Oct 15, 2015

POETRY FRIDAY: Fall Poetry by My Childhood Self

Thank you to Amy at The Poem Farm for hosting Poetry Friday this week!

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I have missed participating in Poetry Friday lately! I am happy to be back and thought it would be fun to share some poems I came across this week. Fall has always been my favorite season—even when I was very young, I loved the cooler temperatures, the beautiful leaves, and the anticipation of winter’s cozy embrace.

This week as I was reading through some poems I wrote growing up, I was tickled to realize how many I came across that were about fall. I don’t know if this was due to the fact that my teachers had more creative instruction time in autumn as opposed to spring’s annual round of standardized testing and end-of-year field trips, or if it was because I just liked writing poetry about fall. Whatever the reason, it was fun to go back and read what I’d written so long ago!

Here are a few of the poems that I found. When I typed them, I did edit for punctuation—proving that we will always have the urge to go back and edit our work, even over 30 years later! 

Here is one I wrote in about third or fourth grade (and yes, I grew up with the name "Becky Bookout"): 
Fall

Fall is here,
Winter is near.
The weather is cool,
We go back to school.

The leaves are falling,
Winter is calling.
As red, gold, and brown
Leaves fall all around.


And here is another, written about the same time:

Halloween

Halloween is coming soon,
Halloween, with a bright full moon.
Ghosts and goblins
Everywhere in sight.
And jack-o-lanterns glowing
Brightly in the night.

Halloween is coming soon,
Halloween, with a bright full moon.
Witches flying
Through the air,
On magic broomsticks
Everywhere!

This last one is from second grade, I believe.
Fall

Fall is nice.
There’s a nice cool breeze
As we play in the leaves.
Winter is on its way,
And it’s almost Halloween day.

Do you have any of the poems you wrote as a child? If so, please feel free to share in the comments below. 

Thanks for taking this autumn stroll down memory lane with me! Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Writing!

26 comments:

  1. Aw, Becky, you were a poet even back in grade school. I'm not surprised. These are darling! I had no trouble reading your handwriting.

    Although I have nothing like this to share from my childhood -- we moved with only what we could carry -- I must check the attic for my kids' things. I hope no mice have gotten in to make a nest. Or roaches. Ick.

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    1. I have saved too much from my boys' elementary years. I need to go back through and only keep the writing and art. It is fun to look back!

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  2. Becky,
    I don't believe I can produce any poems I wrote as a child, although I did recite one in a school program. I was ner-r-r-vous. I'm glad you and your parents saved your poetry. How wonderful! I think you wrote well, even as a little one. I enjoyed your art too! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Linda! I recited "Sea Fever" in 8th grade and I remember being a wreck. I still love that poem, though!

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  3. So charming! Thanks for sharing these, Becky. I think "Bookout" is a fantastic name for a writer! I had a poem published in Jack and Jill when I was a kid. I wish I had it to share with you. It was about Van Gogh and his ear, I think :-)

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    1. A poem about Van Gogh and his ear sounds great, Tabatha!

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  4. What a delight! I, too, love "Bookout" and "Halloween with a bright full moon." Poetry has always lived in you, and it must have been fun to type these with your grownup hands. I remember a poem I wrote about "Mothers" and now want to see if I can remember more. Happy Poetry Friday! xo

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    1. Thank you, Amy, and thanks again for hosting Poetry Friday this week!

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  5. Fun to see these -- a budding poet for sure. My fave is the second one. Back in 4th grade, my mother's day poem was published in the PTA newsletter. I was pretty proud of that -- though I can't remember the poem itself now.

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    1. I think the second one is my favorite, too! I actually remember writing this one, and working on the illustrations. That is great that you published in the PTA newsletter--those early publications mean so much!

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  6. What a joy to take a stroll down memory lane with you, Becky! It's a bit surprising to look back and realize that we've been carrying certain aspects of our personalities with us since the time we were very small... comforting too, though.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. I agree- it's very comforting to look back and see the pieces all coming together!

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  7. Love these, & the illustrations too, Becky. I had several poems published when I was a kid, & into high school. I remember the beginning of one, about patterns, the kind for sewing. My mother made nearly all my clothes, so I guess I was immersed in that at the time: "A pattern is a wondrous thing./It always sets you wondering"... Don't remember the rest & am not sure I still have it. Thanks for taking us back!

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    1. Your sewing poem sounds beautiful, Linda! Poetry definitely helps us process things we experience. It is fun to look back!

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  8. Wow! Such talent at a young age! I have a poetry booklet that I saved from childhood SOMEWHERE! I wish I knew where!

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  9. Never mind your poems, Becky, although they are very charming and assured. What impresses me is your awesome handwriting and fine crayon work! : ) I do have some poems I wrote as a kid, and one of the poems in my first book is actually a rewrite of one from about 4th grade. What else I remember is the feeling of Knowing What I Was Doing when I wrote poetry, which you can read more about here: http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2010/04/poetry-makers-heidi-mordhorst.html

    I like fall for a week or two, and then I'm sad about winter!

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    1. Thank you, Heidi! I look forward to reading your post!

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  10. Wow! Your rhyming is so good!

    I recently found a "novel" I wrote when I was about seven, complete with a secret language and puzzles at the end.

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  11. Lucky you to have found these treasures! I don't think I wrote poetry until high school. I don't remember poetry (or even writing instruction) as a part of my elementary school years at all!

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    1. I had truly amazing teachers growing up, Mary Lee. I have appreciated this so much as an mom, teacher, and writer. Teachers can make ALL the difference!

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  12. I love your name and poems, Becky. And that penmanship ~ I'm so envious! (I often write as if I was holding a stub of charcoal.)

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  13. Very cool! You can see you were a writer from the start!

    Great post!

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  14. Becky, thank you for sharing your adorable childhood poems and illustrations. And I think "Bookout" is the perfect name for an author. :-)

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  15. I wish I could remember mine. I have some from high school and college, but none as fun as these.

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