Badgerblog

The beauty of the poem is often its ability to distill a mood, a scene, or a fraction of time into a small space on the page. This week’s Badgerblog selection does just that—transforming the long, rough ride of the cowboy and his herd into a brief but beautiful and exhausted expression. Congratulations to Benjamin on this poetic achievement (inspired by artwork in the Blanton Museum of Art) … and a very Texas poem, to boot!

Ol’ Slick Ear

Cowboys rope the cow
and have a hard time with them.
The longhorn cattle go a long way.

After a long, tough ride,
the cowboys get to market.

Their faces half covered in dust,
the cowboys ride home.

Benjamin, fifth grade, Badgerdog Creative Writing Summer Camp

Photo by Mary R. Vogt.

The haiku expresses so much with so little. It’s an ancient poetic form that strikes a beautiful balance between constraint and freedom. This week’s Badgerblog selection is a winning example of the haiku—a small and singular moment brought to life in seventeen syllables. Congratulations to Angela for a wonderful celebration of what it is to write!

Writing Haiku

Pencil lead scratching,
On stiff creamy white paper,
Beautiful writing.

Angela, fourth grade, Badgerdog Creative Writing Summer Camp

Though we may not welcome the scorching summer heat, the season does at least deliver a roaring burst of color—sunlight and flowers, rivers, swimsuits, and snow cones—all of it a welcome change from the monochromatic tones of winter. This week’s Badgerblog selection is a beautiful celebration of these various colors and the ways they liven up our lives.

Rainbow Colors

Lively pink is gentle, precious fur, as if from a soft, baby bunny.
Sunny yellow is a calm, fresh summer breeze as bright
as a sunflower’s silky petals. Blinding white is a lonely
depressing feeling, as if the gray were wiping a smile off your face.
Sensitive purple is a shy, blushing cheek like a glowing,
sparkly moon on your face. Proud blue is a dazzling, royal
blue sky floating above like a bucket of cotton balls
with twilight baby blue colors.

Annabel, third grade, Badgerdog Creative Writing Summer Camp

This week’s Badgerblog showcases a poem by a very talented third-grader from Smith Elementary. Ian read this same poem at our Spring Community-Wide Reading May 15, yielding laughter and delight from an audience of nearly one hundred people. Not only is Ian an excellent poet, but also an excellent performer. Congratulations!

If Cats Could Fly

If cats could fly, they’d be in the sky.
If cats could fly, pilots wouldn’t have to.
If cats could fly, we’d all cry.
If cats could fly, they’d have to watch out for ceiling fans.
If cats could fly, they’d be so high.

Ian, third grade, Smith Elementary School