Meet some of your wonderful #VerseLove poets in Zoom-person on Monday, April 12th @10:30 CST/11:30 EST with our host author-educator Penny Kittle. This special poetry workshop is a fundraiser for Poetic Justice, a nonprofit bringing writing workshop to individuals incarcerated. Disclosure: Ethical ELA founder, Sarah Donovan, is a Poetic Justice board member. Donation: $5
Our Host
Denise Krebs has been writing poetry with students for decades, but she has enjoyed just one year with this dynamic and encouraging poetry-writing community of Verselove at Ethical ELA. Denise has a master’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in teaching reading. Now in her final year in Bahrain, she has become a volunteer reading interventionist at her school–the first modern school in Bahrain, which started in 1899. She is enjoying more time to cook, bake, create, write, tell stories, and get ready for retirement in California. Follow her on Twitter at @mrsdkrebs. She blogs at Dare to Care. She co-authored The Genius Hour Guidebook, published by Routledge Eye on Education and Middle Web, now in the second edition.
The Skinny
Since I’m still new here, I have enjoyed looking through many of the previous poetry prompts at Ethical ELA. Here is a recent favorite from our friend Glenda Funk. A couple of years ago, Glenda taught the group about The Skinny poem. I hope you will read about her inspiration, the teaching moment she shares, and her clear explanation of the process on December 5, 2019’s prompt. Read more about “Skinnys” here:
Process
- Glenda suggests finding “inspiration in a teaching moment, a holiday event, a work of art, a pet.” Consider the image you want to write about and describe the situation in the first line.
- Only lines 1 and 11 have multiple words. Lines 2-10 are each one word only.
- Glenda suggests numbering the lines for your first draft to help organize.
- Line 2, 6, and 10 are each the same word.
- Line 11 uses the same words as line 1, but it can be rearranged for your purposes.
- You can also write multiple Skinnys for one longer poem.
Denise’s Poem
“Vaccinated”
I winced but smiled with the second dose.
Wondering
Hoping
Dreaming
Drifting
Wondering
Mutants
Spreading
Wildfire
Wondering
With the second dose, I smiled but winced.
Dear Denise, this was a fun poem and I thoroughly enjoyed yours being that the pandemic brings new wonders.
Love
I cringe at the fact that love is the foundation of our lives, yet it has so many meanings. Love can
hurt
kill
thrive
prosper
manage
destroy
wonder
manifest
reproduce
heal
Love is more than a word, it’s powerful
Yes, I agree love “has so many meanings.”
Venus
One afternoon at the Uffizi I turned the corner into the room to find one canvas –
Venus
birth
scallop
breeze
Venus
modest
beauty
roses
Venus
A single canvas in the room one afternoon at the Uffizi
Wow, Jamie, I have been struck today with all the poems that put images into my head and tell stories with such an economy of words. I didn’t know about the Uffizi Museum, but I did recognize the painting you saw with your choice descriptors. Striking to me is that The Birth of Venus is a single canvas in the room, and you got to be there. She is honored to stand alone in her modesty! And you kept that beauty by not referring to any of the museum patrons who were viewing the painting in this room. Beautifully done!
I’ve been spending a little time on the Uffizi website enjoying the sites.
A World Broken
“My heart is broken tonight…” Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. (After Atlanta Spa Shooting)
stop
fomenting
bigotry
hatred
stop
spilling
blood
just
stop
“Our world is broken enough … ”
sharp…direct. perfect
Yes, this flows so well and is so direct. Great choice with “stop” as your repeating word. How do we heal this broken world??
? straight to the point.
Tammi, thank you for your skinny, but impactful answers in this skinny poem. STOP is good advice. Just stop with the hatred, bigotry and violence. Yes! I like the beginning and ending and how you used and adapted Sen. Warnock’s words.
Tammi, this is powerful. I hear and feel your poem.
Thank you, Denise, for this skinny poem prompt tonight. Also to Glenda, for her inspiration.
As I mulled teaching moments from this past week, I kept returning to a silent battle I’m having with a student. As I wrote my poem, I was able to give the needed attention to this small moment. The reflection will push me to be a better teacher next week. Again, writing improves our teaching. Thank you.
She resists reading
eyes
dart
fingers
fiddle
eyes
meet
mine.
She
eyes
reading she resists
I feel it…the resistance. You’ll win her over eventually. Will she read a skinny?
Allison — you’ve captured the distraction of this student so well with the words you have chosen, and when her eyes meet yours — I can totally picture that moment.
Allison, wow. I love so much that you never stop reflecting and learning to be a better teacher. This is beautiful. Her eyes, darting from the text to you. She resists, yet she still needs you, and you are going to do what it takes, as you do. All the best to you and her as you continue to walk with her.
One of my best friends got married today, and I was unable to attend due to the pandemic, my work schedule, and distance. Thank you for prompting me to capture this unique moment in a skinny poem, Denise. I am excited to play with this form more because I am 100% satisfied with the poem, but I had a lot of fun with this word puzzle.
I am virtually thousands of miles away before the ceremony begins…
Ring
the
wedding
bells!
Ring
placed
on
finger.
Ring
into the virtual ceremony, for I am thousands of miles away.
Rachelle,
Sorry you were unable to attend your best friend’s wedding. I live the poem you wrote. The use of the word ring and the different meaning behind each, is wonderful.
Rachelle — I love the way ring falls so naturally into these images. I feel joy in this poem.
So creative!! I love how you use “ring” in all the different ways. I get the joyful vibe too – maybe finding peace in this “new normal,” even if it’s not perfect. Virtual connection does open a lot of opportunities!!
Rachelle, I am so sorry that this trying year prevented you from attending. There is a wistful melancholy in your poem that really expresses that well. Lovely and sad.
Rachelle, what a great poem. Clever movement of virtual/virtually in your first and last lines. I’m glad you could capture this moment on the day of the wedding. And RING has three delightful different meanings here. Super job.
Rachelle, I feel your joy and positivity. Beautiful!
Let’s finish strong this year!
Clap
For
Me,
I’ll
Clap
For
You
too.
Clap!
Let’s finish this year strong!
It’s good to know I have someone clapping for me! Thanks, Katrina. This is great.
The way you structured the repeating word here to read in a sentence is neat-o! Encouragement to the finish line is so important in miles 25 and 26 of the marathon! And that’s about where we are. Great idea to ?? clap!
Such an uplifting poem for today! We’re beginning our last quarter of the year next week. Clapping is necessary! I’ll clap for you!
Your poem is uplifting! YES! You reminded me that this year deserves an ovation. Whew!
Yes, let’s finish strong! Clapping makes me happy. I love the positivity of your poem.
What a sweet skinniest poem you have created, Katrina. Yes, let’s clap for each other. That is all there is to do, is celebrate the finishing. Hang in there. Today starts our fourth quarter! We can do it!
Katrina, I love how your poem reads like a cheer! It’s full of love and positivity.
I’m afraid to go to sleep because
breathing
doesn’t
always
help
breathing
with
the
terror
breathing
because I’m afraid to go to sleep
Chillllllllling, Rachel! I feel it to my core.
When I read it aloud, it’s haunting. I pray you are okay.
??Stacey
Rachel, I find it truly amazing that you’re able to create such a scene and intense feeling in such a tiny format. Perfect word choice to portray this concept. Like Stacey, posted before me, I’m sending good vibes your way.
