-Jean Cocteau
Today I'm handing my blog over to my grandson, the Little Scholar. Eight years old, he finished second grade last Friday and brought home a stellar report card to show for it. His backpack was filled with papers, Pokeman cards, pencils, crayons, and old treasures rediscovered in the deep recesses of his desk. Oh, I had forgotten the unbridled joy of a child's last day of school!
Among his papers was this writer's journal (photo above), mandated, no doubt, by his teacher, but embraced by the Little Scholar. In it, he describes himself as a "poet and author." Wow. I wonder how I might have described myself at his age. What would you have written about yourself?
Here is one of the poems from his journal, which the Little Scholar has offered to share with you:
The Sounds in a Rainstorm
A storm is full
of the nicest sounds,
It BOOMS! and BANGS!
and rumbles,
With kids JuMpInG in puddles,
The wind and flags
are flapping fast,
Suddenly it is quiet,
and peaceful again.
- Tony Lucas
I'm very happy that young students are being exposed to poetry and prose. It bodes well for our community. When children are taught to listen to the world around them and interpret what they hear, beauty is bound to happen.
Thanks for reading, and if you are so inclined to leave a comment today, you can be sure that the reply will come from the Little Scholar himself. Have fun with kids this summer!
The music selection today was very easy..."Storm" or the 3rd Movement of Antonio Vivaldi's "Summer" of "Four Seasons". I think the Little Scholar got a kick out of hearing that his name, Anthony, tranlates to 'Antonio' in Italian.
I presented him with three versions of this selection; one filled with special effects from techno-pop diva Vanessa Mae, one with a fabulous young electric guitarist from Kazakhstan, and one straightforward chamber orchestra version. To my utter surprise and delight, he selected the latter version. When asked why he chose that one, he answered, "It sounds like it's supposed to sound"...another purist in the family!
This is the Israel Chamber Orchestra with Paul Levin on the violin and David Zebba in the conductor's chair. Enjoy!
Little Scholar/Tony, you have described a storm to perfection. It is great that you are listening and observing the world around you.
ReplyDelete"We were given two ears but only one mouth, because listening is twice as hard as talking." - author unknown
Dear Ms. Lizzy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my poem. Thanks for telling me what you think about ears and mouths on talking and hearing. It's pretty funny, but it's true!
Tony
hey tony, i like your poem - especially the bit about juMpinG because i think that's what that sounds like and what it feels like when you splash into the puddles. some bits are bigger and louder than the others. when it rains at my school i always make sure the windows are open so we can hear - especially if there's thunder. keep writing buddy! steven
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Steven,
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my poem, but I have one question about your school. Why do you open the windows when it's raining? Won't it get all wet in the classroom?
I like to hear the thunder, too.
I think it's really nice that you like to listen to the rain like me.
Your buddy,
Tony
Fantastic poem!
ReplyDeleteDear Ms. Reya,
ReplyDeleteWhat is it like in Washington, DC? My Yia-Yia told me that you live there. I want to know a lot about Washington DC cause there is so much to learn about it.
What does the White House look like up close?
Thanks for reading my poem.
Your friend,
Tony
That was a good poem. I like the way it rhymed when it needed to rhyme but wasn't only about rhyming. We rarely have thunder here - not even once a year. Our storms feature high winds that make the tall cedars creak. I think I'd like to experience some good old thunder and lightening again.
ReplyDeletehi tony, good question about the rain coming in the classroom! yep, sometimes it gets a little wet near the windows. if it's a really big blowy storm then i don't open them all the way wide. i do the same thing in the winter if there's a snow storm. only for a little bit though because it makes the class get a bit cold. but we like to stand by the huge windows that cover one entire wall of the classroom and watch and feel the weather. i see you're on summer holidays now. my class finishes in twenty two days! have a fun time bud. steven
ReplyDeleteHi, Tony. I knew your Yia-Yia when we were the age you are now. She was so fun. I hope to see her very soon.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is wonderful. I like rain, soft rain. My dog, Emmylou, is scared of thunder and lightening (me, too, just a little bit.)
Keep writing. Thanks!
Jan
Tony,
ReplyDeleteYou should continue writing your poetry - you paint a lovely (and accurate) picture of a thunderstorm with your words! I'll bet your Grandma is very proud of you!
Dear Tony,
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to be part of a conversation about rain with people I have never met :)
Your poem about rain is wonderful; I was born in India, the country of the Monsoon, where it rains non stop for three months! Worms and frogs and other bugs come out to play, and oil from car engines mixes with the puddles to create rainbows. I think you would really like it.
Enjoy your holidays buddy!
Shaista
Dear Ms. Pondside,
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a really interesting girl. Why don't you get thunder with your storms?
I hope to get another reply from you soon.
Your friend,
Tony
Dear Ms. Jan,
ReplyDeleteI think you should come over some time soon if you can. You can visit with me and Yia-Yia at the same time.
Why are you and your dog afraid of lightning and thunder? Thanks so much for reading my poem.
Your friend,
Tony
Dear Ms. Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing that comment. I really appreciate that you read my poem.
My Yia-Yia says that you are an archeologist. I have one question about archeologists. Have you found out what they did to survive in the Egyptian times? I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks again. Have a good day,
Your friend,
Tony
Dear Ms. Shaista,
ReplyDeleteMy Yia-Yia says you live in England. I think it's cool to talk to people in other countries! What do people use to build homes with in India?
Do you mean that it keeps on raining every day for three months?? It would be disappointing not to go outside to play for three months! Do the children still go outside to play in the rain with worms, frogs, and bugs?
I hope to hear from you again. Thanks for reading my poem. Enjoy YOUR day,
Your friend,
Tony
Hi, Tony. It's Jan again. Maybe the lightning & thunder are just a good excuse for my dog and me to cuddle.
ReplyDeleteAs for visiting you and Yia Yia at the same time, I can't think of anything I'd like better. Can you please ask your Yia Yia to e-mail me at jsimon@parkland.edu? Thanks a lot, Tony. Can't wait to meet you.
Your friend,
Jan