Poetry Camp: Day One

What a fabulous first day!  After some writing warm ups in my sunny living room, the seven girls and I headed to the base of Mt. Jumbo.  Our first exercise involved careful observations as we imagined what we would tell our grandchildren about this open space.  Our focus was on detail as we embarked on our, "What to Save" poems.


Mt. Jumbo
by Gabriella

The light, never seen before,
reflects brilliantly off
the trees, shows the butterflies that
dance with fairies, the canopy of trees and
shrubs around you,
the soft breeze rustles
the leaves, nature envelopes you.
I define this as paradise.
Light, a mystery to the eye,
the heat of the sun adds
to the experience.  One step and
it's gone, once again,
you re in the shade of rocks,
the banks around you,
you're in a river, no, a road,
a road of rocks in the mountains
of Montana.  You pick up a rock,
light and strong,
colors within colors,
the thought of time itself,
time creating this piece
of art.  Streaks of orange
on the rough, cold, hard, surface.
Yet, it's so simple.
A rock, yes a rock,
sharp and strong.

The peace
The shade
The light
The buzz
The excitement
The green
The path
The bridge
The simplicity
The smallness
The nature
The mountains.

It is as peaceful as the cabin up here.
The shade surrounds me
comforts me, protects me
from the sun.  I see the light,
the heat, in front of me.
The buzz of the city just below.
I'm here, it's there.
I'm excited, ready and quiet.
The green surrounds the description.
I step onto the path where the
blinding light awaits.
I hike past the bridge, through the simplicity,
the smallness of nature.
Through the mountains of Montana.

Things To Save
by Estrella

Save the delicate
purple flowers, innocently
swaying in the wind.

Save the red dots
of color, striking against
the majestic green leaves.

Save the leaves, not
one the same as another.

Save the brown grass,
dying before our eyes.

Save the strong,
sturdy rocks, lining the
path that leads to
infinity.

Save the flimsy branch,
the one that has lost hope.

Save the whole
mountain, for the
beauty is not complete
without every piece of
the puzzle.

Save the City
By Estrella

Save the backdrop,
the mountains that
look like they are
dipped in white hope.

Save the gorgeous buildings,
each one unique,
with stories bursting to come out.

Save the many trees,
for how do we live
without them, their beauty,
their life?

Save the river,
flowing, washing
away hopes and
dreams, delivering the,
to someone who needs that
hope, those dreams.

Save the roads,
how do we get
somewhere without
them?

Save the beauty, the love,
the passion, the
life.


Mother Earth
By Wren

Mother earth is what
brings us together
but she's dying
everything has to die
but why does she have to
die so soon?
What are your plans before
you start dying out?
Help before the sunrise
sets on your very
last day.
Why?
What?
Why?

What I Would Save
By Mari

Something just
touched my ear.
I hope it's not a spider
those I would not save.
No.

It was a beautiful butterfly
that I would save.
Wings
that look soft as silk,
this is an army butterfly
it blends in,
not trying to stand out
from the crowd.
Content, it forgets to fly away.
Truly it is a work of art.
And these wings?
Well, they look as soft as silk.

The chamomile that
grows at my feet,
that smells of a fruit
of my life.
Pineapple.
This I would save.
I hear birds
singing, call me.
I would save them too.
I look out at the city I
call my home.
This I will save.

Freedom
by Miko

Hot, drenched in sweat,
but all worth it
for the breathtaking view.
The head rolls off me like pillars,
the sounds of cars and trucks honk,
loud but then drifts away
when I become familiar
with a flower.
Delicate and bright like the sun,
all my focus on this neon flower.
It makes me feel like nothing else matters in the world.
I feel free.
This is why I am writing this poem.
So you can have and enjoy the same sensation.
Freedom. 

Save
by Eliana

The bridges, the trucks, the smoky air.
The buildings, the trains, the roads.
The airplanes, the towers, the murky water.
The slowly push away the natural beauty.
Slow push away everything.

A rugged rocky trail, stretching on forever.
Dry, bland like the rain has left.
Bright, yet subtle colors, so sincere
you can almost see their face.
Dark, shining rock the color of beauty
where the smallest things shine.
Soft, delicate, harmless,
hidden beauty.
The stomped out effort of nature
howls as he is forgotten.

What to Save
by Antigone

Probably the trees.
Yes,
the trees.
No,
not a specific one.
I would save them all.
When you enter a city,
and all you see is
skyscrapers, chaos
tall buildings closing in on all sides.
Something is missing,
that sense of freedom,
of nature is missing.
So if you asked me again
what I would save,
I would say
probably the trees.
Yes,
the trees.
No,
not a specific one.
I would save them all.

