It rained overnight. The wind howled and the trees bent to its unrelenting will. The casualties were strewn on the driveway this morning. An Autumnal aftermath. Leaves of many colours littered the ground. I gathered a few of them up, took them inside and photographed them. Then I wrote... L E A F It clung tenaciously To its sturdy host Eventually the wind Separated them And the leaf Cast adrift Began its inevitable descent Flittering Fluttering Falling To earth Like a feather, tumbling On the pathway It landed Face up Autumn shades exposed Brilliant at the end Intense hues of magenta, indigo and russet red Among the verdant green remnants A leaf Beauty defying death

I recently visited a school as part of a Meet The Author Day and was talking to groups of young writers about the work surrounding my latest book, ‘Searching For Hen’s Teeth- Poetry From The Search Zone.’ The usual questions arose during the day: Where do you get your ideas? What inspired you to write poetry? Do you have a favourite poem? Do you prefer rhyming verse or free verse? How long have you been writing poetry? How did you get your poetry book published? How long does it take to write a book? All these questions are valid. All of them quite normal. But one Grade 6 boy’s question set me to thinking more deeply about my response. He raised his hand and asked, ‘Do you like sport?  I have been asked this question before. In fact. It has been raised with me on numerous occasions and it is always posed by boys. I suspect that in the minds of many boys, poetry and sports are viewed as mutually exclusive pursuits. Poetry is seemingly passive and sport,  an active pursuit prefe...

Keep Away From Cliff Edges I read a sign that told me to keep away from Cliff Edges Problem is… I’ve never met him So, I don’t really know what he looks like And that’s a problem How do I keep away from someone I can’t even recognize? I could be standing next to Cliff Edges at the bus stop -And I wouldn’t know it I could be sitting next to Cliff Edges at the beach -And I wouldn’t know it I could be flying in a hot air balloon with Cliff Edges -And I wouldn’t know it I wonder about Cliff Edges Is he a scallywag as my Nana calls some boys Or, is he something worse? Maybe Cliff Edges is a ratbag? A nincompoop? A bully? Maybe, he’s just a little misunderstood, as my Mum likes to say I will keep my eyes open Just in case I run into him This most mysterious fellow, Cliff Edges 

PRESS RELEASE! Alan J Wright provides poetry for wide audience with new book. ‘ Searching For Hen’s Teeth’   gives poet’s insight into life journey MORNINGTON,  Australia  – Alan J Wright has been writing poetry since he was a teenager. He tells others, “Poetry is my oxygen.” In his new poetry collection, “Searching For Hen’s Teeth”   ( published by Balboa Press AU ), he has brought together the variety of forms his poetry has taken over the years. “This book is a collection of poetry aiming to celebrate the power of poetry to convey a myriad of emotions and ideas,” Wright says. “It serves as a practical example for teachers, librarians and parents that poetry is an ever-expanding genre and a powerful source of inspiration that deserves to be shared with children.” Humor and irony appear throughout Wright’s poetry. He touches on the ideas of success and failure as individuals grow, both physically and emotionally. “Searching For Hen’s Teeth” ...

It's Arrived! My latest book has just been released, and I'm pleased to share this anthology of poetry with you. It contains a wide assortment of poems written across the years and includes a range of poetic forms. My target audience is kids from eight to eighty. As the preview says: 'A collection of adventurous verse for young poetry lovers, these humorous and engaging poems exult everything from rats to rainbows. A giggle and hoot reading experience. Permission is hereby granted to smile and smirk through this extensive anthology of poems. Things never get better until they get verse!' Searching For Hen's Teeth-poetry from the search zone is available through local bookshops, or on line through a range of outlets including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, Angus and Robertson, Fishpond and Book Depository. It is available as a paperback or an ebook, depending on your preference. I'm hoping it quickly finds its way to the top of the poe...

To assist young poets to polish their raw words and transform them into poetic pearls  requires some scaffolded support. I have created the following  Revising  and  Editing  checklists. Feel free to use them as a starting point with your student writers. Remember writing poetry is about using powerful words in tight spaces. That way you are more likely to create some sparks! My Revising Checklist For Poetry SKILL Student Teacher I have tried using repetition of words, sounds or phrases. I have experimented with lines and white space. I have read it aloud to see if the line breaks work for emphasis. I have tried to use surprising language. I have replaced ordinary words with stronger words. I have tried different leads or endings. I have tried different titles. I have used st...

I imagined this conversation between two boys and a chance observation... It's a variation on poems for two voices from the book,   Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices   by Paul Fleischman.  Initials On A Pencil Case What’s that on your pencil case? Right there in the corner in tiny letters Does it say I heart JB? Does it really? Why? Why does it say I heart JB? I cant believe you would write that… It’s not what you think It’s not what you think It’s something else Really it is Oh sure it is I heart JB – why did you write that For everyone to see? It’s about someone else Someone else? Who? Julietta Brocklesbee Who is Julietta Brocklesbee? A girl Thanks for the clue, but seriously, who is she? She’s a singer in a band What band? The Fishsticks Julietta Brosklesbee is a singer in a band Called The Fishsticks. Never heard of them… They’re a new band A very good band My favourite ...

In my eternal quest for poetry mentor texts that will support the sometimes tentative writing efforts of emerging student poets (and their teachers), I came across this poem by John Rice. It was part of a collection ‘Poems to Perform: A Classic Collection Chosen by the Children's Laureate,’Julia Donaldson. The poem has a simple repetitive structure that provides a safe scaffold for the less experience poet. Students immediately note the please do -please do not pattern and the way the poet finishes with a line that breaks the pattern, yet neatly ties the poet’s thoughts together. It’s as if he has an afterthought. They also noted the element of humour the poet had injected into the poem. For young poets, the presence of humour heightens engagement. Instructions For Giants Please do not step on swings parks, youth clubs, cinemas and discos Please flatten all schools Please do not eat children, pop stars, TV soap operas, kind grannies who give us  50cents Please feel free to gobble u...