Note: In Pod Five, Grammy and Eli talk about reading and keeping a diary, and Grammy reads two poems inspired by water. Grammy also reads a poem Eli wrote when he was very young, about his Auntie Molly. And Eli interviews his brother Darrian, who is a budding illustrator who is drawing pictures that will go with some of Grammy’s Poem Pods, in a book she is working on. Eli asks kids to think about who they look up to—and tell a story about that person. Please share this post! Click here to start at the beginning of the Poem Pod series.
Grammy: Hi, Eli and I are here, bringing you Poem Pods—fun poems for fun people. We are still smiling under our masks. Hey, Eli, what is one of your favorite things to do on a summer day?
Eli: I like to eat Popsicles and go swimming and play outside with my friends.
Grammy: I like that, but how about when it’s raining?
Eli: I just stay inside and play video games, watch movies, watch TV with my dad and sometimes read a book.
Grammy: I like the reading part. I love to read on rainy days, curled up on the sofa with a blanket—and a cup of tea. I also still love writing whenever I can. When I was growing up, I spent my summers on Lake Winnisquam in New Hampshire. We had a summer house there. I knew how to drive a boat, and I waterskied and swam a lot. I didn’t have friends nearby, and we didn’t have a television or a telephone at Camp, so reading was especially important. I remember sitting in the boat and reading, or reading in the living room, with my mother. I also started writing in a diary in seventh grade, and I kept a diary all through high school. I wrote every day, telling the story of what happened. Eli, have you ever kept a diary?
Eli: No, I haven’t because I think it’s kind of a girl’s thing.
POEMS
Grammy: Yeah. I thought you’d say that. Well, anyway. I love water of all kinds—lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds. They’re so fun to explore, and also, I find water is an inspiration. Today’s Poem Pods were inspired by water.
The first one is called:
Raindrops
Water comes from raindrops
That fall down from the sky.
When I look up to heaven,
They drip into my eye.
Raindrops fill the oceans.
Raindrops fill the streams.
Raindrops grow the gardens
We imagine in our dreams.
Raindrops fill my bathtub
And make my duckie float.
Without all these raindrops,
I couldn’t ride in Grampy’s boat.
And here’s one about bath water. It’s called:
Rub-A-Dub-Dub
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Two girls in the tub.
Splishing and splashing
But nary a scrub.
Grammy: That means they aren’t exactly washing themselves.
Eli: Poems can be anything. They don’t have to rhyme. They just need to tell a story that’s in your heart. This is a poem I wrote when I was four about my Auntie Molly, who you heard me interview yesterday. It went like this:
My Auntie
My auntie played lacrosse for four years.
My auntie is a teacher.
My auntie was in college for four years.
My auntie graduated college.
Grammy: I remember that poem, Eli. It was really good. Auntie and I were so proud of you.
ACTIVITY
Eli: What feels like a story you want to tell today? Who do you look up to? One person I look up to is my big brother, Darrian. He is drawing the pictures that will go with my Grammy’s poems for a children’s book she’s making.
INTERVIEW
Grammy: Hey Eli, let’s call Darrian and interview him about being an artist. Whaddya say?
Eli: OK, cool.
Ring ring.
Darrian: Hey guys (faintly.)
Grammy: Oops.
Darrian: Hey guys.
Grammy: Eli, turn him up. We can’t hear you, Darrian.
Darrian: Hello?
Grammy: Oh there, that’s much better. Welcome to poem pods. Eli is going to interview you for my Poem Pod podcast, okay?
Darrian: Sure.
Eli: Hi Darrian. When did you start drawing and how did you learn how?
Darrian: I started drawing at a young age, and I kind of liked it, so I taught myself and practiced everywhere I went and just drew everything.
Eli: Cool. What are your favorite things to draw?
Darrian: Cartoon characters.
Grammy: I want to ask a question. Why?
Darrian: Because I really like watching cartoons, and that’s the number one thing that catches my eye.
Grammy: So does that mean that cartoons were your inspiration?
Darrian: Yeah. Mostly.
Grammy: Cool.
Eli: How do you like drawing the illustrations for Grammy’s poems?
Darrian: I love it. I think it’s a great opportunity and it’s helping me get better at digitally drawing thing.
Grammy: That’s so cool, Darrian. I love what you are doing!
Darrian: Thank you.
Eli: Thanks for coming on the show!
Darrian: Thank you for having me.
Eli: Oh and Darrian…
Darrian: Yes?
Eli: Are you smiling under your mask?
Darrian: Yes!
Darrian hangs up.
Eli and Grammy: That’s the end of the fifth Poem Pod. Remember… We are smiling under our masks, and we hope you are too!
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