Howdy, Poetry Friday friends! Thanks for stopping by and visiting me at the ridge where I am writing up a storm about birds while I wait for my favorite spring birds, the Purple Martins, to arrive. While I'm rounding up poems about birds, our friend Karen Edmisten is rounding up words for our round up today. Thanks for hosting, Karen!

Waiting sure is hard sometimes, especially when you want something really bad. For the past couple of weeks, I have been patiently waiting for my Purple Martin bird friends to return. With each passing day, my mind becomes and more consumed with worry that they might not return. Lucky for me, I know what to do while I'm waiting. I write! I write about other bird friends and animal friends that I love. I write about hopes, fears, and things I hold dear. I write about lots of things. Words can be great friends that help to pass the time away through all that waiting.

I have hope that the Martins will arrive, but until they do, I keep writing! After all, I have so many words that want to sprout wings and fly out into the world each day.   

There are times and even places where we tend to spend a lot of time waiting. You might wait in line at a grocery store or at a drive through restaurant. You might even spend time waiting at an airport, subway station, or a doctor's office. So what do you do while you are waiting? Perhaps you read a book or spend time on your phone. Do you write? Writers, my hope for you today and everyday is that you find those spaces in the seams of your life to write. Think of all the words that are waiting to be written!  

Happy Poetry Friday! This week I am full of hope as I wait for my bird friends, the Purple Martins, to return to the ridge for the nesting season. I do hope that you enjoy your visit and that you will mosey over to Check it Out where Jone is hosting today's round-up. 

Every year in late February, I sit on my front porch with my eyes to the sky. I listen, and I wait for the Purple Martins to return to their summer home here on the ridge. These magnificent birds return to North America each year from their winter homes in South America. They are brilliant acrobats in flight who often depend on humans to provide housing throughout the nesting season.

As a bird enthusiast, I have always had a fascination with these enchanting birds. My grandfather always put up houses for them, and after he passed away, I decided to become a Martin landlord myself. Something about their song and general presence gives me hope. The kind of hope that returns again and again without fail. The kind of hope that endures.

I think that this poem by Emily Dickinson speaks of such hope. I just love the way this poem immediately pulls me in because of its reference to a bird, which is a recurring magnet topic for me as writer, and then within those first few lines, totally flips the way I typically think about writing about the birds I love. There is much that we can learn as writers when we flip our magnet topics over and write from the other side.     

Hope is the thing with feathers
by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb from me.

Here are a few poems that I have written about the Purple Martins. I will continue to write about them in hopes of their swift return. 

Writers write a lot about the magnet topics they feel drawn to. Once these topics find their way into a writer's heart, they tend to stick around in the writer's thoughts for safe keeping. Then, just when a writer needs them the most, they flip themselves over to reveal another side or another way of thinking about the topic. Take a moment to think about a magnet topic that sticks with you always. What might be on the other side of this magnet? Now flip your magnet topic over. What do you see? Are there other sides of this topic to explore?

Oh, happy day! It's Poetry Friday! Find more Poetry Friday goodies at Katie's space The Logonauts. Thanks for hosting, Katie!

This week I am sharing a poem about a topic that I am drawn to and write often about. Having a list of magnet topics can be a great tool to help you jump start your writing. It can also serve as a sounding board to help you figure out what you really want to say.

​Birds are a magnet topic for me because I find myself writing about them over and over again in different ways. All sorts of birds live in my notebook, but one of my very favorites is the chickadee.

Writers often return to topics they care about again and again. Topics are never used up. We can always find something new to say about our magnet topics. Often times, we can count on these go-to topics whenever we feel stuck and can't decide what to write about. Try using one of your magnet topics as a spring board to get your writing flowing today. Stretch yourself to write about your topic in a way you have not done before. Magnet topics can help you attract all kinds of new words and ideas down on paper!

Welcome, Poetry Friday readers! Thanks for visiting me today on the ridge, where I share a wonder poem about how rocks came to be. You can find more poetry wonders this week over at A Penny and Her Jots. Thanks for hosting, Penny!

Friends, have you ever wondered how something came to be? I think about this all the time! It's fun to think of all the possibilities for what makes things the way they are and perhaps even more fun to consider what they could be.