Rachel — Wow! I totally feel this poem and these lines especially.
I’m afraid to go to sleep because
breathing/doesn’t/always/help
I identity with this fear deeply. After my youngest daughter was born, I had serious a health scare which left me afraid to fall asleep for the longest time because I thought I wouldn’t wake up.
I hope you are okay.
Breathing – what a powerful word and then to have it relating to terror is alarming, like the feeling when one can’t get their breath. Peace to you, Rachel.
I like to read Psalm 4 when I’m afraid to sleep. It starts with:
Rachel, your poem is powerful; I felt your emotions. Your poem made me think of how in sleep or when we’re awake, we are always processing our feelings. I find talking to someone is therapeutic as well as writing. Hopefully, writing your poem has helped. Sending you a hug.
A bit of background, I spent my afternoon at the celebration of life in honor of my best friend’s 21-year-old son. I chose to process my thoughts and emotions through my poem today
Parents should not have to bury their child
Heartbroken
Sadness
Loss
Unexpected
Heartbroken
Grieving
Unhealing
Ache
Heartbroken
Bury their children, something no parent should have to do
I’m glad you wrote about this. Poetry is such a good way to process emotions, good and difficult. I’m so sorry for your friend`s and your loss.
DeAnna, sending condolences your way. I’m glad the poem gave you space to release some grief. Truly sad.
Take care of yourself and feel all your feelings.
?
DeAnna, what a big concept in such a tiny poem with strict rules. Thanks for sharing this with us, and I am glad that you have this community and creative hobby through which to process the grief. <3
Even from this far distance, my heart hurts for you as you hurt for your friends. I do believe poetry gives beauty to the heartbreak of living. Thank you.
DeAnna — I’m so sorry for your loss. This is heartbreaking.
Oh, you have said it. I’m so very sorry for the loss of your best friend’s child, DeAnna. True: “Parents should not have to bury their child” In the words you have chosen, we can see the brokenness, and we learn of one detail–unexpected–that answers some of our questions. Peace to you and your friend and all those who loved this young man.
DeAnna, I am sorry for your friend’s loss and for your loss. I feel the pain in your poem. Using “Heartbroken” as your repeating word is effective. As others have expressed, I also hope writing this powerful and moving poem has helped you to process.
I’m learning how much I love poetry
Discovering
how
to
play
Discovering
my
words
matter
Discovering
poetry: I love how much I’m learning
I love this. I discovered i liked to write poetry relatively late, but now it’s my go to. I love your rearrangement of the first to last line.
Ooh, I enjoy the play of the first set of words, and the “words matter” theme of the second one, centered around the word discovery. I relate to this one as a science teacher who was gifted an ELA class, and rediscovering my writing love! Keep on discovering – love it!
Britt,
Wow, I love this poem and your word choices.
YES!
Britt,
I love this learning. It is the natural consequence of being in this space and writing w/ a kind, generous group of readers. “Discovering” is my favorite word in your skinny.
Britt — love that your discovering you love poetry. These lines are powerful: “Discovering/my/words/ matter”
So true!! I feel this. I especially love your first and last lines.
Britt, Discovering how much you love poetry and how much you are learning about poetry is a nice twist in your first and last lines. Discovering is a great repeating word, and the economy of words make even stronger the choice of telling two things that you love about the discovering:
and
You have spoken your heart and mirrored the experience for many of us in your poem.
Brit, I love your topic and repeating word “discovering.” What I love most is that you’re “discovering” that your “words matter.” A great poem and a great lesson-well done.
My Best Friend
The love of a dog is unreservedly unconditional.
Devoted
Loyal
Protective
Enamored
Devoted
Healing
Playful
Essential
Devoted
Unconditional love is unreservedly the purview of dogs.
Cara, Thank you for sharing your dog love here. I appreciate and agree with your words, particularly enamored and devoted.
Yes, yes, yes! Devoted is the perfect repeated word.
Cara,
You are blessed to have a wonderful dog who truly loves you unconditionally. This poem pay great homage to that love ?
Lovely poem, Cara. I love ode to furry friends. My dog missed me so much when I was away for the entire workday TWICE this past week. He used to love snoozing at my feet during 1st period English 11. You picked the perfect word to repeat. Thank you for this poem; it made me smile!
Cara, your first and last lines powerful convey the truth in the repeated devoted. You’ve chosen some powerful words to describe that unconditional love–healing and essential. I’m happy for the people who have had fur babies to love and be loved by during this past year.
Cara, your love of your best friend shines through. I love your repeating word “devoted.” Beautiful tribute poem. I relate to your poem because my two cats are also my best friends. I have always felt that they are “healing, devoted and essential” but during the past year I have felt these words describe them a million times more. Thank you for reminding how important my cats are to me.
Good for the Soul
By Mo Daley
4-10-21
spring cleaning calls to me
begging
out
with
the old
begging
don’t
bring in
the new
begging
cleaning calls me to spring
Mo — COME TO MY HOUSE! I’ve been promising myself I’d do this….”in my head” to quote Emily skinny poem today. The “begging” really works! Hugs, Susie
Mo, isn’t it the best feeling? Love to throw out and declutter. Your choice for “begging” as the repeated word is perfect.
?
Mo, I always love the hope that “out with the old” holds. Thank you for sharing and I hope you got a lot of cleaning done today!
Mo – this was me a few weeks ago and it was glorious!! Funny how inanimate objects can call us or “beg” us. I love the spring cleaning ritual – so needed! PS – what Susie said. Welcome to Maine any time 🙂
Mo —
Love these lines: “don’t/bring in/the new.” Always seems like the junk replicates in my house. LOL!
Mo, great idea for a topic. I wonder if that is what filled much of your Saturday today. The cleaning is begging you, but you make it sound like a good experience with that last line. Cleaning is like an entryway into springtime.
Thank you, Denise, for your “skinny poems” prompt. I’m going to have to keep playing with these. Loved your opening and closing lines.
Tears reflected on the partitioned glass
Separate
two
hearts
broken
Separate
tender
loving
embraces
Separate
On the partitioned glass, tears reflected
Barb Edler
10 April 2021
Barb – In so few words you’ve painted a truly heartbreaking image. And the reflection in the glass… ooo, this is a big hurt. Sending a big hug. Susie
Barb, your skinny poem shares a true Covid-heartbreak and you ending with “tears reflected” tops it off. Thank you for sharing this today.
So moving, Barb. I love that separate can be a verb or adjective.
Barb, I would have tried to imagine a context for the “tears reflected on the partitioned glass” without the year of pandemic we have experienced. Without using the words COVID-19, coronavirus, or pandemic, your words reflect the pains of separation so many have experienced.
Barb,
I love your poems.
“Separate” is a great word for repetition, especially because it is both an adjective and a verb. I kept reading it both ways.
<3,
Allison
Barb — This line — “On the partitioned glass, tears reflected” — is just so moving!
As Katrina mentioned before Covid we didn’t really have experience with this kind of image, but now we have seen these broken hearts separated from each other through glass panes. I’m picturing even the tear drop reflections looking like broken hearts. Separate is a strong repeating word.
Barb, oh my so powerful. Your poem moves me because I feel the pain and sadness; I can clearly see your images. Beautifully written.
