Happy Poetry Friday! I'm a little late to the party, but my sweet friend Carol Varsalona invited me to post. She is hosting this weekend at her space HERE. She's got some amazing post card offerings! Today, I'm sharing a haiku that I wrote on New Year's Eve. I am in a professional transition right now, so the idea of detouring onto a different course has been on my mind. I love the idea of thinking of a detour with excitement and adventure awaiting. I hope that whatever points are on your arc this year continue to guide you, but may you also embrace the chance of detour. You never know where it might lead you! Invitation to Write: Think about your arc for the new year. What are your guiding points? How will connect each one? Don't be afraid to detour. If you should, how will you embrace the new course? Happy writing! xx
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Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome to the ridge! I am excited to be hosting the round up this week. Thanks for visiting, and be sure to leave your link for others to enjoy!
This week, I would like to share a few poems by one of my favorite poets, Paul Laurence Dunbar. He is known for his dialectic poetry collections, novels, essays, short stories, and other poems. If you would like to learn more about his life and accomplishments, HERE is a link to an article with more information. The two poems I would like to share are "Sympathy" and "We Wear the Mask." Enjoy! Sympathy BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR I know what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-- I know what the caged bird feels! I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting-- I know why he beats his wing! I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,-- When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings-- I know why the caged bird sings! Paul Laurence. Dunbar, "“Sympathy.”" from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, ) Source: Twentieth-Century American Poetry (2004) We Wear the Mask BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,-- This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask! Paul Laurence. Dunbar, "“We Wear the Mask.”" from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, ) Invitation to Write:
A poet's words can often sustain us and change us all at once. With each word and line, our own emotions are unmasked. When we truly connect with a poem, it becomes a part of us. In this way, our favorite poems can be windows to our souls. Take some time to reread your favorite poems. Keep them close to you throughout the day. Memorize a line or the whole poem if you can. What do you value about these poems? How do the words of your favorite poems change you and sustain you?
Happy Poetry Friday! I am excited to be back in the roundup this week. Thanks for visiting the ridge. You can find lots more of the poetry fun happening at Sally's space HERE!
From now on, I choose brave. It was the one word destined to be my focus for the new year. It kept bubbling up in poems and books that I had been reading. Many of my friends and colleagues even started calling me brave. It's interesting because I never would have described myself as brave. I would call myself a risk-taker. I often seek out opportunities to stretch beyond my comfort level. But to me, being brave goes even deeper than that. The dictionary defines brave as: ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage
By that definition, I realize I really am brave. I have had to show courage, and I have had to endure many emotional hardships this past year. But somehow, I found my voice. I found my brave. It comes from a deep urge inside of me to speak, to share, to witness, and to question. I am better for it. I will always choose brave.
Now is the time to be brave for ourselves, for each other, for our world. We must be brave together. As I gaze up at the full January Wolf moon, I am reminded of the courage that it takes to be truly brave. Listen to my poem:Invitation to Write-
What is your brave? How would you define it? What does it look like, feel like, sound like? Brave heart, write! You have a courageous story to tell.
Happy Poetry Friday! Kat is hosting this week at her space HERE. Be sure to visit for more poetic creations!
It makes my heart glad to be back in the round-up this week. I am grateful to this community of writers who are always inviting others into the group and graciously welcoming them back. I am ready to regain my writing life and begin again! This week, I'm doing just that by going back to my roots and the art of noticing. Taking time to simply notice and reflect is so essential. Noticing is an act of inward contemplation. We take in what we observe with our senses, and let it out as we perceived it. The images and scenes we describe can come to life with our words. The art of noticing is powerful. The world is our canvas, and we are artists with our words. Listen to my poem:
Invitation to Write:
Try sketching a scene with your words. What do you notice or observe around you? Tune into your senses and let your words paint the picture. You can set the mood and tone to make your image come alive.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks so much for visiting the ridge. Be sure to head over to Dani's space HERE! You are sure to find poetry delights waiting for you!
