Welcome Back to School!

I am so excited about our new and upcoming school year!  I have planned some really fun new lessons and activities.  I look forward to working with you and reading your writing.

Sweet Savannah, how I love thee!

I took a week off from writing to go on a family vacation to Savannah, GA.  We had an amazing time.  However, like most writers, I was inspired by the beautiful scenery of the city.  This poem is special to me because it came to me at different times during my trip.  I jotted down a couple of things that stood out to me and this is what I ended up with.   I hope you like it.

Suddenly Savannah

By: Kristin Cox

As I watched the pretty pink crate myrtle pedals fall unto the uneven

cobblestone sidewalk, I knew that I was in Savannah.

For only in Savannah do you see the ancient trees covered

in moss creating a whimsical feeling in the day,

and spookiness at night.

The tide is high on Savannah Beach as the

 warm tan sand covers my weary feet.

The river front of Savannah is always a joy,

while listening to the sailors scream “ahoy!”

Savannah’s succulent seafood oozes authenticity.

It’s to die for!

Oh how I hate to see my vivacious vacation come to an end,

but don’t worry, I’ll see sweet Savannah again.

What do you think? Haiku or the American Sentence?

Dr. Sue Walker, the poet Laureate of Alabama, suggested a style of poetry called, "The American Sentence."  It's an alternative to the Japanese haiku.  She taught us this style during the National Writing Project Institute. 

Allen Ginsberg was a believer in condense, condense, condense-which is an Ezra Pound dictum.  Ginsberg thought the 17 syllables of the haiku were too limiting in its 5-7-5 syllable lines, making the haiku poem merely an exercise in counting, not feeling, and too arbitrary to be poetry.

Ginsberg's solutions, which first appear in his book Cosmopolitan Greetings, are his American Sentences: One sentence, 17 syllables, end of story.  It makes for a rush of a poem, and if you decide to do so, include the season and an aha! moment as in Japanese haiku. 

I went to Savannah, GA and Tybee Island for the 4th of July holiday.  This American sentence came to me as I sat on the sparkling beach.  Here it is:

My hair wisped in the wind as I looked at the haveanly clear, blue sky.

Written by:  Kristin Cox

I'm Back!!!

Well, I took two days off to rest and spend some time with my children.  I finally finished that "ode" poem today.  It's not my best work; but hopefully, it will inspire someone else.  I hope you like it.   By the way, one of the fellows inspired me to write it during the National Writing Project last month.

Last Day of the Writing Project

Well, today was the last day of the Writing Project. Parting from my new found "teacher friends" was bitter-sweet.  I am so honored to have had the opportunity to participate in this prestigious program.  It was THE BEST professional development that I have ever had in my entire life.  I will never forget this grand experience.

I have an idea for another poem. However, I'm about to take a nap right now because I am exhausted.  Hopefully, my sweet dreams will give me some ideas for a new topic.  I think I want to attempt an "ode" poem.  Hmmmmm...

A Seasons Poem

The form of this poem is unique because I attempt to describe the 12 months of the year without using the name of the months, holidays, or the names of the 4 seasons.  I also limit the amount of times that I use words like, "it", "as", "the", "to", and "he/she".  This was a challenge.  One of the women in the National Writing Project presented this style to the fellows.  I hope you like it.

This is Your Season

By:  Kristin Cox

As the sky clears,

ice sickles start melting while cold wind

is being ushered into Jack Frost’s past.

Sweet hearts giggle while giving gifts of love.

Feeling lucky yet?

How about that four leaf clover?

Glamorize your rainy day with rain boots.

Flowers blooming, bees buzzing, oh, how I long for sweet days like this.

Smoldering sun, cool crisp beaches are all fun.

Boom! Goes the fireworks on top of Red Mountain at 9:00 pm sharp. 

Hating to end my vacation,

but smelling  freshly sharpened pencils is calling my heart .

Can’t wait for Friday night lights!

From candy corn, costumes, to pumpkin carving with friends,

From spending time with family while eating off the “good dishes”,

To trimming trees while drinking egg nog and snuggling with the ones you love.

This is your season.



Here's a Poem About Me

I think I'm going to have my students create a "Where I'm From" poem when we get back to school.  It's a creative and fun way to get to know each other a little better at the beginning of school.  Here is an example of mine.  I hope you like it.

Where I’m From

By:  Kristin Cox

I am from bike riding,

From bike riding with my friends.

I am from a spotless house

 (my mother kept an extremely clean house).

I am from a house

 that smelled like a combination of food cooking, cigarette smoke,

And men’s cologne (my mama loved to cook and my daddy

smoked cigarettes and wore lots of cologne).

I am from sharing holidays with Big Mama,

From, “shut up before you get bopped in the mouth!”

“You can’t change the spots on a leopard!”

“Well, I’ll be John Brown!”

I am from going to Sunday school every Sunday,

From youth choir rehearsal, vacation Bible school,

And finally, the church picnic.

I am from chicken and dressing, collard greens,

Macaroni, string beans, and potato salad (Sunday dinner).

I am from the death of my father

on my birthday.

From making it through middle and high school

In a single parent household.

From graduating at the top of my class,

From earning a masters and an Ed.s. degree in education,

From finding my dream husband,

From looking into the eyes of my sweet baby boys,

From ripping and running to t-ball games, karate, and swimming,

From loving my family unconditionally,

From just plain old being me.

I love my life!