[Note: The year I was born, Pablo Picasso was collaborating with photographer Gjon Mili to produce a series of linear photographs called “light drawings” that blended tools and artistic genius. He was particularly smitten with masks and minotaurs. To see some of these: https://www.life.com/arts-entertainment/behind-the-picture-picasso-draws-with-light/ ]
Picasso’s Light Drawings, 1949
Picasso’s strobes of light and cameras collided for light drawings
genius
caught
exposure
movement
genius
time
strokes
blur
genius
Light drawings: a collision of cameras and Picasso’s strobes
by Susie Morice, April 10, 2021©
Susie, Picasso’s images are fascinating. It’s like he’s writing in air! I can see his “light” brush dancing across your words as they dance across the “air” of the paper canvas, as if your hand is flitting back and forth down the skinny. So cool!
Susie, your repeating word, genius, is so apt. I attended an Eventbrite session on Picasso’s life a few weeks back and was fascinated with his story. My daughter and I were able to see his exhibit at the Frist yesterday, and the techniques he used were captivating. What drew me in perhaps even more than the art were his quotes about his style – they could have just as easily been said of poetry or other art forms as well. I am reflecting on your words and agreeing with a full smile and feverish nod! Cheers!
Susie, your language captures Picasso’s key strokes so well. I love the link you shared to showcase this artwork. I do not remember seeing these before. Very fascinating. Your first and last lines are exceptional. Loved the words “blur” and “exposure” in your poem Thanks for sharing your poem and Picasso’s light drawings. Wonderful!
Susie,
This is fascinating. I read the article after reading your poem snd viewing the images. I love the idea of cameras colliding. I visited the Reina Sophia museum a few years ago specifically to view “Guernica,” and my eye was drawn to the light/dark contrasts in the painting. That was a real bucket list experience. Seeing these “drawing with light” images reminds me of children drawing w/ sparklers. They’re so playful, snd of course “genius.”
What a glorious skinny! Picasso must have shined down from Heaven just for you today! He touched your key strokes, a fellow genius.
Lovely!
Love the inspiration for this piece and how the form of skinny poem seems to mimic the gestures. Very cool poem!
Susie, what a topic! This poem in a specific time, place and chapter in Picasso’s art is such a beautiful recording of his genius. Thank you for providing the link. I had never seen these photos before. I love how you describe the art as collision between cameras and strobes.
And Susie, I must say, I find it hard to believe you are old enough to have been born the same year Picasso was colliding cameras and strobes!
Aw, thanks, Denise. So sweet! It was like being carded… ha… which happens NEVER anymore. LOL!
This was an interesting little exercise, Denise (and Glenda).
Fully immunized, they remove their masks and gather in the corner booth of the bar.
Friends
Intersecting
Laughter
Toasts
Friends
Together
Reveal
Relief
Friends
Gather, immunized, in the bar’s corner booth and fully remove their masks.
David,
This word “fully” is very telling, and I love how between the first line and last line, the 9 words only fill a margin. In fact, your poem sort of looks like a mask or if tilted, a glass or pint from that bar. Hmm…essentially, I am saying that the white space is speaking.
Sarah
I feel the intimacy and companionship of this gathering – the seclusion of the private corner combined with the unmasked exposure of faces is a trusting and secure feeling in this friendship fun!
David, the removal of the masks and the words you share in this poem are truly uplifting. I think the word “relief” resonates here. Wonderful image and poem!
David,
I noticed “immunized” is set off by commas. This adds another layer of meaning to my reading. There’s an intimacy in “and fully remove their masks” when I read the poem w/out “immunized.” I love this ambiguity.
David,
I enjoyed you poem and appreciate your word choices. I “FULLY” look forward to the day I can remove my mask with my friends.
David, the way your words gather together, (each its own word yet forming a complete picture), reveals fittingly the friendship your poem describes.
David,
Today I met (unmasked!) my son’s fiance’s mother at a coffee house in Stuart, Iowa. We are both teachers, now both vaccinated. It was my first such public meeting in over a year.
Relief
Friends
Toasts
Fully removing our masks
Your poem was an appreciated mirror to me tonight.
Yes, David, I like the position of fully in your poem. Fully immunized allows them to fully remove their masks. (Not just leave them dangling under their noses or around their necks.) I love the joy and positive vibes throughout the poem and the repetition of friends. Thanks for sharing!
I Can Do Hard Things
I can do the hard things.
flourish
struggle
push
strive
struggle
emerge
survive
thrive
flourish
The hard things I can do.
Donnetta — Your poem immediately took me to Carrie Newcomer’s song, “We Can Do This Hard Thing.” Yes! You can do a zillion hard things. Way to go! Thank you for the reminder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0M2PO1ZlVg Susie
Brilliant poem, Donnetta! I love the repeated struggle and yet it doesn’t weigh the poem but celebrates getting through it. I also love that you used flourish twice — I think that emphasizes how each new struggle we have to go through this cycle again but we can do it! Thanks for sharing.
Your word choices are so gripping today – emerge, flourish, strive, thrive – these are indeed the hard things of persevering and succeeding.
Donetta, the struggle word works so effectively to share your need to push on. I was trying to write a letter of encouragement today. Your poem reminded me of how we must “push” and “strive” to ‘flourish”. Loved this! Thanks!
Donnetta! YESSSSS! Claiming your victory!??????
Donnetta, I love your use of synonyms for doing “hard things.” Your first and last lines remind me that I can do hard things too. Thank you.
Donnetta, such beautiful images of important hard things you can do. I like the rhymes of thrive, survive and strive, and balanced choice to repeat struggle and flourish both. They are tied together. Thank you, Donnetta.
Denise (and Glenda), thank you for introducing me to this form! Your poem was spot-on for me when I received my second shot, all that “wondering.” Now, usually, I’ll read the inspiration and mentor poems, go away, think, and compose, then come back and post. Today, I did all of that, but before I posted, I read some “offerings.” They are so good — poignant, meaningful, significant. And I realized that The Skinny could be all of those things, but I’m still gonna post mine anyways. Lol.
________________________________
Should we have asparagus with dinner tonight?
later
slender
green
delicious
later
bathroom
aromatic
regret
later
Why did we have asparagus with dinner tonight?
Scott, thank you for the fun skinny poem here! Now we know they can be “poignant, meaningful, significant,” funny, silly, and all these things, plus more. I’ve heard of the aromatic bathroom regrets, but I hear everyone doesn’t have the olfactory experience you describe here. Fun poem.
(You have some experience writing informally skinny poems, by the way. This poem looks right at home here with your name above it.)
Scott,
Your bathroom humor cracks me up. I love asparagus, except for the “aromatic / regret.” Maybe hold your nose and activate a diffuser next time you experience post-asparagus aroma. ?
Scott — I love that I’m here laughing out loud….green chuckles. Susie
This is hilarious! Twice with my daughter over the weekend, we ate asparagus. She brought this up, and talked about the bathroom issues to follow. I said, “unless you have the enzyme.” So then we discussed the asparagus enzyme. We compared notes and we don’t have the enzyme.
Scott, another wonderfully humorous poem. Thanks for the chuckle!
I love the repetition of the word “later” especially as you get to the word “regret”. Based on the personal experience with asparagus, I have to wonder, Why, ever? Great Skinny Poem Scott.