When I think about endurance, I think of a long distance runner. I picture the runner forging forward and getting stronger with each mile. There is pain. There is exhaustion. And despite all this, the runner surges forward. The runner knows something about what lies ahead. That's why the runner pushes past the pain and past the exhaustion. The runner knows that through endurance, there is triumph. The runner knows something else, too. At the end of the run, there is fulfillment in the journey. Picturing the endurance of the runner, gives me hope. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of the runner. I think of the courage and strength it takes to keep going. There must be many times the runner feels like stopping, but the runner understands what it means to endure. It's not easy, but it's necessary. I remind myself of this daily. I must endure to succeed. This poem is a reflection of what endurance means to me. It takes courage and strength to reach the finish line. When we do, we realize the true test was not the race but rather our endurance to push through our doubt along the way. The result, no matter what it is, changes us in unmistakable ways. In the end, we are better equipped to endure the next race. Listen to my Poem-Invitation to Write:
No matter what race you endure, remember that there is courage and strength with each step you take. Writing about times or situations that have tested your endurance can help you reflect and move forward. Take some time to jot down what endurance means to you. How have the things you've endured changed you or grown you?
Happy Poetry Friday! I'm excited to be back in the round up this week. Thank you to my sweet friend, Carol for the invitation to join in the fun this week! She's hosting for us at her space at Beyond LiteracyLink. Today, my heart sings. For the past couple of days, I have had a young Purple Martin swallow circling the skies above my yard singing the most beautiful notes I have ever heard. He sings and churtles, hoping to make a friend. His heart song is love. It comes from deep within, as it does from all of us. He shares his song with an open heart for all the world to hear. My hope is that we all continue singing our heart song to share the love within. When we do, we spread the pure joy that lives inside of us. Heart Song gladness fills the soul sing of love and hope once more a heart song of joy Invitation to Write:Our heart speaks to us. Sometimes it's a whisper, and sometimes it's loud and clear! Think about the song of your heart. What does it say to you? Perhaps you can hear it's refrain. Listen closely. Describe what you hear. Have fun writing a heart song poem of your own!
Happy Poetry Friday! Thank you for visiting the ridge. Be sure to stop by Karen's space HERE for more of the round up! As I continue to embrace the power of hope, I also remind myself of my dreams and vision for the future. It's important for me to lean into these thoughts and reflections. I invite you to think about your hopes and aspirations as well. Wherever they may lead, dreams and hopes are always a path worth following. Invitation to Write:Dreams and wishes make great incentives to write. What are some of the things you dream of? Find some time throughout the coming weeks to write about your dreams and hopes. Sometimes, the simple act of capturing them in words can help make them come true.
Happy Poetry Friday! It's great to be back in the round up this week. Thank you for visiting the ridge, and please stop by Carol's Corner for more of this week's collection of poetry!
Hope is a beautiful thing, especially when it has wings. It's just the kind of hope I needed after experiencing a difficult time. I remember feeling so lost and detached from a path I wanted to take very much. As humans, we have a yearning to belong, to feel a part of something bigger. We are driven to connect, and remembering connects us to our identity. When I lost sight of my goal and the realization that I might not achieve it, I returned to my memories of hope. It turns out, I had many of them waiting for me in my notebooks to remind me of hope. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
While this poem is about waiting with silent hope for my dear Purple Martin swallows to return to the skies, it's more about returning to myself. I needed to remember the things that are most important to me. I needed to find a new hope. And with this new hope, I have found delight in the peaceful way in which it has arrived.
How does remembering help you connect to your identity? Where do you find new hope?
Happy Poetry Friday, friends! It's a great week to celebrate poetry and friendship! Head over to Jone's space HERE for more poetry celebrations!
