The new school year is underway across Australia. It returns each year while summer still rages across the breadth of our island continent. That first month is both exciting and challenging for all. In keeping with the topic, here are 3 poems encapsulating the various moods of the school playground. They are part of an extensive collection of school themed poems in search of a publisher...  Whispers From the Playground There was a buzz in the playground at lunchtime today Everyone was huddled in groups Talking in whispers and mumbles Mischa said that Michael and Lynda told her That Siraj and Tony Heard Annabel and Charlene Telling Tiana and Sienna That the story everyone is talking about Involving Arlo and Tyrone and a packet of biscuits Just isn’t true… Someone, They’re not sure who Made it up Just to stir up trouble And make mischief.   Listening to all this I found myself totally confused What’s the story? …and, who the heck is Tony? Alan j Wright ...

Let's give a cheer for the Choka! Across the years I have willingly explored a host of poetry forms from Japan. I appreciate the orderliness and scaffolding of these syllabic forms. They radiate a sense of calm  The Choka is yet another Japanese poetic form with a variable length that follows these guidelines: Five syllables in any odd-numbered lines  Seven syllables in any even-numbered lines  Finishes with two consecutive seven-syllable lines As with other Japanese poetic forms, the choka does not typically rhyme or have rules on length. Spider Webs Strung Along An Old Fence The old wire fence  Festooned with spidery webs All shimmer dancing With the passing morning breeze  Rusted strands unwittingly Host flimsy webs of intrigue. Alan j Wright Australian Garden Orb Weaver Spider. Impressive Web Designers It is Friday and more importantly, it's Poetry Friday and our host this time is Amy Ludwig VanDerwater from the Poem Farm. Amy presents a triolet poem that p...

It probably comes as no surprise that an array of poetry found its way into my new book, 'Notebook Notions-Using a writer's notebook to harvest ideas and transform your teaching.'   The book is hybrid in nature with poetry being a central character in this story of a life-long writing journey in the company of notebooks. Notebooks have inhabited every corner of my writing world. They have been the place i have come to feast on words.  I consciously launched the book with the poem, 'Risky Words.' My intention was  to set the scene for the reading journey unfolding  from that point. Poetry is a flame burning brightly in all my work. Risky Words     I sit at my desk some mornings Confronted by slips of paper Scribbled lists And a head full of loosely connected thoughts Fragments of a dream perhaps I link them tenuously in my morning mind Sorting them Before writing… I must remain courageous I must a risk taker be And write to th...

 This week I am dining out on food poems. A topic quite generously served up within my  world of words.  The first poem is quite old. I wrote it more than forty years ago. The second poem is more recent. In between these poems there are countless other food poems I've dined out on. Bon appetite! SOGGY BEANS IN MY JEANS Auntie Bess I must confess I didn’t eat my greens When you got up to get dessert I hid them in my jeans   I then walked home to my place As quiet as a mouse My pockets full of soggy beans Until I reached my house   Well, that was many years ago And I was just a kid And still, I don’t like soggy beans -I Never Ever Did! © Alan j Wright JUST A SMIDGE   I shall break off a tiny piece of this biscuit A morsel A smidge Enough to tantalize and tease my tastebuds   Something this sweet and delicious Requires delicate nibbles At the very edge Just to make it last a little longer.   This taste tempting treat Must ...

 I am a huge fan of Verse novels and have curated a significant collection across the years-check out the attached image. It continues to astound me how many kids and teachers have little or no idea regarding this form of writing. A novel in verse is a full-length story told through poetry instead of prose, blending narrative structure with lyrical language, often using free verse, multiple voices, and white space to explore deep emotions, complex themes (like identity, grief, racism), and detailed plots in a concise, impactful way, making such books very popular for YA and readers with low confidence.  Australia has a wonderful track record with this genre. Sally Morgan, Steven Herrick, Kat Appel, Kirli Saunders and Sharon Kernot immediately come to mind as great contributors and champions of the verse novel. American authors like Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson and KA Holt are fine exponents of the genre and the UK's Steven Camden is a favourite of mine too.  Add an...

  Here are five of the most popular Poetry posts for 2025. Thank you  visitors and followers for your continuing support and interest in teaching poetry and all it entails.  Here's a second chance to connect with poetic ideas. Ideas you can easily carry forward into 2026. Just click the link... UK Poet, Peter Dixon This post highlighting the poetry of Peter Dixon proved extremely popular with readers.  Peter Dixon was not just a poet. He was a performer, educationalist and artist. I share his famous tea-bag poem. Viator Poems In this post I presented yet another recently invented poetry form!  I looked closely at the Viator poetic form, first created by author,  Robin Skelton. My post proved popular... First Line Index Poems Concerning School Life First Line Index Poem connected to the theme of school life proved popular with readers... Short and sweet renditions of this poetry form, courtesy of  UK Poets, Alan Ahlberg and Michael Rosen...

 At this time of the year I increase the level of rummaging I do through my extensive library of old writer's notebooks. Summer days afford me this special time. Given that I have 4 decades worth of notebooks, there is much to explore and rediscover.  The imminent release of my latest book, 'Notebook Notions,' reminds me rummaging is a topic I address in the book. It is an action highly reccomended for discovering new possiblities in old words. It was in this wonderfully satisfying process of rediscovery that I chanced upon some poetry gold gifted to the world by fellow participants of Poetry Friday. I have others I can call upon another time.   These poems had nestled safely into the pages of various notebooks as sources of admiration and inspiration. I bring them into the light and say thank you for these wordly gifts. Wishing everyone a New Year full of hope, optimism and fullfilment. Be well and keep the words flowing... It is the first Poetry Friday of 2026 and ...

 A seasonally adjusted poem is my offering this week. I found a poem I had written during my time living and working in New York called Raw Beauty. It encapsulates a stranger's Christmas gift in the depths of a miserably cold day, in a rather dreary location.  Inspired by Linda Mitchell's mash up poem last week, I decided to mash my poem with a short, evocative Christmas poem by UK poet, Wendy Cope. I enjoyed the weaving process. Season's greetings all. Vanderbilt Avenue bus shelter Raw Beauty - A Christmas Poem After Wendy Cope At Christmas little children sing and merry bells jingle I'm standing at the bus stop On Vanderbilt Avenue Stick trees line the street Silent soldiers on a bleak avenue   In a feeble shelter Three women stand I huddle in my flimsy coat Nearby An icy wind Rampant, raw Slaps my face With a bully’s rage The cold winter air makes our hands and faces tingle Above the wind And the ugly song of the traffic I hear whistl...

  Hi, Alan here to alert you to more support and ideas for the teaching of poetry are available on my web page:   https://www.alanjwrightauthorpoet.com/ A quick click and you can access even more information to make your teaching of writing and in particular, the teaching of poetry more expansive and rewarding. A visit will provide you with information regarding poetry resources and the latest news on all manner of literary related matters. Matters like  my new anthology of short verse, available in January 2026. Here's a glimpse...