A few weeks ago, my dear friend and fellow teacher Mrs. Mann, posed this statement to her fourth grade students "Every rock has a story. What could it be?" I could see all the wheels turning in her students' heads as they pondered over this idea. What a great thing to wonder about! After that, she proceeded to read them this amazing book A Rock Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas. Through the book's vivid images and poetically written lines, the students entered a world where they could engage in the wonderment of what a rock can be. This book then served as an anchor text for students as they were each given a rock to observe and create a story or a poem about.

The students were not the only ones eager to take on the exploration of this idea. I couldn't help but join in! I became a rock hunter, searching for rocks all along the ridge. Below are a few of them that I found along with a wonder poem that was inspired by Mrs. Mann's simple truth, "Every rock has a story."   

Writers often think scientifically and creatively about the things they wonder about. What are some things you have observed or noticed lately that you are curious about? Start a list in your notebook. You can use your observations and notes to create stories or wonder poems. You might even choose yourself as your subject of wonder. Don't we all have a story? So what's yours?  

Today from the ridge, I am sharing a little poetry ditty on the doodlebug! Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to squiggle on over to Carol's space Beyond Literacy Link where she is hosting our round-up this week.

This week, I was invited to participate in a Poetry Challenge by the fourth grade writers in Mrs. Dungan's class. I was thrilled to accept the invitation to write! My task was to write a poem around a student chosen topic. I would be submitting my poem to the class, along with the student poets in the room who had chosen to accept the challenge. On Friday the poems would be read aloud and the poet with the most votes by the audience would be named the Poetry Challenge Champ of the week. I knew immediately, I was going to have some tough competition!  The topic that was chosen for the week was "animals." I definitely wanted to write a poem that was playful and funny. I thought about all the different animals I could write about. It was really hard to choose! I finally decided on an almost invisible  creature that has fascinated me ever since I was a little girl, the antlion or better known as, the doodlebug.   

I would like to thank Mrs. Dungan's fourth grade class for their kind invitation to write for their poetry challenge of the week! For more poetry challenge submissions from Mrs. Dungan's amazing poets click HERE.

Writers take on poetry challenges all the time. It is a great way to explore and experiment with language, form, and a variety of literary devices. Best of all, it's really fun! Taking on a challenge can really stretch your thinking and it can motivate you to get your creative juices flowing. Whenever you are faced with a poetry challenge, it can also be helpful to immerse yourself in mentor texts that you might lean on for guidance or inspiration. Since my poetry challenge topic was animals, I found this book of pocket poems about birds particularly helpful. I found a few poems that were very similar to the form that I was wanting to try out for my challenge. Through careful study of these mentor poems and by pushing myself to write in a craft I had never tried before, I was amazed at what I could create on the page. I encourage you, my friends, to consider accepting a poetry challenge or try assigning yourself a writing challenge. It's a great way to learn and grow as a writer.    

Here is one of the poems that I referred to as a mentor for my poem Hey, Doodlebug!

The Vulture
The Vulture eats between his meals,
And that's the reason why
He very, very rarely feels
As well as you and I.

His eye is dull, his head is bald,
His neck is growing thinner.
Oh! what a lesson for us all
To only eat at dinner!

​Hilaire Belloc

Welcome, Poetry Friday friends! This week I am going back to my roots and sharing a poem that sprouted from my conversations with nature. For more poetry, visit Violet at her space Violet Nesdoly/poems.

​Whenever my thoughts start to get a bit hazy or when I feel like I'm losing my perspective, I turn to nature. Each day brings so many new experiences and ideas to mull over in my brain. I love all the thinking and learning I get to do each day, but sometimes my brain goes into overload. I find it easier to lose track of my core beliefs during these overwhelming moments. When I sense that this is happening, I retreat to nature. The natural world serves as a haven for me. It provides a place for me to work through all the thoughts bouncing around in my head. Nature becomes a sanctuary where I can rejuvenate my thinking and writing life.

In this poem, I share a conversation with nature. That day at Blackjack Pond I remember imagining that the water thrush birds and the marsh shoots were speaking to me. It was as if they were welcoming me back to their world, a world where I could gain back a sense of my own perspective on subjects and topics that really matter to me.   

Think about where you find clarity in your life. It might be a person or a place that you go to for guidance, or maybe something you do to help balance your thoughts. Write about where and how you find sanctuary to approach new ideas while re-energizing your brain.   

Thank goodness for Poetry Friday! I look forward to this day all week long. It is a joy to read all of the poetic posts written by people I admire very much. So whether you are a regular traveler on the Poetry Friday train or you are climbing aboard for the first time, be sure to stop at the round-up station this week where Keri at Keri Recommends is our host!

