THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY

THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY
April 12, 2016

Friday, December 2, 2011

Poetry Friday: Nature Photos

My daughter has been taking our point and shoot camera to the back yard. It's not a huge yard, so I'm amazed at what she finds and photographs there.

This week, I'm sharing a few of her shots. I am working on a tanka in response to one of the photos.

If you're inspired to do so, write a short poem in response to one of these pictures. Or make it an assignment for your class.


Sage Tanka
by Laura Shovan


"Go pick soup greens!"
My daughter brings me handfuls,
Foggy sage leaves.
I wash, chop, do not see
At the center, two cupped hands.

I love the tanka form. The two lines beyond a haiku allow tanka poems to make an interesting turn. Here is my tanka lesson (and a frame sheet to help with writing).

For more information on tanka, visit the Academy of American Poets.


Here are two more of Miss J's nature shots for you to enjoy, or write to:



If you're trying this exercise with younger students, check out the book Haiku Hike (Scholastic). It's exactly what it sounds like -- written by kids, a great combination of outdoor exploration and poetic response.



Thanks to Carol at Carol's Corner for hosting Poetry Friday this week.

5 comments:

Tabatha said...

Beautiful photos! OK, it's early, but here's my sage poem:

Sun-warmed,
guarded
by their cushiony elders,
the babies are free to grow,
cradling each other.

Author Amok said...

Hi, Tabatha. Thank you so much for the poem. "Cushiony" is a spot-on word for those fuzzy sage leaves.

Linda B said...

The photos are beautiful. Your daughter has quite a good eye. I was inspired to write immediately!

On Raspberries
It tooted its horn,
brightest raspberry of all,
just to be admired.
Others simply sat below
patiently waiting their turn.

Author Amok said...

Linda -- I love it! The kid is reading over my shoulder right now and says, "It's a nice poem." I noticed that your tanka also has a turn in the last two lines.

Mary Lee said...

Lovely photos, Daughter! Gingkoes are my favoritefavorite trees.

I like the idea of a Haiku Hike! I may check the book out, and I may just make of it what I want!