 We made our way to Greenough.  After sharing words, reflecting and some more quick writes involving cupcakes and birthdays, we moved down by the creek.  The topic this time, water.  Water in this moment, water memories, water associations.  And they are all gorgeous.

Doubt
by Antigone

It won't tip
she assures me.
But as I glance over the
edge of the kayak
doubt fills me.
The water,
seemingly so calm
so peaceful,
has another,
darker side.

It will trick you,
fool you,
lie to you,
pretend to
be your friend,
but in the end,
it will always
leave you
wet
and
regretful.
It won't tip
she assures me
but as I glance over the
edge of the kayak,
doubt fills me.
How can we be sure?
This calm,
cool puddles
that nobody owns,
much less controls
has a mind of its own.
It will trick you,
fool you,
pretend to be your friend,
but in the end
it will always leave you
wet
and
regretful.
It won't tip
she assures me
but as I glance over the
edge of the  kayak,
doubt fills me.

Surprise
by Mari

We were looking for
little round balls.

I found one!

Splash, splash,
patter, patter.

In my head run two different views:

1.  Uh, I hope we don't see a bear.
2.  This is so fun!

I turn to look
for the deer
I just heard
but no

I see
something
massive and heavy
scrambling up a tree!

Estrella, don't panic
there is a bear.
Let's go.

Mysterious
by Estrella

Mysterious.

White water crashes
on my bare toes,
numbs them.

Water is full of

surprises, twists and
turns, I don't know what
to expect.

Water, water, water.
Mysterious.

Water Is

Frothing.  Loud.  Roaring.
Fast. Rushing.

Dangerous.

Little flowers dance around the river.

Love.  Joy.  Passion.  Power.
This is what water
is.

Water:  The Dream
by Estrella

No one to stop me,
I rush out.
The water sweeps me up and
carries me away,
far away.
The cool water brushes
my fingertips.
I go lifeless.
Water is secretive.
Hiding me under
the currents.
My muffled scream is masked
by the roaring water.
I can't believe that was
just a dream.

The Hit
by Gabriella

Rushing, choppy, wavy water.
Bang!  He hit!
Crying, hurting, swearing.
No longer will it ever
be the same again.

Skinny Dipping
by Gabriella

Nighttime.
The clear, glassy water sits beneath us.
1, 2, 3!
We drop the towels and run in,
the water rippling and splashing as
shrieks run through the valley.
The cool evening water feels good on our skin,
not even believing that we're doing this.
More shrieks as fireworks explode behind us,
more splashing and frantic movements
as everyone feels a bit uncomfortable.
We start to relax and do more daring things.
We run to the beach,
throw on our towels.
We turn away from our fun,
skinny dipping evening.
Now it is peaceful again.
Nighttime.
The clear glassy water.
Once again.

When The Boat Flipped
by Eliana

We planned a fight, with water,
but rain like curtains
began to pour from
the heavens and lighting
like a square, shoots down to strike.
Thunder like a giant roar
shakes our earth,
so we decided no.
She points out the dead beauty and
we stare.
The wind pushes with all its force
and the heavy metal is overthrown.
It flies more than we thought possible
and flips.
On us.
We scream, but
our cries for help are lost
in the raging water.
Sand, water, hurt, unawareness,
discombobulation.
But she notices, screams
for help.
They run and it flips again,
but with the force of arms.
They carry, our small, limp
bodies up.
Fear.

The Turn
by Eliana

The river was choppy,
but not that bad,
it was more the turn than
the water.
The hit, the rip, the sweat, the cry.
The cry of agony and fear.
The picture formed,
only a second too late.
The swearing and harsh words.
The trauma.
The tears.
The fear.
The pain.
Why?

Water
by Miko

Letting my fingers skim the water
sends pulses of energy through my body.
Then, letting my feet sink
like an anchor
to the bottom of the sued to be cold, now warm,
clear as my mind water.
I put my hand in the water again.
Making complicated but simple patterns
in the water the waves crashing
in the water
making a fun melody
but the waves don't give up.
They try and try then -
tink!
A rock hits a rock
a very joyful tune!
Water and all of its pleasures.
I want to come back everyday
to discover something new.

Cold, Dark, Stop
by Wren

I'm next to the
pond in Greenough Park.
I put my feet in the water
lapping at my toes, saying
Come in!  Come in!
I throw a plain purple rock.
Plop!  Plop!
I go in a little farther.
I feel the rocks move under my feet.
I throw another.
Plop!
I get splashed again.
That's why I like water.
It brings the world to a
cold, dark stop.
Splash!