Denise, what a clever prompt! I am amazed by how challenging it is to whittle one’s words to fit into the form. I ended up fudging my first and last line, not using precisely the same words. Also, for my theme, I was sad that nine single words were not enough . . .
God says love the stranger: each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made
Black
Brown
Asian
migrants
poor
LGBTQ
homeless
addicted
disabled
Each feared stranger wonders of us: is God’s love made up?
Wow, Maureen, excellent tweaking of the Skinny form here. Yes, that is sad that nine words were not enough to cover all the “feared strangers.” This poem is haunting and sad. “Is God’s love made up?” What a great question, and I’m sure it breaks God’s heart that so many people have to ask it.
Maureen,
This skinny deserves a resounding Amen. I just don’t get how someone can claim to follow Christ and not love strangers. That final question is gold: “Each feared stranger wonders of us: is God’s love made up?”
Maureen — I so love how you put such utterly critically important words into the skinny formula. No matter how you state it, WHAT you said matters deeply. Terrific. Thank you. Susie
Maureen, this deserves a gold medal! Yes to loving all of mankind, just the way He made each of us.
Maureen, your poem is filled with a very important message of inclusion. The end completely rocked me. Outstanding reversal here! Loved it!
Maureen, can you see me? Can you hear me? I’m standing and clapping, shouting and dancing! Singing hallelujah too!!
Grateful for this poem and all the “strangers” waiting to be loved! ?
Great poem, Maureen. I love the last line how it questions us from the “feared strangers’” viewpoint. Would that we all put ourselves in other’s shoes. More kindness and compassion, less fear.
God’s love is not made up, but unfortunately people don’t know how to show it…IMO. Anyhoo, I love your poem. It is hard to be totally inclusive in this form, but you did good.
What a great poem prompt, Denise! It’s far from easy and limitless. I love your poem. I’m finally getting my vaccination next Saturday and your words capture so much . . . wondering.
I had a rough day at school yesterday, feeling like we aren’t doing enough to help shape society . . . that we reflect it too much. This Skinny doesn’t really capture what I want it to, but it’s a start. I think I will work to tweak.
Shape or Reflect?
Who are they? Should we let kids be?
Individuals
Boundary-pushing
Rebellious
Competitive
Individuals
Inclusive
Justice-seeking
Peace-loving
Individuals
We should let kids be who they are.
~Susan Ahlbrand
10 April 2021
Sudan,
Reading your poem reminds me of all the ways adults try to control kids, but these same adults wanted their independence as teens. I used to than my students for pretending I was in control when all along they are the ones who decide whether or not to comply w/ a teacher’s requests. I live the way you’ve taken those opening questions and ended w/ and emphatic statement.
This is so strong, powerful; how lucky these students are to have you! That this thought drives you/this poem: “feeling like we aren’t doing enough to help shape society” – wow, truly inspiring. Yes, “We should let kids be who they are.”
Susan,
First, I am noticing how you use the hyphen to create new words. This is a subtle subversion to the many rules of compliance schools compel teachers and students to endure. I had hoped the silver lining of COVID would be a reimagining of schooling, that there’d be shifts in practice and abandonment of measurement-focused, counting of beings of the past. Maybe what we can hope for is the noticing of being, the teachers who are subverting restriction. Thank you. And, of course, I love “peace-loving.”
Sarah
Susan, great attempt. You may tweak it or rewrite it in another form, but here it stands with great meaning for those of us who get to read it. Clever changing of the first sentence questions to a strong statement of what it should be. I love the individuals repetition. It reads so well with your hyphenated adjectives describing the individuals in each repeat. Such strong words like boundary-pushing and justice-seeking.
Susan, I could not agree more with your message. I think we need to be able to listen more so we understand who they are so we can help support that individual! Awesome poem!
Passing By
There they go again, as I look through a window, 24 x 32.
Daughters
running
playing
laughing
Daughters
barefoot
dirty
life
Daughters,
as I look through a 24 x 32 window, there they go again.
Linda,
This is a lovely tribute to daughters. I love the image of watching through a window. It’s both close and distant.
Love this. I have two daughters, myself, and it really resonated. <3
Love the repetition of Daughters – and especially the capitalization of the word; there is something about this that truly honors girls and their play. Very tender poem!
They sound so busy! Linda, your poem gave me warm memories of watching my girls running barefoot under the mulberry tree and coming back in the house with stained purple feet, hands, and mouths. I love the movement, “there they go again”
Linda, I love the joy that emanates through your poem and created through your carefully chosen words. The specificity of the window size was particularly clever. Love how you rearranged the final line.
I’m old school in that April was both poetry month and the time in the school year when my students and I studied the canonical works of William Shakepeare: 9th Grade: Romeo and Juliet; 10th Grade: Julius Caesar; 11th Grade: Macbeth and 12th Grade: Hamlet. However, over time my approach to teaching changed. Here’s the poem from my perspective as a teacher and what I hope is what became my students’ experience, as well.
The Bard was hard
Assignment
Alignment
Voice
Choice
Study
Buddy
Easy
Peasy
Now
The Bard’s not hard
Anna,
The rhyme sets up the contrasts nicely. I never felt good about how I taught Shakespeare until studying at the Folger Shakespeare Library in 2008. I wish I’d trusted my belief in performance pedagogy sooner. It makes the Bard not hard.
Glenda, it was through the Folger Shakespeare Library presentations at our state and national conventions that I learned ways to ‘ALIGN” ASSIGNMENTS in ways that students began to see the “value” of studying this writer’s work. Some of my favorites was having (1) the seniors re-write a Hamlet soliloquy in contemporary language! We created gestures to go with a call and response choral reading style as we quote the opening sonnet in Romeo and Juliet. We’d begin each day saying the sonnet, with different students as “leaders”. By the time we’d completed the study of the play, most students knew that sonnet by heart and could earn extra credit on the test by writing as many lines as they recalled! Easy, peasy!
Anna, I love this idea! Making learning “Easy, peasy!” is what it’s all about! Thanks for sharing this technique!
What a great English teacher you have been! I wish I had studied the Bard with your class. What fun it must have been to become easy, peasy.
Love this playful poem on your old school approach! First and last lines are so fun, with their flip of meaning.
Anna, what a fun poem! Oh, my your rhymes are always spot on, and this is one of my favorites of yours! Lucky teacher and students to have had you go through that change in pedagogy. Beautiful. I love that the Bard’s not hard for them now.
Anna — I totally enjoyed the sense of a teacher’s growth in these words. Looking back, there are so many things I know I’d approach differently. I particularly love “voice” and “choice’ in your skinny. Thank you! Susie
Anna, I love this and wish I could have had a creative and engaging English teacher in my life. My memories of high school English are not fun at all! As a teacher I got to experience many more encounters with the Bard that were memorable and easy peasy!
I’m sure you could’ve taught me to love all the “hard bards” and I would remember what I learned. I love this!
How do you manage to flow with your rhymes so easily? You’re amazing!
Thank you for another great form to practice and stretch my writing. I wrote three different ones. I decided to share the big event in our house this week. I also wrote two versions of this, so I guess I wrote four skinny poems.
With the click of the mouse, she is Wisconsin bound.
leaving
exploring
learning
leaving
expanding
forging
climbing
leaving
she’s bound with Wisconsin with the mouse click.
Congratulations to your daughter! Wow, this is so cool to read your poem – after having read your blog in March about her visiting schools. Such a big decision – for the parents, too! Love the repetition of “leaving” with so many powerful words of growth in between.
