Slicing Poetry: Determined 14 of 30

Today was our first day of our after school poetry writing class.  We have nearly sixty students staying to read and write poetry with us.  We started by dividing into smaller groups and writing poems about the playground.  The students loved playing with words, searching for meaning, and finding rhythms.  

Tonight, I thought I'd write a little poem about the playground.  I'm always amazed by the students that work for days, sometimes weeks, to learn to cross the rings.  Day after day they return to try again until they finally make it across the silver rings.  


Shared Poetry Writing
Image by Carolyn Carr
Bravely
each day,
she eyes the rings,
taking a leap,
working to cross.

Determined
she swings,
each silver ring
seeming farther
than the last.

Courageously
she returns
day after day,
swinging harder,
gripping tightly.

Persisting
she tries
and tries again,
learning tricks,
building strength.

Undaunted
she swings
from ring to ring,
until finally
she makes it.

© Cathy L. Mere


It's April and National Poetry Month.  I'm writing a poem every day to help celebrate!  Thanks to Margaret SimonLeigh Anne EckMichelle HaseltineLinda BaieJulieanne Harmatz, and Kevin Hodgson for giving the final push.  We are linking using the hashtag #digipoetry.  I have to also thank my everyday poetry mentors Mary Lee Hahn & Amy Ludwig Vanderwater.  They continually inspire me.  You'll find more poetry on the sidebar. 

It's also Tuesday so I'm joining the Slice of Life Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Comments

  1. Love the grit of this brave, determined girl!

    ReplyDelete
  2. With your words, you have captured the determination and finally the triumph!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a beautiful strength in this one, Cathy. You really capture it - I so remember our Hope learning to do this in first grade. A true rite of passage, and a metaphor too, for life, for keeping at it, even with blisters. Thank you for the words and the memory too.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poetry Friday is Here: Candy Hearts

Slice of Life: Savor Summer