Seeing Beyond the Surface

Welcome. All are welcome to participate in the 5-day Open Write — from one day to all days, depending on your schedule. There are no set rules for the length of a poem, and you are free to modify or reject the prompts as you wish, allowing you to write whatever is on your mind or in your heart. We firmly believe that the best writing instructors are actual writers, and this platform offers a supportive environment for you to nurture your writing journey. Just scroll down to share your poem in the comment section. For more information about the Open Writes click here.

Our Host: Larin Wade

Larin is a pre-service English teacher in her last semester at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This semester she is doing her teacher internship at a nearby rural high school, where she works with juniors and seniors. She loves to read and write, and she has always loved school, so she is excited to enter a creative, energetic career where she can help students learn!

Inspiration 

After I first read “One of Us” by Joyce Sidman, I wondered about the dangers of misjudging others—especially as a teacher. I couldn’t identify who I related to in this piece—the teacher who misjudges her student, the speaker who gives him a new inspiration, or the boy who stuns others with his writing ability. As I learn to be a better teacher, I hope I can be more like the speaker and give my students opportunities to shine instead of building walls of separation between myself and my students. I’m sure this rapport is something our community seeks, whether we have been teaching for years or are new to teaching. We have the opportunity to get to know hundreds of students throughout our careers—and what an honor it is to come ot know them beyond what we first see! Read an excerpt of Sidman’s poem below and the entire poem here.

“That kid is weird,” says
the teacher, flipping her shining hair.
“I don’t know where he’s at.”
Indeed, he is quiet
in the way of a giraffe:
ears tuned to something we can’t hear.
He turns his sleepy eyes on me—
chocolate brown
with long, extraordinary lashes—

Process

This free verse poem opens up several avenues to explore: 

• a poem with commentary of multiple perspectives
• a reflection of a defining moment
• a time when someone revealed something new about themselves

I encourage you to write a poem about one of these prompts if they inspire you. Write whatever comes to mind and see where the flow takes you; or, as always, write whatever you need to write today. I hope you enjoy the process and the product!

Larin’s Poem

“The Type”

“He doesn’t seem
like the type,”
she says.
“Where would he
have discovered poetry,
anyway?”

I don’t know why
he chose to share
with me,
but I know he is
the “type.”

Conversations and text threads
full of poetry;
Catharsis of his frustrations
and heartaches
while I listen
and share every once in a while,
too.

Years later, writing stories
with a friend.
I would have loved to write like this
in my high school classes,
she reflects.
And I know my brother—
a tough football player, he will be
an oilfield worker—would, too.

It’s clear to me now–
the “type”
doesn’t exist.

Your Turn

Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own poem. (This is a public space, so you may use only your first name or initials depending on your privacy preferences.) Not ready? That’s okay. Read the poems already posted for more inspiration. Ponder your own throughout the day. Return later. And, if the prompt does not work for you, that is fine. All writing is welcome. Just write something. Also, please be sure to respond to at least three writers. Oh, and a note about drafting: Since we are writing in short bursts, we all understand (and even welcome) the typos and partial poems that remind us we are human and that writing is always becoming. If you’d like to invite other teachers to write with us, tell them to subscribe.