Are you a fan of Frozen, or are you ready to Let It Go?
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| This is how one classroom teacher coped (or didn't) with Frozen-crazy students. |
But first...
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| Happy Host Day to talented super-poet Irene Latham! All of the Poetry Friday links are up Irene's blog, Live Your Poem. |
With suggestions from my editor, I wrote a lot of new material for my novel this fall. I tend to overwrite when I'm drafting. Testing out new poems helps me feel my way through the characters and plot. Then I put the draft aside for awhile and see which poems have staying power. Some will need revision. Others will be cut.
Before I head back into the revision cave -- my deadline's not In Summer, after all -- I'd like to share one of the new poems for Poetry Friday. This parody of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" won't make it into the published novel, but I think your writing students will like it. Especially when they're feeling frustrated.
I Don’t Want to Write a Sonnet
I
don’t want to write a sonnet.
Sometimes
I’ve got nothing to say.
I
can never think of words that rhyme.
It
takes too much time
writing
every day.
Counting
syllables is awkward,
too
much like math,
It
makes me want to cry.
I
don’t want to write a sonnet.
Does
it have to be a sonnet?
Tell
me why.
I
don’t want to write a sonnet,
a
limerick, or triolet.
A
writing break sounds really great.
Why
don’t we pick a date?
How
about today?
It
gets a little tiring
sticking
to rhyme schemes
when
my thoughts would rather fly.
You
say I have it in me
and
it’s only fourteen lines.
You
say this is a sloppy draft
and
I’ll have time to craft
when
we all revise.
We
only have ten minutes
of
writing time.
What
am I going to do?
I
don’t want to write a sonnet.
Here is a great cover of the original song from Frozen.
Why cut this piece? Not because I have a Frozen Heart. I think I wrote it for myself, rather than for one of my characters. The speaker feels a little too generic for THE LAST FIFTH GRADE, which is told in the 18 voices of one fifth grade class. I had a great time writing this parody, though. I was totally venting some revision frustration.
Speaking of writing, February is coming up. That means the annual Author Amok Poetry Project is almost here. Thanks so much for all of you who suggested sounds we can use for writing prompts. When I need a break from novel revisions, I'm going to get our list of 28 sounds together. For the First Time in Forever, I can't wait to start writing!
And remember, it doesn't have to be a sonnet.
Yay for your noisy new project! Your FROZEN parody makes me smile... who knew how crazy kids would be for those songs?? CANNOT WAIT to meet those 18 voices in your book. Wishing you clarity as you revise... so exciting!!! xo
ReplyDeleteWow, you really nailed that song in your poem! I'm going to send it to my daughters. (Also impressed by the way you incorporated the other song titles into your post!)
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the "revision cave" -- great description!
Thanks, Irene. Clarity should be my one word of the year!
ReplyDeleteTabatha -- I hope your daughters enjoy the poem. Good for you for spotting the song titles.
Laura, children are not the only Frozen fans. I am also and even watched the film in 3 D so while reading your poem, I put it to music in my head. The voice in the poem is charming and so typical of a child. Why? Why? Why? I am working with 4th grade teachers on the NYS module on poetry so this poem will fit in quit well. Thank you for this gift and for bringing to light your views on revision. I am exploring that also in my rough draft poem on winter whisperings today.
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I can't wait to show my kids. I'm sure we'll be singing it.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I'm so pleased that you can share the poem with teachers.
ReplyDeleteLiz -- let me know what your kiddos think.
Oh my goodness, so fun! Our students wrote a "So you want to build a playground" parody, since our parents helped assemble our new playground this summer. Delightful!
ReplyDeleteIf they don't want to write poetry, just tell them...
ReplyDelete"Think of Poe, think of Poe,
Whitman, Plath, or Thomas Moore!
Think of Poe - filled with woe -
when the Raven quoth, “nevermore!”
I don't care
what the scholars say…
you’re allowed to use free verse!
Meter never bothered me, anyway."
Matt -- That's a fitting poem! Monday is Poe's birthday. There are Poe celebrations and events all around Baltimore this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI know, I wish I could be there in my old hometown...hopefully some day soon!
ReplyDeleteI know, I wish I could be there in my old hometown...hopefully some day soon!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Looking forward to reading your book.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for your book! It will be perfect for my 5th grade classroom!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I am proud to say that I am the only person on earth who hasn't seen the movie FROZEN and so I totally don't get your parody! Based on the comments of others, though -- good job!
Fantastic, Laura! I will share this with my own "Anna" and "Elsa" (my girls had sister costumes for Halloween this year). =)
ReplyDeleteMaybe it doesn't fit in your book, but you certainly nailed the parody, Laura! Wishing you productive revision time.
ReplyDeleteMy 13 year old girl has a unit on poetry these past few weeks - thankfully, they're still in haiku - not sonnets yet. I will let her read this sonnet as soon as they get to this in the next few days. Frozen has truly captured the youth's sensibilities, I think.
ReplyDelete