And she's created a padlet with an invitation to write your own equation poem!
Happy Valentine's Day, a bit early, but it is time for a lotta love leading up to it, too!
I used to have students write love poems before Valentine's Day. They had fun in a variety of ways, writing those poems to people and things, often to their backpacks! Here's one book I used to inspire them, and it's now fun to read to the granddaughters. The older one in fourth grade just told me this week that some classmates giggle as they ask others "Will you be my Valentine?" The love (or 'like') train has started with nine and ten-year-olds!
Here's a favorite love poem:
One that I often gave students, one that was popular with everyone, because the students were always surprised how modern it seemed, even though written so very long ago.
This is a small part of Trollius and Cressida, by Geoffrey Chaucer
How To Write A Love Letter
Don't write too neat, and use a little guile--
Let tear stains blot your words once in a while
But if you find a word you think is clever
Use it but once, don't harp on it forever!
Find the rest here!
some examples
Dogs
"Nice to meetcha! You smell delish!
Wanna share my water dish?
Cats
A sunny day. It's perfect weather
to go outside--and nap together.
Elephants
I like your tusks, I like your trunk.
I like your size--you're quite a hunk.
Perhaps you'd like to try one. If so, share in the comments! Here's mine.
Sloths
Hello up there, I bring love and flowers.
How sweet you’re patient, might take a few hours.
Linda Baie ©

57 comments:
I love the sloth poem--sweet fun! Twosomes is new to me. I'll have to look for it. Happy Valentine's Day!
Thanks, JoAnn, it is (was) a favorite poetry book especially with students.
Adorable sloth poem, Linda! And I agree about the Chaucer. Great picks!
OH, my goodness... the animal love poems are perfect. You make me want to write some.
Birds
You preen so nice
you tweet so pretty
let's go for a fly above the city
Love these sweet animal couplets!
LInda, it is always a good time for love poems, methinks. :) These couplets are fun, aren't they? I'm digging today's poetry friday theme of short poems during this, our shortest month... Your sloth is worth waiting on. Thank you! xo
Thanks, Tabatha, happy you enjoyed them!
Oh, wonderful, Linda. Thanks for sharing yours! Yes, animals love, too!
Thanks, Kimberly!
You're welcome, Irene, it is always time for a poem about love, agreed!
Such a delightful post, Linda! Thanks for sharing Marilyn's poems (haven't seen that book), and I love your sloth poem (it made me think of the Durrells in Corfu (they had a sloth in their house). Happy early Valentine's Day!
While Chaucer's poem was a lovely treat, those animal love poems just made me giggle. I enjoyed all the images, especially the first one since i have 3 dogs. Thanks for such wonderful love poems. :)
What a great post! Thank you!
Squeal!
Heart-ing the last line double meaning, Linda M!
Look what you goodness & fun you wrought ,Linda B!
So glad to know about Marilyn Singer & Lee Wildish (each, with such atmospheric, poetic last names!) book of animal valentines! Trying one or two, now -
Alligator
I am lazy, you are two
Let's sunbake, before finding turtle stew.
- Jan Godown Annino
Flamingo
We love hot pink and all the trimmings
Let's fly away where shrimp are swimming
- Jan Godown Annino
And . . . You. Great. Teacher!
Linda, I didn't know about Chaucer's How To . . . , which will thrill everyone I share it with.
Many many of your favorite kind of valentines to dear You.
Marilyn's book sounds charming, Linda - and your sloth poem made me smile, as anything in conjunction with sloths is wont to do :).
Delightful animal couplets, Linda. I didn't know about Chaucer's letter writing advice. Thanks for sharing.
Without typos:
What a fun post, Linda. I bet the grandgirls will get a kick out of all the animal valentines and maybe even make a few.
Here's quick rhyming poem from my winter bee to me.
I'd love to buzz
And bee your friend.
Come dance with me
My Valentine I'll send.
