Found Poem

This is the Open Write, a place for educators to nurture their writing lives and to advocate for writing poetry in community. We are here every month. In May Jessica Wiley and Erica Johnson invited us to celebrate the place they call home (and our own places) with this series: Homage to Arkansas, the “Natural State”. Our next Open Write will be June 20-22.

Our Host

Jessica lives in Conway, Arkansas, “The City of Roundabouts,” with her husband, daughter, and son. She has been an educator for 16 years, teaching special education and alternative education. Currently, she works in a school district in Morrilton, Arkansas. She serves as a board member with Arkansas Hands & Voices and as a Parent Ambassador with Arkansas Community Connections. She is a fresh author, an avid reader, a poetry lover, and a dedicated Burn Bootcamp member.

Inspiration 

I bought a new bike and will one day lug it into my vehicle to expand my travel on Conway’s nature trails. While joyriding in my neighborhood, I was disappointed. I want to avoid the traffic, strays, and loose balls. I want to see the naturally flowing water, instead of remnants of overgrown yards, broken fences, and garbage juice. I want to hear birds swoop, see squirrels scamper, and feel the breeze kiss my skin. Wanting to escape to hear my thoughts, converse with the strangers, and show off my bike, Charbreezy. But in the meantime, I will be walking. 

Process

Spring is in full swing, and so is the rain. Go to a park, your backyard, a playground, a zoo, or anywhere you find flora, fauna, and other interesting things. Take something to write with and paper, or record on a device. List all the things, people, and animals you find. Think of their actions, colors, sounds, and features. Create a “Found” poem about what you see. You can use any poem style you choose. You can write as much, or as little, as you want. Use your senses to help develop your poem. Think of all the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels you experienced. Take us with you to your place and experience the same things you wrote about. I found it difficult to choose just one thing to write about because there were so many things that interested me. Classroom ideas include descriptive writing and imagery activities.

Jessica’s Poem

Found at Kinley Bike Trail
by Jessica Wiley

One of many spaces where bikes, nature, pets, 
and people collide.
McKinley, the name of the trail, mile markers plastered 
to metal poles in wide open spaces.
Army, forever etched in metal at Veterans Plaza, 
in Pompe Park, dividing Tucker Creek and Kinley Trail.
Along the way, “The Walking Man”, 
embossed on a bench, memorializes 
Al Wallace-Christian, Patriot, and Friend.
“Insert an image of a mouse smoking” in bubble letters, 
kisses a pole above a sticker with cherries and ribbon.
Fallen trees I see, blooming blossoms,
frolicking dogs in a drainage easement, 
wispy ribbons, and creeping vines.
My favorite find standing tall is a Little Free Library, 
planted along the trail like it has always belonged.

Erica’s Poem

A Poetic Sketch of a San Antonio Encounter 
by Erica Johnson

A tale — or a joke — often starts:
a poet and painter walk into a park.

A pair of friends exchange
sweet cream and flaky crusts—
sugar rains and sprinkles the pavement 
remnants of a pastry shared on a bench.

Reflected in the mossy pool
an old man perches with paints
shaded by a white hat and grey clouds.

Our eyes do not meet, but
I wonder if the painter sees the poet
Capturing in words a reflection
of the sketch he works on
before rain forces both to pause.

Your Turn

Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own poem. (This is a public space, so you may choose to use only your first name or initials depending on your privacy preferences.) Not ready? That’s okay. Read the poems already posted for more inspiration. Ponder your own throughout the day. Return later. And, if the prompt does not work for you, that is fine. All writing is welcome. Just write something. Oh, and a note about drafting: Since we are writing in short bursts, we all understand (and even welcome) the typos and partial poems that remind us we are human and that writing is always becoming. If you’d like to invite other teachers to write with us, tell them to subscribe. Also, please be sure to respond to at least three writers.