When I was little, I remember my dad preparing the meat and readying the pump house for making sausage. First, he would grind the meat and put it into casings. Then, he would hang the links of sausage on the poles that hung in the rafters of the pump house. After that it was time to light a small fire underneath to smolder and create the most delicious smell of maple and oak. Some smells you never forget, and this is certainly one I am drawn back to every winter. So I was very excited one evening when I was taking a walk in the woods and got a whiff of that familiar scent in the air. I immediately whispered to myself, "It's sausage making time." From that one line, this poem emerged from deep within a treasured childhood moment with my father.

Writers often rely on their senses when they are reaching into memory as they write. Think about some of your most treasured memories. What are the sights, sounds, and smells that you associate with these memories? Jot down some of these sensory details and see what bubbles up. Now, stretch yourself reach even deeper into the details of this memory and think out loud about what you have to say about this moment. That's right, talk to yourself! Jot down a few lines as you talk your way through this responsive experience. It's sensory writing time!

Happy new year Poetry Friday friends! I am so excited to begin a fresh new year filled with poetry blessings. Linda at TeacherDance is hosting the very first round-up of 2017! Celebrate this special day with all of the PF community at her welcoming space.

I love the feeling of new beginnings and the chance to look upon the world with fresh eyes. Today, I am filled with gratitude and hope for a new year of opportunities to begin again. I have thought a lot about the power of perspective and the role it plays in how I view my world. By defintion the word perspective means the way we choose to regard something or a particular attitude we have toward it.

Since I choose my perspective, it is worth considering before I make many of the decisions I am faced with in my life. This year, I have committed myself to listening more and reflecting on the thoughts and feelings of others. We are all a small piece of this big wonderful world. I am ready to start a new year of celebrating the perspectives of this world we share.

As we begin a new journey in this new year, take a moment to consider your perspective on different things within your life. Ask yourself, "What do I think about this? How does this make me feel?" Perspectives can change as well. Think about those times your perspective was changed in one way or another. What brought about the change? How did it alter your point of view? It's also important to consider the perspectives of others. Try on a new pair of eyes this year, perhaps a grasshopper or maybe a bear! Big or small, we all have ideas and a voice to share. Who knows what's waiting to be explored with your new lenses!  

Happy Holidays Poetry Friday friends! Buffy Silverman is hosting today at her space Buffy's Blog. Be sure to drop by and join in the poetry cheer!

Today I am sharing a poem I wrote a year ago on Christmas Eve. As usual, I was sitting on my back porch thinking and writing. I thought about the sounds that ring so true on this special night. I had previously read Walt Whitman's "Sounds of the Winter" poem, so his words were swimming around in my head when my pen began to write. Here is my poem, inspired by an old poet's words and one truly miraculous night.

The holiday season can be an inspirational time to reflect on our connections to others and to this world. Take a moment at the end of this year to write from the sights and sounds of our world. Think about the ties that bind us all together in this life. Take a walk outside as the sun is going down. Turn your thoughts of this moment into words. Just write. Write from the sights and sounds of this night. 

Happy Poetry Friday! It seems the weeks are flying by. Soon this year will end and a new one will begin. It's definitely the time of year to celebrate memories with family and friends. You can also find lots to celebrate this week in the world of poetry by stopping at Tabatha's space The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks for the warm welcome, Tabatha!

This time of year I find myself walking the woods alone quite often. As I walk, I tend to lose myself in the flood of memories that return in the stillness of the winter landscape. I think back to my childhood and loved ones lost along the way. I think of others who also lament for family and friends who have gone away. I find that walking has a way of easing me as these thoughts swirl around in my mind. As I walk, I write. I write in memoriam of people and moments that have passed. This week, I am sharing a poem inspired by one of my spiritual walks this month.

Memories have a way of finding their way into our notebooks all the time. Take a moment to reflect on your memories from this past year. You might make a list of these memories by starting with the stem, In memoriam of...which means "in memory of" or "to the memory of.." This list might include people, places, or even objects you can remember and recall. Read through your list and choose a few to write from. Take that memory with you as you go for a long walk. I truly believe that walking can sharpen the mind and comfort the soul.

Three cheers for Poetry Friday! I hope all of you in the Poetry Friday community are staying cozy and warm as we make our way into the thick of winter. I hope you all get a chance to visit Jone this week at her space Check It Out. 

