I mentioned earlier this week that I’ve been writing a lot of assessment materials. I wish there was a lot less assessing going on in our schools, but I’ll confess right now that I usually have a great time writing poems for assessment companies. Poems is a term I’ll use loosely here. They’re very often little verse stories, because they have to be a certain length and have enough details for 10 (usually) questions to be asked about them. They’re for a certain grade level, and I frequently have to use specificed techniques like simile, alliteration, refrain, etc. It’s like writing a poetry puzzle.
Anyway, this little poem by Judith Viorst, from Sad Underwear and Other Complications: More Poems for Children and Their Parents?(Atheneum, 2000), reminded me a bit of writing poetry on demand:>)
RobbyRobby wants me to write him a poem.
He wants the poem to say
That he’s handsome
And strong
And great at martial arts.
He also wants me to mention
That he knows how to stand on his head
And where Saskatchewan is.
(He doesn’t want me to mention that he farts.)
–Judith Viorst, all rights reserved
There are lots of things I’m not permitted to mention in assessment passages and poems, too. Though I don’t think farting has ever been specifically addressed, I feelt pretty sure it wouldn’t fly! Interestingly, yesterday I was doing a Young Writers’ Conference, and one of the boys–of course–farted during writing time. Lord–the giggles for the next 20 minutes!
Oh–I’d like to do some more Poem Starter Videos over the summer months. If you have a 2012 or a 2013 children’s poetry book published in a print edition by a mainstream children’s publisher, and if you’ve be interested in having me choose a poem to share from it, please let me know in the comments. (Click here to watch my Poem Starters so far.)
Ed DeCaria of Think Kid, Think! has?today’s Poetry Friday roundup?at her Poetry Blog– enjoy!
That looks like an interesting collection of poems, gas or not. 😀
So happy to hear you’re going to do more Poem Starter Videos! I was starting to suffer withdrawal symptoms.
Hehe–I believe that’s the only gassy poem in it. I do want to do more PSV–just have to recover from Poetry Month first. Hope things are going OK for you!
That looks like an interesting collection of poems, gas or not. 😀
So happy to hear you’re going to do more Poem Starter Videos! I was starting to suffer withdrawal symptoms.
Hehe–I believe that’s the only gassy poem in it. I do want to do more PSV–just have to recover from Poetry Month first. Hope things are going OK for you!
Too funny, Laura! Everyone is the same no matter the interests and accolades.
SO very true!
Too funny, Laura! Everyone is the same no matter the interests and accolades.
SO very true!
Oh my, the farting theme is big with my seventh graders. And yes, the giggling…
It just never gets old. Well, it does, but not to them:>)
Oh my, the farting theme is big with my seventh graders. And yes, the giggling…
It just never gets old. Well, it does, but not to them:>)
I wonder if this poem is based on a real person. Gotta respect a poet who dreams up a boy who knows what he wants, but then doesn’t hesitate to show him who’s boss!
It’s very sassy, isn’t it?
I wonder if this poem is based on a real person. Gotta respect a poet who dreams up a boy who knows what he wants, but then doesn’t hesitate to show him who’s boss!
It’s very sassy, isn’t it?
Hello Laura and friends,
I am a genetic poet. Poetry comes much too easily for me. Turns out my late Dad and several in his family wrote poetry. I have, for fun, written ….rough drafted….turned out the makings of a children’s book about “Toe monsters.” I wrote a simple little verse just to see if I could. Turns out my kids enjoyed it enough to refer me to their friend, Amy. She is a very talented illustrator, who has aspired to illustrate children’s books. Together, we are slowly putting together this children’s book…if only for my grandchildren…no matter. Wondering…would someone give me a critique of the book verses? Before I get too carried away with this project, I would like to know how what I wrote fits into the reality of children’s book publishing. Maybe the society makes sense for us, but we are just starting out and are both very busy with our professions and families. I don’t need another diversion….unless I am “supposed to” write children’s books.
Curiously,
Bill
Hi Bill–I know there are sites/groups that do critiquing for each other, though I haven’t been on one (maybe someone can jump in with a url?). Lisa Bullard and I do critiques and coaching through Mentors for Rent (www.MentorsForRent.com), but that’s a paid service. I will just say that you only work directly with an illustrator if you’re planning to self-publish. If you are planning to submit your work to traditional publishers, they find the illustrator–you as the writer are not part of that process. (You might already know that, but wanted to mention it, since it’s a common misconception that picture book writers need to find illustrators–that’s not the way traditional publishing works.) Good luck!
Hello Laura and friends,
I am a genetic poet. Poetry comes much too easily for me. Turns out my late Dad and several in his family wrote poetry. I have, for fun, written ….rough drafted….turned out the makings of a children’s book about “Toe monsters.” I wrote a simple little verse just to see if I could. Turns out my kids enjoyed it enough to refer me to their friend, Amy. She is a very talented illustrator, who has aspired to illustrate children’s books. Together, we are slowly putting together this children’s book…if only for my grandchildren…no matter. Wondering…would someone give me a critique of the book verses? Before I get too carried away with this project, I would like to know how what I wrote fits into the reality of children’s book publishing. Maybe the society makes sense for us, but we are just starting out and are both very busy with our professions and families. I don’t need another diversion….unless I am “supposed to” write children’s books.
Curiously,
Bill
Hi Bill–I know there are sites/groups that do critiquing for each other, though I haven’t been on one (maybe someone can jump in with a url?). Lisa Bullard and I do critiques and coaching through Mentors for Rent (www.MentorsForRent.com), but that’s a paid service. I will just say that you only work directly with an illustrator if you’re planning to self-publish. If you are planning to submit your work to traditional publishers, they find the illustrator–you as the writer are not part of that process. (You might already know that, but wanted to mention it, since it’s a common misconception that picture book writers need to find illustrators–that’s not the way traditional publishing works.) Good luck!
Hooray for more Poem Starters!!!!!!!!
Hooray for more Poem Starters!!!!!!!!