Heather,
What I am loving about this April community is the way we get these snapshots into each others’ lives. I love accepting what we offer; for example, I feel your joy and I am also joyful at the possibilities released from this mouse click even though I do not know the “she” and what awaits in Wisconsin. I accept and appreciate that this is enough – just this moment!
Sarah
(Heather, I am finding it fascinating to see the word that is repeated in the poems and the words that make it one time. It’s been fun to read so many skinny poems today!) In yours, I love the words exploring, learning, expanding, forging and climbing. Perhaps these are words from your daughter’s perspective. For you, the leaving is so strong. All the way from MA to Wisconsin! I’m not sure I’m interpreting it as you meant, but I’m sensing the loss here.
Heather, I assume your daughter is leaving for college. “With the click of the mouse,” you have captured the memory forever. I tried unsuccessfully to find words with multiple meanings for my poem. You pulled it off perfectly with “bound.”
Denise — Loved your Skinny poem and can totally relate. I felt same worry with my vaccinations, especially the second dose which many said would bring more adverse effects. Luckily, I felt pretty good afterwards. And now, two weeks later, I’m feeling really hopeful that life will start returning to normal. I hope you are feeling well. Can’t wait to dive into the Skinny poem this evening. Right now have a packed day.
Thanks, Tammi! I will probably see you in the morning (Bahrain time) 🙂 Glad you didn’t have adverse effects with your vaccine!
Morning Coffee
By Nancy White
I love fresh-ground beans just-brewed in my Jamie cup.
Pungent
Sweet
Earthy
Comfort
Purring
Cat
Chirping
Birds
Peace
In my Jamie cup I love fresh-ground beans just-brewed!
Nancy, I can smell those fresh-ground beans! I love the imagery and feeling from beginning to end. Your poem feels like a Saturday morning at its best!
Nancy,
I’m raising my cup of Joe and toasting this skinny. Wonderful contrasts between your coffee and nature.
Good morning! I know how you love both Jamie and coffee. What a deliciously comforting start to your day.
This is lovely, lovely, lovely. I feel as if I am enjoying a cup, too!
Oh, Nancy, my husband is a coffee aficionado, and I thought you were going to tell all words about coffee, at first. You begin with such strong and sensory words for the coffee–pungent, sweet, earthy. Then it’s so much better than having all coffee words, you give us comfort, animals and sounds and best of all: peace. Enjoy your morning. It all sounds delicious!
Delicious!! It’s past noon for me, and I still haven’t enjoyed my cuppa. Your poem is reminding me to do just that on this slow Saturday as the toddler naps 😉
Nancy — mmmmm…. I’m wishing I had read this early this morning. Purrrrrfect. Mmmm. Susie
Oh, my Bryan! That was a load of fun, reading multiple skinnies all hugging each other in their warm and cocoon-like way! Aging, aching, cracking, sighing…I can relate!
I had a few Skinny poems written that felt light and fun. Then I read Glenda’s poem today about the trial. It sparked another poem after writing my comments to her about feeling the need to constantly check back and see what’s happening with the trial. This feeling reminds me of checking a sleeping baby all night to make sure she’s breathing. Thank you, Glenda and Denise!
Checking for Breath
Rushing back and forth to watch recounts of his murder
like
checking
baby’s
breathing
Like
Floyd’s
breath
stolen
like
recounts of his murder rushing back and forth, to watch
©Stacey L. Joy, April 10, 2021
Stacey, I’m glad you wrote several skinnys, but then chose this one to share with us. The juxtaposition of the similes of checking the baby’s breathing and seeing that George Floyd is not breathing is so powerful.
Thank you, Stacey.
Stacy- beautiful. The rushing to check on the baby reminds me how George Floyd called for his mother. Thanks for going deep today.
Thank you for writing this Stacey. I am seeing memes, clips of the trial, articles, sometimes I watch it live. Can’t help but to but it’s always horrific. I’ve been trying to put my thoughts into a poem. I must one day. This is good.
Stacey,
I can’t help but hear George Floyd calling for his mother. I can’t help but think about all black parents “checking / baby’s / breathing.” These men whose lives are so devalued by police are babies to their mothers. They will always be babies. My words are so inadequate for articulating all I’m thinking about this world and the anuses we see from police.
There are chills up and down by neck – what a poignant, beautifully-sad connection – baby’s breathing, George Floyd’s breathing. Imagine a world where we saw the innocent baby within each of us and treated each of us this tenderly?
Chills. Haunting. Deep breaths. Thank you for this. Almost 20 months ago my husband and I were doing this very thing: constantly checking our newborn’s breathing. We’re going to be doing the same in a little over a month with our next newborn. This is beautiful. I love it.
Oh, Stacey — Yes! The gasping sense of this is so godawful. I am still on edge and will be for years to come with the horror… and raw from the reality that this is just one man’s breath… so many before and since. OMG, what kind of world is this? Loving you, my friend. Susie
Stacey, and to think George Floyd called out for his mother in his final minutes makes your poem so tragically powerful.
We don’t want to harm each other. We want
healing
noticing
acknowledging
accepting
healing
be-ing
grace-ing
tender-ing
healing
See the harm we carry with each other; nurture healing for one another.
Sarah, thank you for sending this loving poem into this space! May we all find ways to heal ourselves and each other.
☮️
Oh, Sarah, thank you. I love the ing words, especially the reworked ones. Yes, we want be-ing, grace-ing, and tender-ing. What a good message for the world today. Thank you…
Sarah- I love how you turned words into verbs. Reminds me of a book my grandfather read called “God is a verb”. Thank you for the gentle reminder today.
This is a poem of love and healing. So beautiful!
Sarah,
I notice the “ing” ending on so many words, including the invented ones, and am reminded how each of these is an ongoing, recurring action. I love this about the progressive verb forms. We tell so many stories in this space, and the more we tell, the more I notice we have to learn about one another.
Sarah — Yes, NURTURE HEALING. The immediacy of the “-ing” is just right here. You are a fine soul, my friend. Susie
Sarah, healing is so important. You speak to my heart in this poem. Thank you!
Sarah! Yes we each have the power to be a healing touch to someone. You given me of us that touch by creating and maintaining this site where we can gather, write, inspire and encourage one another. Thank you.
As most of you know, here in San Diego, we have a lot of asylees coming over our border. They are staying in our hotels waiting for their quarantine to end and to make the next leg of their journey to a family member or sponsor already in the U.S.
Bags
filled bags – food for the hungry
nourishment
delivered
tasty
welcomed
nourishment
oranges
pasta
awaited
nourishment
bags – food for the now filled hungry
What a great poem and a holy activity to give to those who are hungry–undoubtedly many are low on resources after their long journey. I love how the filled bags become empty and the people are now filled. Nourishment, indeed!
I am struck by how you connected the story of the bag and turned the first and last lines around. What a beautiful tribute to the work you are doing and the people who no doubt appreciate the food. Lovely!
Susan, I find the poem commendable. Revealing an aspect of the homeless travelers that need help on their journey. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this window on such beautiful, welcoming, supportive work on behalf of these migrants. Love the words ‘welcomed’ and ‘awaited’ especially!
Susan,
I see you doing this work of nurturing and providing “nourishment” in your poem. Thank you.
