Article
Illustration by Alex Nabaum
Poem,

Over the Weather

By Naomi Shihab Nye
From the March 2022 Issue
Featured Skill: Analyzing and Writing Poetry,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.10, W.3
  • Grade 6
    RL.6.10, W.6.3
  • Grade 7
    RL.7.10, W.7.3
  • Grade 8
    RL.8.10, W.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6g, 6h, 7a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 11a

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Want to hear this poem read aloud? Click here!

Want to hear this poem read aloud? Click here!

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)
Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. READING THE POEM

As a class, read the poem aloud a few times or listen to the poem read aloud.

2. ANALYZING THE POEM

As a whole class or in small groups, answer the questions in the Analyzing Poetry Activity.

3. WRITING  

Invite students to write their own poems or essays using our Guided Writing Activity.

Text-to-Speech