Personification in Poetry: The Cracked Window

A few months ago, we read a couple of poems in our language curriculum that demonstrated personification: "The Old Bridge" by Hilda Conkling and "The Oak" by George Hill. When I asked Elisabeth to write a poem of her own that demonstrated this concept, I didn't expect the depth of her poetic expression.

Photo credit Ty1eerLeeds on Flickr

The Cracked Window

The cracked window watches 

As its home grows cold and quiet

The children have left

Their laughter no longer echoes.

Its cracks grow larger

As the wind and rain rage against it.

No more eyes stare through it in wonder,

If only it was the great stained windows of the cathedral

Or the sturdy glass guarding way up in the sky

But its not.

And it will surely shatter.

Related Posts:

• Adverb Inspired Poetry (shannafern.com)
• Art Inspired by Maud Lewis (shannafern.com)
• An Artist in the Making (shannafern.com)

Adverb Inspired Poetry

Slowly 

Slowly the tide creeps up the sand,

Slowly the shadows cross the land.

Slowly the cart-horse pulls his mile,

Slowly the old man mounts his stile.

Slowly the hands move round the clock,

Slowly the dew dries on the dock.

Slow is the snail – but slowest of all

The green moss spreads on the old brick wall.

- James Reeves

In our Language studies, we recently took a look at the poem "Slowly" by James Reeves shown above. We discussed how the adverb slowly accurately describes the action of each line and analyzed the rhyming pattern. I then challenged my students to choose a different adverb and come up with a poem with a similar rhyming pattern. This is what Elisabeth came up with:

Quickly 

Quickly, the car zooms past
“Quickly!” says the cast
Quickly, the years go by
Quickly, they say, "Hi"

Quickly, in the race they run
Quickly, travels the light of the sun
Quick! The small child wishes life would go
But so little do they know.  - Elisabeth Davis (copyright 2019)

There is More to Florida than the Shore

Wekiwa Springs

When most folks think of Florida they think of the beach.

The beach is fine, but there is so much more to Florida than it's shore. 

This is the Florida I most appreciate:

Oak Hammocks with Spanish Moss dripping,

Crystal clear springs perfect for swimming,

Grassy savannas bestrewn with Long-leaf pine

Where deer graze and rabbit and mouse supine

There is wildlife galore, that's for 'shore'

Many different birds, black bear, alligators and more

Manatee are the gentlest, water born and slow

But if you haven't experienced it, you wouldn't know

Clear water of Wekiwa Springs

Access road into Wekiwa Springs State Park

Resident gopher tortoise at Wekiwa Springs State Park

Pine savanna in Wekiwa Springs State Park