This week, I'm sharing a friendship poem about my very special friend, who happens to be a tree. Yes, that's right! Even trees can be friends! In fact, I have many tree friends on the ridge. I love to gaze up at them and walk beneath their sturdy branches. They are very wise and have many stories to tell. Trees are one of nature's friends that I connect with just like a friend. What objects do you consider friends? I invite you to think about the friends in your life. They might be a person, place, or thing. What makes these friends special? Consider your friendships. What makes those connections valuable and important to you? Try writing a friendship poem to one of your favorite friends! Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
People and pets are often thought of as friends, but objects can be friends, too! Sometimes, we can develop a very special feeling or connection to an object. This object can be a companion of sorts. We can spend lots of time with our special object and even talk to it! In this way, our object becomes well loved, like a dear friend. Think of objects that are special to you. Make a list and jot down reasons why you connect to the object. You're sure to find a friendship poem hiding inside your writing about your very special friend!
Happy Poetry Friday, friends! This week, Tabatha is hosting the roundup at her space, The Opposite of Indifference. You'll find many poetry delights waiting for you there!
This week, I will be wrapping up a month long blog series centered around reflection. I have learned so much about myself as a writer throughout this series and will continue to do so, but the thing that has bubbled up the most for me throughout this process, is that response drives reflection. Response is a powerful action. Our response to reflection can spark so many new thoughts and purposeful change. The same thing is true when someone responds to our reflections. Our words and thoughts are validated. They matter. We all need someone to share our reflections with. Our responsiveness to life and to each other is worth sharing. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
We each have a unique voice to be heard. What makes yours unique? What is it that others might miss out on if you did not share your voice? What are you passionate about sharing with others? Write something you care about, something you want to stir up a bit. If you do, I invite you to share your learning reflections with the #TeacherMyth followers on Twitter. This group is also thinking deeply about reflective practices and the power of response.
Hooray for Poetry Friday! Thank you so much for dropping by the ridge for a visit. Our friend Tara, is hosting this week at her space, Going to Walden.
I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on change these past couple of weeks. Change is an interesting topic to explore. I've become rather fascinated with the nature of change and our relation to it. I think there can definitely be some validity in the idea that the magnitude of change lies in the eye of the beholder. We all perceive and react to change differently. I have noticed this quite often with fellow colleagues in education. I think the important thing is to reflect on the change both individually and with others who face the same challenge. It's a process that demands our attention, reflection, and understanding. Sometimes we choose change, and sometimes it's chosen for us. It can be both easy and hard. And depending on the change and the implications, we can find ourselves feeling really any place on the spectrum. Whatever change we may face, reflection through talk and writing can help. It has certainly helped me understand the impact that change has in my life. Change often invites me to grow and stretch myself. That's one invitation, I'm always willing to accept. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
Careful reflection can often lead to meaningful change in our lives. If you have discovered helpful ways to use reflection to create powerful change, I invite you to share your learning reflections with the #TeacherMyth followers on Twitter. This group is also thinking deeply about reflective practices.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thank you for visiting the ridge. This week, Tricia is hosting the round-up at her space, The Miss Rumphius Effect. You can find more poetry offerings there!
As a writer, I try to live a wide-awake life. When I do, I notice how much it improves my life and my interactions with everything around me. There is something extraordinary that happens when the lens of attention begins to focus and sharpen. There is an immediate connection between myself and whatever I have stopped to acknowledge has come into my frame. And whatever it may be, it is worthy of my attention. It becomes the center of everything. Through this simple act of noticing, I learn something more about this life. "The dream of my life Is to lie down by a slow river And stare at the light in the trees- To learn something by being nothing A little while but the rich Lens of attention." -Mary Oliver from her poem, Entering the Kingdom Mary Oliver was a true master of the art of noticing. Her wise words will continually inspire me to live with a lens of attention. There is so much in this world to delight in. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
Noticing often leads to learning. We can learn so much about ourselves and others through the simple act of noticing. Try practicing the art of noticing to see what comes of it. Pay close attention to details and ask yourself questions to lead to reflection.
