While I was reading Georgia Heard’s Heart Maps yesterday, I remembered a technique I learned from her to move through writer’s block. It was taken from her book, Writing Toward Home. In it she recounts a moment after her ninety-year-old grandmother died. Staring at an onion on the table, Georgia began to write and reveal insights made between the layers of an onion to the “soft, papery hands of her grandmother.”
Following her advice, I sat down at the kitchen table in full view of the backyard. I was working on my writing homework for one of my workshop sections through Teachers College Summer Institute. It was still bright enough to see outside on that summer evening. Suddenly a robin came into view, criss-crossing through the yard. I took pen to paper, and here is what I wrote:
The next morning, Georgia Heard gave the keynote on the Columbia campus. Afterward, I found the nerve to approach her to share my discoveries and gratitude for the idea. With a poet’s eye, she was genuinely intrigued. Although that breakthrough helped me to draft a writing piece, I decided to return to it today and try my hand at poetry.
On a Wing and a Prayer
The robin moves with purpose
and appears to know her worth –
Seeking, searching, scampering
great treasures beneath the earth.
Sustenance to feed her young
who wait inside their nest –
entwined in bits of twigs
created for their rest.
Mothers move unknowingly
though appear intent on course –
Kneeling, knowing, nurturing
unknown truths within the source.
Faithfulness to rear her young
intent on leaving home –
instilled with strong beliefs
no matter where they roam.
Thanks to the Two Writing Teachers for providing the opportunity to engage with this amazing community of writers!
The Author's Purpose 
Excellent poem! I love that you write you decided to just “try your hand” at this and created THAT. It’s really fantastic. I’d think you were a regular poet. I liked how you set up this slice too. Giving us the background knowledge for your inspiration.
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During this March madness challenge, I took the plunge and composed some poetry. Thank you for your generous feedback! I’m happy to be taking these risks.
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I love the craftsmanship and the message! Beautiful.
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Thank you… I know we only have six more days, but it’s a struggle every day!
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Georgia Heard’s work always inspires me! I love the images those active verbs create in your beautiful poem, Laurie!
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She is an amazing presence in literacy – so gracious as well. Awakening the Heart is a must have for every new teacher. The poem needs more work, but in the time constraints, sometimes yo have to just ht the publish button!
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I really enjoyed your poem, Laurie, but I think I enjoyed your notebook page and reading about your process even more. Thanks for sharing it.
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Thank you, Alice. It’s been fun perusing my old notebooks to find entries to spark new writing. Georgia was genuinely fascinated on my annotations #grateful
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I do an activity with young students that I call “breadcrumbing.” It resembles what you did; a bit of a different twist to it though. But it is listing and then making distinctions and connections and finally taking it to a poem. Maybe I’ll write it up and share sometime.
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Thanks for the poem today and I love being able to hear about how you came to write the poem. I had not thought about Georgia Heard for awhile. I need to pull her book out and look at it again. Thanks
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Hi Joanne – Awakening the Heart is a must have for all new teachers. Yes, pull it out; it is filled with great inquiry ideas for poetry.
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