The Creek in My Backyard

After we learned about water quality from employees at the City of Dayton Department of Water, we wrote a short story about a body of water in a group.

First, each group member chose an item that relates to a creek such as fish, rocks, sand, plants, roads, storm drains, and rain. Then, each group member wrote a sentence using two adjectives to describe their item following this pattern, "This is the [item], [adjective] and [adjective]." We then connected our sentences in a pattern that flowed. We started with, "This is the creek, calm and directing, that flows in my backyard." We expanded on this by describing all of the things that go into the creek.

This is our story:

This is the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

These are the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

These are the plants, lively and plentiful that feed the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

This is the sand, course and grainy that holds the plants, lively and plentiful that feed the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

These are the rocks, rugged and grey, that form the sand, course and grainy that holds the plants, lively and plentiful that feed the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

This is the drain, metal and enduring, which flows over the rocks, rugged and grey, that form the sand, course and grainy that holds the plants, lively and plentiful that feed the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

These are the roads, cracked and eroded, that lead to the drain, metal and enduring, which flows over the rocks, rugged and grey, that form the sand, course and grainy that holds the plants, lively and plentiful that feed the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

This is the rain, heavy and cool, which falls onto the roads, cracked and eroded, that lead to the drain, metal and enduring, which flows over the rocks, rugged and grey, that form the sand, course and grainy that holds the plants, lively and plentiful that feed the fish, luminescent and scaly that swim in the creek, calm and directing that flows in my backyard.

I enjoyed writing this poem because I got to collaborate in a group. This made it easier and more creative than if I just had to write it myself. I think it made me interested in trying new things when it comes to nature writing. It inspired me to keep a journal for all my 2018 summer adventures.