Ode to Feathered Friends #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem #Poetry Friday

Hello, and a very happy Poetry Friday and final day of National Poetry Month! Each day during April, I wrote a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I left my challenge open so that the poems could take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knew which direction they’d go in. But go they did, and I even had help from my favorite collaborators — my remote Kindergarten poets.

So it’s the final Friday of National Poetry Month and Matt Forrest Esenwine has the honor of hosting this fifth and final roundup of the month on his blog, Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme. I hope you will stop by his site to not only hear an update on his crazy busy goings ons, but to see the collection of tricube poems he’s assembled. I can’t wait to give that form a go, and I think even my Kindergarten poets might be able to try, too!

NPM Day #30: Ode to Feathered Friends (irregular ode)

A peek at my process — My 30th (WOW!) and final #AvianAllusion entry is an irregular ode to birds — it does not have a specific rhyme scheme. I collaborated again, one final time, with my remote Kindergarten friends who have shared over the course of the month why they like birds and why they are important. With a wee bit of poetry midwifery, our ode has hatched. Enjoy!

And now for the grand finale of…

Throughout the month of April, participants in the Poetry Friday community lovingly created the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years’ poem features a sweet blend of kindness, friendship, and adventure. The multi-talented Michelle Kogan takes over today, choosing one of the lines I gifted her with yesterday and adding her own flourish to wrap things up. She did a brilliant job, and even added lovely artwork that captures exactly the characters and spirit of the poem that have been living in my imagination all month long. Well done, Michelle! Here is our final poem, and don’t forget to visit her blog to see how she imagined our characters.

I’m a case of kindness – come and catch me if you can!
Easily contagious – sharing smiles is my plan.
I’ll spread my joy both far and wide
As a force of nature, I’ll be undenied.

Words like, “how can I help?” will bloom in the street.
A new girl alone on the playground – let’s meet, let’s meet!
We can jump-skip together in a double-dutch round.
Over, under, jump and wonder, touch the ground.

Friends can be found when you open a door.
Side by side, let’s walk through, there’s a world to explore.
We’ll hike through a forest of towering trees.
Find a stream we can follow while we bask in the breeze.

Pull off our shoes and socks, dip our toes in the icy spring water
When you’re with friends, there’s no have to or oughter.
What could we make with leaves and litter
Let’s find pine needles, turn into vine knitters.

We’ll lie on our backs and find shapes in the sky.
We giggle together: See the bird! Now we fly!
Inspired by nature, our imaginations soar.
Follow that humpback! Here, take an oar.

Ahh! Here comes a wave – let’s hold on tight,
splashing and laughing, let’s play until night!
When the Milky Way sparkles, and the moon’s overhead,
we make a pretend campfire and tell stories we’ve read.

Some stories are true and some myths of our time.
I love all of them, but my favorite ones rhyme!
With windows to see other lives, other places
We’ll find and treasure a rainbow of faces.

When you open your heart to a new friend
kindness for another kindles and ascends!

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

The Progressive Poem is here! #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day! What poem are you carrying around today? I’ve got Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s “Every Day Birds” burning a hole in my pocket these days. You can see a sweet video of the poem made by students Amy worked with here.

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years’ poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and adventure.

I get to take the wheel today with white knuckles, choosing a line from two gifted to me by Catherine Flynn. I’ve also got the tricky job of providing Michelle Kogan with opening line options for the ending of what has become a most delightful of poems. I can not wait to share this with my remote Kindergarten poets!

The last stanza, with rhyming couplets, is currently…

Some stories are true and some myths of our time.
I love all of them, but my favorite ones rhyme!
With windows to see other lives, other places

Catherine gifted me with…

We’ll find and treasure a rainbow of faces.

OR

We’ll listen to voices each culture embraces

As a Kindergarten teacher, there was just something about “a rainbow of faces” that spoke to me, Catherine.

So here’s where things stand.

I’m a case of kindness – come and catch me if you can!
Easily contagious – sharing smiles is my plan.
I’ll spread my joy both far and wide
As a force of nature, I’ll be undenied.