I think I shall read a few out loud to my little Sierra when I see her on Sunday.
This book is new to me. I'll have to see if I can find a copy. I especially love the cat and elephant poems. Thank you for a great post!
Love is in the air Linda. Thank you for sharing these different perspectives. I am prompted to share this short offering from 'I Quite Like My Wife' by John Turnbull.
I bring my love some flowers
She's pleased, or so I think.
But after a couple of hours
They're still sitting in the sink.
Perfectly delightful, and I love your sloth poem, Linda!
Thanks, and a sweet Valentine's Day back to you, Jama. A sloth in the house, wow. I am not familiar with that show, only know it's on PBS.
You're welcome, I do smile with them, too!
Thanks, Ruth!
We could create another post with the new ones! Thanks, Jan!
Thank you, Jan, for loving the Chaucer & writing more darling rhymes!
Yes, we are sloth lovers here in Denver, too! Thanks, Tara.
You're welcome, Alice, so glad you enjoyed them.
Love that you wrote about your winter bee, Carol, & I imagine Sierra will love the rhythm & rhyme of these. Enjoy your visit!
You're welcome, Linda. I'm happy you liked the poems. I do love that elephant one, too.
Ha! It is a pleasure to find a 'love poem' that has a bit of spice, Alan. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Karen, the idea is fun to imagine the 'what' & the 'how"!
Such a fun post Linda, from Chaucer, to Marilyn Singer's poems to your lovely "Sloth" poem. Here's a poem for our brave cardinals.
Cardinals
I would fly by your side
in all kinds of weather,
But forget this darn cold
let's seek some sweet heather.
These are so fun! I will try one this week!
Oh my. Singer's animal valentine sentiments are hilarious! I think my animal-loving Kindergarten poets would adore these. Thank you! -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/
Linda, what fun! Here's mine.
Bats
Hey, baby, let's hang around
then groove to the echolocation sound!
okay, pretty weak, but that's what I've got on a Saturday morning after a late night playing games last night:)
These animal valentines are such fun! I'm already considering how my 4th graders might right these with their 7th grade buddies at our Valentine's celebration. Love your sloth poem--here's mine:
Blue Jays
If you would only share my feeder
I would try to eat much neater!
What a fun post! I love your sloth poem and all the ones shared in the comments. Marilyn sparks a trend once again.
Terrific, Liz! Thanks
I hope they will, Christie! Enjoy!
It's perfect, Laura! Love reading about bats!
Ha! Thanks, Molly. They are messy, a wonderful addition!
Thanks, Margaret, yes, I love all her books.
Your sloth poem gives me such an images of that slow beast climbing up a tree slowly - carrying a bunch of flowers in one paw...it makes me laugh!
Oh, and:
I’m a squirmy worm with five beating hearts
Each heart adoring your segmented parts;
Let’s go out on a date, suck in some dirt
And see if our gizzards dissolve some dessert.
Thanks, there's a lot of sloth going on with the granddaughters, had to write about them!
Oh my, so funny, especially that 'dissolve some dessert'! This has been a delight to read everyone's 'love poems'!
What a fun invitation to offer to students! These poems are adorable! I'm going to have to check this book out as well. Thanks, Linda!
Can we change right to write, please! Ugh!! lol
I can't edit the comments, Molly, but you can delete & re-write/edit. it's okay; happens to us all!
You're welcome, Kiesha, hope you have fun playing with the idea!
Your sloth poem is fabulous.
Thanks, Jone, sloths are a favorite!
Linda, you are wonder! Thanks for the introduction to "Twosomes" and for your sloth poem. Patience pays off! I'm going give one of these a try...I'll report back. =)
Oh, thanks, Bridget. Hope you do write & share!
I read half of the Night Diary and got distracted. It is at the top of my stack to reread this month. I am embarrassed I got distracted because it was so good!!! So sorry I forgot to post here yesterday. I opened the window for your blog, and my big kid distracted me!
Post a Comment