Student Poems Inspired by DEAR WANDERING WILDEBEEST

 Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit marvelous Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for Roundup.

And speaking of marvelous Margaret.... this week I'm thrilled to share with you some student work done by her students, who were inspired by poems from DEAR WANDERING WILDEBEEST.

Art and poems! What could be better?!

First, here's "Reef for All" by Madison:

Reef for All

by Madison

Sharks feast on my citizens;

my restaurant never closes.

Eels hide in my caves;

my shelter provides homes.

Sea worms play Peek-a-boo in my tubes;

my tubes allow all ages.

Fish hide in my caves;

my cradle caves are cozy for new fins.

No sea animal can resist my charm;

I am a coral reef.

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Isn't that "peek-a-boo" wonderful?! So much fun!

And here is my "Tree for All" poem that inspired it:

illustration by Anna Wadham

Tree for All

Giraffes feast on my leafy crown;

my buffet never closes.

Rhinos doze beneath my broad branches;

my umbrella selters and shades.

Baboons scramble up and down my trunk;

my playground delights all ages.

Owls nest in my hidden knothole;

my cradle cozies brand-new wings.

Skinks sleep in my thick, spotted bark;

my camouflage keeps them safe.

Safari ants trail along my roots;

my roadways help build a city.

No grassland beast can resist my charms;

I am a wild bush willow tree.

- Irene Latham

Next we have "What T-Rex Knows" by Jacob:

What T-Rex Knows

by Jacob

T-Rex knows

to walk on two legs

and fight like a pro

T-Rex knows

to hunt like a beast

and eat his foe

T-Rex knows

he's strong as a 

spinning tornado

T-Rex knows

he's friends with

other dinos

66 million years ago

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Oh, that spinning tornado! Yes!

And here is my poem "What Rhino Knows" :

What Rhino Knows

Rhino knows
to wait for starshine
and moonglow.

Rhino knows
to snort and paw,
puff and blow.

Rhino knows
to charge like a bull
at the rodeo.

Rhino knows 
he’s strong as
an armored buffalo.

Rhino knows
alone
is the only way to go.

–Irene Latham

Finally, here is "Zeno Poem" by Vannisa, about the hardships of writing poetry:

Zeno Poem

by Vannisa

Finding topics to write is hard.

Something simple

like a 

lime,

especially

forcing 

rhyme

because writing

just takes

time.

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Yes, indeed! Writing takes time. Thank you, Margaret and students! Your work is a gift.

Coming next week: posts featuring some of the fabulous schools I've visited this year... readers and art and words and FOOD! I'm excited to share with all of you. Meanwhile, hope you have a great weekend! Live your poem!!