Nature and Memory

This is the Open Write, a place for educators to nurture their writing lives and to advocate for writing poetry in community. We gather every month. This August, three of the contributors to an anthology for students, Picture Perfect Poetry, have shared prompts related to one of their poems in the anthology. Denise Krebs and Patricia Franz were here and now today, Joanne Emery will help us poem together. A few invitations:

1. Next month and through March 2027, the Open Write will be September 18-21. Four days. Friday to Monday. A few years ago, we had a five-day Open Write, now we have a three-day Open Write, so we are trying a four-day. Friday we ease into our practice with something low-stakes; Saturday we experiment with a new form or craft move; Sunday we meet a living poet or read some new poetry to write alongside them; and Monday we invigorate our week with a little something extra, easing out of our mini-online asynchronous 4-day retreat. Yeah, I like to think of it as a retreat or renewal — Open Write. Will you host a day? Sign up here.
2. And, we are launching a new series: The Poets We Return To. For this, there is no sign-up, but the due date is October 1, 2026, and, who knows, maybe we turn these into a beautiful book! Think of it as an opportunity to introduce others to formative poetry experiences through your eyes and how that can get these poems into the hands and hearts of students. We need more poetry in the schools! Right? What if this essay was the kind of writing students did and could do? Leaving high school being able to say: These poets have been a comfort and thinking partner for me, and be able to name them. And what if students then say, I know what I have to say matters, too.
3. Also, we are gathering short poems, fiction, and creative nonfiction written for children in grades 1-6 for a new open-access anthology. Submissions are due September 25, 2026. The detailed call is here at Just Words.

Our Host

Joanne Emery has worked in education for more than forty years as a classroom teacher, learning specialist, and curriculum coordinator. She regularly presents her work in educational journals and academic conferences. Her article “Fostering Curiosity and Imagination” was published on Arts Integration website. Joanne has also published many other educational articles and poetry. Her most recent children’s poems were published by Janet Wong and Sylivia Vardell in their anthologies, What is Hope? and Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz. Joanne’s poetry and photography were also featured in Carol Labuzzetta’s anthology, Picture Perfect Poetry. She often gets inspiration from nature and finds it to be both healing and inspiring. Joanne was an original member of Judy Chicago’s Birth Project, and her quilt is on permanent exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. She has exhibited her award winning photography throughout the United States including the Salmagundi Gallery in New York City and the San Diego Art Institute. Joanne maintains a weekly blog on literature, art, and education called WorDancer Blog.

Inspiration 

I often go on nature trips with my husband throughout the eastern coast of the U.S. I indulge in the shoreline, mountains, and forest. I think my favorite place is the deep dark woods. And a few years ago, I learned about the Japanese practice of forest bathing, which is taking long walks in the woods. I find this practice especially healing and rejuvenating. I use my photographs to remind me of those times bathing in the forest or watching waves crash upon the shore.

Process

I used my memory and my photography to describe the art of forest bathing. I used free verse to construct my poem so I could continue to play with images and feelings. I love using repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to create mood and tone.

Think about a time when you went deep into nature. It could be in the woods, at the ocean, in a garden, on a mountain trail, in a meadow full of wildflowers, or on a dark starry night. Think back to those images and how that moment made you feel. You can use a photograph if you have one handy to help you remember. Then write a poem in your favorite form or in free verse and play with the poetic devices you know to bring the reader into your special moment. 

Joanne’s Poem

Autumn Plunge

I am here,
in this once green place.
It is now dancing with
Autumn colors:
Red and orange swirl,
Yellow dazzles,
Brown and russet soothe.
I am here in the woods
wading into the fall unafraid.
Wind rustles the leaves,
birds chirp from branches,
water rushes over river stones.
I am here soaking it all up,
bathing in color-filled woods.
I dive between the trees:
maples, elms, oaks, and the white birches.
I glide up the path,
filling my mind with as much color
as it can hold.
I submerge myself in yellow,
In deep red, in bright orange.
Plunging headfirst into Autumn,
The trees take me over,
hold me and care for me.
Then ever so slowly, so slowly…
I return to the surface.
I am here peacefully floating,
resting in the arms of the woods.

Your Turn

Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own nature 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.