Happy National Poetry Month! Thanks for dropping by my Poem Starter Video party.
Today’s poem comes from?City I Love
(Abrams, 2009), by the person who has done more than anyone else to spread a love for and knowledge of children’s poetry. Not only is Lee Bennett Hopkins a huge poetry advocate and an enormously prolific anthologist, he’s also a wonderful poet. A few people don’t know that yet because he spends so much time and energy championing?other poets and poetry as a whole. When I first started reading children’s poetry, Lee’s anthologies and collections showed me just how high the bar was, and really gave me something to shoot for. And they gave me a great education in all the wonderful kinds of kids’ poetry. Here’s a beautiful poem from Lee’s City I Love. (I wish I could do the proper formatting!)
Sing a Song of Cities
Sing a song of cities.
If you do,
Cities will sing back
to you.They’ll sing in subway roars and rumbles.
People-laughs,??machine-loud grumbles.Sing a song of cities.
If you do,
Cities will sing back.Cities will sing back
to you.–by Lee Bennett Hopkins, all rights reserved
And here is my Poem Starter Video:
[wpvideo kTiDbaQX]
The energetic Diane (how does find time for all her postings!?) at Random Noodling? has the Poetry Friday Roundup. The kidlitosphere is jumping with fantastic poetry posts!
I’m loving this series, Laura! Do you realize it’s nearly 10 years since we were neighbors at Chautauqua?
I’m loving this series, Laura! Do you realize it’s nearly 10 years since we were neighbors at Chautauqua?
Laura, as far as I’m concerned from now on you should do these poem starters 7 days a week. It’s been a GREAT exercise for my writing. You rock!!!!! I mean it. You’re a good soul.
TEENAGE BLUES
Cell phone beeping,
Goodbye sleeping,
Morning drizzling,
Bacon sizzling,
Front door slamming,
Pre-test cramming,
Higher learning,
Stomach’s churning,
Sandwich chewing,
Math reviewing,
Mid-term taking,
Neurons aching,
Soccer dribbling,
Homework scribbling,
Dinner talking,
Sister mocking,
Moonlight gleaming,
Nighttime dreaming.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
BREAKFAST TREATS
Pancakes fluffy,
Poached eggs runny,
Sausage squishy,
Bacon crunchy,
I love breakfast …
Munchy, munchy.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
Laura, as far as I’m concerned from now on you should do these poem starters 7 days a week. It’s been a GREAT exercise for my writing. You rock!!!!! I mean it. You’re a good soul.
TEENAGE BLUES
Cell phone beeping,
Goodbye sleeping,
Morning drizzling,
Bacon sizzling,
Front door slamming,
Pre-test cramming,
Higher learning,
Stomach’s churning,
Sandwich chewing,
Math reviewing,
Mid-term taking,
Neurons aching,
Soccer dribbling,
Homework scribbling,
Dinner talking,
Sister mocking,
Moonlight gleaming,
Nighttime dreaming.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
BREAKFAST TREATS
Pancakes fluffy,
Poached eggs runny,
Sausage squishy,
Bacon crunchy,
I love breakfast …
Munchy, munchy.
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
I, too, am in love with these poem starters…such a treat to listen and view – and then the ideas do flow!
Thank you, Tara! I’m happy they’re doing their job:>)
I, too, am in love with these poem starters…such a treat to listen and view – and then the ideas do flow!
Thank you, Tara! I’m happy they’re doing their job:>)
Your Poem Starter Videos are wonderful. Thanks for sharing Lee Bennett Hopkins’ poetry, too.
Thanks, Bridget. No month of poetry is complete without Lee!
Your Poem Starter Videos are wonderful. Thanks for sharing Lee Bennett Hopkins’ poetry, too.
Thanks, Bridget. No month of poetry is complete without Lee!
Your poetry starters are great! I plan to try some with my students when we finish our current unit. Lee’s book is wonderful too. You shared one of my favorites from the collection, I love the in in this poem!
Thanks, Linda! I hope your students have fun with them:>) (I’m not exactly sure what you mean by the in in this poem–typo? Or just something that’s eluding me?)
Your poetry starters are great! I plan to try some with my students when we finish our current unit. Lee’s book is wonderful too. You shared one of my favorites from the collection, I love the in in this poem!
Thanks, Linda! I hope your students have fun with them:>) (I’m not exactly sure what you mean by the in in this poem–typo? Or just something that’s eluding me?)
I love Lee Bennett Hopkins’ anthologies. I will have to check this one out. Thanks for the suggestion and fun poetry selection.
I do, too! They are amazing. This terrific book is actually a collection of all poems by Lee himself, though! Enjoy:>)
I love Lee Bennett Hopkins’ anthologies. I will have to check this one out. Thanks for the suggestion and fun poetry selection.
I do, too! They are amazing. This terrific book is actually a collection of all poems by Lee himself, though! Enjoy:>)
I love the idea of many sounds making one voice–the city.
Isn’t that comforting?
I love the idea of many sounds making one voice–the city.
Isn’t that comforting?
Cities really do sing back. This is a great poem starter.
Thanks, Ruth!
Cities really do sing back. This is a great poem starter.
Thanks, Ruth!
I agree with Charles – these are great ways to get our minds in gear! Here’s mine. It could use some editing, but I’m happy with it so far:
PERSONAL FOREST
In the woods behind our house,
a little brook burble-bubbles;
it gives me rest
and offers hope
and floats away my troubles.
– ? 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
I couldn’t help myself – I had to revise!
PERSONAL FOREST
In the woods behind our house,
a little brook burble-bubbles;
it cools my toes
and soothes my soul
and takes away my troubles.
– ? 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
This is wonderful, Matt! Great sounds, and I love the calming, soothing feel of this. It’s like a 5-line vacation!
Thanks, Laura!
I agree with Charles – these are great ways to get our minds in gear! Here’s mine. It could use some editing, but I’m happy with it so far:
PERSONAL FOREST
In the woods behind our house,
a little brook burble-bubbles;
it gives me rest
and offers hope
and floats away my troubles.
– ? 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
I couldn’t help myself – I had to revise!
PERSONAL FOREST
In the woods behind our house,
a little brook burble-bubbles;
it cools my toes
and soothes my soul
and takes away my troubles.
– ? 2013, Matt Forrest Esenwine
This is wonderful, Matt! Great sounds, and I love the calming, soothing feel of this. It’s like a 5-line vacation!
Thanks, Laura!