Tag: open write

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January Open Write Day 1 with Shaun Ingalls of Las Vegas

Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

Shaun Ingalls of Nevada is our host for Day 1 of the January Open Write at Ethicalela.com. You can read his post here. His poem and prompt has my mind spinning with all the possibilities for classroom engagement. Shaun encourages us to write poems using slang words and phrasing from an urban dictionary.

One thing I could do all day is watch Greg Edwards deliver his Thug Notes – – I crack up every single time and love this approach to explaining classics. Even though I never could have shown them in class for fear of parent complaints about language and innuendo, I think Dr. Sparky Sweets (a play on Spark Notes) would have drawn my students into a deeper love of classical literature. I have to say: I got an education as I explored the Gen Z dictionary on Wikipedia. We certainly have a different culture of language from back in the day.

Another thing I could do all day is watch Sam Fricker dive. Lately, I have been following his style on the board and his prankish humor in real life. He has amassed quite a social media following. I’ve always enjoyed watching divers, and I think it stems from my fascination with the high dive at The Beach Club on Sea Island, Georgia. I swam there almost daily in the summers as a child, and there is still something about that high dive that lures me straight into its fear just like those people in horror movies that think they have to go outside alone when they hear a noise in the dark. I jumped off of it several times, but never got my courage up to dive headfirst from it. At that age, it looked like I was looking down from the tip top of the universe. And that’s one of the many reasons I love watching Sam smash all my fears of heights as he boldly twists and flips his way into the pool.

When Sam Fricker Dives

the GOAT looksmaxxes
then plunges without a splash!
who is this diva???

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The Edge of Childhood

Erica from Arkansas is our host today for the fifth and final day of the November Open Write at www.ethicalela.com. She inspires us to write story-poems that span from childhood to adulthood and hover on the brink.

She urges us to “record imagery that comes to mind when you think of that childhood experience.  I encourage you to focus on concrete sensory details, but if you have to pull from memory or make something up that’s fine too.”

Earlier this week, we wrote 4×4 poems, featuring 4 stanzas with 4 syllables on 4 lines with a refrain. Today, I’m trying a 5×5 with those same parameters, but without a refrain.

Chasing the Future at the Kitchen Sink

overnight, he’d grown

a foot, it seemed – so

when I saw him ride

his bicycle by

the kitchen window

as I washed dishes

it brought to mind a

huge bear riding a

motorcycle in

a 3-ring circus

his back slumped over

the seat, head looming

over handlebars

ankles spinning wheels

in a duck-paddle

my mother-heart froze

in that moment, a

vivid photograph

etched in memory,

forever preserved

today, his own 5

grow a foot each day

too fast – much too fast

new generations

chasing the future

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November 19: Always Looking for the Next Book

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Book Fever Haiku

The Serviceberry

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

releases today ~

her first book, Braiding

Sweetgrass, was a game changer

I’ll savor the next!

I’m hoping the electronic copy of her new book is accessible early today. I’ll download it and read it on the plane to NCTE. It’ll be an inspiring read, and one I’m looking forward to diving into. Braiding Sweetgrass created a seismic shift in my thinking of the differences between cost, value, and worth and the provisioning cycles of nature. I see the life of a tree in a wooden table, and I honor the life of the tree. I feel immense gratitude for the gifts of nature ~ the earth’s gifts ~ that sustain us as we live and eat. The Native Americans have long had it right. This is all one big web, an interconnected planet with water, air, fish, animals, plants, and more ~ and each strand of it is dependent upon the other. If ever there is a time for emphasis on preserving land and the cleanness of earth and her oceans and streams, it is now. Our future generations depend upon it.

Today is Day 4 of the November Open Write, and Emily from Maine inspires us to write poems about the best and worst of ourselves using acrostics and reminding readers we are still who we are. Come join us! As always, please enjoy reading the poems at http://www.ethicalela.com by clicking on the November Open Write link.

