Early spring showers have turned the landscape green with dots of pinks, yellows, and lavenders. My corner of the world is alive with flowers, and I am immersing myself in their glory and hopefulness. This year more than any other I need flowers and the promise of spring. I need something to celebrate. I am in search for beauty.
Category: Kindness
April Poem #28: When I’m by Myself
I enjoy the childlike qualities of poetry. Playing with rhythm and rhyme often spark the imagination. With this poem, I did have to ponder deep questions, I could just play with the language and imagery. It was fun to do, and poetry most definitely should be fun. Once I wrote the first stanza, I felt it wasn’t quite complete, so I decided to reverse it and make a second stanza. When I’m by myself, I write poetry and make myself happy.
April Poem #26: Woven Words
Many years ago, I came upon teaching annotation through the Annotated Charlotte's Web. Today, I took an old, worn copy of Charlotte's Web and found this poem lying within. Thank you, E.B. White, Wilbur, and Charlotte!
April Poem #25: Everything has a Purpose
Linda’s prompt involved writing a poem using the scientific method for inspiration: make an observation, ask a question, form a hypothesis, make a prediction, test a prediction, use the results to form another hypothesis. Easy-peasy, right? Well, no. This prompt took some thinking and some reading of sample poems.
April Poem #21: April Remembers
© Joanne L. Emery, 2022
April Poem #20: Something’s Burning
My inspiration for “Something's Burning” came from Verse-Love, Ethical ELA, which was created by Sarah J. Donovan. Today’s prompt was from Tammy Breitwiester, who is a literacy coach in Wisconsin. She suggested to take inspiration from Naomi Shihab Nye's poem Burning the Old Year. After reading the poem, what stuck most in my head were … Continue reading April Poem #20: Something’s Burning
April Poem #19: How to be a Sand Dollar
On that visit, I made the acquaintance of a purse of sand dollars. I had never seen them as living creatures enjoying a day in the ocean surf.
April Poem #18: Poetry is a Way
I have been writing poetry since I was a child, and I am a firm believer that poetry is a great catalyst for self-discovery. It is my go-to emotional support object. I rely on poetry to gain insight and to solve problems. Poetry has never failed me. It is a steadfast friend.
April Poem #13: Memory of Spring
Observing the small birds like the juncos, chickadees, and sparrows, I wonder at their tenacity. Such small and fragile things, yet they weather winter snows, spring rainstorms, summer heat, and fierce fall winds. Where do they find their strength?
April Poem #12: Good News & Brighter Days
I am in the need of good news. I am thirsty for happy possibility. To keep myself afloat, I have made a conscious effort to turn towards hope.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 