Where are spaces in your day that you are building a habit of writing and reflecting? What are you noticing and learning about yourself as a result? If you try out the art of noticing, I invite you to share your learning reflections with the #TeacherMyth followers on Twitter. This group is also thinking deeply about reflective practices and the power of noticing. There is so much to learn about ourselves and the world around us through a careful lens of attention ! Happy Poetry Friday! I am so grateful to be back with this amazing community of poets! I can't wait to read all the poetry offerings waiting to be unwrapped at Donna's space, Mainley Write, on this last Poetry Friday round-up of the year. It feels so wonderful to be writing for myself again. For some time, much of my writing has been the academic kind. Now that I have completed my master's degree program, I can give myself fully to my writing life. I can return to my pen and notebook. I may be a bit rusty, but I believe writing is the kind of thing that comes back to you with ease. Like a beloved song or some fond memory from childhood, it's always there. It always waits, and it always takes us back whenever we are ready to return. Invitation to Write:For me, nature is a sturdy workbench for my writing. I will make time and listen, to hear the words that it may speak.
Whatever your workbench may be, my hope is that you return to it again and again. It will be there, ready to help you accomplish the work of your heart. Happy Poetry Friday! I'm so glad you stopped by! For more of the poetry round-up, visit Tabatha at her space HERE. Last Friday, I had so much fun visiting all the writers in Mrs. Rodriguez's fourth grade dual language class. I had the opportunity to share my process and my published poem for the Poetry Friday roundup. It was an amazing experience to be with these young writers. Their questions were so insightful, and I learned so much from each of them. One student even offered me a seed poem idea. It was a wonderful invitation! I happily accepted his seed poem idea. The result is this haiku about the very interesting Red-eyed Tree Frog. I want to send a huge thank you to the students of Mrs. Rodriguez's class for welcoming me into their workshop with such enthusiasm for writing! Invitation to Write:For this seed poem idea, I did a little research on the Red-eyed Tree Frog. I didn't know much about this fascinating creature, so I had to do a bit of research on this topic. Writers are researchers at times. It helps them collect around their subject or topic. Next, I made the decision to try a haiku using some of the research I gathered. One of the great features of the haiku form is the freedom it provides from structure and form. For example, a haiku doesn't have to rhyme, and usually it doesn't. Another great aspect of the haiku is that punctuation and capitalization are used only if the poet decides to incorporate these conventions. For writers who like to follow the general rule, the standard haiku follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule. You may choose to experiment with creating a traditional haiku or a variation, such as a Tanka or a Lune. Just start with any topic of interest, like I did. You'll have lots of fun with this short but sweet form of poetry!
Happy Poetry Friday! I'm back in the round up this week with a poem inspired by a pic of one of my favorite flowers, the Four o' clock. Thanks for stopping by the ridge to read it, and for more poetry goodies, head over to Jone's space HERE!
One of my favorite things to do is to walk about the ridge, admiring all of nature's gifts. There are always poems hiding about in the images around me. Just the other day, I was walking about when my nose caught the scent of the most glorious smell. I followed that smell, and it led me straight to a bed of freshly bloomed Four o' clocks. I knew I had to capture this splendid image while I had the chance. You see, Four o' clocks open at four and remain open throughout the night and into the morning. They only bloom once before they wilt and fall off the plant. So of course, I had to snap a pic and write a poem to honor these short blooming beauties! I studied my photo of the Four o' clocks and zoomed in on every tiny detail I noticed. I asked myself, What do I notice? and What does this image "say" to me? Next, I tried to describe it using my five senses and my reactions to the image. Then, I wrote everything out in my notebook. Finally, I reread my entry with my poet's eye and found this poem blooming there! Listen to my poem:Invitation to Write:
Snap a picture of something you like, wonder about, or notice. If you don't have access to a camera, snap a mental image in your mind. Study your picture and zoom into every detail of the image. What do you notice? What does the image "say" to you? Talk it out with a friend. Describe it from the inside out. Then, write it out in your notebook. You can bet, there's a poem hiding in each pic you take!
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks for visiting the ridge this week. For more of the poetry party, head over to Carol's space Beyond LiteracyLink.
Over Labor Day weekend, I took some time to walk about the ridge. I enjoy observing all the gifts that the natural world has to offer! Our observations can surprise us and wonder us. Having a notebook brimming full of observations can inspire so much writing! Listen to my poem:Invitation to Write:
Writers are observers of the world around them. Take some time this weekend to take a walk and record your observations. Open your senses and capture all the life around you! Let your observations lead you to many new writing possibilities. A simple walk can do a writer good!
