march 29
today we picked spring
we went walking to be in it and there it was
we gathered and collected
words, images
and pieces of the world we happened by
there was the sun- warm and everywhere
clouds dusted the sky
“like spirits of someone that knew us,” said one boy
“they’re just white,” said another
the sky that we see is the bluest of blue
we all said that
some trees have white blossoms and some have pink
flowers in the trees and flowers on the ground
“why is that anyway?” we wondered
there were dandelions and daisies
and someone to teach us how to weave daisy chains
we wore them as braclets or twisted into our hair
we found tulips so red
but nobody found roses
even though we wanted them in our poems
(some put them there anyway)
(because you can imagine too)
the grass is so green
not like always
today we are poets and it glows for us
soft wind
sweet air
cold mountains
loud crows
words line up
two by two
and the trees sing
as we race beneath them
*I bought When Green Becomes Tomatoes Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Julie Morstad This poem is inspired by about two minutes of skimming through that beautiful, beautiful book (can’t wait to sit and savour each poem in more detail) and an afternoon of gathering up spring and writing simple spring poems with my students. I placed many of their images into this poem about our walk and writing experience.
We used a frame and a two by two format so finished poems were just 9 words long.
A few samples:
Grateful for
cold wind
hot sun
seeds grow
spring
by Khalid
Grateful for
blue sky
chirping birds
breezy air
spring
By Noah
Grateful for
Daisy gardens
wind dances
trees sing
spring
By Amira
Grateful for
muddy dirt
wind storms
soaking rain
spring
By Sahara
I am participating in the Slice of Life challenge to write and publish a post every day in March.
Slice of Life is hosted by Two Writing Teachers. I thank them for the community they provide. Read more slices here.
There's a Book for That 
I just love your spring poem! Thank you for the book rec and for sharing your process for writing with your kids. I felt like I was right there on that walk with your class!
It’s a beautiful title – well worth purchasing!
I want that daisy chain. And that book. Beautiful and inspiring poetry happening here!
This is a book to covet!
Carrie,
Queen of Books! I thank you for sharing this new title. I want to check it out myself. I love the poems your students wrote! The two by two form is a great frame. Your work inspires me!
🙂 I hope you can lay hands on this title.
Totally using this form. My kids will love it!
Happy writing!
Thank you for inspiring some writing for my second graders today!
Thrilled to pass on the inspiration!
I just got the Fogliano book, wonderful to read and see! This sounds like an extraordinary day, Carrie. How can that be? Because of their teacher! “like spirits of someone that knew us,” It doesn’t get any better!
It doesn’t does it?
What a beautiful way to explore spring in your world! I loved your poem created from the students’ noticings and words. Then the students’ poems just were the frosting on the cake. I loved every bit of this post, but mostly because it was pieced together with love from the teacher to the students.
Thank you Elsie!
I have When Green Becomes Tomatoes on my nightstand. It’s a treasure! And the student poems – so fun! Please tell Khalid that I loved his “seeds grow” line. And Noah’s “breezy air,”
And Amira’s “wind dances.” And Sahara’s “muddy dirt.” Thanks for sharing.
Oh, I forgot to include these words I love from your poem:
“today we are poets and it glows for us.”
So glad you picked spring today.
I did share each of your compliments with each of these writers!
Now that is the way to spend a Spring day – bravo and hooray!
It was!
These poems-all of them-are such beautiful celebrations of spring. Thank you for sharing them today!
So pleased you enjoyed them!