Weekly Writing Prompts [Shining in the Middle of the night.]

When I have a crazy week followed by another crazy week, I spend a week playing catch up! That's three weeks gone and I find it incredibly frustrating. Our craziness began the last weekend of January. Our dog Quigley had been sick for weeks on end and he took a nose dive that Friday night and had a horrible night Sunday into Monday. It was heartbreaking. In the end we had to let him go. His liver failed and we have no idea why. That week was a difficult one with two weekends of visiting family and then extra babysitting needs from some individuals in our church. I finally feel like I'm (temporarily) back on top of things. I say temporarily with confidence knowing that something else will come up eventually to upend my blogging schedule! That's life as a wife and mother of little people, not to mention life with family and friends, and as I recently found out... that's life as a pet owner.

With that said, here is the weekly writing prompt:

I tear apart books that were thrown into the recycling bin and create all kinds of book crafts. One thing I thoroughly enjoy doing is taking words and phrases to create my own poetry (more on that at another time). I also take favorite sections of books and poetry for students to use as inspiration in their own writing.

This particular section was taken from Lewis Carroll's poem titled, "The Walrus and the Carpenter" which offers an intriguing idea with which to write. Once the writing is complete I encourage you to read the poem in its entirety and ask students to share their own writing with the class: The Walrus and the Carpenter.

Here is my example if that is helpful for you:

The sun was in an ornery mood that day. Tired of being predictable and following rules. Tired of the same old duties day after day. After thousands and thousands and thousands of years of his obedience, he decided to allow himself one day of fun. He laughed at the chaos that ensued and thoroughly enjoyed the Earth's surprise. For Mother Earth didn't know what to do and became quite cross. Tossing her waves, causing her mountains to quake, compelling eruptions, and brewing storms. She was in a fury! The more Mother Earth gave rise to her anger (in the most unbecoming ways) the louder the sun laughed and the more he fanned the fire. One by one the planets attempted to help. Mercury felt too close to both of them, reluctant to take sides. Venus tried a lovey-dovey approach, which only agitated them further. Mars sided with the sun angering the Earth even more. Jupiter argued with Mars, thinking Mother Earth's anger was justified. Saturn rolled her eyes and told the sun to, "Put a ring on it already!" Uranus was a butt to everyone. Neptune was too far removed and wanted to stay out of it - completely. But when he was unable to, he was all out of orbit! One by one the sweet stars twinkled a bit of kindness and each act changed each of them slowly, but it was enough to calm things down. As time elapsed, the stars were seen as wise. For one alone may not have changed the course, but together - with each small act of kindness - eased anger, hate, and pride.

Your turn...

4 Reasons to Like Emily Dickinson's Poetry

I have written before of my love for poetry. It is one of my favorite forms of literature and creative writing. There is freedom to write down your thoughts as they come to you and joy when you find the right word to finish a thought, or rhyme, or create a witty play on words. Reading and relating to other poets, however, is even better. Poetry is inspirational. Emily is one of those poets I enjoy even more after reading about her. I can relate to Emily in so many ways. It wasn't until reading the introductions, editor's notes, and forwards to Emily's poetry books that I learned to enjoy her poetry all the more!

Never ever skip those pieces before or after reading a book. It adds depth and makes the book come alive in a completely new way! This is what I would've missed had I not taken my own advice...

1. "She rejected conventions, cared for no set technique, no formulas of versification, no fastidious rhyming." (Ellis, M., Pound, L. and Spohn, G., A College Book of American Literature, I, The Later Nineteenth Century, p.9) 
2. It is said that the effect of her poetry is "gayety, joy, and utter independence." (Ellis, M., Pound, L. and Spohn, G., A College Book of American Literature, I, The Later Nineteenth Century, p.10) That statement is true when you read the subjects of her poetry: nature, everyday life, and her love for her family.
3. Very little of her writing was ever published and the only reason they ever made it to the printing press was because they were found (by accident) after her death. She did not write with an intention to be published. She wrote for the pure enjoyment of it and for her family to whom she sent little notes and poems across the yard. Her humility is remarkable.
4. This is Emily's own test for poetry, "If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know it is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know this is poetry." I love that test! If it were for no other reason than that particular statement, I would love Emily all the same.

Here is one of my favorites,

This would also make a wonderful writing prompt!