Thunder

Rain rushes

with a crack

a crash

and a rumble.

Clouds are heavy

and dark

with lightning's

grumble.

      It is monsoon season in the desert.  Late in the afternoon we get winds, heavy clouds and then deluges
of rain.  The roads are washed out.  In an instant, the dry creek beds fill with gushing water.  Then a short while later, it is all gone.  Many of the plants that were turning brown are now sprouting green leaves and the ridges in the Saguaro cacti are spreading as the plant takes on water to store.  What would you like to write about today?

The Roadrunner

The roadrunner

comes tap, tap, tapping

at my window today.

He's tap, tap, tapping

for me

to come and play.

The roadrunner

is tap, tap, tapping

before he runs away.

    Roadrunners are funny, curious birds.  this on likes peeking in my bathroom window.  And when he is there, he wants to be sure he is noticed.  Hence the loud tapping on the window.  Their feet are interesting too.  There are four toes,two point forward, two back.  This helps the roadrunner get better traction when he runs.  What is your favorite bird? Can you write a poem about that bird today?

The Ring

My daddy gave me

a birthstone ring.

To me it means

everything.

The ring is a bright, red ruby,

Daddy says it means 

he loves me.

On my finger

I'll keep it there,

to let me show

my daddy cares.


     Have you ever gotten some special "jewelry" from your family?  What was the occasion?  Have you ever wanted any?  What?  When I was 12 my daddy gave me a charm bracelet and for several years after that, every Christmas and birthday I'd get a gold charm to add to the bracelet.  Can you guess what some of the charms were?  Today's poem can be about jewelry--real or imagined.  Have fun writing.

Ants

Ants are scurrying

on the side walk.

What would they tell me

if they could talk?

They run over the steps.

They run across the sill.

They run under the planter

and into their ant hill.

I'm glad I'm not an ant.

They hurry quite a lot.

I haven't got their energy

because it's just too hot.

   I spent too much time today watching ants.  What are you watching today?  Are you watching any of the Olympics on television?  Can you write a poem about something you observe today?

EGG UPDATE

Every morning on my walk

I check on the quail eggs

by my neighbor's mailbox

laid on the ground

in the sand

between the paddles

of the prickly pear.

Yesterday I saw

a small black lizard

race by the eggs.

I've never seen

the quail there.

It has been

over a week now,

or is it two

that I have counted

the eggs each morning.

today I counted ten.

I wish the hatching

would begin.

No that is probably not right,

once the eggs are laid,

the hatching starts.

I wish the pipping would begin,

that is when the chick

pecks through the shell

and climbs out of the egg.

Now, that will be an exciting day.

A day of new beginnings.

    It was fun thinking about the difference between hatching and pipping.  Here is a challenge, can you write a poem today about the meaning of a word?  You might want to use a dictionary and randomly find a page and a word.  Have fun and you are welcome to share your poem in the comments below.

MY GRANDPA

My grandpa rolls by

in his wheel chair.

Many people ignore him

pretend he's not there.

I love my grandpa.

It fills me with pride

when he lifts me on his lap

and takes me for a ride.

     Grandparents are very special people.  Every child needs grandparents to spoil the child.  Can you name five interesting, unusual, normal, fun or ordinary things about your grandparents.  I bet if you need help with this list your grandparent would be happy to help you,  My husband still has the little chair his grandfather made for him when he was very, very young.  Can you write a grandparent poem today?  When you get done, read the poem to your grandparent or your parent.

Gila Monster

Out in the desert

where winds blow hot

a gila monster rests

in his favorite spot.

His face is black.

He has sharp teeth.

He's scouting for

a dinner feast.

His body is covered 

in shiny scales.

He knows he'll go hungry

if his hunting fails.

     If you had to describe yourself as an animal, what animal would you chose?
for today, can you write a poem about an animal.  Remember, have fun.

QUESTION

I'm standing

in the doorway

and I'm looking out.

Inside is safe

outside 

there is doubt.

Should I stay here

or go out?

When inside is safe

and outside

holds doubt.

STORM

Lightning crashes.

Thunder roars.

I'm safe and warm

here indoors.

This storm is noisy.

It's what I dread.

I'm glad I'm here

asleep in bed.

     Obviously I wasn't happy with yesterday's poem because it was stirring around in my head all night while I was sleeping.  So, I thought I'd try again today.  Which poems do you like better, yesterday's or today's?  Can you write a poem about rain today?

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

The lightning

     and the thunder

          came to visit me.

They were quick

     and flashing

          and noisy

                as can be.

"Come along,"

     said the stars.

          "They don't frighten me."

"Cover us in clouds,

      we'll still be here

           twinkling bright."

"They don't scare us.

      We'll bravely shine

           through the night."


      My dog is frightened by thunder.  He crawls under the bed to hide.  Do thunder and lightning frighten you, or do you think of the stars instead?  Try writing a poem today about a thunder storm.  Have fun and keep cool.

Dragonfly Tea Party

     This poem is for the extraordinary children's poet David Harrison, who had a dragonfly come visit him yesterday. (You can see a picture of the dragonfly by clicking your cursor over his name.)

     I wish I were a princess.

     I'd fly with fairy wings.

     I'd live within the garden

     to see what summer brings.

     I'd have a mushroom 

     for my table

     and a toadstool

     for my seat,

     and there I'd dine

     on lovely food

     with lots of tasty treats.

   

     When you come to visit

     we'll have lots of food to eat.

     We'll dine on little fairy cakes

     and other yummy sweets.

     

     We will drink the dew drops

      and snail shell cups of tea

      when you come into the garden

      for our dragonfly party.

        I'm having so much fun with the thought of being a Dragonfly Princess that
I want to get out my colored pencils to draw a picture to go with my poem.  Do you have a poem (one of your own or someone else's) you'd like to draw a picture for?  OK, so today let's try drawing instead of writing.  Have fun.  This fairy princess loves the color pink.  Happy Saturday.

Summer Heat

Turn on the sprinkler,

let's get out of this heat.

We can spray and splash

and get wet feet.

Running in the sprinkler

is pretty neat,

it can't be beat

when you are surrounded

by all this heat!


      What do you do to beat the heat in summer?  Do you sit in the shade and read a book?  Do you go to the movies or the library where it is air conditioned?  Do you make popsicles?  Eat cold watermelon? 
Try writing your own poem about beating the heat today. 

School Picture

School picture

first grade,

Mother had me wear

a starched white blouse

and a pleated skirt.

She pinned her Dutch girls 

at my neck.

The night before

I had difficulty sleeping,

the hard curlers

cut into my head

trying to make pipe curls

of my stubborn hair.

"Remember to smile,"

my mother said.

"And if it's a good photo

we'll send it to your grandmother."

     Why is it we are told to smile for photographs?  Why do we dress up?  What are some other occasions you have to dress up for?  Can you write a poem about one of those occasions?  Do have fun.  Use your imagination and make up an event.  Tell us what you'll wear.