Monday, May 15, 2017

DMC: "Alphabet Coaching" by Jesse Anna Bornemann




ALPHABET COACHING

Excuse me, please! I’m eager to
Address all 26 of you.
I think that I heard someone say
You’d like to form a poem today?
There’s little doubt you’re each endowed
With stellar skills! You should be proud!
I’m not here to suppress your style
But, rather, to enhance it while
I teach you to work as a group.
A lithe and lovely letter-troupe!
First, some warm-ups . . . take your time.
Maybe make a simple rhyme?
Nice job! (Or, I mean, could be worse.)
Now, can you stretch into a verse?
That’s it! Oh, wait – you missed a beat.
No, you don’t have two left feet!
I’d never say that. I’m impressed!
Fine, I can see why you’re stressed.
But stress is needed. Rhythm too.
Don’t choke now. There’s work to do!
So, that’s it? Our session’s done?
I thought that we were having fun.
An artist must stick to her craft!
What if we call this our first draft?

© 2017 Jesse Anna Bornemann. All rights reserved.



Click HERE to read this month's interview with Melissa Manlove, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. Her DMC challenge is to write a poem that explores how writing (or a book) is like something else.

Post your poem on our May 2017 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, May 26th. Two lucky participants will win a book published by Chronicle earlier this year: LOVING VS. VIRGINIA by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, or LOVE IS by Diane Adams, illustrated by Claire Keane.






7 comments:

  1. This is such fun, Jesse! We writers all know how difficult it can be to get those little critters to work together. :)

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  2. Love this poem's rhythm and rhyme with all the letters marching in time! Thanks, Jesse, making those letters cooperate is tough work!

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  3. This is fantastic....very readable and forms great visuals in my head! Kinda like chicka-chicka boom boom grown up a bit.

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  4. So. Much. Fun. Clever as all get out, Jesse! =)

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  5. A joy to meet this clever letter-troupe working as a group with the coaxing & coaching of this poet. Brava!

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  6. "Fine, I can see why you’re stressed." -- ha ha :-)
    Fun all the way through!

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  7. Jesse Anna BornemannMay 16, 2017 at 9:54 AM

    Oh, thank you all so much! (And many thanks to Michelle for posting my poem!) It's an honor to be featured among so many excellent alphabet coaches!

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