I am enjoying following Amy Ludwig VanDerwater over at The Poem Farm throughout National Poetry Month. She is exploring 1 Subject 30 Ways, using lessons from her book Poems are Teachers. Check out her poems exploring the constellation Orion.
I may have fallen a day or two behind, but I am learning much about the story of Little Red Riding Hood by approaching it with a different poem and technique each day. I’m also starting a list of ideas I want to continue writing different poems with some of them. The poem I share today comes from the lesson on April 9, Inspired By a Question.
Here are my notebook pages:
and the poem…
Secrets
Secrets once whispered
from the steps
of a tower strong
are now
welling up,
swelling up.
Secrets once buried
in the folds
of a crimson cloak
are now
shaken out,
blown about.
Secrets once hidden
in the creases
of my mother’s face
are now
set free
revealed to me.
Secrets now demand
their liberty.
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Tabatha hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at The Opposite of Indifference. She is celebrating the release of Imperfect, an anthology of poetry about mistakes for middle schoolers. Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.
I love this idea! Inspiration is everywhere, especially in places we might overlook. The last two lines of each stanza are effective with their repetitive style. I love seeing your process through the notes, too.
Thanks, Joyce. It’s amazing what inspiration I am finding once I start looking for it!
How interesting to use Amy’s project with Little Red Riding Hood!
Thanks, Mary Lee. It has been interestingjk!
Such a great project! Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks, Ruth!
Love the repetition and vivid images your words have created, Kay! I appreciate you sharing your creative process as well. Also, thank you for dropping by the ridge to offer some great writerly advice for keeping up with my personal writing! You’re right, whether it’s fifteen minutes a day or five, it’s something.
Thanks, Keisha. Some days, five minutes is all I have! But at least I’m writing.
I really enjoyed your poem. Love the form and how the idea for it came about.
Thanks, Kimberly. It’s been a great month of writing even if not all the poems turn out like I want them to.
The form and the idea of your poem research is wonderful, Kay. I like that each verse gives away some of the mystery of Red. There are many versions as I’m sure you are discovering. Awesome project!
Thanks, Linda! There are many versions. At this point, I’m trying to avoid them to let my own ideas percolate. I am definitely learning a lot from the experience.
What a cool undertaking. I hope Red whispers all her secrets to you.
Thanks, Brenda! Me, too!
Love that you’re approaching Red Riding Hood in this novel way, Kay. I especially like the second stanza in your poem – and of course that ending!
Thanks, Jama. I find writing endings hard, so I’m glad this one works!
Very nice, Kay! I like the rhythm and the air of mystery.
Thanks Tabatha! I had fun writing this one.
Whoa. Those last few lines are surprising and hit their mark, Kay. I’m about to do a fractured fairy tale poem workshop with third graders, so I love seeing your process here.
Thanks, Laura! As I brainstormed questions, secrets kept popping up. Have fun with the workshop. I’m not much bigger than a third grader–I could sit in!