Thursday, April 30, 2015

Day 30 ~ 2015 “Credo Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth “30 poems in 30 days” + TODAY is “Poem in My Pocket” Day!


Day 30 ~ “Credo Poem” and TODAY is “Poem in My Pocket” Day!

It’s hard to believe the month of April is finally over. April 30 is not only the last day of #NationalPoetryMonth – but it is “Poem in Your Pocket” Day. The idea is that on “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” people throughout the US will celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others throughout the day as schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, and other venues, including FB and Twitter (#pocketpoem), ring loud with open readings of poems from pockets, it could be one of your own original ones or just a favorite poem of yours. 


Here is some info taken from the “National Poetry Month” website

"Poem in Your Pocket Day" was originally initiated in 2002 by the Office of the Mayor, in partnership with the New York City Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education, as part of the city’s National Poetry Month celebration. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets took the initiative national, encouraging individuals around the country to join in and channel their inner bard.

This year Poem in Your Pocket Day will be held on April 30. Be sure to share your poem selection on Twitter by using the hashtag #pocketpoem.


So, there is that and then ~ there is this: Today’s poem is a “Credo” poem. 

This is a pretty cool format and it was taken from a scene in the movie “Bull Durham” (which I’ve never seen so this is NOT a recommendation to see it – in fact, when I tried watched the clip of his “credo” I turned it off – not my style; too crass for me). However, it does make for a good poetry form, so here it is ~ fill in the blanks: 


CREDO POEM ~ in each of the blanks, tell something you believe in and on the last line of the 1st stanza list 4 things (separated by each of the commas provided)

Then for the “BUT” line – tell something you don’t believe in, such as “But I don’t believe” … or “But I think … telling something that you don’t support, believe, etc. “But I think whatever is overrated or any way you want to add a line about what you DON’T believe in that starts with the word “But”

Finally, the last stanza is MORE of what you believe in with the second to last line listing 4 things you believe in as you did in the 1st stanza and then – end with one long statement that kind of summaries what you believe or what you have hope in for the future type of thing.

OK, here is the basic format – whatcha’ got? 

I believe in the _________________________,
the___________________________________,
the___________________________________,
the___________________________________,
the___________________________________,
_______________,_______________,_________________.

But _______________________________________ . (something you don't believe in)

I believe in____________________________,
I believe in____________________________,
I believe in___________________________,
______________,________________,_________________.

And I believe in ___________________________________  _________________________________________________ . (longest line of poem)




Well, that’s pretty much it. Thanks for a great month of poetry!! See you next year. Don’t be a stranger. I hope to post more often but I’m a rather eclectic person – you never know what I might be posting about! Cheers!! 

BTW, as there are so many poetry forms out there, it’s been hard to choose which ones to share each day. So, I’m writing a book with dozens of poetry forms in it and I will post on here once it’s ready and how you can get a copy. Thanks again!
Please remember any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments section of this blog. They are the property of the person who shares them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them in any form without their express permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to it. Thanks!! 


And if you choose to post your poems on your own blog – that’s awesome. But please don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem and LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to read the instructions. Thanks for respecting my work.


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Day 29 ~ 2015 “Pyramid Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth “30 poems in 30 days”


It’s hard to believe the month of April is almost over. We just have today and tomorrow – there are so many more poetry forms out there. It’s been hard to choose which ones to share each day. In fact, I’m writing a book with dozens of poetry forms in it and I will post on here once it’s ready and how you can get a copy. In the meantime – what about today?

Oh, but first, what about tomorrow? There are some things you should know: April 30 is not only the last day of #NationalPoetryMonth – but it is “Poem in Your Pocket” Day. The idea is that on “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” people throughout the US will celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others throughout the day as schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, and other venues, including FB and Twitter (#pocketpoem), ring loud with open readings of poems from pockets. I’ll tell briefly about its history tomorrow, but for now – be thinking about a poem you would like to carry in your pocket tomorrow – it could be one of your own original ones or just a favorite poem of yours. 

OK, also tomorrow’s poetry form is the “Credo” so be thinking about what you believe in and I’ll give you a format to follow for it.

NOW, on to today: Let’s write a “Pyramid Poem”

This is quite simple, if you follow the rules ~ it’s one of those “parts of speech” poems, great for classroom teachers. It’s a poetry form that I have not introduced before in previous years. It has some repetition in it, which is part of its charm. Here we go:

When all is said and done – if you center the words (which I realize you can’t do in the comment section – but when you save it for yourself, center the words so the poem is in the shape of a pyramid.