Happy Poetry Friday! It's great to be back in the round-up again after a short break. I have missed my PF friends! For more offerings, Carol is hosting this week at her space HERE. A few evenings ago, I was listening to a song and a particular line stuck with me. It went something like this, "Can't you see your world won't end, it's just a summer wind." It seemed like an interesting line to me. I began to think about the connection between the feeling of hopelessness and the ever changing natural element of wind. After pondering over this line, I knew I wanted to write about the way I connected it to life. First, I asked myself, What is a summer wind? How would I describe it? How would a summer wind be different than any other wind? You'll get a sense of my response to these questions in my poem. Next, I pushed myself to think more deeply about how it applied to changes in life and feeling overpowered by the strong forces that often come our way. I asked more questions like, How might a summer wind relate to the challenges we often face in life? As I searched for the deeper meaning in this line, I settled upon these thoughts. First, the wind is always changing. So can we. If we just hold on to hope, the winds of change will come. Things might seem very hard at times. We may feel like giving up. Yet even in the darkest despair, there is hope. In life, our challenges are like a summer wind, blowing fierce, overwhelming us with its powerful gusts, and then gone. Second, the wind is strong, but so are we. So what if we harnessed it instead? What if we channeled that warm pressure and let its energy take us closer to our goal? In life our challenges are like a summer wind, full of potential to move us, propelling us forward, growing us, until we are stronger. In the end, we choose how to deal with our challenges. What will you do with a summer wind when it blows your way? Invitation to Write:Poem ideas can sometimes blow in from some of the most unlikely places, and they can take us to a place of wonder and possibility. The idea for my poem came from a lyric of a song. It led me to all sorts of thoughts and questions. I pushed myself to think about the topic from different angles. You can try this too! Take a line from a song, book, poem, quote, conversation-wherever you choose, and push yourself to evaluate the topic from different lenses of thinking. Don't be afraid to be a bit wishy-washy in this process. Use sentence stems to vary your thoughts about the topic such as, "This makes me think... But, on the other hand..." Pretty soon, you'll end up with many different poem variations from that one line!
Welcome to the Poetry Friday round-up on the ridge! I am excited to be hosting this week. I can't wait to read all your offerings! Just hook up your link at the bottom of the post.
Now that summer has been unleashed here on the ridge, I find myself wanting to spend my days outdoors having fun in the sun. I especially enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of summer evenings. I like to flip back in my notebook to all my summer entries. They are filled with memories, observations, and all things summer-esque. As I was reading, a few lines from the pages of my notebook merged and inspired me to write my poem offering this week. I wish you all a lovely summer's song all season long! Invitation to Write:
As a writer, one of my favorite things to do is to sift back through the pages of my notebook from time to time. This helps me find balance and inspiration for future projects or poems. Sometimes, lifting a line or two from your notebook can renew your writing life. I invite you to time travel back into your notebook as well. What stands out to you? Jot down some of your thinking and reflect on your writing journey so far. Lift a line or two. Copy those lines on a new page. Do you notice any connections? Try writing from those lines to see what emerges.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks for visiting the ridge. This week, Margaret is hosting the round-up at her space, Reflections on the Teche. I can't wait to read all the poetry offerings there! The poem I am sharing today has been revised to fit my intended audience, YOU! When I read the original poem in my notebook, I realized that if it were to come out of my notebook for publication, I would need to consider my audience and design the poem based on my desired purpose. In my revision, I decided that I needed to consider my content and word choice to appeal to an audience of all ages. Safe inside the notebook, the original poem will always be written for me. It's one of the gifts of the notebook that I cherish. The fact that it's a place to collect whatever comes from my mind. The notebook is for ME. I think. I dream. I notice. I write whatever comes. And when or if I'm ready to share it with the world, it comes out to be revised for my audience. Just like the one I'm sharing with you now! Invitation to Write:Think about your design and revision process. How would you describe it? At what points do you turn your attention to audience? It's very interesting to hear how other writers tackle revision. As writers, we can learn so much from each other!
