Cirrus@Austlit

Author's note:Teaching Poem (Kelli McGraw). I wrote this poem in 2007 during my first year as a permanent English teacher. I had an incredible Year 8 class - you know the type, the kids we secretly look forward to spending time with - and we were exploring poetry.
Trying to find an interesting way to revise some techniques they were familiar with as well as pique their interest in some new concepts and terminology, I had the idea of writing my own poem about poetry, I hadn't written any poetry for a long time, but I also hadn't had any reason to. And besides I thought, if Year 8 can do it, surely I can have a crack?
When I started this poem it was simply titled 'Teaching Poem'. The story in the poem is true - It really did all come to me while I was on an overseas study trip. The students liked the poem enough, but what they (and I) found most rewarding was the sense of being part of a writing community that was established through my showing my own work to them. Being able to 'quiz' me about my language choices also open up discussion about authorship and reader response.