When I used to write poetry with students, I tried to decrease the intimidation they’d inevitably feel about writing poetry by helping them find relatable topics – topics they already knew something about – both as individuals and as part of our group. Color, as I’ve written before, was always both an easy and and…
creative writing
Poetry Friday: The Return
When making a list of goals for February, I decided that will do the following: Edit two of my poems a day Continue to compile a PDF to Print File Blog Daily reaching for 50 views per day Submit to one publication by deadline Search for an editor Start reading the book Writing the Poetic…
Poetry Friday: Pandemic Panacea
A while ago, before the vaccines for COVID-19 were approved, I was playing with some alliteration. This is a work in progress, but in absence of other words coming to me today, I will share it for Poetry Friday. I think our world, particularly the United States, is stretched thin right now. It seems everything…
One Little Word, Resolutions & a Poem
I’m not a fan of trends; I never have been. Always, it seems, I’m outside the box with trends such as colors, styles, books, or hobbies well before or after it is popular with the general public. My deep teal green kitchen was painted 5-7 years before everyone had teal on their walls. Once the…
Poetry Friday: Writing Tasks
What have I worked on this week? I am a reflective thinker. Perhaps, too much so. I find that sometimes all my thinking stalls my actions and prevents forward movement. I get caught up in questions such as, what should I do now? What would be most productive? Should I stop editing and put those…
Poetry Friday: Tom Turkey
Tom Turkey said, gobble, gobble as he took a small wobble towards the shiny fence that cost more than a few pence. A young child approached sure the perimeter could be broached at least by my finger while I linger thought the child. The tall man said, do not put your finger in the pen….
Poetry Friday: Writing Poetry with Students
Several years ago, when I had writer’s circle, the students tried their hand at writing the several types of poems during our month long unit which ran from mid-February to mid-March. My favorites were the color poems and the haiku. I found poetry, using the forms below, helped the young student (third grade) to learn…
Poetry Friday: Cabin, Sweet Cabin & other Haiku
Next to me on the chair the pillow states, Refuge Cabin Sweet Cabin Says the same as Home Sweet Home There’s no place like it. Luckily, we can reach our cabin with an easy three hour drive. With COVID-19 numbers vastly increasing our state (Wisconsin), we are now making the trip without any stops. We…
Poetry Friday: Consumption
For the past month, I have been consumed by poetry. Constantly, I am thinking about it, writing with words that rhyme or follow a cadence in my head. Poetry. The imaginative craft of writing where words create images and emotions and depth of life. And, while I am grateful, it has been such an odd…
Poetry Friday: The Cabin
Between your walls all those years ago. What was it like? Were you cold in the winter or did your fire keep you warm? Trees from the woods made your walls. Old oaks from a savanna that is no more, now covered with buckthorn galore. We know their age from counting their rings, the trees…










