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Why Can’t I Fly: Why-ku by Laura Purdie Salas [Poetry Friday]

Happy Poetry Friday! It’s been a busy week, and I’ve been under the weather. Sniffle, sneeze. Cough-cough-cough. But I’m pleased to share a pair of why-ku from my latest 30 Painless Classroom Poems book, Why-ku: Poems of Wonder About the World. Mary Lee Hahn wrote the activity guide for this one! I’ll share about her and also another pair or two of Why-ku next week. Happy Valentine’s Day to all:>)

Why Can't I Fly? [Why-ku]

My new 30 Painless Classroom Poems book: Why-ku

A Note from the Poet: [Sparrows]

A traditional haiku has a seasonal word?either the name of a season or at least a clue to a season’somewhere in it. Although these aren’t traditional haiku, I did want to include that seasonal word at least sometimes.

A Note from the Poet: [Hollow]

Traditional haiku do not rhyme, but I want my poems to be fun to read out loud, and I think a little rhyme makes everything better. So here and there, I use some rhyming words. They’re end rhymes in this one (wings and things) and internal rhymes?rhyming words within the same line?in the Sparrows haiku (swinging and singing).

Here I am reading this pair of why-ku (excuse my cold!).
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Cathy at Merely Day by Day has the Poetry Friday Roundup today. Enjoy!

PrevPreviousOnion [15 words or less poems]
NextMeet My Collaborator, Mary Lee HahnNext

38 Responses

  1. I can see that Why-ku will become a popular form in my classroom. We have themed our year Wonder, so why not why-ku about all our many wonders? Thanks for continuing to inspire student writers. And yay! for Mary Lee!

    1. Thanks, Margaret–your students are so imaginative. It doesn’t surprise me that that’s your theme:>)

  2. I can see that Why-ku will become a popular form in my classroom. We have themed our year Wonder, so why not why-ku about all our many wonders? Thanks for continuing to inspire student writers. And yay! for Mary Lee!

    1. Thanks, Margaret–your students are so imaginative. It doesn’t surprise me that that’s your theme:>)

  3. YAY! So glad to see that the newest edition in your fabulous series of e‑books is ready get into the hands of kids! I had such fun working on this project with you — thanks for giving me the opportunity!!

    1. Thank YOU, Mary Lee. This was a blast! But I’m so relieved to be almost finished! Still must get this on my website, etc. And send author copies out! I haven’t even seen the print version yet. Soon. Then I’ll be able to start properly sharing this series. Every spare minute has gone into actually creating the books–so much more time-consuming than I anticipated!

  4. YAY! So glad to see that the newest edition in your fabulous series of e‑books is ready get into the hands of kids! I had such fun working on this project with you — thanks for giving me the opportunity!!

    1. Thank YOU, Mary Lee. This was a blast! But I’m so relieved to be almost finished! Still must get this on my website, etc. And send author copies out! I haven’t even seen the print version yet. Soon. Then I’ll be able to start properly sharing this series. Every spare minute has gone into actually creating the books–so much more time-consuming than I anticipated!

  5. Laura, Why-ku…so clever. Wishing you all the best with your latest e‑book. You’re amazing! Do you do all the work necessary to get these ready for publication?

    Love the “Wonder” theme too, Margaret! You must be a terrific teacher!

  6. Laura, Why-ku…so clever. Wishing you all the best with your latest e‑book. You’re amazing! Do you do all the work necessary to get these ready for publication?

    Love the “Wonder” theme too, Margaret! You must be a terrific teacher!

  7. In the second one, I love the words “wishful things”. These will be good to share, Laura. What a lot of wonderful poetry you’re making for classrooms!

    1. Thank you, Linda. That second one was one of my fav ones to write in the whole collection.

  8. In the second one, I love the words “wishful things”. These will be good to share, Laura. What a lot of wonderful poetry you’re making for classrooms!

    1. Thank you, Linda. That second one was one of my fav ones to write in the whole collection.

  9. “Hollow bones — strong wings.” Oh, to soar. I love the idea of Why-ku. I’m thinking kids will enjoy this combination of wonder and words.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Cathy

  10. “Hollow bones — strong wings.” Oh, to soar. I love the idea of Why-ku. I’m thinking kids will enjoy this combination of wonder and words.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Cathy

  13. Love these! I can’t wait to see “sparrows darting through spring/swooshing, swinging, singing songs” through the skies. Looking forward to reading more why-kus. Hope you’re feeling better soon 🙂

    1. Thank you, Catherine–me, too. I am quite impatient with feeling bleah. Not that I’m feeling horrible. Just lingering cold-dragginess:>)

  14. Love these! I can’t wait to see “sparrows darting through spring/swooshing, swinging, singing songs” through the skies. Looking forward to reading more why-kus. Hope you’re feeling better soon 🙂

    1. Thank you, Catherine–me, too. I am quite impatient with feeling bleah. Not that I’m feeling horrible. Just lingering cold-dragginess:>)

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