years ago and I used several of Naomi Shihab Nye’s anthologies-This Same Sky & some by Gary Soto, like A Fire In My Hands.
Your poem makes me see those colors for spring, prom dresses in lines in the stores in the photo, blurry, wishing.
I know artichokes are not green, but this is what I saw, kind of a spring thing, too!
Taste Wishes
artichokes dipping,
slipping into
bowl of melted
butter
worth the work
tastebuds sated
Thanks for those suggestions, Linda–I’ll pass them along and check out the perseverance one, too. This is lovely–I can totally see the artichoke petal or whatever it’s called. Very sensual poem–like the artichokes are skinny-dipping!
I might use your word & revise Laura-love the ‘skinny-dipping’ idea!
Oh yes, I can definitely feel the zing of skinny-dipping!! Though I have never cooked an artichoke. I must have been missing a lot!
Your poem is reminding me to go make lunch! Love the image and sounds of dipping, slipping into butter.
This is making me drool, Linda!
this poem (along with the image) just reminded me of how the artichoke gets purple toward the heart (and wonder about the origins of a purple heart), and how nature sometimes hides its beauty in plain sight.
oh, and anything that’s a delivery device for butter!
“Dress shopping” is wonderful, Laura. I love the way you’ve meshed gravity and how it holds us in orbit with prom and promise time! What about “Old Elm Speaks” by Kristine O’Connell George for a perseverance poem? (I mean the poem titled that–not the entire collection–but maybe it is more telling than you want.)
Your photo sparked a distant and a close-up view for me this morning, so I’ve got two to share:
Colossal energy
flares from the sun,
bright beacons
storm across
space and time.
Purple petals
arch and overhang,
a parasol for
spider?s
silken
web.
Thanks for the suggestion, Buffy. I’m going to go pull that book off my shelf to check out the poem. It’s been a while since I’ve read it! Love these two different approaches. My favorite is the petal as a parasol. Love.
I especially like the parasol for the spider’s silken web!! I have a wonderful OLD book that is a treasure. Originals are highly collectible, but they did re-issue it a few years back. The Fairy Tale book ed by Marie Ponsot and illus. by Adrienne Segur. The color and detail in art from the first edition from the early 50s are just amazing. (The latest ed. is good but the tone is not as rich…different ink and paper I assume.) But the art by Segur is spectacular and Thumbelina tale’s two-page spread has so many of the “fairy elements” in many of today’s poems. Worth a look if you ever come across the book.
“Dress shopping” is wonderful, Laura. I love the way you’ve meshed gravity and how it holds us in orbit with prom and promise time! What about “Old Elm Speaks” by Kristine O’Connell George for a perseverance poem? (I mean the poem titled that–not the entire collection–but maybe it is more telling than you want.)
Your photo sparked a distant and a close-up view for me this morning, so I’ve got two to share:
Colossal energy
flares from the sun,
bright beacons
storm across
space and time.
Purple petals
arch and overhang,
a parasol for
spider?s
silken
web.
Thanks for the suggestion, Buffy. I’m going to go pull that book off my shelf to check out the poem. It’s been a while since I’ve read it! Love these two different approaches. My favorite is the petal as a parasol. Love.
I especially like the parasol for the spider’s silken web!! I have a wonderful OLD book that is a treasure. Originals are highly collectible, but they did re-issue it a few years back. The Fairy Tale book ed by Marie Ponsot and illus. by Adrienne Segur. The color and detail in art from the first edition from the early 50s are just amazing. (The latest ed. is good but the tone is not as rich…different ink and paper I assume.) But the art by Segur is spectacular and Thumbelina tale’s two-page spread has so many of the “fairy elements” in many of today’s poems. Worth a look if you ever come across the book.
FROM THE BLUEBERRY SKY
Raindrops parachute
Onto curved crocus petal -
Nature’s water slide.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Love the word choices you’ve made, Charles–especially parachute and curved crocus. Wonderful!
