Yesterday was Poem in your Pocket Day. I love this annual celebration of carrying poems around to share.
All day long in school, I had a folded poem sticking up out of my shirt pocket, and during each of my writing classes, I would take it out with great fanfare and read it to my students.
Which poem?
Words are Birds by Francisco Alarcon.
words
are birds
that arrive
with books
and springthey
love
clouds
the wind
and treessome words
are messengers
that come
from far away
from distant landsfor them
there are
no borders
only stars
moon and sunsome words
are familiar
like canaries
others are exotic
like the quetzal birdsome can stand
the cold
others migrate
with the sun
to the southsome words
die
caged—
they’re difficult
to translateand others
build nests
have chicks
warm them
feed themteach them
how to fly
and one day
they go away
in flocksthe letters
on this page
are the prints
they leave
by the sea
Peace (sharing poems),
Kevin
Kevin that was absolutely awesome. I love poetry and although I do share it with some friends I have always been afraid of sharing it in public. Loved words are birds.
Pablo Sevilla
I love that poem, too.
Kevin, I loved reading that blog post. I think poetry is so much fun to read and the kids can really be creative with it and I think that sharing it with each other is HUGE. Love poems about birds and the collaboration.
Thx.