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Monday, March 17, 2014

18/31 What I did in February

       Wow! It's Day Eighteen of the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers! I hope everyone is so proud of themselves! Thanks again, Dana, Anna, Tara, Betsy, Beth and Stacey!
                In addition to all the writing of posts, and writing assignments for my work, in February I was intrigued and a little batty because when I started responding to Laura Shovan's birthday month celebration, I just couldn't stop. Laura, among her many other responsibilities, writes a terrific blog titled Author Amok, and each February she creates a challenge during her birthday month. Last year she connected to postcards, and this past month it was all about Pantone colors. You can find all about it here! There were a few days skipped, either because Laura was out of town or because I couldn't seem to connect with the color of the day, but I wrote 21 poems for Laura's celebration last month. There were others who participated too, like Diane Mayr at Random Noodling who won the prize for most written with 26 poems and Margaret Simon, whom I think many of you know at ReflectionsOnTheTeche. Others joined in occasionally, all with wonderfully written poems connected to a color or the color's name. I am proud of a few poems and not so proud of others, but it was great fun to write this time to a prompt, and to write fast!  I'd like to share one of the poems written because so many of you are teachers and you will connect to it, especially if you teach older students. The color's name was Stormy Weather. The idea is to write to connect to the prompt and one must include the name somehow in the poem, or at least something close to the name. We took a few liberties on occasion.



Don’t Know Why…

Sunday crunch-
weekend flew,
cloudy words:
“Homework due!”
            stormy weather

Chapter two-
history,
darkened sky:
“It’s a mystery.”
             stormy weather

Analyze
poem’s rhyme,
lightning strike:
“I don’t have time.”
            stormy weather

Write bio-
famous guy
raining hard:
“Now I sigh.”
            stormy weather

Teenager
turns out light
advisory:
“Good night, good night.”
             stormy weather

Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved

           Monday evening, the March Madness Poetry tournament hosted by Ed DeCaria began, and I received my word. I'll be writing my poem all day Tuesday and send it off early Wednesday morning.  Sixty-four “authletes” are competing in poetry.  This is my third year, and I made the second round in the first year, not so fortunate last year. But it is fun, and I'm happy I am included! I hope my practice in February will help!

32 comments:

  1. Wow Linda you are so prolific. I am so intimidated by poetry. I love sharing other's though. Love the term "authlete." Good luck on this year's work.

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    1. Thanks, Julieanne-it'll be quite a day today! I hope you'll "dip" into poetry sometime!

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  2. You are a great teacher. I have always admired your grace. You always have a kind word of encouragement.

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    1. Thank you Ruth, I'll need pats on the back today, and appreciate each one!

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  3. Oh, these are fun, Linda...especially that last one! I admire the way you throw yourself into all these poetry challenges. So many of hem, too! Bravo!

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    1. Thanks Tara-they are fun, keeps me on my toes!

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  4. I loved the color poetry. They seemed like lots of fun. I only contributed one but wish I'd been abler to join in on more. Best of luck writing today! I start tomorrow night with my word. Don't know how I'll fit it in to this schedule.

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    1. Good luck to you, too Donna. Maybe the grandson will inspire... I know your clever word work will help you craft a great poem!

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  5. Love your words "intrigued and a little batty." My husband doesn't understand why I tackle this during one of my busiest months of the year. I like the word frenetic to describe how I feel during March - lots less sleep than I normally get, but also experiencing my own writer's high a few times during the month!

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    1. I just read your poem, too, Ramona-so fun and so right! Thanks!

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  6. I'm excited to see the March Madness unfold! You have really honed your writing-under-pressure chops with Laura's project :-)

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    1. Thank you Tabatha-I "hope" it helped & I have a glimmer of a connection with my word!

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  7. I love the rhythm and rhyme of stormy weather. The lines have a satisfying balance. Isn't that time crunch the lightning strike in our work week! Such a talented writer you are. I will head over to the color poems and Laura's challenge.

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    1. Thanks Lee Ann, I thought also of our middle school & your high school students in this poem-procrastinators all!

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  8. I love the analogy to story weather and the peace that emerges at the end. You are finding time to do so much writing. While I know that the more you do, the easier it gets, I still marvel at both your talent and your stamina.

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    1. Thanks Anita, just keep plugging away at it, and I do enjoy it a lot! I'm glad you enjoyed the poem.

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  9. Love the poem! And good luck in the March Madness!

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  10. I think you were just warming up with the color poems. What a great way to stretch your poetry muscle! Love your stormy weather poem! Best of luck to you in the contest.

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    1. Thanks Elsie, I really loved doing the February poems, so this will be another good challenge too.

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  11. I like that you don't find excuses but are ready to accept different writing challenges. And from your words I gather it's not something you do with your teeth clenched but you get pure joy out of words and writing.

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    1. I never thought about it as a chore, Terje, and I do get a lot of joy from the writing, and I think part of that is because I also hope I'm learning. Glad to know your thoughts in this-interesting! Thanks!

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  12. I love the way you connected lots of little life events to storms, Linda! I also like that you're in a poetry challenge! How fun! It seems like many of my pieces come out lately as poems...?? Happy March!
    b

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    1. Thanks b, those little life events are all on a Sunday, before the Monday; they're due! Poor teenager... I do enjoy the poetry.

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  13. Love the challenge and the poem you created. Good luck in the new challenge this week!

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    1. Thanks Beverley, I need all the wishes I can get!

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  14. Linda, you are so talented! Brilliant!! Thanks for inspiring me to keep on pushing on the challenges. Thank you. And happy writing!

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    1. Thanks Stella. I appreciate that you are inspired! Happy writing to you, too!

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  15. My daughters would love this poem! It is them on a Sunday night so many times! Good luck in March Madness, Linda--I'm looking forward to reading your poems!

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    1. Thanks Melanie-my students often called it the Sunday Crunch! I'm glad to hear you know all about it!

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  16. Linda, your poem is so clever! I loved how you used the song to inspire you. I can almost hear Lena Horne singing your lines. I have those Pantone colors posts tucked away for some poems, but I loved reading yours.

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    1. Thanks Catherine, I hope that you will post one someday. I've enjoyed every poem you've written and shared.

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