Barbara at Briarcat (check it out....she plays with words) wrote a five minute poem to a prompt she found out there somewhere. I loved it, and decided to write my own. I couldn't do it in five minutes, but did do it in twenty.
To clue you in, an atomic blast is when you pound the face of your fist with another person and then pull away fast while opening your hand. Oh yeah.
When you teach, some students make your day, your month, your year. You know who they are...I wish I could post a picture of this girl "flying" across my classroom. She is a gem.
When I read the poem, it hit me that not one student asked why running round rose bushes is unwise. Hmmm...thorny issue?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Day in April
During a discussion
of alliteration,
assonance,
and consonance,
I write on the board.
Rhea realizes
running around
rose bushes
is ridiculous.
Rhea says, “I
can’t say that word.”
“Which word?”
She points
to ridiculous.
“Do you know what
the word means?”
Rhea nods
and smiles.
We practice shouting
syllables into the air
and we blend
ridiculous together.
We create a
call & response.
Later in the hall,
I see Rhea and say,
“A lingering spring
is ridiculous.”
Rhea’s eyes gleam,
“Ridiculous indeed.”
Atomic Blast!
And we're off!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Writer's Island for providing a place to post every day this month, and always on Saturdays.
8 comments:
Incredible sweetness in this piece. And satisfaction ... and pride! Mission accomplished!
A delightful read. It was worth every one of those twenty minutes. It's so vivid. I can see everything you describe. Thanks for sharing; we need more teacher stories like this one. You started my day on the right note.
Now that's what I call teaching!
Pen and ink, a time to think and poets can fly!
Such a rewarding career!
An absolutely heartwarming piece, Brenda, how proud you must be. I agree with Mr. Walker.
As for the backstory, I can relate to that feeling of some students making your day.
Pamela
I remember such moments from when I was in the classroom, and they were the ones that made it all worth it! I loved this!!! Twenty minutes well spent! :)
This is a lovely poem. Sweet is just right to describe it, but in the best sense of the word.
Brenda, I wish my daughter had gone to your school. And thanks for the "atomic blast" explanation; I love learning about what the kids are saying! Sweet poem, really. Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/prelude-to-a-poem/
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