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Michelle H. Barns has a wonderful interview of Jane Yolen on her blog Today's Little Ditty. Michelle also hosts a monthly poetry challenge inspired by the poet she interviews.
This month, Ms. Yolen challenged us to write a septercet....a form she invented. A septercet has seven syllables per line in a three line stanza.
My contribution to the challenge is my contribution for Poetry Friday. Thank you to Reading to the Core for hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup.
New Girl Literacies
We shared a computer desk
side by side, first day of school
I asked her, what is your name?
side by side, first day of school
I asked her, what is your name?
Shiny braids shook back and forth.
Oh, I see. Where are you from?
Left and right the braids – no, no.
Oh, I see. Where are you from?
Left and right the braids – no, no.
Español? Or, Arabic?
Her hair now quite talkative
All the words quite clearly, NO.
Her hair now quite talkative
All the words quite clearly, NO.
I clicked on a map, her eyes
swept right, then she clicked a spot.
The braids at rest. Oh, Nepal!
swept right, then she clicked a spot.
The braids at rest. Oh, Nepal!
© Linda Mitchell
Wow! Your poetry challenge turned out well, Linda! I really like how you have used the gestures and dialogue together. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteSweet poem, held my interest all the way through and I love the uplifting ending. There's more than one way to communicate. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved this when I read it on Michelle's post, too, Linda. It gets into the 'heart' of things beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI could read this again and again, Linda! And such a clever approach to the challenge, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat I didn't say....and don't really need to because the poem is for the reader.....is that the other new girl was me two weeks ago with a student. She and I are buddies now.
DeleteI wondered if this was based on a true story. How wonderful!
DeleteI love the "hair quite talkative." What a lovely approach to welcoming a newcomer.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Linda! As Violet said, I love the talkative hair!
ReplyDeleteThose braids can say so much. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the new girl reached out to share that important piece of information with the narrator! Great septercet, Linda :-)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites on the septercet list.
ReplyDeleteI like how much those braids had to say.
ReplyDeleteOh, loved the images this conjured!
ReplyDelete