Words like, “how can I help?” will bloom in the street.
A new girl alone on the playground – let’s meet, let’s meet!
We can jump-skip together in a double-dutch round.
Over, under, jump and wonder, touch the ground.

Friends can be found when you open a door.
Side by side, let’s walk through, there’s a world to explore.
We’ll hike through a forest of towering trees.
Find a stream we can follow while we bask in the breeze.

Pull off our shoes and socks, dip our toes in the icy spring water
When you’re with friends, there’s no have to or oughter.
What could we make with leaves and litter
Let’s find pine needles, turn into vine knitters.

We’ll lie on our backs and find shapes in the sky.
We giggle together: See the bird! Now we fly!
Inspired by nature, our imaginations soar.
Follow that humpback! Here, take an oar.

Ahh! Here comes a wave – let’s hold on tight,
splashing and laughing, let’s play until night!
When the Milky Way sparkles, and the moon’s overhead,
we make a pretend campfire and tell stories we’ve read.

Some stories are true and some myths of our time.
I love all of them, but my favorite ones rhyme!
With windows to see other lives, other places
We’ll find and treasure a rainbow of faces.

OK…There haven’t been too many surprises thus far, but I do love a good surprise! So… (cue the drumroll, please!)

I have decided to gift Michelle not two, but FOUR possible lines. Poem endings are very tricky indeed, so options are a beautiful thing. Friendship-themed and tied up with a big bow for you, Michelle are…

Adventures galore are ahead down the road

OR

A new friend may be waiting just ’round the bend

OR

New friends and adventures are very close by

OR

When you open your heart to a new friend

Time to work your closing magic, Michelle! And, let’s be honest. I can’t be the only one hoping at some point there might be a Michelle Kogan original painting to accompany our lovely poem. Just putting it out into the universe!

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

clear spring notes ring out #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #28: clear spring notes ring out (haiku-ish)

— Mrs. Wyman and friend, 2021 (draft)

A peek at my process — Today a young remote Kindergarten poet and I collaborate together. We are getting to know our neighborhood birds and many of us hear the lovely notes of the song sparrow from dawn to dusk. We, again, wanted to included an interesting fact. In this case, it’s where song sparrows are most comfortable — bushes that are low to the ground or brush piles. It bothered my young collaborator that we hadn’t met the 7-syllable count in the second line. After we pushed and pulled and tweaked, we decided to leave it as is. I explained that many poets would do the same if they were happy with the word choice.

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Catherine Flynn takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Rebecca Newman. You may read her lines on her blog, Reading to. the Core. I’ve got the tricky job of providing opening line options for the closing stanza tomorrow. Yikes! Here’s where the poem stands today and the itinerary. I hope you’ll join us to see what happens!

I’m a case of kindness – come and catch me if you can!
Easily contagious – sharing smiles is my plan.
I’ll spread my joy both far and wide
As a force of nature, I’ll be undenied.

Words like, “how can I help?” will bloom in the street.
A new girl alone on the playground – let’s meet, let’s meet!
We can jump-skip together in a double-dutch round.
Over, under, jump and wonder, touch the ground.

Friends can be found when you open a door.
Side by side, let’s walk through, there’s a world to explore.
We’ll hike through a forest of towering trees.
Find a stream we can follow while we bask in the breeze.

Pull off our shoes and socks, dip our toes in the icy spring water
When you’re with friends, there’s no have to or oughter.
What could we make with leaves and litter
Let’s find pine needles, turn into vine knitters.

We’ll lie on our backs and find shapes in the sky.
We giggle together: See the bird! Now we fly!
Inspired by nature, our imaginations soar.
Follow that humpback! Here, take an oar.

Ahh! Here comes a wave – let’s hold on tight,
splashing and laughing, let’s play until night!
When the Milky Way sparkles, and the moon’s overhead,
we make a pretend campfire and tell stories we’ve read.

