In mid-October we always head to the fire station for a fire safety presentation. It’s a short walk from school, or a short bus trip in inclement weather. The kids typically have the opportunity to explore firetrucks and equipment, watch a fire safety video, and interact with the firemen and women. There’s also Sparky, the water-squirting, fire-truck-driving, mechanical dog. As you can imagine, the event is always a hit with the kids.
This year’s presentation was very well-designed and my students were thoroughly engaged. Our fourth grade group was split into our three classes to rotate through different activities. My class had the good fortune to see the video first.
After the video, some inspired soul (clearly never an elementary school teacher) thought it would be a great idea to give each child a fire-safety poster. In the past the posters have been distributed at the end of the day at school. This time, the poster was placed into each eager fourth grade hand. Since we saw the video first (Remember, I mentioned our good fortune? You can reread that sentence with some sarcasm right now. I’ll wait.), these posters came with my students through the next two stations. So, for the next 30 or so minutes, while waiting in line to participate, students had a rolled up (or unrolled) poster in their hands. Or on their friends. Or in their mouths. Yup.
It’s truly amazing what a poster can become, and although you might not think so, a rolled up poster can be even more entertaining than the Jaws Of Life. I can attest to the veracity of that statement.
At any rate, the events of the day inspired this poem:
Roll Up A Poster and It Can Become…
A lyrical flute or a megaphone
a spyglass to spy out the journey home
a sound tube to whisper secrets and dreams
or amplify noises and high-pitched screams
A pirate sword in a desperate fight
“Ahoy, ye maties!” Jab left! Jab right!
Finally, unrolled at the end of play
a poster can show tips to save the day
So many distinct possibilities
I wonder what else a poster can be…
M. Hogan ©2018
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by the amazing Jama Rattigan at her lush blog, Jama’s Alphabet Soup. Make sure to stop by and check out the poetry action. If you’re in the soggy Northeast, it will offer a nice respite from the unrelenting grey and drizzly weather. (Or, alternatively, get yourself a poster and let your imagination go wild!)
Nix the comfort zone 
This is hilarious. I assume you did not take away the said posters and let the children have their fun with them. As long as it didn’t become a weapon, I’m sure they were harmless, albeit somewhat distracting. I hope you share your poem with your kiddos. They will probably enjoy it and find ways to add more.
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I’m happy to report that no posters were confiscated, though a few warnings were issued! I did share the poem with my class and they thought it was great fun 🙂
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Glad you found the humor in the situation and made a fun poem from it! Yes, amazing things can be made from rolled up posters. 😀
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I’m glad I was able to find the humor in the situation as well! lol To tell the truth, I wasn’t totally finding the humor at the time…
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Ha ha! This should go on an “adults do the darndest things” show. 🙂 Yay for the imaginative exercise! xo
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I’ve been having fun playing around with rhyme lately and this moment felt ripe for it. I really don’t know what they were thinking when they handed out those posters, though! lol
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As I was reading this, I was like, “Don’t do it!” when you said they gave them the posters early. It’s loads of fun, but, in my experience, they never make it home intact!
Your poem brings us right there with you 🙂
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Thanks, Tabatha! I’m so glad to know there’s another sane adult out there. lol
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To find a poem from this trip is admirable and so creative, Molly. Any ‘found’ object becomes something new in the hands of a child. Terrific!
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Thanks, Linda. I didn’t work in the light sabers…maybe in revision!
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Haha! Now if you tell me you also wrote this poem while all of this was going on, I’ll be REALLY impressed. Leave it to you to make poetry magic, Molly. 🙂
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Michelle, your comment truly made my day. That’s just about the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me! Thank you!!
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I love this and I can relate on so many levels! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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Thanks, Ruth.
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What a clever poem and response to all–love it–sounds a wee bit Seusian too!
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Thanks, Michelle. My class is so delightful that even when things are a bit chaotic, it’s easier to find the fun in it all. Feeling so grateful!
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A poster can also be…a poetry prompt! 😉 Clever poem, Molly!
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Thanks, Matt! Your comment is a clever one as well!
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