I felt compelled to write a little extra to add to Reena and Jay’s little journey last week, in poetic form!
Reena Laments Light Breaks through Brightening Our surroundings Unfurlings my limbs I rub away stiffness Camping mats and sleeping bags Are definitely not for me Can't wait for the trip to be over How long until I can get in my bath?
Jay Responds Feeling that sunlight warming my body Tickling my toes and calming me Transports me to another place Somewhere nature takes over Until a groan shatters Serene images The Glamster wakes... "Caffeine! Now!" Reena. Great.
It’s Tuesday, and that means Colleen’s Tanka Challenge! And as it’s the first challenge of the month, it is the Poet’s choice of words. All that is to be adhered to is that the poem must be one of the structured syllabic forms, and so this week, I have penned an etheree…
It’s Shrove Tuesday today, so that is where my inspiration comes from.
Flip Pancakes For today Is a day to Indulge your tastebuds Eat to your heart's content As today is Shrove Tuesday Tomorrow its time to give up All manner of luxuries for Lent Start counting down to those chocolate eggs!
Ritu 2018
Today, we discussed Shrove Tuesday in my Reception class, though most children know it as Pancake Day. It was interesting to ask if any of them were aware of why people eat pancakes on this day.
Surprisingly (not) none of them knew any of the religious significance; even the ones that are from church-going families.
It was down to non Christian me to give them a potted history of why, and talk about using up all the fats in the house and giving up these things for Lent. I had to explain that many people give other things up instead nowadays; chocolates, fizzy drinks, that sort of thing, and that it is a countdown to when we celebrate Easter, which is not (as they think) chocolate egg day, but us celebrating the ressurection of Jesus… who they only think of as a baby, as he is who we portrayed in our Nativity a few short months ago, and not a grown man.
Confusing for children much?
Just a tad!
But Christmas, Easter, Shrove Tuesday are going the way of all these ‘special’ days, commercialised so the real reasons aren’t even widely known!
We watched pancake races too, and ended with a tasting session of sweet pancakes, as some children had never eaten them before too!
For me though, my Pancake Day will be tomorrow… or the day after, as we don’t eat eggs or meat on a Tuesday! Totally against the Ash Wednesday beliefs… but then, I’m not Christian!
There Will be Hills and troughs That's life, you see Always ups and downs But we must remember That so we appreciate The highest of the highs in life We need to experience the lows Never look back, just keep looking onwards
It’s Tuesday, and that means Colleen’s Tanka Challenge! Of course, just providing a couple of words would be far too simple, so we have two words, yes, but we can’t use them! Only synonyms allowed! so we get to choose our own words this week!
Today I am writing a tribute to Christmas at school… In Double Etheree form, from the kid’s and the teacher’s perspective!
Awe Wonder Child-like glee Decorations Christmas lights twinkling Upon a wonky tree Handmade cards for family Glitter strewn all over the floor Ongoing nativity practices Welcome to the classroom festive season!
Papework piling up, deadlines looming Trying to teach hyperactive kids Hungry for Santa and presents Being the voice of thirty As kids forget songs Smiling inanely Grateful for gifts Thankful for Term end Peace
It’s Tuesday, and that means Colleen’s Tanka Challenge! Of course, just providing a couple of words would be far too simple, so we have twowords, yes, but we can’t use them! Only synonyms allowed!
And there are a few forms of poetry that we can use… Tanka, Senryu, Haibun, Haiku, Etheree… so, here goes!
A huge amount of family and friends Gathering together to rejoice To appreciate each other And all that life has given Turkeys slowly roasting The sides to die for A meal for all Thanksgiving Sharing Love
But I Smile Anyway... 