I think I will always remember this when I go out after a summer’s shower and see the drops of rain dotting the flowers. They’re doing more than nourishing the plants, they’re playing on the slide!!!
FROM THE BLUEBERRY SKY
Raindrops parachute
Onto curved crocus petal -
Nature’s water slide.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Love the word choices you’ve made, Charles–especially parachute and curved crocus. Wonderful!
I think I will always remember this when I go out after a summer’s shower and see the drops of rain dotting the flowers. They’re doing more than nourishing the plants, they’re playing on the slide!!!
acting on a dare
the fairy dips her slipper
into the egg yolk
Good to see you here again, delzey, I love your second line AND the egg yolk. Such an image!
I love that it’s a dare, not just a whimsical thing to do. Puts a whole new spin on the feel of the poem.
acting on a dare
the fairy dips her slipper
into the egg yolk
Good to see you here again, delzey, I love your second line AND the egg yolk. Such an image!
I love that it’s a dare, not just a whimsical thing to do. Puts a whole new spin on the feel of the poem.
The day was long.
The smile- a gift.
My downward slide
ends with a lift.
Nice, Cindyb! So natural and uplifting:>)
so true, so true
You know new parents call the relatives at baby’s first smile. We really need more smiles in this world and your poem is a good reminder!!!
The day was long.
The smile- a gift.
My downward slide
ends with a lift.
Nice, Cindyb! So natural and uplifting:>)
so true, so true
You know new parents call the relatives at baby’s first smile. We really need more smiles in this world and your poem is a good reminder!!!
How A Writer Works
In real life
we pass unnoticed
but our purple prose
betrays anonymity,
begging for attention
-Pamela Ross
Ah yes, that purple prose! Love that!
“betrays anonymity” — lovely! All the ways we look for what we need, even if we won’t just come out and say it in a straightforward way. Beautiful!
Thank you both. {}
How A Writer Works
In real life
we pass unnoticed
but our purple prose
betrays anonymity,
begging for attention
-Pamela Ross
Ah yes, that purple prose! Love that!
“betrays anonymity” — lovely! All the ways we look for what we need, even if we won’t just come out and say it in a straightforward way. Beautiful!
Thank you both. {}
the kisses
of the purple-billed platypuses
dismisses
the fears of otherwise ambitious
little fishes
I was trying to come up with some way of using a duck in my poem, but LOVE your purple-billed platypuses and your rhymes. I think kids would LOVE this and love to say it. I will give it a try and let you know.!
Ha! So much fun to say–and so silly! I love the ambitious little fishes. Makes me ponder what the dreams/career goals of little fishes are.
the kisses
of the purple-billed platypuses
dismisses
the fears of otherwise ambitious
little fishes
I was trying to come up with some way of using a duck in my poem, but LOVE your purple-billed platypuses and your rhymes. I think kids would LOVE this and love to say it. I will give it a try and let you know.!
Ha! So much fun to say–and so silly! I love the ambitious little fishes. Makes me ponder what the dreams/career goals of little fishes are.
Shine bright
It’s your right
A world full
of wondrous light
To brighten my day
Anne McKenna
Hey, Anne, good to see you! Love this–we’re not just basking in someone else’s light, but we’re encouraging that person/thing to shine brightly, as it is meant to.
Thank you Laura had not been writing anything at all for such a long time 🙂 good to hear from you too and congratulations on your book 🙂
Thanks so much, Anne! I appreciate it:>)
This is something I think every teacher would hope for for each of her students! Shine bright! Good advice!
Shine bright
It’s your right
A world full
of wondrous light
To brighten my day
Anne McKenna
Hey, Anne, good to see you! Love this–we’re not just basking in someone else’s light, but we’re encouraging that person/thing to shine brightly, as it is meant to.
Thank you Laura had not been writing anything at all for such a long time 🙂 good to hear from you too and congratulations on your book 🙂
Thanks so much, Anne! I appreciate it:>)
This is something I think every teacher would hope for for each of her students! Shine bright! Good advice!