Poetry Wednesday

My Small One came home so excited about her homework yesterday.
And people, I have to tell you, this is not a child who gets "excited" about homework.
She’s a bit of an eye roller sometimes.
OK, often.

But yesterday?
Yesterday she was asked to use half of her spelling words in a poem.
"It’s like a puzzle," she declared, and got to work.

And you guys? 
THIS is what she wrote.
I know I’m her mom and totally and completely biased, but seriously.
It’s pretty sweet.
Don’t you think?

When at the park you might start to stare
at an open plot with open air.
The longer you stare into the night
the more you think you’re wanting light.
And then right then before your eyes
a little tiny insect flies.
Not just one, about fifteen!
A very glorious wonder seen.
But the quick odd fellows ended the show.
Now they’re black insects on the go.
You pull your coat over your head
and squeeze back home ready for bed.
In a second you’re on Viking Lane
with thoughts of fireflies on your brain.

 — WKS, 2/2010

52 Responses to “Poetry Wednesday”

  1. lisa_schroeder

    Ahhhh… I LOVE it!! What a wonderful, beautiful poem! Her rhythm and meter are incredible. Obviously, you read a lot to this child!!! 🙂

    • liz_scanlon

      These days she reads almost as much to me!!!

      Oh, and by the way, Lisa — your cupcake book showed up at our school book fair this week!!! We were so excited to see it and we will be bringing it home…

  2. kellyrfineman

    Be sure to keep a copy for her, whether she says she wants you to or not.

    Nine years old, and she intuitively understands rhyme and meter. The Force is strong with this one.

  3. saralholmes

    The longer you stare into the night/the more you think you’re wanting light

    …light which is poetry from Small One. *applauding gently so as not to scare off the fireflies now on my brain*

    Her initials there below the poem make me a little goose-bumpy.

  4. marjorielight

    Nope, it isn’t just you mom…she’s brilliant!

    That is a solidly written poem with some fantastic imagery. Please tell her how impressed we all are!

    (Just curious – what were the words she had to use? Those constraints make it that much more impressive!)

      • marjorielight

        Please pass my thanks on to the author for sharing part of her creative process with me. Also, please tell your daughter I teach 7th grade students and am going to try this with my students! She has started a trend. Thanks for the inspiration –
        🙂

  5. Anonymous

    Tanita Says 🙂

    1.) Kudos to poet, who was inspired. And fireflies? Always awesome.
    2.) Kudos to the teacher, who figured out a way past the eye-rolls, and lit the match to set the poet on fire.

    That’s so much fun.

  6. Anonymous

    annettesimon said…

    ‘Not just one, about fifteen!’ Rounds of applause, that is….

  7. Anonymous

    Go, Small One! That is some talent right there. Beautiful!! I don’t use excessive exclamation marks a lot, but just…wow!

    Jules
    7-Imp