Happy Poetry Friday! It's great to be back in the round-up with friends this week! Rebecca is hosting this week at her space, Sloth Reads. Be sure to drop in there! I just love the merry merry month of May! There is much to notice and observe. Birds and bugs fill the air. There's a sense of calmness everywhere! This marvelous month has me singing and wanting to write tons of rhyming poems. I came up with this little rhyming poem while I was lying lazily on a blanket in my yard last weekend. I was enjoying a long overdue rest when I noticed all the winged creatures of the air busy in flight. I thought of how wonderful it must feel to stretch your wings and go. I wish you many more May days filled with rest and times of giddy-up and go. Happy May days everyone! Invitation to Write:It's fun to play with rhyming poems! Sometimes when I'm writing a poem and get stuck, I pick a word or two from my poem and make a list of rhyming words. This often helps me get going again so I can generate more ideas for my poem. It can even surprise me by offering a new direction for my poem entirely. So whenever you're stuck, you might try some rhyming word fun!
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome to the ridge. This week, I am sharing a tiny poem about a Luna moth. Be sure to visit Tabatha at her space, The Opposite of Indifference, for more of the round-up. It seems that I make very little time these days for my personal writing, which has me feeling a little lost. Most of my writing consists of reflective academic writing for my graduate school work. It's been hard to find the balance between work, school, and home. I welcome all my visitors this week to share your wisdom or any strategies you may have for maintaining a healthy writing life. I look forward to reading your comments! This week, I decided to jump back into the round-up with a small poem about a moth. I stumbled upon this tiny poem, while I was flipping through the pages of one of my old notebooks. It reminded me very much of a poem I might find in Valerie Worth's book, "All the Small Poems and Fourteen More." I love that poems can come in all shapes and all sizes. I can always find a poem idea lurking between the pages of my notebook. That's comforting to me as a writer, especially when my writing time is limited. Invitation to Write:Revisiting and rereading your notebook entries can often bring a sleeping idea to life! Whenever you feel stuck in your writing or you're searching to find an idea, try returning to your notebook for writing inspiration. Big or small, ideas are waiting for you to lift them from between the pages of your notebook!
Welcome Poetry Friday friends. Happy National Poetry Month! Today, our dear friend Amy is rounding up a wave of poetry offerings at her space, The Poem Farm. This week, I couldn't help but write about the blue Passover moon after it put on quite a show for me last weekend. The moon did not disappoint and neither did the poets who had a hand in kicking off the 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem Challenge! I was so inspired by each line, that I decided I would write a draft of a found poem about the moon using at least one of the words from each of the lines of this year's Progressive Poem (in progress). Here are the words I selected from the first five lines to write my first found poem: nestled, dreams, blooming, stars, sweet, game. To see today's addition to the progressive poem click on Irene's space HERE. She's the sweet lady that welcomed me to join in the project this year, and I'm ever so grateful! I'll be adding my line to the poem on April 25th. Who knows...maybe my line will inspire other writers in a new way, too! Invitation to Write:Writers often involve themselves in all sorts of projects. Participating in a poetry challenge with a group or creating your own poetry project can help keep your writing skills sharp. What are some of the projects you have participated in or maybe have considered starting? It's never too late to join in the excitement and joy that a poetry project can bring. It's a great way to explore new writing territories! So be brave, writers. Step up to the challenge and write!
