Poem 7: Leaning into the afternoon I cast my saddened nets

 Leaning into the Afternoons by Pablo Neruda is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures 

the essence of life, love and the passage of time.  Written in 1924, the poem remains a timeless

masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem is a reflection on the simple

pleasures of life, such as feeling the sun on your face, watching the wind play with the leaves,

and listening to the song of birds. It is a celebration of the beauty of the natural world and the way it

can bring joy and peace into our lives.

But the poem is not just about the beauty of nature. It is also about the power of love and the

way it can transform us. Neruda writes about the way love can make us feel like we are flying,

like we are weightless and limitless. He captures the sense of euphoria that comes from being

in love and the way it can fill our hearts with light and happiness.

At the same time, the poem is also about the passage of time and the way it shapes and changes

our lives. Neruda writes about the shadows that lengthen as the day wears on, and the way the

world seems to grow quieter and more still as the afternoon turns into evening. He captures the

sense of melancholy that can come with the passing of time, and the way we can feel both joy

and sadness as we watch our lives unfold.

Throughout the poem, Neruda's use of language is masterful. His words are simple, yet profound,

and they create a vivid and powerful picture of the world around us. From the "flaming metals"

of sun to the "apples descending from the trees, his imagery is both rich and precise,

Ultimately,  Leaning into the Afternoons is a poem about living in the moment, about savoring 

the small pleasures of life, and about embracing both the joy and the sorrow that come with the 

passing of time. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of every

moment, cherishing the beauty of the world around us and the love that we share with others. 

It's a reminder to slow down and savor the small moments in life, to be present and mindful, and

to cherish the beauty and magic of the world in all its complexity. I hope this poem and my

thoughts on it have brought you some joy and inspiration today.  Let's all take a moment to lean

into the afternoon and appreciate the wonder of the world around us. Neruda's poetry has

reminded me why I have such a passion for poetry in the first place and always will.

    14th Century Persian Woman Poet Honored

    Jahan Malek Khutun, a famous Persian, is the focus of my poetry passion in this blog post.    

   Jahan Malek Khutun is a name that may not be familiar to many people, but she is a significant figure in the history of Persian poetry. She was a 14th century poet and the wife of the Ilkhanid ruler Ghazan Khan. Her most famous work is the poem Mohabbatnama, which is considered one of the most important works of medieval Persian literature.  

   Mohabbatnama, which means "The Book of Love", is a long narrative poem that tells the story of the love between Jahan Malek Khutun and Ghazan Khan. The poem is written in the form of a letter that Jahan Malek Khutun wrote to her husband while he was away on a military campaign. In the poem, she expresses her love for Ghazan Khan and her longing for him to return to her.  She also reflects on the nature of love and its power to overcome obstacles and bring people together.

   What makes Mohabbatnama so significant is not just its beautiful language and imagery, but also the fact that it was written by a woman in a male-dominated society.  Jahan Malek Khutun was a highly educated and accomplished woman who was fluent in several languages and well versed in literature and poetry. Her writing challenged the prevailing gender norms of her time and paved the way for other women to express themselves through poetry and other forms of creative writing.

   Jahan Malek Khutun's significance as a poet extends beyond her gender and her role as the wife of a ruler. She was a skilled writer who was able to capture the complexities of human emotions and relationships in her work. Her poetry is known for its depth, sincerity, and sensitivity, and it continues to be admired by readers and scholars today.

   In addition to Mohabbatnama, Jahan Malek Khutun also wrote several other works, including a collection of letters and a diwan (collection of poems). Her writing has had a lasting impact on Persian literature and has inspired generations of poets and writers.

   Jahan Malek Khutun was a remarkable woman who defied the gender norms of her time and left a lasting legacy as a poet and writer.  Her poem Mohabbatnama is a testament to her talent and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her writing. Her significance as a poet extends beyond her gender and her role as the wife of a ruler, and her work continues to be admired and studied by scholars today.

   My most recent poetry lesson plan includes a recipe for Advieh Persian spice and Advieh Chicken Kebabs and an example and analysis of one of Jahan Malek Khutun's poems.  Excellent for Women's Poetry study, National Poetry Month, or any poetry unit.

Jahan Malek Khutun Poetry and Advieh Persian Spice

Le Pont Mirabeau by Guillaume Apollinaire Revisited

Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about the beauty and popularity of Le Pont Mirabeau, a bridge in Paris that has become a symbol of the city and is often referred to in literature and art. The bridge was built in 1889 and is named after the Marquis de Mirabeau, a French revolutionary leader. It spans the Seine River and connects the neighborhoods of Passy and Auteuil. The bridge has become an iconic symbol of Paris due to its stunning beauty. The bridge’s graceful curves are elegant, with its stone arches highlighted by ornate lamps at night. It is also an important symbol for lovers, as it is often referenced in literature and art due to its romantic feel. One of the most famous references is Guillaume Apollinaire’s poem “Le Pont Mirabeau” which he wrote in 1913: “Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine/ Et nos amours Faut-il qu'il m'en souvienne/ La joie venait toujours après la peine.” Translated into English this reads: “Under the Mirabeau Bridge, flows the Seine/ And our love - must it remind me still/ Joy always comes after pain.” This poem speaks to the timelessness of love, as well as how joy can come from pain, something that many people can relate to. This poem has made Le Pont Mirabeau even more popular than it already was due to its beauty and importance as a bridge connecting two parts of Paris. Whether you're visiting Paris or just learning about it from afar, Le Pont Mirabeau is certainly worth checking out! It's a beautiful piece of architecture with romantic connotations that will make your visit truly memorable.

