My inspiration for “My Garden of Eden” comes from Verse-Love, Ethical ELA, which was created by Sarah J. Donovan. Today’s prompt was from Jessica Shernburn, a high school English teach who lives in Chicago, Illinois. Jessica suggested that we look at text annotations for inspiration. Could there be beauty and poetry in annotations?
I fell in love with annotation when I taught Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I poured over its book of annotations – like secrets held only for me. I loved sharing tidbits I had learned with my students, and they began seeing annotation as a treasure hunt. Annotation is, indeed, the key to reading deeply and mindfully.
I am currently reading, French Dirt by Richard Goodman and I have been marveling at his turn of phrase, the words he chooses to describe his year as a gardener in France – how he wrangles and wrestles the earth to create something beautiful. I have re-arranged some of his words that I had underlined, wanting to hold them in my mind and heart.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 
This is so amazing! It literally weeds away at the story and a bounty of beautiful words and phrases emerge to be appreciated and devoured. The act of looking closely and hand picking the parts that resonate personalizes our world and represents that instead of thinking of ideas as original thoughts, writers share a collective understanding and renew and bring light to our human experience again and again. Marvelous, Jo!!
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This is so amazing! It literally weeds away at the story and a bounty of beautiful words and phrases emerge to be appreciated and more deeply felt. Instead of thinking that ideas are original, writers share a collective understanding and renew and bring light to our human experience again and again. The garden is a beautiful metaphor. Marvelous, Jo!!
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Your poem sure shows that there’s beauty and poetry in annotations. It takes an eye and heart to make a fresh poem out of collected words.
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Dirty, sweaty, and tired …a gardener of plants and young humans! 😀
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Gorgeous poem, and gorgeous idea! I loved reading this.
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Looking forward to tomato plants soon. Our growing season is definitely later than yours. It’s one of my favorite summer traditions. I plant cherry tomatoes in containers beside the driveway and inhale summer each time I pass by.
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Love your found poem and the words you chose to express your own happiness in gardening.
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