A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Write a Spring Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!

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Celebrate National Poetry Month!

Countdown Commences (Spring Haiku) by Bette A. Stevens

Happy April and Happy National Poetry Month. Snow pack is still in meltdown stage here at the farmstead in Central Maine, but spring blooms will soon be appearing. Johnny-jump-ups (like the ones I photographed on the poster) are sure to be among the first blooms of the season. They’re one of those hardy native plants that bloom in abundance and pop up everywhere from early spring until the first hard freeze the next fall—hence the title and last line of the poem. This photo of last year’s blooms inspired me to write countdown Commences,  a spring haiku (Japanese-inspired, non-rhyming three-line: 5-7-5 syllable poem).

Countdown Commences

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Enchanting blossoms
Springtide emerging from earth
Countdown commences

I love designing  posters to go with my poems and often use photos I have taken. As a former teacher (now retired) in grades four through eight, I know that kids of all ages love writing poetry and they enjoy illustrating their poems too. It’s simple and it’s so much fun to tell a story in the three short lines of Haiku. Of course, you can write as many stanzas as you wish. Give it a try! 

Grab the kids, take out your pens, head into the great outdoors and get inspired!

~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator

(Haiku: m)

haiku

noun hai·ku \ˈhī-(ˌ)kü\

  1. :  an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively; also :  a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference — compare tanka

See haiku defined for English-language learners

See haiku defined for kids

 

Discover more about how to write haiku and other poetry

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Written

on 04/09/2018

Comments on: "Write a Spring Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!" (64)

  1. Sarah said:
    04/28/2018 at 1:12 pm

    Your beautiful words and pictures are always a perfect combination, Bette! Wishing you a Happy Spring! 😊❤ xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

  3. martina.franklin.poole said:
    04/20/2018 at 10:16 pm

    Have you seen the children’s book Dogku by Andrew Clements? It’s delightful…

    Liked by 1 person

  4. mommynificent said:
    04/17/2018 at 9:29 pm

    I always love the combinations of your haiku and the pictures you find! Great to have you link up at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
    Tina

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Bettie G said:
    04/16/2018 at 12:20 pm

    Dear Bette, I have often wanted to come check out your site because of the sweet comments I’ve seen you leave at our friend Gayl’s site. So today when she featured you at the #LMMLinkup, I knew it was the perfect way to come visit you. I love those little viola’s and your beautiful Haiku. And what a sweet gift to pass down to the younger ones–to be able to find the joys of poetry! Blessings to you! P.S. I’m a little partial to your name also! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/16/2018 at 5:07 pm

      Hi, Bettie! I’m partial to your name too… 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and for your thoughtful note. It’s a blessing to meet a new friend who shares the love of reading and writing with children of all ages. ❤ Blessings and love… xo

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Springtime Haiku for National Poetry Month #LMMLinkup - Words, Photos and Art said:
    04/16/2018 at 9:07 am

    […] by the beauty of the deep blue sky and had to take some photos. This afternoon I reread a post by Bette Stevens. She reminded me that this is National Poetry Month and inspired me to write another haiku for […]

    Like

  7. Gayl said:
    04/15/2018 at 9:54 pm

    Hi Bette! I’m back to let you know that I chose your post as my favorite for #LMMLinkup and it will be featured on my blog! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Senior Salon Roundup Post: April 9 – 13, 2018 | The Recipe Hunter said:
    04/14/2018 at 12:01 am

    […] Write a Spring Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too! shared by Bette […]

    Like

  9. Baydreamer said:
    04/13/2018 at 9:11 pm

    Beautiful haiku, Bette, and lovely photo! What program do you use for adding text to photos?
    ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Annika Perry said:
    04/13/2018 at 12:12 pm

    A beautiful haiku and may the countdown indeed commence! 😀 I always love your accompanying photos … a lovely post. ❤️

    Like

  11. eloisedesousa said:
    04/12/2018 at 7:32 pm

    I run a weekly Writer’s Club at school and our challenge each week is to complete a haiku and flash fiction to share with the others in the group. The children love it and find it hilarious fun to combine the most arbitrary things to create the haiku. I’m going to use your idea of taking them outside this summer to inspire their writing further. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/12/2018 at 7:58 pm

      Your ideas are awesome, Eloise! 🙂 You remind me of my blessed days in the classroom with all of my precious students. We would take nature walks with pen and notebook in hand–their poetry was fantastic and we would have poetry readings in our outdoor theater (Yes, we really had one on a path near the school) every week during good weather. Nature is sure inspiring and so are our children. Thanks so much for stopping by to chat, my friend. ❤ May your week be amazing! xo

      Liked by 1 person

  12. teawithjennifer said:
    04/12/2018 at 2:42 am

    As always Bette I enjoyed your spring haiku!
    Jennifer

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Michael said:
    04/11/2018 at 12:09 am

    I thought this was a very encouraging post Bette and you haiku excellent. In my part of the world after a long hot summer, we are looking forward to cooler weather, even today, April 11 its 30C. So over it.

