Friday, October 23, 2020

Poetry Friday -- Autumn Acrostic

a tree in our neighborhood

 

At first, it goes
Unnoticed.
Then it is
Undeniable. Almost like
Magic, summer is gone.
No more shorts and swimsuits.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2020 (with input from students on the last line)


My original last like was "naked trees," but "naked" is still a squirmy word for fifth graders (which I LOVE), so I gladly accepted this perfectly child-centric alternative last line.

We have been blessed with a glorious autumn, but my heart goes out to those who have had drought and fires, hurricanes and flooding. 

Jama's serving up warm cider and donuts with an autumn poem which, like mine last week, features an apple orchard. It's all kinds of perfect. Head over to the Poetry Friday Roundup at Jama's Alphabet Soup and check it out.



19 comments:

  1. Spectacular tree, lovely acrostic. Smiled at your "naked trees" comment. :)

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  2. An aptly named and well placed street sign rounds out a gloriously glowing tree photo, Mary Lee. And your acrostic captures the way time silently escorts us into the next season with our wardrobe change. :)

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  3. It is a gorgeous autumn here as well, Mary Lee. The trees "light up" the day everywhere, but yes, Colorado mountains are burning and it's terrible. Thanks for the beauty of your poem & just for those 5th graders!

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  4. You make the acrostic form into a work of art. Lucky students. Will you share some of theirs? It has been lovely but I agree the fires and all the rest....so upsetting.
    Janet Clare F.

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  5. So fun, and I love that you let your students edit your last line. :-)

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  6. Love the color. Love the thought about 5th graders. Love the poem. Can I please add this to Abundant Autumn Gallery?

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  7. Like magic, the wind direction changes and we have a cool breeze. Here, we are hoping that cool front chases away yet another storm system. Arch!

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  8. Summer is sticking around a little longer where I am, but the trees are gorgeous. Your acrostic is right on. So true "naked " is a squirmy word for fifth graders. I remember my students giggling over words like that. : )

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  9. Loved the acrostic and what a gorgeous tree! Thanks, Mary.

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  10. Rules are rules...not even trees get to be naked. I especially like your "u" words.

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  11. Ha! I like no more shorts or swimsuits better than naked. Fun poem. Perfect for today.

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  12. Oh Mary Lee, I can hear fifth graders and the word “naked” ( I alway pronounce is as necked. Great alternative line. I just returned from SoCalifornia where shorts were worn. Said shorts will be tucked away now with other summer clothes.

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  13. Summer slips away too quickly, and your poem captures that well, gorgeous image also, thanks Mary Lee!

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  14. Just so, and perfect for 5th grade. I've realized(whirlwind of technology) that I have not really said the word POEM to PreK yet, but now that all kinds of routines are established, we will ease in with "Five Little Pumpkins" and then off we go!

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  15. Perfect, Mary Lee. We hike the same trails every few weeks, and this week it became "undeniable."

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  16. I adore acrostics and play with them a lot, of late - I so appreciate the kid-friendly change while loving the squirmy word better! Your poem hits the advent of autumn dead-on.

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  17. It still is plenty warm enough for shorts in Florida, but the humidity has lessened which means autumn has, indeed, arrived! Thanks for the touch of magic you gifted me in your poem.

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  18. There is a maple tree on the edge of our playground that turns a stunning shade of red every year that is my gauge for autumn. It got off to a slow start this year, but was at its blazing best last week. This week, though, it's almost bare and its magic is gone. By bringing this tree to mind, your acrostic has brought a bit of magic to my morning. Thank you!

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  19. Ahhh, I needed this magical bit of autumn loveliness today, Mary Lee! :)

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