This week I decided to write a companion poem to the poem I shared last week Still No Winter. I really love the idea of poems sharing a deep friendship. I was determined that the character in my first poem would have this sort of fellowship with my next character. I began to let my mind wander with possibilities. Who would the mysterious companion be? What connection would the two characters share? How could my second character bring balance to the character I described in my first poem? And after pondering these questions long and hard, a character did in fact emerge. Now when I read these two poems, I close my eyes and imagine these characters walking hand in hand in this winter world.   

Sometimes even a  poem needs a friend. Think about poems that you have read or maybe poems you have written that share a deep connection. What joins these poems together? Maybe they share the same ideas or perhaps the characters are very similar. Try reading my companion poems to find the relationship between them or have a go at writing your own companion piece.

Warmest wishes to all on this glorious Poetry Friday! Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to stop by Bridget's space at wee words for wee ones for more poetry tid-bits. Thanks for hosting, Bridget!

​Well, after many months of mild weather, it seems that winter has finally come to us here on the ridge. Like my Dragonfly Tree here in this photo, I can recall many times I have walked the earth-warm fields just waiting for winter to peel back the curtain and take center stage. I have often imagined winter itself as an ancient artist; one who could paint the most brilliant masterpiece from any stark-white canvas. The poem I am sharing today is my attempt to give praise to this magestic season and to its creator, whose work is never done. 

Writers will often put themselves in someone else's shoes in search of meaning and perspective. Try taking on the perspective and voice of someone or something else. Imagine what they might say and think. There are all sorts of paths your writing will lead you to!

Welcome Poetry Friday friends! Don't miss today's round-up over at Brenda's Friendly Fairy Tales, where there's tons of poetry magic! Thank you for hosting, Brenda!

This week I decided to share a poem that expresses my feelings for a plant in my yard that I am particularly fond of. You see, I have a habit of writing about my admiration for all living things up here on the ridge. I'm afraid I just can't help myself! There are so many things in this world to shower with poetic adoration. My Elaeagnus plant happens to be one of the things that brings me joy to write about this time of year. It graces my yard each fall by offering up the most delicious autumn fragrance. The tiny white flowers are practically invisible to the eye, but the smell that fills the air is hard to miss! Something about the smell takes me back to the many autumn memories of my childhood. Out of all the ways to express my affinity for this silvery shrub, a letter seemed the most appropriate form in which to declare my gratefulness.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving wherever you are. May your hearts be thankful and glad! 

Writers have different ways of expressing their emotions within poems. Think about the people and things in your life that you have strong emotions for. You might start by making a list of these in your notebook. Then pick one and start jotting all the different feelings and emotions you have for that one thing. Ask yourself, "Why do I feel this way?" and "What does this mean to me?" Now read through the words and descriptions you have down on paper. How will you choose to express them as a writer? What form will you use to declare your emotions? Play around with your words and lines. You'll discover lots of ways to express yourself as a writer!

So glad it's Poetry Friday! This week the round-up is being hosted by our friend Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup. She is cooking up a bountiful Poetry Friday menu, so be sure to stop by her space and enjoy the feast!

A few weeks ago, I was walking around the dragonfly tree when I noticed two leaves that seemed to be suspended in mid air. I could see them spinning and twirling on wisps of a breeze. As I got up closer, I could finally see that the two leaves had fallen from a branch and had nestled themselves in the safety net of a spider's delicate web. And it was there that they decided to dance! I captured this magical leaf dance on video and then immediately scribbled it into my notebook. This poem about an object talking (or mask poem as it sometimes called) comes from my imagination of what one leaf said to another during this enchanted leaf dance.   

Have you ever wondered what objects would say if they could speak? I wonder about this all the time! I think about what questions I would ask them and what questions they might ask of me. It would be so interesting to hear the stories they would tell. So whenever you find an object that fascinates you for whatever reason, take a moment to listen. What is the object thinking? What would the object say? What questions would you ask? Make a list or jot down a few notes in your notebook. You might just discover a poem lurking there!  

​Three cheers for Poetry Friday! There is so much excitement in the air with all the fun fall activities happening each week! You can find out more about what's happening in our Poetry Friday community this week too by waltzing over to TeacherDance where Linda is hosting the round-up. Thanks for hosting, Linda!