Here is the format ~ one word for part of speech indicated on each line BUT THE CATCH IS ~ once you have selected a word for NOUN – it needs to be used EVERY time a NOUN is called for in the poem, same for the adjective you choose and so forth (syllable counts, word counts and rhyming are not requirement, although some may occur, but using the same word for a particular part of speech IS a requirement: 

Line 1: noun 
Line 2: adjective noun 
Line 3: adjective noun verb 
Line 4: adjective noun verb adverb 
Line 5: adjective noun verb adverb prepositional phrase


Here’s an example I found online at www.scholastic.com/ but no author credit was given:

 

Clouds
Puffy clouds
Puffy clouds float
Puffy clouds float sleepily
Puffy clouds float sleepily across the horizon




And here is my example:



Children
Sweet children
Sweet children play
Sweet children play happily
Sweet children play happily at Grandma's house
                                                                       © 2015 Stephanie Abney


Please remember any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments section of this blog. They are the property of the person who shares them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them in any form without their express permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to it. Thanks!! 

And if you choose to post your poems on your own blog – that’s awesome. But please don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem and LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to read the instructions. Thanks for respecting my work.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Day 28 - “Pensee Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth and "30 poems in 30 days"



OK, friends, "National Poetry Month" is almost over for 2015. Here is one that is really quite simple and can be lots of fun. This was a favorite form that I used when I taught school. It was amazing to me what the students came up with.


This form is called a “Pensee Poem” – it is a five-line, structured poem that does not rhyme. Each line has a specific number of syllables. 

The thing to watch out for is to follow the pattern, including WHAT should be expressed on each line, using a SPECIFIC number of syllables ~                             


Line
Pattern
Example
Line 1
Subject (2 syllables)                   
Newborn
Line 2
Description (4 syllables)                    
Precious and sweet
Line 3
Action (7 syllables)                      
Sleeps peacefully in my arms
Line 4
Setting (8 syllables)               
How do you like the world so far?
Line 5
Final thought (6 syllables)             
I wish you could tell me



Freedom
Our liberties
Granted unto us by God
Outlined in our Constitution 
Thank-you Founding Fathers        
      © 2014 ~ Stephanie Abney


Well, this is just an example, but you get the idea. So, go ahead and try several ~ perhaps one about an animal, another about your favorite foods, or time of year (holiday/season), an event, an emotion, something in nature. What comes to mind?

Feel free to post your poem in the comments – or if you’d rather not – at least make a comment and let us know that you did try this type of poem and how it went for you. Cheers!!!

So, here's another one:


Newborn
Precious and sweet
Sleeps peacefully in my arms
How do you like the world so far?
I wish you could tell me.

                 Stephanie Abney ~   © 2014 





Please remember any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments section of this blog. They are the property of the person who shares them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them in any form without their express permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to it. Thanks!! 

And if you choose to post your poems on your own blog – that’s awesome. But please don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem and LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to read the instructions. Thanks for respecting my work.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Day 27 ~ 2015 Rictameter Poem for #NationalPoetryMonth "30 poems in 30 days"


Day 27 ~  Let’s Write a Rictameter Poem

OK, another poem that focuses on the number of syllables per line. It doesn't matter if they rhyme of not. Here is the pattern for a RICTAMETER POEM ~

A rictameter is a nine line poetry form. The 1st and last lines are the same with the syllable count as follows:
   


       ~  line 1 - 2 syllables - same as line 9
       ~  line 2 - 4 syllables
       ~  line 3 - 6 syllables
       ~  line 4 - 8 syllables
       ~  line 5 - 10 syllables
       ~  line 6 - 8 syllables
       ~  line 7 - 6 syllables
       ~  line 8 - 4 syllables
       ~  line 9 - 2 syllables - same as line 1  



On Missing My Son

Happy
Joy in each day
What great times we all had
Getting through the good and the bad
And then, my happiness was gone, like you
Your body too weak for this world
Until we meet again
Never to part
Happy

© 2011 Stephanie Abney


Please remember any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments section of this blog. They are the property of the person who shares them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them in any form without their express permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to it. Thanks!! 

And if you choose to post your poems on your own blog – that’s awesome. But please don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem and LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to read the instructions. Thanks for respecting my work.