Susan — I love the utter decency of this. Thank you for this humanity, for the action to be kind and welcoming. Thank heavens. Susie
Thanks, Susan, for sharing a more humane way to show hospitality to those seeking assylum. If we “let” folks in, we have the responsibility to what we can to aid them along their journeys. We have PLENTY of space here and we must be generous in the ways we hoped, wished our ancestors had been received.
Denise – I love the suggestions in the prompt, and I was struck by your vivid words of mutants and wildfire, as well as the hope and dream of what the vaccine will bring. The poem captures this duality just beautifully. Thanks for the poem and the prompt!
Lazy Saturday
In my head, I have grand plans
Doing
Stretching
Cleaning
Hydrating
Doing
Saving
Self-improving
Industrious
Doing
I have grand plans… in my head
Yes! I have grand plans in my head, as well. I can so relate to this!
I always have grand plans in my head. Maybe I get to one.
Ah, Emily! I can relate. Grand plans in my head most days. I love the repeated word of doing. It got me thinking that sometimes–especially weekend days–you probably have more important being to attend to. Sweet poem!
Yes! Emily, we share this Saturday in common! I feel the missing piece most of the time is lack of motivation caused by exhaustion!
Emily,
Let those “grand plans” stay in your head. Relax and dream. Poetry is doing. I love the implied celebration of leisure in your poem. Have a healing, comforting weekend.
Emily! oh, those grand plans! All that “ing”-ing. I have them too. Most often I’m happy for them to just stay in my head until school is done. But they are ever present. Love this take on the skinny!
Emily – You made me smile… I think that I have those same plans “in my head.” LOL! Here I am at the keyboard, having racked up 757 steps today between the bed, the couch, the mailbox, the big red chair, and the coffee pot. In my head…waaaay too much of the time. Ha! Love this. Susie
Bryan, I responded on Twitter but will share here.
Wow, I would never have imagined a Skinny could be “fattened up” into such a phenomenal piece! This is amazing. You’re inspiring me to see beyond the Skinny form and embracing the “extra weight” and all its splendor. This fat Skinny is incredible!
I haven’t been back in a few days, but I’m glad I returned for this one. I’ve learned over the past few years that I prefer my poems short and with a lot of punch in that brevity. It’s so much fun playing with one word lines and rearranging them to find the right order. I really enjoyed how the poem you used flipped at the halfway point! I based my own poem on a recent outdoor excursion my friend and I took to a local park.
Spring Time
We unfurl our blankets and sprawl out on the clovers:
peaceful
hopeful
magical
dreaming
peaceful
breathing
reflecting
child-like
peaceful.
We sprawl out on our blankets and unfurl the clovers.
Oh, Erica, I’m so glad you came back for today’s poem. I love your repeating word — peaceful. And that final line…unfurling the clovers! What fun is that? It sounds like a wonderful trip to the park. Here’s to more short and punchy poems by you!
Erica- you captured the beauty of spring here and the child-like joy of being out in it! I love the end of unfurling the clovers. This was a fun inversion for a poem that gives a sense of peace.
Your poem makes me want to spread my blanket to “unfurl the clovers.” What a breath of serenity.
Erica,
I first read “clovers” as “covers” but love that this one letter “l” offers another image alongside the blanket and the way of being in the unfurling. I see the word “peace” coming up a few times in the poems across our community today. Love how we are willing it to be and it is!
Peace,
Sarah
Good morning and Happy Saturday, Denise! So happy to join you today for a Skinny time together. ?
I really connected with your poem. I got my second dose on Monday. Definitely didn’t wince this time like the first time, I think my person was more skilled at getting it in the right way. Hopefully you had minimal side effects. I just had a really sore arm for 3 days and sore skin on the right side of my body for about 2 days. Other than that all is well, thank God.
Sorry, I’m just chatting away.
I sat with these words because I wonder if we are headed into the fire or into the wind.
Thank you. I wonder.
?Stacey
Thank you, Stacey! I did have minimal side effects, thankfully. Just a sore arm and a crazy night’s sleep. I hope those mutants stay at bay with all our vaccines!
I have watched much of the Chauvin murder trial and cannot get Dr. Tobin’s testimony about George Floyd’s struggle to breathe out of my mind.
Breathe through Fingers
He died of positional asphyxia while trying to breathe through his fingers.
He
reached
gasped
choked
He
grasped
clenched
oxygen
He
tried to breathe through his fingers while dying of positional asphyxia.
—Glenda Funk
Glenda, isn’t it gut wrenching to imagine. I have been following as well, taking breaks while Zoom teaching, but feeling the need to continue checking. You have captured this suffering and tragedy in your Skinny. That’s pretty darn remarkable, but then again, it’s Glenda! Wow.
There’s something to be said about the image of clenching oxygen. You got this right all the way!
?
Glenda,
That we should, have had to learn this term “positional asphyxia” is just enraging. That this term exists. That someone had to name it — ever – -maybe it was caused by an accident at one point, but now we have a human being, a police officer as the positioner as the asphyxiator. Your poem works in its economy as a commentary and call to action that the court assign blame accordingly and convict.
Sarah
Glenda, powerful poem and important quote to highlight. How anyone could, with a straight face argue that he died of anything but that, amazes me. It is ludicrous and sinful.
Yes, like Stacey says, clenching and grasping for oxygen is so painful. That gradual change from what all of us have experienced on some level–gasping and choking to the second part as the oxygen is removed from his life he grasped and clenched oxygen, only to find it gone. This poem is breaking our collective hearts again.
Glenda – I feel like your words capture the absolute horror of the moment. The short lines capture the grasping for breath. I also was struck by “He grasped clenched oxygen.” I am in awe. Thank you.
Wow! Your skinny poem captured so much of this gut-wrenching moment.
Glenda, through honing in on this one phrase, you provide a chilling clear view of the murder itself. Seeing the word ‘He’ three times, capitalized, I am reminded of his humanity, this beautiful living person, whose life was taken from him.
Glenda, you’ve managed to show the horror in his struggle in so few words. I can’t help but think he had so few words as well. What really strikes me is your description of positional asphyxia – “trying to breathe through his fingers.” It’s so horrible.
Glenda — Both you and Stacey have laid down visceral pieces of this nightmare. I just ache from these images, from the horror of what a man is so willing to do to another man. OMG. Thank you for these painful but necessary images, that we not forget nor step aside. Susie
Glenda, wow, your poem is visceral and a keen lens of this awful reality. I have to turn away anytime I see this video begin to play. The terror he was experiencing leaps of the page here. I hope a wide audience will read your poem. Thank you.
Hi Denise. Thank you for the idea of the skinny poem. The one that I have written this morning is about personal relationships and the challenges we face as we grow together. Enjoy and as always, I invite feedback for improvement.
you look into my eyes to see,
commitment
betrayal
defeat
healing
commitment
trust
knowing
love
commitment
to see you, look into my eyes
Eric,
Your skinny strips away all but the essential parts of commitment. I love how repetition reinforces this idea in your poem.
Eric, I particularly like how you played with the first and last lines, moving from a searching or feeling of questioning, to the answer at the end. All the words in between captured all the good, bad, and beautiful in a relationship. Well done!
Eric, this is beautiful. Commitment throughout the betrayals and defeats, that leads to trust, knowing, and love. I love the looking into the eyes and being seen, as well. Beautifully done.