Some stories are true and some myths of our time.
I love all of them, but my favorite ones rhyme!
With windows to see other lives, other places…

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

welcome new hatchling #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #27: welcome new hatchling (haiku)

A peek at my process — I collaborate with my remote Kindergarteners again today. One of my students discovered a robin’s nest during our week-long BioBlitz — home edition — two weeks ago. She’s keeping an eye on it from a safe distance and is anxiously awaiting an appearance of new life. In the meantime, we are learning about robins together in class. Our conversations lead to this collaborative haiku. We know that “poems are teachers,” to quote Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s wonderful homonymous book, so we included vocabulary and facts we’ve learned.

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Rebecca Newman takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Tim Gels. You may read her lines on her blog. I’m excited (stressed actually) that I chose the 29th and penultimate line and to provide options for the closer on Thursday, April 29th. (Seriously…what was I thinking!) I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

Ravens #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #26: Ravens (free verse)

Ravens

Like jets flying
overhead
express
no detours
no layovers
back and forth they go
again and again
early-morning sorties
nest to nest
thieves
looters
parents
caring for their young
with precious cargo.

— Christie Wyman, 2021 (draft)

A peek at my process — During Sunday’s early-morning bird walk, we witnessed ravens flying back and forth from multiple nests to a nearby mobile chicken coop. We stood half horrified, half in awe as they stole one fresh egg from the coop at a time, flew it back to their nestlings, and then repeated their short journey again and again. Through binoculars, I could see the egg nestled in their beaks. Astounding.

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. My writing buddy Tim Gels takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to him by Shari Daniels. You may read his lines (wonderful, BTW) on his blog, Yet There Is Method. I’m excited (stressed actually) to choose the 29th and penultimate line and to provide options for the closer on Thursday, April 29th. (Seriously…what was I thinking!) I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

Early #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #25: Early (free verse)

Early

I woke
early
and left

before the sun
fully rose
and the rain
began to fall

binoculars
Sibley’s
notebook and pen
all at the ready

hoping
wishing
dreaming
imagining

of all
to be seen
heard
spied upon
interrupted
marveled at

but you slept in.

— Christie Wyman, 2021 (draft)

A peek at my process — I went for a bird walk early this morning with a local land conservation group. The weather was not ideal, but we gave it a go anyway. It’s the first walk we’ve been able to have since the fall of 2019, so I’m adding that to the win column. I intentionally left the ending slightly ambiguous as to whether the birds slept in or my husband did.

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Shari Daniels takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Tabatha Yeatts. You may read her lines on her blog, Islands of My Soul. I’m excited (stressed actually) to choose the 29th and penultimate line and to provide options for the closer on Thursday, April 29th. (Seriously…what was I thinking!) I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

hummingbirds reverse #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #24: hummingbirds reverse (haiku)

A peek at my process — Digging into the archives today, so a few end-of-vacation projects get done. This haiku was written as part of a challenge to find inspiration in an interesting animal fact. Hummingbirds, which are due into my area hopefully next weekend, are fascinating creatures. They can, in fact, fly forwards and backwards! I was reminded of this particular haiku and challenge while listening to yesterday’s episode of Science Friday. Ira Flatow interviewed natural history writer/photographer Jon Dunn about his new book, The Glitter In the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds, and the impact of climate change on the rufous hummingbird. Did you know when they sip nectar their tongues unfurl? Wild! You can listen to the episode here.

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Tabatha Yeatts takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Janice Scully on Poetry Friday. You may read her lines on her blog, The Opposite of Indifference. I’m excited (stressed actually) to choose the 29th and penultimate line and to provide options for the closer on Thursday, April 29th. (Seriously…what was I thinking!) I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

nonet and poetic debut #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem #Poetry Friday

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

It’s Poetry Friday and Catherine Flynn is hosting this fourth roundup of National Poetry Month on her blog, Reading to the Core. Catherine’s NPM project has been enlightening for me. She’s been reading Kathryn Aalto’s fascinating Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World and writing poems inspired by the women featured in the book. I’ve not only been reading along with Catherine, but enjoying her exploration of various poetic forms. Catherine’s a great teacher! I hope you will stop by her site to read her poems, and offer one up yourself! Thanks for hosting, Catherine!