My bluebird friends have returned! I enjoy their company so much throughout the spring, but they seem to go away for awhile during the summer. Now they are back, sitting on the wire and hunting for worms. Soon they will begin scouting out the tiny wooden houses I have posted along the fence line. They will grace my backyard all winter long with their brilliant blue coats. They are so beautiful to me that I just had to write a poem in their honor.

Sometimes we write about things that we are thankful for. Our love for the special people and things in our life often encourages us to express our gratitude to them. Spend some time today thinking about the things you are most grateful for. You might jot down a list or maybe you'll be inspired to write a poem to honor them like I did!

Happy November Poetry Friday friends! Be sure to visit Writing the World for kids, where Laura is graciously hosting today's round-up. 

Every year at the end of October, I place this jar with broken pieces of clay pottery on my mantle. I discovered each one in the soil after a heavy rainstorm had rumbled over the ridge. It was interesting to find them scattered in different areas of my backyard. These pieces are a link to the past and to the history of this beloved hill top I now call home. Though each one is unique, they are all made from the same clay. They are a reminder of all those who came before me and lived upon this land. While I will never know them or the stories of their life, I can honor them by preserving what remains.

Sometimes the stories of the past are left untold or may be easily forgotten with the passing of time. These shards of clay help me to remember. I feel that the past begs us to listen. It wants to tell the story. So I must listen. 

Think about the times you have stumbled across something you had never seen before or had been hidden away. It might be a time you found an interesting rock in the ground or maybe you found an old stuffed animal in a closet. Have you ever found something unexpectedly and wondered about where it came from? If you have, try imagining that it could speak to you. Listen. What is it saying to you? Let it tell you its story. It's when we truly listen, that the stories of the past unfold!

It's been an exciting week of writing! So many people celebrated writing this week by taking part in the NCTE National Day on Writing, which is held every October the 20th. It was neat to see all the #WhyIWrite posts from writers everywhere. To top it all off, we get to celebrate writing even more on this Poetry Friday! You can visit our friend Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect for more of the poetry round-up today.

The poem I am sharing today really expresses one of the very special reasons why I write. I strongly believe that our life in this world is filled with so many wondrous things to write about. For me, I must write to celebrate and honor those things that are truly worthy to be etched in my notebook forever. Writing is like breathing to me, both necessary and essential to my being. It's why these words are here for you today.

Writers, we all have our reasons for writing. Some reasons we may share, while others are unique to us alone. Take a moment to think about the reasons you have for writing. What are those thoughts and words from you that must find their way into the world? Why do you write? 

Let the Poetry Friday Celebrations begin! Violet is hosting the round-up today, so don't miss all the fun over at her space HERE.

Friends, I am really happy that I am able to share this week. I have been feeling a bit under the weather for a few weeks, but thankfully I am getting much better each day. So today's poem is really short and sweet. It's really about clinging to sounds in our memory that soothe and comfort us. Whenever I am not feeling well, I tend to reach for things that will give me some ease. For instance, I like to cozy up in my bed with a good book and a soft blanket. I remember when I was little, my mother used to rock me and sing me lullabies whenever I was sick. The sound of her voice always made me feel so much better. This memory encouraged me to think about other sounds that are soothing to me, and from that my poem was born. 

Perhaps you have sounds that calm your spirit as well when you are not feeling your best. These soothing sounds might be hiding in memory somewhere or they might turn up often in your every day life. Take a moment to reflect on those sounds. You never know what connections might bubble up and settle in to your notebooks.

Think about the sounds around you that provide a sense of calmness and peace to your mind. Reach into memory. Are there any sounds that stir feelings of comfort or relief? Try making a list of these soothing sounds in your notebook. Allow your thoughts and reflections to lead you as you write within the safety of your notebook.

Oh, happy day! I am so glad it's Poetry Friday! Don't miss all the fun of the round-up at Karen Edmisten's site HERE. Thanks for hosting, Karen!
​
​A few days ago while I was thumbing through my notebook, I came across an entry about a time my boys were having so much fun playing in the woods near my house. I remember how they laughed as they climbed trees and played with sticks. The memory of this moment made me smile, but it also made me think about how little time we seem to have these days for playing outside together. We can get so busy that some things we used to do because we wanted to, get pushed aside for all the things we think we have to do. Just think of all the fun we miss! It's so important to carve out some time throughout the day to do the things we love.