Knowing Kim

At my best, I’m 

Kindle-reading with dogs piled in my lap by the fire on the farm 

Inspired by writing and all things hygge 

Making a travel itinerary and looking forward to coming home

At my worst, I’m  

Karaoke singing 

In trouble again 

Making a mess 

But I’m always Kim. 

If you have any book recommendations for my book club, please share them in the comments. We are searching for a great December read – quite possibly a Christmas classic. What do you recommend?

Special thanks to Two Writing Teachers at Slice of Life
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November Open Write Day 3 of 5

Denise Neal, principal at Our Lady of the Way RC School in Belize, is our host day for the Open Write at www.ethicalela. She inspires us to write poems today by offering this prompt:

“Think about your educational journey. In Aristotle’s words, ‘ The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.’ Because we all have different experiences, our stories will be a collage of joy, success, pain, sacrifice, opportunities, and commitment.  I encourage you to write in 4 lines and have a minimum of five stanzas.

However, you are also welcome to write freely to TELL your STORY.”

I thought of Denise’s words and all the things about my educational journey that really mattered ~ and still do.

What Matters

not the classrooms

not the worksheets

not the crayons

but the experiencing

not the posters

not the desks

not the chalkboards

but the reading

not the papers

not the assignments

not the projects

but the thinking

not the textbooks

not the answers

not the solutions

but the writing

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NCTE 4 x 4: The November Open Write, Day 2 of 5

Stacey L. Joy of California is our host today for the second day of the November Open Write at www.ethicalela.com.

She inspires us to write 4×4 poems as we think about the world today. Looming in technicolor living on my horizon this week is the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Convention in Boston, which begins Thursday and lasts through the weekend. Ada Limon, our US Poet Laureate, will be speaking on Sunday, and many others will be speaking throughout the convention – Kate McKinnon and Bryan Stephenson to name a couple. As I think about the world today, NCTE is what is foremost on my mind. There’s a different air there – where I breathe best around readers and writers, where something I can’t detect seems to flood my veins and bring joy. And to top it all off, I’ll be joining meet-ups with many of my writing group friends from Slice of Life and Ethicalela in person, even presenting with one of the groups on one of our books that just launched in September. If you’re at NCTE this year, you can find me in Room 210A of the Boston Convention Center on Thursday, November 21 at 11:30.

Hope to see you there!

A 4 x 4 poem structure follows these four rules:

  • 4 syllables in each line
  • 4 lines in each stanza
  • 4 stanzas
  • Refrain repeated four times in lines 1, 2, 3, 4 of stanzas 1, 2, 3, 4. 

NCTE

where shall we go?

NCTE!

where will it be?

Massachusetts

where can we breathe?

NCTE!

what do we need?

NCTE!

who will we see?

Ada Limon!

where will she speak?

NCTE!

where would we dwell?

NCTE!

who steals our hearts?

NCTE!

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November Open Write Day 1: An Invitation

Today, I’m your host at http://www.ethicalela.com to kick off the November Open Write. Please come join me at that site to share your own poem and to read the poems of others!

On the last day of October’s Open Write, I shared this poem:

An Invitation

save the date: November 16

you may choose to arrive by stretch limousine

we’ll be gathering in style for a writer’s retreat

whether castle or cabin or on your own street

we’ll spend the day writing in fantasy places

day one: a packing list poem ~ what’s in our suitcases?

so gather your words ~ select them with flair

I’ll be the door greeter to welcome you there!

you’ll need your location and writing utensil

something to wear, and perhaps a spare pencil

we’ll all need a critter (think Hogwarts style)

and a snack to share to write all the while

and then let’s bring one thing – a gift for the group

something to make us all laugh, cry, or hoot

what’ll it be? oh, I can’t wait to see ~

here’s a basket of tickets – take some – they’re free!

let’s keep Donnetta’s theme words sparking and growing

return in November, keep writing ongoing!

I offered a glimpse of today’s prompt, encouraging writers to think of a fantasy writing retreat and these aspects: location, clothing, writing utensil, critter, snacks, and a gift for others.

Today, I offer this poem to inspire others to write poems about a fantasy writing retreat. Come join us, and share yours on the ethicalela website!

