Roll the Dice-Create a Poem

Recollecting how intrigued I was at the NCTE Conference with Taylor Mali's demonstration of his Metaphor Dice, I decided to enjoy some #quarentainment fun today. After all, it was a rain-sweeping, wind-howling day and I needed a bit of inspiration. I gently shook my dice so that they would fall gracefully on my desk. The word hope popped out and became the central concept for today's National Poetry Month poem-of-the-day. 

I liked the idea that hope is a gentle songbird so I decided to turn this metaphor into a poem of hope. Since the rain was pelting down and the trees were swaying with vigor, the birds were not singing their songs. Luckily, FotoJet has a library of beautiful photos to use. I chose the photo that inspired me and created a digital inspiration for my #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery of Artistic Expressions. Not only has this poem been added to the collection under the hashtag noted above, but it is showcased at my Nature Nurtures! Padlet. You can find many other digital inspirations on the padlet. Please consider creating your own image poem for the collection. The invitation can be accessed here. 

#SharingPlanetBeauty-Take Two

In the midst of pandemic fear, a magnificent pink-cherry-blossoming tree sways, breathing peaceful sighs into neighborhood streets. Billowy clouds saunter by. Aromatic smells perfume the swishing air and a white picket fence leans into the sprawling tree like neighbors often do with each other. Passerbys practicing social distancing exchange greetings and give gratitude for nature's enduring beauty. The street almost forgets that an encroaching evil lurks called COVID 19. But the blossoming tree continues to bloom and beautify its property because hope endures.

nature soothes souls

distanced by global distress-

spring sighs peacefully

©CV, 2020, Rockville Centre, NY

Would you like to join my #quarentainment project to flood social media with your own inspirational messages, poetry, and nature photographs on the beauty of nature? Invite your students to offer their stu-voice-artistic expressions. See details at the special invitation here.  Reminder: please send your offering to my Nature Nurtures! padlet and on social media using the hashtag, #NatureNurtures2020 and #Sharing PlanetBeauty.

The image poem of the pink-hued tree is a digitized copy of the photo seen at #NPM20 #SharingPlanetBeauty   It was digitized with the Prisma app to give a different perspective.

#NPM20-#SharingPlanetBeauty

This season, spring debuted with earth-shattering news. I, like others, watched in disbelief as an unseen interloper encroached upon the earth, area by area causing havoc.  Newscasts continue to flash, repeat, and remind us to shelter in place. I remind myself to refresh my senses with a walk and writing.

While writing and creating digitals might be a solitary act, it connects me with communities of writers whose ideas come into focus and are exchanged through written words. Slicers, Leigh Anne Eck, Fran Haley, and Brian Rozinsky joined my National Poetry Month project, Nature Nurtures Global Gallery of Artistic Voices. They couple the artistry of nature with their timely writing. Each one of the following image poems share the power of poetry to soothe souls during COVID19 troubled times.

Leigh Anne Eck

Fran Haley

Brian Rozinsky

Would you like to join my #quarentainment project to flood social media with your own inspirational messages, poetry, and nature photographs on the beauty of nature and your students' work?  

See details at the special invitation here.  Reminder: please send your offering to my Nature Nurtures! padlet and on social media using the hashtag, #NatureNurtures2020 and #Sharing PlanetBeauty.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing a space for writers to gather together

and share their slices of life each Tuesday. 

Spring Fling Virtual Party_SOLSC 21

Life continues to amaze me these days during the quarantine. I think many people are feeling "cooped up" and restless and it has only been one long week since COVID-19 has really shaken the world. When Leigh Anne Eck wrote, "Since our lives have been turned upside-down, I thought a self-care party was something we could all use right now," I quickly accepted her invitation.

Invitation from the Hostess with the Mostess

RSVP to Leigh Anne

Created with Buncee

Three self-care ideas/items that I will bring to the party for #quarentainment fun:

1. A necessity during the days of COVID-19: a roll of toilet paper since it is so difficult to find
2. A treat for all: a festive array of homemade cookies with baking tips
3. A dollop of creativity to engage everyone in an artsy endeavor: creating Buncee poems, inspirational posters, or fun photos for a scrapbooking page

Are you interested in being my guest at the party? It's time to start preparing! This will be a wonderful distraction while we New Yorkers are guided by Governor Cuomo's mantra, Shelter and Place.

☵

Each year since March 2015, I have engaged in Two Writing Teacher's Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. Slicing allows me to ponder life, literacy, and learning, capturing small moments poetically through writing, photography, and digital art. Welcome to Day 21 of 31 days of writing with Two Writing Teachers.