Poetry
Shimmering reflections on that memorable summer pond
Swans swim making small ripples
The flowers around the mist covering the pond show off their beauty like fashion model
Those days gave us peace and joy
I wonder if those days will come again?
Our class worked this spring with poet Leslie Johnson, our resident artist, who introduced us to the connections we can make between paintings, nature, poetry and sound. Following four workshops with her, a walk on our nature trail and a trip to the Hillstead Museum in Farmington, students began responding to nature and to other artists’ work through poems. Here are some of them.
The Racing Days
By Abby
Oh the good old days
The times when I could run
The time when I was the best of the best
Now I’m old and can’t run
My mane and tail are thinning
My legs growing weary
The days of racing are gone, long gone
How I long to hear the sound of hooves behind me
The crowd cheering
But most of all my master congratulating me
I miss the reward carrots
I even miss the crack of the whip.
Sunset
By
SAMANTHA
Colors mix as the sun hides beyond the horizon
Calmness fills your peaceful body
Light reflects on the motionless water
Cold sand wiggles under your toes
The sliver of a dull moon
Takes the place of the warming sun
Since the star called the sun has disappeared
Coldness replaces the peacefulness
You run inside a small hut
to your awaiting mother
With hot soup and a hug.
Sail the World
By J.J.
The great blue waves lap the boats
The wind blows the sails swiftly
Will the light lead them nowhere?
Darkness
By Rowan
A blank mind stares at a canvas
A grey cityscape all around them
Darkness surrounding them like a wall
The curtains are pulled back to reveal endless gloom
Wind wails in the distance
When will the light come back?
When will joy be regained?
American Eclipse
by Edward Troye
Fishing
By Andrew
Light beams down at the sailboats
The sound of the wake crashes against the rocks
The water is light blue like the never-ending sky
The wind in my face fills me with contentment.
Some students were inspired to respond to a painting with a poem:
Other students were inspired by a memory or experience of nature:
Earth
By William
Birds sing their sweet song
Orange
and purple
and aquamarine
flowers sway gently in the breeze
Bees buzz happily
Earth stands as a home
to many plants
and animals
So protect it!
Great Green World
By Patrick
Blades of green grass blow sideways
As tall trees tower above the land
Great beautiful birds swoop down
A bright light shines on the earth
Peaceful laughing children fill the world.
As the deadly icicles
melt into water
The sparkling sun
sings with the chirping birds
Soon sweet smelling leaves
fall from the trees
And once again
shimmering snowflakes fall
from nowhere
Seasons
Fishing Boats at Sea
by Claude Monet
Young Woman Drawing
by Marie-Denise Villers
Grand Manan Island, Bay of Fundy
by Frederic Church
Those Beautiful Days
By Sydona
Seasons
by Tabitha
