November Is Poetry Month
November 2009 is our second annual Poetry Month at George Watts.
Each morning, beginning November 2nd, a poem is read over the loudspeaker for the entire school community. During the first 2 weeks of the month, teachers, staff and parents will recite. During the third week, our students will share their favorite poems.
Students also received printed booklets of poetry featured during the month, and every day they use it to read along with a recitation of Langston Hughes‘ poem Dreams:
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Thank you to Upper El teacher Mr. Rogers for coordinating this month’s celebration. Thank you also to all teachers, staff, parents, and students who shared their poems.
Ms. Barnes poster illustrating "The Arrow and the Song" by Longfellow
If you walk through the halls, you’ll notice several beautiful Poetry Month banners (thanks again to Mr. Rogers!) Be sure to look for Ms. Barnes’ purple poster on the art room door, illustrating the poem The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
I shot an arrow into the air.
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air.
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
