I participated (translate this as: lurked and wrote privately) in Jennifer Serravallo’s Summer Writing Camp for teachers. If you haven’t checked it out yet, don’t worry! Camp ends tomorrow, but you can find all of the video sessions posted in the related group on Facebook (The Reading and Writing Strategies Community). Watching the videos and responding to the prompts is time well spent.
During the second week of camp, Jennifer focused on Poetry. On Day Two of that week the emphasis was on Strategy 7.4: Bringing Objects to Life. She suggested that you choose an everyday thing to bring to life. She advised choosing an animal or something that moves, then listing the verbs related to it. Next, she said to think of something similar that a person might do. Then work with these two lists to bring your object to life. (Go to Facebook and watch the video for a much clearer explanation!)
Here’s my response:
Tiny Tyrant
He marshals his troops
into rigid columns
One by one
never marking time
they march forward
Beat by beat
coming ever closer
until
at the precise
designated
hour…
they strike!
With one prolonged, rousing
BLAST
they rip their victim
from deepest sleep
to weary surrender
Alarm Clock Victory!
©2018 M. Hogan
This week’s Poetry Friday Round-up is hosted by the warm, wonderful and wise Catherine Flynn at her blog, Reading to the Core. Be sure to stop by and visit!
Nix the comfort zone 
I wasn’t aware of the writing camp. I look forward to checking it out. I think you did a great job bringing your alarm clock to life 🙂
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I hope you check it out! I still have to catch up on some videos I missed when I was traveling.
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I do lover your poetry, Molly! This one is alarming. 😂
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lol–Thanks, Kat!
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Now that is a poem with a great punchline, Molly. Thanks for reminding me about Jen’s camp. I did check it out once but need to go back.
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Thanks, Carol! I need to finish up as well. It’s so nice that the videos are posted so you can participate as your schedule allows!
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Ha! I was surprised and delighted. I tried hard at the start to imagine where you led, but alas, no good guess. It is a fun challenge, Molly.
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Thanks, Linda! I’m so glad you were happily surprised. It was a fun challenge for me.
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A very clever piece of personficiation, Molly. I especially like: “they rip their victim
from deepest sleep
to weary surrender”
The camp sounds amazing .
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Thanks, Sally! The camp is well worth a visit–mini-lessons, strategies, mentor texts, author visits, prompts, etc.
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I love me a good surprise ending! And your use of very short lines helped build the suspense.
Dang alarm clocks. Tyrants indeed!
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Thanks, Mary Lee. I actually struggled a lot with the line breaks for this one. I’m still not sure about some of them, but was glad to get your feedback about the shorter lines working.
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lol! What a great poem…..and that alarm clock is just gunning for me. I can feel it. At first, I thought you were writing about ants! I the journey of this.
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I think my alarm clock has taken a strategic retreat for the summer, but I know it will be on the advance all too soon!
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That sounds like a good Writing Camp, Molly. I hope you share more exercises!
You did a great job building suspense and waking us up with that surprise ending!
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Thanks, Tabatha. I was hoping to build suspense–so glad it worked for you!
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I like the suspense and the martial feel to the short lines. The lack of remorse is very alarm-clock-like.
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Thanks, Brenda. One thing I learned when writing this poem was the difference between marshal and martial!
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LOL Yes, quite different, aren’t they? English is a funny language. We were playing pictionary, and so many of the words are ones my kids don’t know. My daughter thought heartburn was when your heart was too hot. LOL
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I love how your poem marches to the beat of ticking to the blast of the alarm. Like sleepy me, unsuspecting.
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We’re all innocent victims of the alarm clock, right?
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Well done, Molly! I had no idea what was marching “forward/Beat by beat/coming ever closer…” Alarm clocks are pesky things, aren’t they? Thank you for sharing, and for your kind words. 🙂
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I had to set my alarm this morning for the first time in a long time, and it was, in a word, alarming! Alarm clock days are coming faster than I would like!
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The short lines work well, and they get shorter as it nears the alarm. Loved the surprise ending! Then I had to go back to reread once I knew where it was headed. Well done!
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Thanks, Donna!
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The alarm clock always wins… Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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Sleep is forever sabotaged!
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Oh what fun Molly, loved your suspenseful “BLAST” and “Alarm Clock Victory!” Thanks–you jolted me awake in my mid-afternoon slumber …
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