As some of you may know, since retiring from high school
teaching four years ago, I have been volunteering with libraries and infant schools,
which means I spend a lot of time with young children. One of the things I
love about little kids is their curiosity. The two schools where I listen to five-,
six- and seven-year-olds read are both advocates of the ‘forest school’ and have
areas where youngsters can engage with nature, especially mini beasts.
Yesterday I suggested a book for a little girl who loves
nature. Caterpillar Butterfly (by Vivian French and beautifully illustrated by
Charlotte Voake) is an autobiographical book about the summer when Vivian
French and her grandfather watched a family of tiny caterpillar eggs turn,
stage by stage, into butterflies. We had a wonderful time reading this book and
I was amazed at her prior knowledge and understanding.
I recalled a few poems I have read that are about or include
insects, and wondered how many more I could find. Apparently there are lots of
them, but most of the ones I found were pre-twentieth century. Here are a few
of my favorites:
John Donne’s ‘The Flea’ uses an interesting and unusual
conceit to seduce a woman! The Flea
William Oldys’s ‘On a Fly drinking out of his Cup' is based on an ancient Greek poem
by Anacreon. Click HERE to view.
Another poem about a fly is Emily Dickinson’s ‘I heard a Fly
buzz – when I died’. It’s one of her best-known poems.
Click HERE to view.
Click HERE to view.
‘The Ants’ by William Empson and ‘Butterfly Dancing’ by
Alison Cassidy are two of the modern poems I found.Butterfly Dancing
This week’s mini challenge is to write a NEW poem in a form of
your choice about INSECTS and BUGS. It doesn’t matter whether you love them or
hate them, revile them or praise them. However, because they are mini beasts,
keep it short (no longer than 30 lines).
Join our ugly bug ball by clicking on Mister Linky and filling
in your name and url. And please remember to read and comment on other toads’ poems
– toads love bugs!
All images found on Pinterest.
Thank you for the prompt, Kim. it shook loose a rather grisly little poem.
ReplyDeleteGood evening, Kerry! I look forward to reading it - I'm off to do so now!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, I missed that (no longer than 30 lines) I think I am a few lines over. Please don't count. After all artists have a hard time following instructions. I am guilty.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon everyone. Thanks for a nice post Kim. There are caterpillars on my Plumeria right now so there!!! poem
ReplyDeletemuch love...
I will be liking this one. Thank you, Kim. On one of my now "dormant" blogs I posted a monthly "June Bug (not)" installment, here are some:
ReplyDeletehttp://jimmiehov3.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_jimmiehov3_archive.html?m=1
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I have had some problems with the site in my normal browser... hope that a comment from this browser will stick.
ReplyDeleteLoved the prompt and will be back tomorrow and read.
I love this prompt! I love bugs and caterpillars! I am going to enjoy this a lot. thank you. Summer bugs...hoorah!
ReplyDeleteLMBO @ "ugly bug ball"
ReplyDeletethanks for hosting such a fun prompt Kim - great ideas to play with ~ must sit and think on it!
Thanks for the fun prompt!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting collection of poems featuring insects...thank you for letting me know about the theme which fits with the classical dragonfly haiku featured at Carpe Diem and my ‘revision’.
ReplyDelete