Article
Illustration by Alex Nabaum

Over the Weather

By Naomi Shihab Nye
From the March 2022 Issue

Over the Weather

We forget about the spaciousness
above the clouds

but it’s up there. The sun’s up there too.

When words we hear don’t fit the day,
when we worry
what we did or didn’t do,
what if we close our eyes,
say any word we love
that makes us feel calm,
slip it into the atmosphere
and rise?

Creamy miles of quiet.
Giant swoop of blue.

Copyright© Naomi Shihab Nye. Used by permission of the author.

Writing Prompt

The poem asks, “what if we close our eyes,/say any word we love/that makes us feel calm”? Think of a word that makes you feel calm. Then write a poem or a paragraph explaining why. 

This poem was originally published in the March 2022 issue.

video (1)
Video
Poetry Read Aloud

Listen to Naomi Shihab Nye read her poem aloud.

Poetry Read Aloud

Listen to Naomi Shihab Nye read her poem aloud.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. READING THE POEM

2. ANALYZING THE POEM

3. WRITING  

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