Welcome to the ridge! I'm so happy to have Poetry Friday visitors. For more poetry offerings, visit Heidi, at her space, My Juicy Little Universe. Spring has sprung all over the ridge! It has braved the storm once again. I took one look at this little house, and immediately thought, "What a home for the brave." At that moment, I knew I wanted to capture this idea of being brave as a writer and accepting whatever conditions may come. I imagined the brave bluebirds that would accept this little house as a home, despite the snares and snags along the way. Then, I thought about all of the brave writers I know who do just the same. They face the blank and empty page, trusting that they will have the words to fill it. Just as the bravest of bluebirds fills the little house with moss, and grass , and hope. When you're a writer, you have to be brave, and make a home for your words to grow. So fill the space inside, accepting what comes as good enough, barb after barb, stretch after stretch. Invitation to Write:Writers face challenges all the time. One of the greatest challenges writers often face is the blank page. I have to admit, I get stuck a lot! Whenever I feel myself freezing up over a blank page, I remind myself that it's okay to give my pen to the page without knowing where it may go. It's okay to accept what comes. And sometimes what comes, isn't quite what I want it to be, YET. So I keep writing, trusting that words will come! When you're a writer, you have to be brave, and know that your words are enough.
Happy Poetry Friday! It is great to be back with friends this week. Thank you for visiting the ridge this week, where spring has sprung! Today, I'm writing about a favorite friend to me as a writer, my notebook. Join the rest of the round-up at Linda's space HERE. My notebook is one of my dearest friends. Like a friend, I miss my notebook when I am away from it for too long. When I haven't visited my notebook, to drop in a word or a line or two, I feel very sad. Sometimes, things in our life can take us away from spending time with our friends. This can happen in our writing lives, too. When this happens, I try to give myself some grace. I know my notebook will be there waiting for me. Like a true friend, it's always there. It calls to me, like a long lost friend. I open it up, and begin again. And just like that, I feel anew! Invitation to Write:Think about your favorite writer's tools. How are they like "friends" to you as a writer? If you keep a notebook, which kind do you prefer. Notebooks can often be called a safe place, a think-tank, a workbench, and so many more! What makes your notebook special? How might you describe it using this sentence stem, "My notebook is..."
Whatever writer's tools you use to collect your words, how do they welcome you and sustain you in your writing life? A writer's tool is a friend for life. Happy writing with your favorite writing tools and friends! Welcome Poetry Friday readers! Thanks for stopping by the ridge this week. For more poetry offerings, visit Renee HERE for the full round-up! Friends, this week I decided to have a little fun with the full moon above! Did you know that the March full moon is often called the "worm moon?" That's right! It was first dubbed the worm moon by farmers in the 1930's, who believed that the first full moon in March meant that spring would begin. I certainly hope that's true! Since the earthworm is a symbol of spring, the name stuck. We are in for a treat this month as the first full moon will be a worm moon, followed by another "blue moon" at the end of the month! Since I love my friend, moon, I decided to create a song of poetry to welcome the Blue Worm Moon to the ridge this weekend. The tune of "Did you ever see a lassie?" kept popping in my head. I took that tune, and away I went! Poem songs are great fun! Invitation to Write:Songs are poems, too! Let's have some fun trying out poems to the tune of our favorite songs. Jot down some lyrics and lines in your notebook. Your poem song can be silly, glad, or even sad. Whatever tune and mood you choose, your words are sure to sing a song for all to hear!
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AuthorWelcome! I'm Kiesha Shepard, and I have a love for writing and the teaching of writing. Whispers From the Ridge is a place where I can share my words and ideas for teaching writing. It's also a place for you to find inspiration for writing the words inside of you. I invite you into my world of writing as I capture the whispers from the ridge. Follow by Email
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Schedule of Round Up:
July
2 Laura at Laura Shovan 9 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche 16 Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone 23 Kat at Kathryn Apel 30 Becky at Sloth Reads August 6 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading 13 Christie at Wondering and Wandering 20 Carol at The Apples in My Orchard 27 Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections September 3 Heidi at my juicy little universe 10 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect 17 Denise at Dare to Care 24 Laura at Laura Purdie Salas October 1 Catherine at Reading to the Core 8 Irene at Live Your Poem 15 Bridget at wee words for wee ones 22 Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup 29 Linda at TeacherDance November 5 Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference 12 Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme 19 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink 26 Ruth at there is no such thing as a God-forsaken town December 3 Michelle at Michelle Kogan 10 Cathy at Merely Day by Day 17 Jone at Jone Rush MacCulloch 24 Buffy at Buffy Silverman 31 Carol at Carol's Corner |