Welcome

This is my playground for poetry written for children with ideas and inspiration for writing your own poems. Come on in. Sit for a spell, have a cup of words to swirl around and make your own cup of poetry. I'm so glad you are here. I hope you'll find the Kingdom of Poetry a fun place to be.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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?

Monday, July 30, 2012

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?

Sunday, July 29, 2012

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.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

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?

Friday, July 27, 2012

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.


Thursday, July 26, 2012

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.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

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.

Monday, July 23, 2012

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?

Sunday, July 22, 2012

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.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

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.

Friday, July 20, 2012

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. 

Thursday, July 19, 2012

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.