Eric, you remind us here that with commitment to one another, we can develop the trust that will help us deal with the next time we’re betrayed or are the betrayer.
I particularly appreciate your closing lines, “to see you, look into my eyes”.
I think of this with our “significant others” as well as with our students.
My favorite uncle passed away this week, and I’m really going to miss him. He took me out to my first “fancy restaurant” dinner. He took me to my first musical (Annie!). He was a gem. Wrote a little “skinny” poem to him today. 🙂
Cool to the end: An abundance of
Heart
Style
Wit
Smarts
Heart
Suits
Books
Memory
Heart
The end of…an abundance of cool.
Wendy,
Your uncle sounds like a real gem. Your skinny is a fitting tribute to his “abundance of cool.”
I enjoyed getting a glimpse of your uncle in this poem. I’m sorry for your loss, but I appreciate how you honored him in this poem. I love what you did with lines 1 and 11!
Wendy – I’m sorry for your loss of your uncle. He sounds like a great human, and you captured his generosity with the repetition of the words “abundance” – I got some visuals with the style, suits and books, and the traits you admired with the wit, smarts, and heart (ooh, nice internal rhyme there!!). Thanks for sharing a piece of this cool person with us.
Oh, Wendy, my condolences on this loss. What a gem he was, and what a joy to have you share this tribute poem about your uncle. You did magic with that first and last line! And look at the repeating HEART. Oh, my such beauty in this special man–not only stylish, witty, and wearing suits. But the relationship he nurtured with his niece is touching.
Wendy, I’m so sorry for your loss. He sounds like someone I would have loved. The repetition of “heart” helps me feel his goodness. I also love “abundance of cool”.
Wendy,
What a fabulous way to honor your uncle. The twist of the first and last lines works perfectly to capture his essence.
Wendy, I’m so sorry for your loss. He seems like a true gentleman. This is a wonderful tribute to him. The rewritten line works so well.
Wendy — What a loving tribute, a memory that is so touching. I am so very sorry for your loss and appreciate that you shared a bit of his goodness with me. Thank you. Susie
Denise,
I love, love, love your skinny poem. Did you feel the shot? I could not feel it at al. Last night I read a news report saying immunity from the vaccine lasts at least six months, so I’m “wondering” if we’ll all need a booster this fall. Thank you for your kind words and for reviving the skinny. It’s such a fun poem. ?
—Glenda
Thanks, Glenda! The wincing may have come as anticipated pain. It really was barely a sting. With the second does, perhaps I was thinking about other wince-worthy scenarios. (I’m so thankful we were not able to see the whole picture when we started this COVID chapter.)
Denise, your repeating word with the vaccine is what I feel more than anything, too. Wondering about so much of what the world is facing, wondering how the vaccine will affect us, whether it will work for us, whether it will keep us afloat. The skinny is a perfect form for today! Thank you for hosting us!
I am visiting my daughter and celebrating another anniversary of a miracle – her story of drug addiction and restoration proves that God’s love wins over evil. He body slammed the devil and brought her out of that lair! For every parent, child, friend with a loved one in the grips of addiction – keep praying!
Modern-Day Miracle
God saves those beyond all hope
Miraculously
Gracefully
Mercifully
Lovingly
Miraculously
Powerfully
Tenderly
Redemptively
Miraculously
God saves
Kim, this functions as a meditative piece of writing as well as a cathartic, healing one. I love the softness the adverb ending makes to each of these words – it becomes so much more lyrical. Thank God for your daughter’s miracle anniversary.
Kim,
I love the way you truncated the first line so that the last line tells us no one is beyond hope.
Kim, this great wonderful. God bless you and your daughter, and congratulations to her for her bravery and success! Lovely poem. <3
Kim – this poem paints an incredible picture of how you feel in your faith. Thanks for sharing the message behind it.
Kim, I’m crying here–all those ways God saves. Your poem is a prayer of praise. Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece, and for including your daughter in your poems the last two days. Those words–gracefully, mercifully, lovingly, tenderly…and miraculously. So wonderful.
What an affirmation!
Yay! Another new poetry form I’ve not heard of. Love it. I like “wondering” that you decided to repeat. Thanks for sharing this prompt since I wasn’t around at that time either.
i got this pandemic déjà vu
repeat
looming
lock
down
repeat
get
out
now
repeat
pandemic déjà vu. i got this.
Angie, what a perfect use of the repeated line, as it emphasizes the deja vu feeling. Your word flip at the end is the best. What a way to give it right back.
Angie,
This is a superb skinny. Well done w/ the first and last line. The way you’ve changed the meaning w/ rearranging the syntax and punctuation is brilliant.
Angie, love the way you handled the wordplay at the beginning and end. I definitely feel the middle section: “repeat” (UGH!) and I love the ambiguity of the “get out now.” <3
Angie – I’m loving the repeat looming. You captured this moment in time so well with the desire to get out now, but also the feeling of hope coming through with your resolute last lines, “I got this!”
Oh, I feel empowered with the last line. The beginning “i got this pandemic déjà vu.” And then at the end, the triumphant, “I got this.” Well done, Angie. Repeat, repeat, hopefully not too much longer.
Agie, I love the way you turn defeat into triumph with the turn of a phrase: “pandemic déjà vu. I got this.”
Angie, your poem expresses the frustration of us here in Michigan. We were doing quite well before Spring break! We’ve lost two family members in the last two weeks!
Ohhh, I’m so sorry for your losses 🙁 Stay safe! This is crazy.
Denise, after my first dose I allowed myself to wonder about the unseen unknown newness that traveled through my veins. Something that had never been there had entered. And I was amazed. Your poem brings that wonder back. My teaching moment came from learning more about Poetic Justice as I registered for Monday’s webinar. Aoki’s words inspired this skinny.
Poetic Justice
those who are unseen are not forgotten
Notice
her
existence
tumbling
Notice
her
taking
root
Notice
those who are forgotten are not unseen
Jennifer, first, that line in your intro: “Unseen unknown newness traveled in my veins.” That is a poem in itself. It is the truth. How can we not wonder-? Your Skinny is haunting yet hopeful – a call to action, a call to remember, to see, to be compassionate, empathetic humans, to lift one another up. I once attended a panel discussion of writers, one of whom worked supporting incarcerated women; I learned so much and a line that stays with me comes from one of the inmates: “When I write, I am free.”
Jennifer, I love the noticing here.
is amazing.
And the switch in words in the first and last lines caused me to do a double take–that last line, such a beautiful tribute to what Poetic Justice does…sees the forgotten. Thank you for this!
Beautiful. Yes, remember the unseen. I love that.
A beautiful poem about that program. “Notice her taking root” is my favorite line.
Jennifer,
Your skinny is so full of hope and a tribute to Poetic Justice. I want to believe “those who are unseen are not forgotten…those who are forgotten are not unseen.” These lines are somewhat paradoxical and ambiguous. The passive voice puts the emphasis on the women and not those who see and forget. This will have me thinking a long time.
Jennifer, that last line! It brought rears to my eyes. My mom just got her second dose this morning; it’s such a heavy experience with a lot of conflicting emotions accompanying it. Beautiful and inspiring words!
Jennifer, I am so struck by the weight you put into this skinny poem! I love the repetition of the word notice, I love the movement and direction this takes. I hope you share this with the group because it’s just really beautiful! I love the image of tumbling and then taking root through the poem. Thanks for this poem.
