Today's Teacher's Write workshop on Kate Messner's blog focused on writing a poem.  The guest author is Nikki Grimes, award winning author of children's poetry.  The instructions were to pick a subject and write a paragraph.  Then, we were to take the paragraph and turn that into lines of poetry.  I have used this formula in class and it is the easiest way that I know to get my students to write poetry. Once the idea is on paper, the writer can begin to play with the words until they have a version that is somewhat close to what they want.  I really don't think a poem is ever finished.  I revisit mine all the time.  I chose the subject:  leaf.  I'm calling my poem:

Leaf's Journey into Forever

The leaf turns brown  

As it sits through fall.  

Finally, it says,

“I’ve had enough,”

And floats away

For a trip

Across the sky.

As it lands

In a golden field,

Far, far away,

It realizes

Rest is needed.

It slowly falls asleep

In an eternal slumber
And dreams of greener days.