In Residence: Take a Hike!

It's Memorial Day weekend, fellow writers.

Let's take poet Mary Oliver's advice and remind ourselves:

"how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields"

From "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver

Julia is leading us on a stroll
to Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.

But before we head out the door for a holiday weekend hike, the Northfield third grade wants to whet your appetite for streams and wildlife with their nature-themed opposite poems.

Listen to the sounds we hear around us.

Loud Things Are Beautiful
by Laura J.

Loud things are beautiful:
the loud crash of thunder,
the roaring of waves
and the pounding of rain,
the rushing of water,
and the loud, roaring cry
of a lion in pain.

Quiet things are beautiful:
the quiet trickle of water,
the flutter of willows,
and the lapping of a bay,
the snores of a donkey
and the gentle showers
in the middle of May.

Remember to check the weather before you head out on your hike, and pack your sunblock or your rain poncho.

Stormy, Sunny
by Rachel Y.

Sunny weather is pleasant:
Colorful rainbows and the sun,
bright blue skies.
Yes! No clouds.

And stormy weather is harsh:
Dark nimbus clouds,
whirling tornadoes,
streaming floods,
loud thunder and bright lightning.

Sometimes being quiet on a hike allows you to see nature in action.

Land and Sea
by Ariana G.

The land is ready to be explored.
The horse is galloping down the field.
The cheetah is napping.
The cat is stalking.
The grass is waving.

And hte sea is ready to be explored.
The dolphin is playing.
The waves are rolling.
The seaweed is drifting.
The sea turtle looks like it's flying
through the water.

If you're camping, be sure to pack plenty of water. And if you build a fire, watch it carefully or it might turn into a dragon.

Water and Fire
by Meena K.

Water is an incredible thing:
fish swimming in a pond,
beavers building dens in a river,
sharks in an ocean.

And fire is incredible too:
two sticks rubbed together,
two rocks rub rub,
dragon breathing fire out
into the air.

All poems posted with permission of the authors.

Thanks, Northfielders, for leading us on this hike through our imaginations. If you'd like take a real poetry hike with your children, check out this book -- written by students:

Find out more at Scholastic.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Next up: Northfield food poems.

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.