Jennifer — Yes! “unseen are not forgotten.” I love that repeat of “notice” as your chosen word. It has a command quality. Love that. Susie
Jennifer, are you participating in Poetic Justice. I’d love to send this poem to my person, if you don’t mind. I am trying to notice her. Such an important and forgotten thing.
Margaret, I am not participating. You are welcome to share. It was inspired by Poetic Justice (that first line) and definitely Aoki, who described herself as a tumbleweed. Thank you.
Am I on mute? Can you hear me? Anyone listening?
Mute
Screen
Error
Hidden
Mute
Digital
Voices
Oppress
Mute
Equity
Access
Divide
Mute
Unmute your ________*; listen to what others hear
* fill-in-the-blank: mind, heart, stereotypes, etc.
Stefani, you have captured the essence of the remote teaching experience with a line-by-line mic drop! That word “oppress”, especially.
Stefani, what a great list. I like the repeated word–Mute. And I’ve tried all the fill-in-the-blanks you’ve provided and working on some etc’s too. “Unmute your heart…” What beautiful advice.
Oh, that fill in the blank at the end is perfect. Feels like a poem for today, for sure!
Love that fill-in-the-blank and also beginning with the questions!
Stefani, I loved, loved the unique poetic twist at the end, enabling and encouraging a reader to make this poem their own! And so many thought-provoking words that filled the middle. This was really cool!
I am struck by the symbolism of muting equity, access, and divide. I resonate with your message of wanting to truly connect. Great poem – thank you!
There was a time I was writing lots of skinnys. I loved the simplicity and complexity of the form, how each word mattered. Thanks for bringing it back to me. I’ve written two, inspired by quotes in a day calendar by Women Artists.
Every word is a thing
to
be
elegantly
written
to
mean
something
profound
to
be a thing is every word.
(Maya Angelou quote)
We sent each other beautiful pictures
of
wildflowers
braiding
grass
of
sunlight
baking
kaleidoscope
everyday
we sent each other beautiful pictures.
(Poem by this title by Becca Shaw Glaser)
Margaret, you’re right about the simplicity and complexity of the form; the Skinny is a unique challenge! I love your celebration of words, drawn from Angelou- how suited the Skinny is to this – and the beauty of those shared images inspired by Glaser. Our lives have depended on sending each other beautiful pictures this past year, little kaleidoscopes of our days (love the word kaleidoscope). And so we paint our pieces of beautiful togetherness, braiding wildflowers, baking… all so lovely, and poignant.
Oh, my goodness…you show the real art form of the Skinny in these. Each word holds meaning in the chain. Those wildflowers braiding. That being of every word.
Oh I love how you incorporated lines from other poets into these skinnys. Lovely! “Wildflowers braiding grass” is such a nice image and I really like how you decided to repeat “to” and “of”, simple words.
I’m glad you wrote some more skinnys today. I am learning from yours too. I have been thinking about those lovely first and last lines in your first poem, a thing is a word is profound. In your second poem, the beauty of nature is pulling me into imagining wildflowers braiding grass and kaleidoscopic sunlight baking! Oh, my. You have sent us beautiful pictures this morning!
Margaret, you’ve pulled the complex into the simple skinny form. I especially love the “wildflowers braiding grass of sunlight” and the word flip in Maya Angelou’s words. Remarkable beauty here today.
This reminds me of the book Braiding Sweetgrass. Beautiful imagery!!
Emily, I admit the book was sitting next to my computer so the word jumped into my poem. “Steal like an artist.”
Thank you, Denise (and Glenda!), for today’s inspiration. I laminated my COVID immunization card yesterday based on the directive of the second vaccinator, who also suggested taking a picture of it in case the card is lost. “Wondering” is an excellent choice for the repeated word in this poem! As I thought about a strong image, I tried to escape the web of COVID; I found that I couldn’t…for me, this one remains indelible:
Lunch Resumes in the School Cafeteria During COVID-19
Unmasked, they all sit facing the same direction to eat
children
separated
silent
staring
children
spectral
dystopian
automatons
children
all facing the same direction, they sit to eat, unmasked
This is a picture of our time. The only kids who eat in the cafeteria are the littles, and I am amazed at their discipline to sit far apart like automatons. I know this isn’t happening on the playground.
Fran, the most disturbing sight in our return to school came when I entered our cafeteria. It was exactly as you describe. It felt unworldly and most definitely dystopian. Thank you for capturing this view – one that should not be forgotten, one that should be shared more widely.
ugh. Yes. I was walking behind of students recently…and they were silent in a way that made me uncomfortable. All I could think of was prisoners. I hate what this virus has done to humans.
These are crazy, crazy images. Unbelievable that this is a reality of 2021. “Dystopian”, “automatons” – true and so sad but what a great poem.
Fran, how heartbreaking! I remember our first in person classes this year, I thought the children would run out of there and never come back. It was so sad and depressing and dystopic. However, they came back. This is really sad–“separated, silent, staring, spectral dystopian automatons” Oh, that is so powerful and a poem for the history book. Thank you. (I’m sorry you couldn’t not write about Covid, but I’m glad you did.)
The lines of sitting in the same direction to eat as automatons really makes me sad. These poor children of our times that right now can’t play or be themselves because of our love and fear. Such at truth of reality now.
This is the worst part of my day. It hurts my heart to see this. The only thing that makes it somewhat bearable is that we play a movie. Maybe because it diverts our attention away from reality.
Good Morning early rising writers. I used this form for my one little word for 2021 Ox. It’s the year of the ox in the Chinese calendar so I’m spending a year learning about ox and oxen.
Did you know that zebu means
ox
I
did
not.
Ox
from
Asia
Brahman
ox
Zebu means ox. Now I know
I did not know that zebu means ox! Now I know too. That is such an interesting one word for 2021. I saw it influencing another of your poems this week too. I’m sure you will continue to learn insights and make connections that you never anticipated before.
Linda, I am endlessly fascinated by what you learn, share, and create around Ox! So many facts as well as metaphor and symbolism. Ox is an image of great importance throughout history and around the world, not to be taken for granted; this I have come to understand and appreciate through you. I have now taken to envisioning Ox as your Patronus (nod to Harry Potter).
Linda,
I’m
really
enjoying
your
ox
poems!
They
make
me
grin
every
time
🙂
Ha! Thank you! One little word is an idea that’s been around the poetry community for a while. I think I first heard about it from Margaret Simon. The idea of writing a poem each week about or for that word to be posted publically came from Irene Latham at Live Your Poem. She has a whole padlet of “artspeak” poems in which she would focus on a theme found in fine art for a period of time. It really ups your poetry game, I tell ya!
That’s really cool.
Love this 🙂
Zebu? Ox? Learning so much from your project this year.
Linda, I am so glad to be learning along with you as you explore your little word. You are bringing focus to something overlooked and for that, I am grateful. The process of writing daily about one word is fascinating.
It’s fun and really lets me feel like I’m exploring the world a bit even in this time of sticking close to home. Thanks!
Thank you for teaching me a new word! I feel like students could use the poem in this way as well to synthesize new vocabulary! 🙂
We need a like button for all the great ideas!
Yes, indeed! Angie, that is a great idea to use Skinny poems for new vocabulary.