    Liked by 2 people

  14. cookandenjoyrecipes said:
    04/10/2018 at 10:48 pm

    Hi Bette, Thank you very much for sharing your haiku at the Senior Salon. I am so happy to see you and hope your fellow bloggers will also come over, check us out and participate.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. macjam47 said:
    04/10/2018 at 8:11 pm

    Both your haiku and the photo of the johnny-jump-ups are beautiful! I hope Spring arrives sooner than later. Hugs ❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Annette Rochelle Aben said:
    04/10/2018 at 11:11 am

    So inspiring to children of all ages! ❤

    Like

  17. -Eugenia said:
    04/10/2018 at 9:45 am

    I love your haiku – so cheery and springy. What a lovely celebration for National Poetry Month and spring.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. robbiesinspiration said:
    04/10/2018 at 12:35 am

    A lovely haiku, Bette. I like haiku and tanka poems for the same reason. You can tell a story in a few punchy words.

    Like

  20. Natalie Ducey said:
    04/09/2018 at 7:57 pm

    This just makes me smile! Thank you for sharing the love, Bette! XO

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Shallow Reflections said:
    04/09/2018 at 7:31 pm

    Happy Poetry Month, Bette. Lovely haiku and photo. The countdown is slow in my neck of the woods, but it is progressing.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/09/2018 at 10:16 pm

      Thanks, Molly! 🙂 The countdown is progressing here too…and, just think, it might reach the 50s this week. Yay! Happy Poetry Month & Happy Spring. xo

      Liked by 1 person

      • Shallow Reflections said:
        04/10/2018 at 5:11 am

        It is National Humor Month, too, Bette and I’ll be celebrating that along with National Poetry Month on my blog tomorrow. 😉 The 50’s! Yay!!! I heard one weather reporter say the word sixty. She was giddy at the thought of it.

        Like

  22. Tina Frisco said:
    04/09/2018 at 6:38 pm

    Lovely Haiku, Bette. It made me want to jump up and milk Spring for all its worth! ❤

    Like

  23. sjhigbee said:
    04/09/2018 at 6:07 pm

    It’s such a lovely activity – and children enjoy it because it is accessible. Your haiku is beautiful, btw…

    Liked by 1 person

  24. D. Wallace Peach said:
    04/09/2018 at 3:19 pm

    I hope the countdown is commencing! Great haiku, Bette, and lovely idea for engaging kids in poetry. Hope your days are warming!

    Like

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/09/2018 at 6:51 pm

      Thanks, Diana. 🙂 Kids really do love poetry and writing these “little stories in a nutshell” is challenging and so much fun! 🙂 The meltdown is on and it looks like we’ll get to enjoy a whole week in the 40s and 50s… YAY! xo

      Liked by 1 person

  25. balroop2013 said:
    04/09/2018 at 2:06 pm

    Beautiful…both your poem and the picture! Happy Poetry Month Bette. Love and hugs.

    Like

  26. Mae Clair said:
    04/09/2018 at 12:58 pm

    The johnny jump-ups are beautiful and I really like the Haiku form. I started writing in grade school and experimented with both short stories and poetry. My parents encouraged me at every step I took, but I also remember all of the teachers who encouraged me to keep exploring my writing. It’s so important for young, creative minds.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Billy Ray Chitwood said:
    04/09/2018 at 11:38 am

    Having confessed my thoughts on Social Media, your ‘promoting poetry’ for kids is a noble goal, AND, I’m all for it! — Just adding a little levity! ♥♥♥

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      04/09/2018 at 6:36 pm

      😀 You got me… Thanks for the encouraging words, Billy Ray. Poetry is a great way to help kids fall in love with the written word and recognize its power. Have a fantastic week, my friend. ❤

      Like

  28. Billy Ray Chitwood said:
    04/09/2018 at 11:34 am

    ‘Internet Destiny Thoughts’ – ‘Tanka You!’

    Social Media
    Can corrupt my writing plans:
    Leave me frustrated;
    Leave me terribly wasted,
    No energy to inscribe.

    BR Chitwood@

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Tracy Campbell said:
    04/09/2018 at 10:51 am

    Glad you’re promoting poetry for kids (and kids-at-heart), Bette. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Gayl said:
    04/09/2018 at 10:43 am

    I think we are a lot alike, Bette. We both love kids and we both love nature and writing and haiku! I love this spring haiku and those are some of my favorite flowers, too. 🙂 Blessings to you! xo

    Liked by 1 person

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