Once upon a time (last fall), we had a family event at my school featuring Poetry Fox.
Forgive if this disturbs the enchanting image in your brain: He’s a guy in a well-worn fox costume who cranks out poems on the spot, using an old-timey typewriter.
Just give him a word, and clickety-clickety-click, slam! —he types your own personal poem on a piece of paper suitable for framing.
You will want to frame it, because Poetry Fox is amazing.
My new assistant principal stood by, watching in sheer wonderment. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he admitted. “But this…this is magic.”
Indeed. Kid faces and parent faces glowed. In a word…awe.
Afterward, my AP joked: “Hey, if we ever want to do this again and Poetry Fox isn’t available, maybe I could scrounge up a costume…not a fox, of course…some lesser creature…”
The thing was born in my head, right that very instant: “You could be Poetry Possum!”
Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, Girls and Boys, One and All… I am proud to announce the debut of a character who certainly needs to live in stories (and poems) of his own:
I give you… (drumroll)…Poetry Possum and his very first work!
There once was a fuzzy gray creature
It is ME! A poetry teacher!
With just a little travail
I’ll bet my prehensile tail
Wordcraft will become your best feature!
*******
Composed for Day 11 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge with Two Writing Teachers
If you want to read more about Poetry Fox, you can do so here.
lit bits and pieces 
I love your perfect drawing of Poetry Possum. I can’t wait to see what PP comes up with. Genius!
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Now that he is here…he’s gotta get to work, doesn’t he? I haven’t sketched in a long time. I wondered if I could actually draw Poetry Possum…then it seemed necessary. Turned out to be such fun!
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Apt alliterative name–and a superb limerick!
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Thanks, Paul – I was most proud of fitting in “prehensile tail”!
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Fran, I am so inspired by these animal poetry producers! Thank you so much for telling me about the fox! Because of you, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he comes here to this Zebulon! A possum!!! Oh, what a storybook. Who did the drawing? Was this you?
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Yes, I did the sketch, Kim! I signed it “Franna” for the granddaughters. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any drawing – but the Possum wants to be more than an idea. He wants to live – on paper!
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P.S. I so hope the Fox gets to go to your Zebulon! I have another poem of his to share soon. You’ll never guess the one word I gave him (hint: it’s not “writing” – already did that one).
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Fran, that is amazing! I have heard of Poetry Fox–such a clever gig! I am now a fan of Poetry Possum. And you sketched him too. That is impressive. Hooray for “prehensile tail” fitting into your limerick.
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Thanks, Denise – I think, now that Poetry Possum has burst onto the scene, he should be able to live and share his ideas! I had such fun sketching him. Wasn’t even sure I could – it’s been a long time since I did any real drawing.
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Poetry possum? Prehensile tail? You, my friend, are prodigious! (Okay, that was the only p-word I could think of – but suffice it to say that I *need* to hear more about Poetry Possum. The possibilities are endless!)
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So glad you like Poetry Possum, Amanda! Confession: Possums aren’t my favorite creatures, but I am enamored of this character who came to life in my head. I think he needs to live. We shall see where this leads…
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Such a great spin off from the Poetry Fox and such a good poem! I wonder if possums in the US are similar to the ones here? They can take over people’s houses sometimes, but in their natural habitat they are rather cute.
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To be honest… I am not really a fan of opossums at all except maybe the babies riding on top of their mothers’ backs. They really creep me out… but… the idea of Poetry Possum was too fun!
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