​I am definitely going to spend more time laughing and playing with my family. I wrote this poem to remind myself of my commitment to honor play each day. I wrote it for you, too. I wish for you the gift of laughter and play. I added some repetition to make it sound more like a chant or a song inviting you to play with me. So run, explore, be silly! Make time for YOU!      

Writers, the time we spend doing the things that really matter to us with the people that matter the most is so valuable. It energizes us in a way that nourishes our writing lives. I invite you to let loose and kick up your heels today! Do something you love to do and then write about it. Read your piece of writing again and again. Keep it somewhere safe. Pull it out often and reread it. Let it remind you to never forget to play!   

Welcome Poetry Friday friends! Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to wander over to Reading to the Core where Catherine is hosting the round-up.

Writers, so many moments in my life remind me of the power and importance of taking deep breaths throughout my day. I notice that when I take the time to relax and breathe deeply, all of my senses seem keener. I find that I am much more equipped to handle whatever comes my way, especially when it involves making a change or trying something I've never done before.

This makes me realize how important is to breathe and to open my senses to the world changing around me. The poem I am sharing today comes from my own wish to spend more time taking in the air around me and exploring the writing gifts that my senses bring to life.

Something to think about...
With each inhale and exhale, the senses are awakened. As writers, we can learn to make the most of these golden opportunities. Each breath we take can heighten our senses, giving life to our words.

You can give this strategy a try, too! Take a few moments to close your eyes and take a deep breathe. Try writing with your ears first. What do you hear? What does it sound like? Maybe it reminds you of something or makes you wonder. Now open your eyes, and take another breath in. What do you smell? How would you describe it? Look for connections between what you hear, smell, and see. Use those connections to create an image for your reader that is filled with sensory bliss! 

Happy Poetry Friday, friends! Michelle is hosting the roundup on her site Today's Little Ditty. Be sure to swing on over and join in the poetry fun!

What an exciting week it has been! First, I was honored to be invited to share a little bit of my note-booking process with others on Amy VanDerwater's Sharing Our Notebooks page. Then, I had the opportunity to be in a few classrooms this week where I was simply awed by all the writing flowing inside of notebooks. It was incredible to hear how inspired students are to write when they are given a host of invitations and notebook strategies by teachers who value them as writers for life. I am so grateful to have the privilege to work alongside these teachers and writers. You can take a peek HERE at some of the brilliant writing work happening at our school Spring Creek Elementary. 

The poem I am sharing today is one that came to life after rereading an observation in my notebook. The entry was about the day I watched a crow chase a hawk along a high line wire in a nearby field. The crow kept cawing and cawing at the hawk. I could tell he did not want him in his territory. It really surprised me that a crow would chase a hawk and not the other way around. I had always thought of the hawk as a master of other field birds. This observation certainly made me wonder more and more about the crow. My questions led me straight to research. I learned so much about this intelligent bird that I might never have considered. Simple observations can be explored in many different ways when we take the time to consider them truly and deeply. 

Click HERE to learn more about the crow.

Observations can create wonder. And wondering can lead us to consider all sorts of possibilities! There are so many things to wonder about in the world around us. Sometimes all we have to do is stop in our tracks, and take a look. Write down some observations you are making right this moment. What do your observations make you wonder about? Is there more you want to learn? Choose a few of these ideas or topics and consider the possibilities of each one. Push your thinking by asking, "What if...?" or "Have I considered...?" Let your observations be your guide. There is much to consider! 

Hip, hip, hooray! It's Poetry Friday! Thanks for stopping by today, and be sure to visit Amy at The Poem Farm. She's gathering up all the poetry seeds today!

One of my favorite things to write about is the very old elm tree in my back yard. I included a picture of it in my poem today. Isn't it a beauty? I call it the Dragonfly Tree because every fall I see a swarm of dragonflies at the very tip top.

So many inspirations for writing grow from this ancient tree. I love to watch it change throughout the seasons. Each time I write about it, I discover new things to say. It's so much fun to play with poems, especially when they are about something I care about and write about often. So whenever I finish a poem about a topic I write about frequently, I know that I can return to that poem again with fresh eyes.