NPM Day #23: Swoosh of Color (nonet)

A peek at my process — When you step into my classroom or into my yard, it’s pretty obvious that I am a bird nerd. I am often asked why it is that I love birds so much. Let me count the ways! My nonet (my first and very rough attempt) lists just a few.

Poetry Bonus: At the end of five days of BioBlitzing last week, I asked my remote Kindergarten students to revisit their week of observations and wonders through artwork, a video reflection, a story, or a poem. One student, Lydia, chose to write a poem. Yeah her! She diligently BioBlitzed her chosen patch at home day after day all week, recording seasonal changes. It was a roller coaster ride of New England spring weather — warm and sunny, cold and rainy, and ending with a grand finale of snow. Lydia took full advantage of the irony to end her poem.

Buds Grow
Leaves come
Crabapples grow.
Moss is on trees.
Now I see snow.

By Lydia (Age 6)

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Janice Scully takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Ruth Hersey. You may read her lines on her blog, Salt City Verse. I’m excited to provide the 29th and penultimate line on Thursday, April 29th. I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

Earth Day #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #22: Earth Day (blackout poem)

Earth Day
Birds on the brink
It’s not too late
Preserve wetlands
So the song never disappears
Grasslands
Shrublands
Bogs
Forest
The skies
Bring birds back!

A peek at my process — Blackout poetry can be tricky. It boils down to starting with a good text, so you have lots of gems to mine for. On this Earth Day, I knew my poem had to address the peril our feathered friends face from climate change and habitat destruction. The text I used is the transcript from today’s BirdNote podcast, the first I listen to each and every day of the year.

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Ruth takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Leigh Anne Eck. You may read her lines on her blog, There is no such thing as a God-forsaken Town. I’m excited to provide the 29th and penultimate line on Thursday, April 29th. I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All

Have you seen black-capped chickadee? #AvianAllusions #NPM #NaPoWriMo #NationalPoetryMonth #ProgressivePoem

Each day during April, I will write a poem-ish piece inspired by the avian world. I have left my challenge open so that the poems may take any form — haiku, free verse, borrowed line, blackout — and who knows which direction they will go in.

Day #21 Have You Seen Black-capped Chickadee? (ovillejo)

A peek at my process — Dipping into the archives today as things are a little busy on the homefront. I was reminded of this ovillejo (my one and only) as I was shooing the neighbors cat away from from my feeder station, as I do from sun up to sun down. This was fun to write during an ekphrastic challenge a few years ago, but it’s a painful reminder of what terrors cats can be to songbirds. Please keep your house cats indoors, folks. Thank you!

And now for…

Participants in the Poetry Friday community have launched the 9th annual Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem originally organized by author/poet, Irene Latham. Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche took over last year as the organizer. This years poem is a lovely blend of kindness, friendship, and nature. Leigh Anne Eck takes over today, choosing a line from two gifted to her by Robyn Hood Black. You may read her lines on her blog, A Day in the Life. I’m excited to provide the 29th and penultimate line on Thursday, April 29th. I hope you’ll join us to see what happens! Here’s the itinerary for the poem.

2021 Progressive Poem Itinerary:

1 Kat Apel at katswhiskers
2 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise
3 Mary Lee at A Year of Reading
4 Donna Smith at Mainly Write
5 Irene Latham at Live your Poem
6 Jan Godown Annino at BookseedStudio
7 Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities
8 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care
9 Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche
10 Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort Zone
11 Buffy Silverman
12 Janet Fagel at Reflections on the Teche
13 Jone Rush MacCulloch
14 Susan Bruck at Soul Blossom Living
15 Wendy Taleo at Tales in eLearning
16 Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe
17 Tricia Stohr Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect
18 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance
19 Carol Varsalona at Beyond Literacy Link
20 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge
21 Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life
22 Ruth Hersey at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town
23 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse
24 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference
25 Shari Daniels at Islands of my Soul
26 Tim Gels at Yet There is Method at https://timgels.com
27 Rebecca Newman
28 Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core
29 Christie Wyman at Wondering and Wondering
30 Michelle Kogan at More Art 4 All