with heart

illustrated by Boyana Petkova

 

Poem for 2 voices
second grader: How do you write a poem?

Raven Howell: I catch the inspiration
And then follow the technical path of writing it down

second grader: (blank stare)
But how do you write a poem?

Raven Howell: (When I answer from my heart)
Thoughts have wings. When I’m writing a poem, it’s as if I come down for a landing with paper, pen , and computer.

second grader: (nodding)
Okay!

 

How do you write a poem?
Raven Howell (posted on Facebook)

January 29 · 2019

 

During Q&A, a second grader asks me how I write poems. I get a blank stare as I explain a fairly typical ‘catching the inspiration’ and then the technical path of writing it down. She asks again. “But how do you write a poem?” When I answer from my heart, “Thoughts have wings. When I’m writing a poem, it’s as if I come down for a landing with paper, pen, computer” she nods and says, “Okay!” 😉