Sometimes I don't always feel settled on the way a poem turns out, so it's a relief to me to know that I can always go back and change it up. The poem I am sharing today is certainly a great example of how this happens for me. In my "Dragonfly Tree" poem, I knew that I wanted to include lots of repetition and rhyming to mimic the flight and sound of swarming dragonflies. After I had written the poem, I put it to the side for awhile and then reread it. That's when I started to get an itch to play with it. I began to wonder if there were other rhyming or near-rhyming words that I might like better than the ones I had originally chosen. I admit, I was a little overwhelmed by all the choices I had. Then I remembered that it's okay to feel that way. Since I know that I' ll be writing about the Dragonfly Tree again someday, I can revise the poem a bit and move on.

So while this is where I landed with this particular poem, you can bet I'll be writing some other poems to share with you about my favorite tree!  

You can learn more about the dragonfly HERE.

Think about some of your magnet topics. These topics are usually things you are drawn to writing about. They might include people, places, or objects. Pick one and write a poem about it, or choose a poem you have already written. Reread your poem and then put it aside. Take a walk or do something else for a little bit just to create some space from what you have written. Then come back to your poem and reread it again with fresh eyes. Think about your poem in a new way. What do you notice? Do you see any places that you might want to spend some more time trying out your other options? Try plugging a few things in and see what you get. You'll know when it's time to move on, but have fun with it until then. It's poetry playtime!  

Happy Poetry Friday y'all! Penny is hosting the round-up this week, so mozy on over to her site A Penny and her Jots to join in the fun!

I have been wanting to write an invitation poem, like the one I am sharing today for a very long time. I have collected many entries and lists in my notebook of the things I would want to invite others to experience if they were walking here on the ridge with me. There are so many things I want to share with all of you! I never thought that when I took my pen in hand, that I would struggle as much as I did. With the flood of ideas rushing through my brain, I started feeling stuck. How could I get all my thoughts down on paper when there was so much I wanted to say? Then, I remembered that all writers face this situation at times. That's when I realized it was time for me to take a step back and return to the notebook. My son, who is in fourth grade, calls it "brain dumping." So whenever you're stuck, you just take your thinking and "dump it" onto the page. I gave it a try and my "dump" became a very specific list. I used this list to help me stay focused on what I really wanted to say in my poem. I am so grateful to him for sharing such a wonderful strategy. Today, I invite you to join me on the ridge where there are signs everywhere!

Here are a few pictures of the things I listed in my poem.

Invitation to Write:
Sometimes when I am writing a poem, I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head that it's hard for me to stay focused on what I really want to say. Having a list or two in my notebook about my topic really helps me. I don't feel so overwhelmed when I have a list to keep me on track with my thoughts. I have lists for all kind of things in my notebook. You can try making lists in your notebook, too! Lists can be wide and contain many ideas around a topic or they might be really specific. So whether you are generating ideas or circling around a topic, lists are a great tool to help you find your way.

Poetry Friday is finally here! If you would like to celebrate poetry, then join the round up at Heidi's My Juicy Little Universe. Thanks for hosting Heidi!

Today, I am sharing a poem about one of my favorite places. I love spending time on the lake just below the ridge. It is so soothing and peaceful. I love to write about all the life that is happening on the lake. Sometimes, I just close my eyes and let my mind wander wherever it will! Spending time in your favorite place can really clear your head of all the busy thoughts of the week so that your mind is open to take on those new ideas that matter to you. I hope you are able to spend some time in your special place this weekend, too!
  

Writers like to write about their favorite places. It can be comforting to think of the places we love. Try closing your eyes right now and picturing the places that you feel most at home. Think about what makes each place soothing to your mind and spirit. Now open your eyes and write!

Hooray for Poetry Friday! Celebrate with more of my friends from the round-up today atDori Reads. Thanks for hosting today, Dori!

​Today is the Friday before school starts! I am very excited to begin a new school year. I look forward to all the new faces and new beginnings. Every year I can't get over how quickly the summer flies by. It seems just as we end, we begin again. I think about this beginning and ending throughout the days and across years of my life. It always gives me hope when I think about all the things in my life that have ended or may end so that new things may begin. The seasons and our natural world give us proof of this all the time. 

So while I am sad to see the summer season go, I know that it leaves behind the promise of something new. A new opportunity to grow and change will emerge from every season. I look forward to my new beginnings, but I will always remember this summer's end. 

​Have a wonderful beginning to your new school year! 

Listen to my poem: Summer's End

I often think about the beginnings and endings throughout my life. It can be great thinking and writing work. Try making a list in your notebook of beginnings and endings throughout your life. It might be the first time or the last time you felt a certain way or it might be an event that you began or ended. This list can help you generate even more ideas for writing in your notebook!