Location: I’m arriving by Oz-graced Yellow Brick Road

to this heavy oak castle door with just an armload

Clothes: wearing overalls under my farm-writing cape

this magical cloak of virtual escape

with shimmery amber-hued dragonfly wings

and chicken foot bracelets and beetle leg rings

just a suitcase, you see, for this week here together

with all of my writing pals ~ birds of a feather

Utensil: and speaking of feathers, I’ve brought my quill pen

plucked from the wing of a feisty owl hen

Snacks: I’ve sugar-spun cauldrony crinkles for snacks

shaved off curled spikes from chameleons’ backs

Critter Companion: made easier by Razor, my pink crocodile

I walk on a bling-leash, in true Funny Farm style

Group Gift: and one more thing: I bring a group gift ~

truth glasses for all, to see things others miss

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Paint Chip Poems: Day 4 of the October Open Write

with special thanks to Two Writing Teachers at Slice of Life

Seana Hurd Wright of Los Angeles is our host for Day 4 of October’s Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com.

Seana shares her process, which you can read fully here, or the synopsis here: Choose 4 -8 colors and brainstorm names of the many synonyms and color shades that are similar to the ones you chose. Write a poem or short story, in any form, using colors and as much figurative language as you’d like. I decided to choose two main colors, red and blue.  Then I selected various shades and hues that compliment them.  Then I selected a topic and enjoyed playing with words.  

I took my inspiration from a friend’s Facebook post. He shared photos of a long-held tradition in Bluffton, South Carolina, a town where I used to live. Each October, a gathering of paddlers all dress as witches and take to the waterways at sunset to greet autumn in style. It’s quite a sight to see, full of color and peaceful festivity. This year, a tour boat passed by and someone on the boat blasted the song “Witchy Woman” as they passed, bringing laughter and setting the mood.

Witches’ Paddle

On October Sunset they ride

Onyx-caped waterproof witches

paddle out on Supermoon tide

admiring autumn’s swell riches

photo taken from a friend’s Facebook post
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Bop ‘Til You Drop: Day 3 of October’s Open Write

Seen on Facebook – I borrowed this post from a friend.

Wendy Everard of New York is our host for Day 3 of October’s Open Write, inspiring us to write Bop poems. You can read her full prompt here.

The Process

Here are the basic rules for The Bop:

  • 3 stanzas
  • Each stanza is followed by a refrain
  • First stanza is 6 lines long and presents a problem
  • Second stanza is 8 lines long and explores or expands the problem
  • Third stanza is 6 lines long and either presents a solution or documents the failed attempt to resolve the problem

My poem is inspired by a friend’s Facebook post. She’d found Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake donuts and thought it would be a good idea to share ~ to tempt her friends, of whom I am surely the most temptable.

Little Debbie Donut Bop

{the problem:}

in a word:

willpower!

why?

Who made these

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Donuts?

{expand the problem:}

oh, that’s easy to expand:

just open the bag.

eat.

weight increases.

waist and hips expand.

arms expand.

thighs expand.

{the failed attempt to resolve the problem:}

taste bud EXPLOSION!!

the sugar-grit of green glittery garland

white snow-pearl smoothness

red-ribbony-wrapped tinseling

savoring the sensations of Christmas in October

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Ode to Change: Day 2 of October’s Open Write

Our host for Day 2 of the October Open Write is a group of students at Aquinas College in Michigan, inspiring us today to write odes to change. Stefani Boutelier, an instructor at AC, leads them in their prompt offering today, which you can read in its entirety here.

Ode to Letting Go in Chained Haiku

the leaves show us how
on our morning driveway walks
straight into the sun

how to let things go
bidding the branches goodbye
flitting to forest

floor beneath, seeking,
stirring, gathering in groups
with others who’ve held

onto things for far
too long to know weightlessness
untethered freedom

to roll on gentle
breeze to take to bright blue skies
on blustery gusts

to change their small view
and see the whole world anew. ~
a new perspective