I have paired this poem with the culinary spice Herbes de Provence and given you a recipe to create the spice in your own kitchen. Also included in this unit is a recipe for a fabulous chicken recipe using the spice.

You can combine the beauty of poetry writing with the joy of cooking and provide a fabulous learning experience that is unique for students.

The unit also includes an analysis of the poem and directions for writing a poem. Following the creative writing activity you could enjoy Herbes de Provence Chicken while listening to the poetry your class has created.

Enjoy a feast of writing, spice making and culinary cooking!

Writer's Corner

Here's the link to Herbes de Provence and Le Pont Mirabeau by Guillaume Apollinaire, Culinary Arts Spice and Chicken recipes combined with

creative writing poetry activity and poetic analysis:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Herbes-de-Provence-Le-Pont-Mirabeau-by-Guillaume-Apollinaire-Recipes-Poetry-9173681

Back to School: Creating A Writing Community On The First Day of School

Writing with passion has always been a goal I strive to teach whatever group I am instructing, whether it be 30 students in a classroom of 12 adults in a library setting. Teaching writing is always my most important focus of professional development.

My favorite personal professional developments of all time are the summers I spent participating in The National Writing Project. Here I learned to make teaching writing interactive and fun. Seeing students excited about writing in my classroom and actually rushing in before the bell to pick out the topic notebook they wanted to write in from the stack on the table let me know I was doing something right.

Want to create a writing community in your English classrooms from the very first day? These four lessons will certainly get you off to a great start. The First Day product is the actual lesson plan I used to greet students to my classroom. Class discussions generated from the videos we watched together and the first quickwrites in which they told me about themselves. The “Where I’m From” poem, which became the class group “Where We’re From” classroom wall declaration for the year, and let us all learn about each other through Author’s Chair readings.

The Quickwrites product can provide you with a year’s worth of prompts and after students get into the writing you can challenge them to write and submit their own prompt suggestions to fit your school and state or country. Quickwrites are fabulous for writing fluency when it may be tough for them to write a half page to a full page in the 15 minute timeframe. But doing it daily or a couple of times a week will improve the quality and quantity and help prepare them for the timed state test assessments looming on the horizon.

The abstract task cards include 40 first lines for writing short stories. They address higher level thinking skills for small group, individual, whole class, or writing center instruction. Since a student can write a maximum of 40 different stories (or more if they use the first line and change the plot of each story) they will stretch over a semester or a year.

44 Writing Notebook Topics are included which were created by my students and myself. You can add to the list with your own topics that fit your school and state or country. Students love to write in them and if they get their entry completed they may read in the notebook what others have written. Some teachers have exchanged notebooks with other classrooms or schools. I allowed different periods to write in the same notebooks, but I did not sent them out of my classroom. Rules for the notebooks are included in the plan.

This year I decided to bundle the four products together in a Back To School opportunity to allow teachers to start each of these important components at the start of the school year. But I certainly encourage teachers to implement any of the four at any time. It’s never too late to start a classroom Writing Community!

Jodi Picoult Challenges Racism In Great Small Things

What constitutes racism? Jodi Picoult’s latest novel Great Small Things is perhaps her most controversial novel to date.  The characters pull us into the story with such force that I finished the novel in two days.

The novel is told from the point of view of Kennedy, Ruth, and and Turk, who represent vastly different segments of the nation.  Yet Jodi’s writing brings their voices to life and entrances the reader. Their lives become intertwined in unforgettable drama.

The twists and turns in the novel are typical Jodi Picoult, yet several of them surprised me.  I won’t add any spoilers here so you will discover them in your own reading journey.  Just when you think you have pigon-holed a character, something happens that proves you wrong.

I was horrified by the nights wilding that Brit and Turk, and other white supremacists, committed without any thought or conscience. I don’t think I have ever known a Neo-Nazi personally (I am white), so the notion that they have gone underground on the internet and set up silent cells ready to call into action at will scared me to death. The media is always talking about terrorist ISIS cells across the world and the idea that we also have racist based cells in our country inspires great fear in my soul. Who can I really trust?

High school students reading this novel will be able to examine their views about racism and compare/contrast their opinions.  Picoult has given them many examples of metaphors and situations to discuss. The resources listed at the end of the novel will be helpful to anyone studying or writing about this topic. I have used eye color to help discuss racism, with hypothetical scenarios in which the blue-eyed children are allowed to go to lunch first. The green-eyed students receive extra homework, and the brown-eyed youths receive a homework pass for the week. It’s easier to see life actions in metaphors, and random examples. Yet real life issues are described vividly in the word descriptions. In that respect, this may be her most important novel. (Seventeen Minutes is still my favorite and the one I recommend for all people involved in schools.)

I will explain that, in my opinion, color is not the only basis for racism. Yes, individuals may be judged because they are white, or people of color, but I believe that economics has a lot to do with opportunities in life regardless of color. There are rich and poor families in all sides of the segments of society. It is not all white people who have the most money and power; Afro-American, Chinese, Japanese, and Asian families all fit into the pie. There are plenty of poor white homeless children who would find the idea that all white people have money and power ludicrous. The stigma I see is how we treat the haves and the have nots, no matter what color they are.

You must read this novel and weigh in honestly on where you fall in the race spectrum. Great, small actions do make a difference and we can change the world one person at a time.