There’s been a lot going on in my writing life during the last six months. Working hard, I’ve experienced both rejection and success. I’ve continued to learn and hone my craft and returned to sharing my love of poetry with students this summer. I’ve learned about the editing world through two different projects and how I feel about having my words out in the world, seen and shared by others in an way alternative to my blog or piece of academic work. There is so much to learn and I’ll be eternally grateful to those who graciously share their craft of poetry and expertise in this realm.
As I paged back through some drafts on my phone last night, I came across a poem I wrote last April. It is still unfinished but I was pleasantly surprised as I read my own words and how well they caught my feelings about writing poetry.
This is how it goes:
Original poetry
is where it’s at
None rehashed
about this or that.
Choose your subject,
It’s up to you.
Soon you’ll find out
what you can do.
Is it nature?
Or, colorful hues?
That bring about your poem
full of attentive clues.
Be yourself.
The words must muster,
A sense of you and your place,
Without fluster.
Our days are few and life is short.
So, go ahead with what’s on your mind,
Write those words
You can share in kind.
With other poets,
Just like you,
Who want to be original,
Through and through.
© Draft, Carol Labuzzetta, 2021
And, I worked on another poem last night that I had started in the last few days when I was thinking about students, teachers, and our educational systems. The fact that curiosity is so very important to encourage is what inspired this poem. It is essential that we do not squelch our students’ desire to ask, know more, or enhance their own understanding in any subject area.
Ask Me Please!
Love the teacher who tells you to ask!
Ask me anything, they’ll say to the class.
No question is stupid, they say.
So, go ahead and ask – ask away!
If you’re wondering, someone else is too,
The only problem with questions is when they’re too few.
If you need an explanation or more,
Perhaps, a demonstration or even four,
Asking questions is the thing to do,
Especially when your teacher encourages you!
Today is Poetry Friday. This group has done so much to encourage my writing! I thank them all! Today’s round up is hosted by the incredible author Irene Latham at Live your Poem. Please visit Irene’s site for more inspiring poetry! Thank you for hosting Irene!
The Apples in My Orchard 
You’ve expressed two such important ideas in your poems today – the importance of continuing to create, and of not being afraid to be curious. Two qualities we would all be well-served to express at every age and stage of life. Thanks for sharing these today!
LikeLike
Thank you for your poems that are so full of truths about life and writing. And that oak tree! How can one be sad about anything when looking at that?? Thank you for your thoughtfulness and curiosity, and for sharing it with us.
LikeLike
Carol, your oak tree is a prompt for an original poem. Take your own advice: Be yourself./The words must muster,/A sense of you and your place,/Without fluster.
LikeLike
Good advice packaged in a poem. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Carol, how fun these are! I love poems about poetry. I wonder if this is considered “ars poetica.” I think so.
Your poem about asking questions is spot on too. “If you’re wondering, someone else is too,” This is absolutely true. And more than that, in my context teaching 100% English language learners, I find that it’s really the best of students who can formulate the right questions. This advanced learner question-askers have taught and retaught me to slow down and make sure everyone has time to formulate their own questions. Important topic!
LikeLike
I love that tree, so often have taken pictures in autumn like that although not quite as lovely as yours, Carol. I think of them in that stage of life as their final “print” of the year. I certainly agree about the teaching invitation for questions – always ask! And I love this line in the first poem: “Write those words”! Thanks for sharing your ideas this week! Happy Sunday!
LikeLike
That second poem could be me speaking to my students! And I love the advice in the first — “So, go ahead with what’s on your mind,”
LikeLike
It’s always fun to look back through notebooks and come across drafts from the past, and it’s even better when they speak to today! I can’t imagine, though, finding a draft on my phone. Unfortunately, the idea of file management wasn’t something that crossed my mind during the earliest days of “the cloud.” (Oddly enough, my USB drive was highly organized…hmmm). I love the sentiments of both these poems, and that picture of the oak is incredible. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLike