1) If you’re a published poet with an in-print children’s poetry collection available in a printed version, and you’re interested in having a poem used in my Poem Starter series, please see my post from Tuesday!
2) March Madness Poetry continues, and today, voting is live on the Sweet Sixteen matchups. Only eight pairs of poems to read and vote on, and if you look closely, you’ll see some kidlitosphere friends, like Mary Lee Hahn, Renee LaTulippe, Laura Shovan,?and Buffy Silverman. Read! Love! Vote!
3) This week, my poem is “I Am Fog,” from my book Seed Sower, Hat Thrower: Poems about Weather (A+ Books)
(Capstone, 2008).
(Capstone, 2008).
I Am Fog
I gulp headlights
blanket bridges
seep under your skin
until slices of sun
sizzle me away
–by Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
Teachers, if you’re looking for a poetry idea…
Poem Starter: Listen to the poem “I am Fog,” by Laura Purdie Salas, and then write a poem using alliteration, where you put several words close together that start with the same consonant sound.
Greg at Gotta Book (ahem, alliteration?) has today’s Poetry Friday roundup – enjoy!
42 Responses
Laura:
Love the genuine look of your videos, the enunciation, and the no-nonsense recitation of the poem.
Some videos fall flat with self-consciousness and theatrical excess. Not yours.
Jeanne Poland
Laura:
Love the genuine look of your videos, the enunciation, and the no-nonsense recitation of the poem.
Some videos fall flat with self-consciousness and theatrical excess. Not yours.
Jeanne Poland
I’m also noticing the speed and variety of your on-line posting.
Your thoughtfulness and sincerity shine through.
Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne, for both of your comments. I am terrible at theatrical readings, though I enjoy them from other people (the ones it comes naturally for). I think, just like in my poems themselves, I have to just be me.
I’m also noticing the speed and variety of your on-line posting.
Your thoughtfulness and sincerity shine through.
Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne, for both of your comments. I am terrible at theatrical readings, though I enjoy them from other people (the ones it comes naturally for). I think, just like in my poems themselves, I have to just be me.
Gulp headlights — love it, plus the fabulous energy and word choices in your last two lines. Sizzle — simply brilliant. I had to share this one with my son. And it’s always a bonus to hear you read your work.
Thanks, ellie. I hate all of the videos, actually. But I’m hoping I’ll get more comfortable with this:>)
Gulp headlights — love it, plus the fabulous energy and word choices in your last two lines. Sizzle — simply brilliant. I had to share this one with my son. And it’s always a bonus to hear you read your work.
Thanks, ellie. I hate all of the videos, actually. But I’m hoping I’ll get more comfortable with this:>)
Oh, that sizzle caught me by surprise! Very nice, another cool video :).
Thank you, Jama!
Oh, that sizzle caught me by surprise! Very nice, another cool video :).
Thank you, Jama!
I think I’ve missed your videos; this one is great, will be a good one to share with my colleagues working on poetry during April. Thank you Laura.
Thanks, Linda! It’s something new and scary for me, but hopefully they’ll get better with practice.
I think I’ve missed your videos; this one is great, will be a good one to share with my colleagues working on poetry during April. Thank you Laura.
Thanks, Linda! It’s something new and scary for me, but hopefully they’ll get better with practice.
Hi, Laura. Would you recommend generating a word bank with younger students first for this lesson?
Fog poems always remind me of visiting England as a child. Once, the fog was so dense near my grandparents’ home, my grandfather had to get out of the car and walk us down the road to his house!
Sorry, Laura–your comment was gobbled up by the spam filter, and I just found it.
I love brainstorming word lists first, and also doing group poems first before kids try to write their own. I think that helps enormously all the way through elementary school (and probably beyond, too). I’m keeping the poem starters very general so they can be applied to different ages and writing skill levels, but I think brainstorming–words, facts, sensory details, etc.–is always a great way to start a classroom poem if you have time.
Hi, Laura. Would you recommend generating a word bank with younger students first for this lesson?
Fog poems always remind me of visiting England as a child. Once, the fog was so dense near my grandparents’ home, my grandfather had to get out of the car and walk us down the road to his house!
Sorry, Laura–your comment was gobbled up by the spam filter, and I just found it.
I love brainstorming word lists first, and also doing group poems first before kids try to write their own. I think that helps enormously all the way through elementary school (and probably beyond, too). I’m keeping the poem starters very general so they can be applied to different ages and writing skill levels, but I think brainstorming–words, facts, sensory details, etc.–is always a great way to start a classroom poem if you have time.
SHELLY, MARIE AND ME
I see Shelly Sampson Smith
Swinging from a tree,
I hope that by some miracle
She will look at me.
I feel my heart about to drop
When my dog Marie
Starts to bark and roll around
For everyone to see,
Shelly looks up, smiles, then says “Would
You like to play with me?”
I say “Sure!” as we run towards her -
I love my dog Marie.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Super swell!
SHELLY, MARIE AND ME
I see Shelly Sampson Smith
Swinging from a tree,
I hope that by some miracle
She will look at me.
I feel my heart about to drop
When my dog Marie
Starts to bark and roll around
For everyone to see,
Shelly looks up, smiles, then says “Would
You like to play with me?”
I say “Sure!” as we run towards her -
I love my dog Marie.
© Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Super swell!
I love “gulp.” Very unexpected, and accurate!
Thanks, Ruth!
I love “gulp.” Very unexpected, and accurate!
Thanks, Ruth!
Terrific post and poem, Laura! I too am smitten with “gulp” and “sizzle.” LOVE your brief video — perfect for the classroom; an excellent way to illustrate a concept in a very manageable snippet of time. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Robyn! I appreciate that, because it’s exactly what I’m going for!
Terrific post and poem, Laura! I too am smitten with “gulp” and “sizzle.” LOVE your brief video — perfect for the classroom; an excellent way to illustrate a concept in a very manageable snippet of time. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Robyn! I appreciate that, because it’s exactly what I’m going for!
Laura, I enjoyed the point of view of the poem…as if fog was introducing himself to us. These words “gulp headlights and blanket bridges” really speak to what fog does upon his arrival.
The video will be appreciated by teachers everywhere. I’d love to hear more about your process in choosing these words. Do you make lists, start with words of particular meaning and look for synonyms, or just play until you find the perfect fit?
Thanks for sharing,
Cathy
Thanks, Cathy! And thanks for the feedback. Maybe after National Poetry Month, when I share a poem by me, occasionally I’ll post a little about the behind the scenes of the poem I use…
Laura, I enjoyed the point of view of the poem…as if fog was introducing himself to us. These words “gulp headlights and blanket bridges” really speak to what fog does upon his arrival.
The video will be appreciated by teachers everywhere. I’d love to hear more about your process in choosing these words. Do you make lists, start with words of particular meaning and look for synonyms, or just play until you find the perfect fit?
Thanks for sharing,
Cathy
Thanks, Cathy! And thanks for the feedback. Maybe after National Poetry Month, when I share a poem by me, occasionally I’ll post a little about the behind the scenes of the poem I use…
This is a fabulous new series! Keep ’em coming!
Thanks, Mary Lee! I appreciate the encouragement, as this is way out of my comfort zone!
This is a fabulous new series! Keep ’em coming!
Thanks, Mary Lee! I appreciate the encouragement, as this is way out of my comfort zone!