Two Coyotes

One coyote lopes 
down the road.
He sees me and 
stops to hold. (I know, this is a slip rhyme.)
Along comes another, 
now there are two.
They look at me, 
what should they do?
They run up a driveway, 
leap a fence,
race in the arroyo, and
I haven't seen them since.  (Another slip.)

     This is what a I saw on my morning walk.  What a gift!  I know that ten years from now children will not be able to see coyotes running free in the desert because people will have taken over their habitat.  Have fun writing your poem today.

Hot Air Balloon

I'm leaving town
I'll be back soon
I'm taking a ride
in a hot air balloon.

The noise is loud
when the burners fire.
The heat takes me up
higher and higher.

I float in the sky.
It's a wonderful thing.
Now I know why
flying birds sing.

     I saw a hot air balloon floating on the horizon on Saturday and I've been thinking about it all week.  I'm going to draw a picture to go with this poem.  It shouldn't be too hard to draw a hot air balloon.  Today try drawing your picture first and then write your poem to go with it.  I'm thinking easy shapes, like an apple or a sail boat.  What do you think?

Little Puffer Fish

If you go swimming
in a blue lagoon
you might see a fish
who is a big balloon.

Most the time he is
little and flat,
but if there is danger
he puffs up fat.

Stay away from him;
he is poisonous,
swimming too close
is very dangerous.

A puffer fish
has tiny fins.
When he puffs up
he floats more than swims.



     It is fish poetry day.  Can you write a poem today about a fish?  Can you read your poem to a fish?  If you were a fish what kind of poem would you like to hear?

Tale of the Mermaid

A mermaid swimming

in the deep blue sea

was sad as sad

as a mermaid can be.

“I'm tired of living

down here in the sea.

I want to fly off and see

what there's to see. “

Said a whale swimming by,

“Please don't leave me,

for you are our beauty

of the deep blue sea.”

“Oh, I'm going,” said the mermaid.

“And I'm leaving soon.

I want to ride

in a hot air balloon.”

“No, don't go away.

Please don't even try.

In a hot air balloon,

you'd surely die.”

“Can't you see,

I want to be free.

Up in the air

I want to fly.”

“Then I'll tell you

what I can do.”

said the whale trying

to be a friend true. (yes, I know this is a reversal, it needs work.)

“If you lie upon my blowhole

I'll try to help with your flight goal.

I'll blow a spout,

shoot it high

up in the sky,

you will fly.

“You can have a look.

I'll give you the ride,

and when you're done

come down inside

the deep, deep,

blue, blue sea

to be with me,

my beauty.”

So the mermaid lay upon the spout

and let the whale

blow her out.

She went flying

ever so high

and enjoyed the view

from in the sky.

Then she flew

back into the sea

and once more

was glad she could be

the mermaid from

the deep blue sea.

She shared with everyone

her beauty

and stories about

flying wild and free.

      Happy Monday, I'm busy working on my taxes.  This poem is definitely a draft.  I'll keep working on it. (Is it as bad as I think it is? I shouldn't have gotten up this morning.)  Any suggestions?  Just enjoy thinking about the friendship between a whale and a mermaid.  Can you write a very short poem of a conversation between them?

SUNDAY'S SONG

Sing a song of Sunday
a silly little thing.
Wind is blowing,
bushes bending.
wind chimes sing.

     Can you write a poem today that uses your senses?  What do you see, smell, hear, feel and taste?  Happy writing.

DESERT WALK

Taking a walk
in the desert with you
I see things differently--
a new kind of true.

The quail scurry
the rabbit hops
I don't want this walk
to ever stop.

The birds are singing
a happy tune,
I look up to see
a daylight moon.

The sky seems even
bluer than blue
when I take a walk
in the dessert with you.


      Take a walk today and try writing a poem about the things you see, smell, hear and feel.  Have fun writing.

THE PEAR TREE

Spring is coming.
The pear tree blooms.
Each blossom lacy.
Its glory looms.
Each petal a snow flake
Falling in the breeze.
As small green fists
Push out on the trees.
The leaves on branches
In wonder they bring
Sounds of their coming
For birds of the spring.


    It has been an unusual week.  I took this picture on Tuesday when it was 73 degrees. On Wednesday we had snow, something almost unheard of in Tucson.
But my daffodils are showing yellow about ready to bloom.
    I hope your winter is almost over too.  Can you write a poem about the coming of spring?  What does spring mean to you?  Robins?  Paperwhites?  Violets?  Tree frogs singing?  Have fun writing your poem.

   Poetry Friday roundup is hosted this week by Sheri Doyle at sheridoyle.blogspot.com   Thank you, Sheri.  I enjoyed reading about your Dad.  My father-in-law had his 92nd birthday today.

THE SAND

He discovered grains, definitely
an unlimited supply at the beach.

He brushed it from his feet
though it caught between toes
and around nails like a raspberry seed
between teeth, so he kept sanding.

Worried away Moro Bay, sunsets
birth, adolescence, graduation.

Kept trying to rid himself of the tiny
grains, an hourglass dropping time.
Unable to clear them all, he smoothed
the rough edges, like sandpaper.

     This is a free verse poem.  What images do you see in this poem?  today can you write your own poem that develops an image?  Have fun.

THE MAN WHO NEVER SMILES

I'm going to visit a man today
who keeps his smiles locked away.

He stores smiles up, won't let them out
his face forever wears a pout.

To get a smile, he wants you to pay.
He says they're saved for a rain day.

I'm skipping off to tickle him
to see if I can get a grin.

I plan to visit for a while
until I see him start to smile.

I'll bust out those smiles, set them free.
I'll give one to you and giggle with glee.


    The inspiration for today's poem came from TODAY I WILL, A YEAR OF QUOTES, NOTES, AND PROMISES TO MYSELF by Eileen and Jerry Spinelli.
    Do you know someone who never smiles?  Why are they unhappy?  What can you do to give them a smile?  I hope today has you smiling.  What ever you do, don't save your smiles, share them with everyone you see today.  Can you write a poem today about someone you gave one of your smiles to? 

HEY!

Mantra for a Tuesday afternoon.

Get your act together.
Do you have a plight?
Just sit your bum in that chair
and write, write, write.


   OK, not great.  But it is a little poem, a very little poem, and it does express how I'm feeling today.  I really, really need to get some work done.  I've been busy with everything but my writing.  I bet you have days like that too.  Can you write a very short poem today about how you are feeling?

There are times when
I feel 
Rather sluggish, and
Energy 
Deprived.


    Try an acrostic if you're having trouble getting started.

Purple Finch

Two purple finch
sat on a telephone line,
said one to the other,
"Oh I opine
that today
will be 
sunny and fine."

Said the second finch
to the first,
"I think this weather
is the worst--
desert living
is a curse."

"Ah," said the first finch,
"it all depends
on where your happiness
begins and ends. 
I know I can make this
a very good day,
but I will allow you
to have your say."
 
  Oh my goodness, that does need work, but I had so much fun thinking about the conversation between the two finch sitting on the wire this morning.  The bright purple male, who is really red, probably was saying "Hey, Honey want to come check out my nest?"  It is definitely that time around our house where all the animals are pairing up.  Can you write a poem today that is a conversation between two of something?  What do you think your shoelace would have to say to your shoe?  Could your spoon have something to say to your morning oatmeal?  What would a washrag say to your face, or your ears?  I know you can have fun with this prompt.  If you'd like to share your poem, please leave it in the comments below.

Sunday

Today the sky is talking to me.
Here are some of the things I see:
Thin white feather clouds,
Contrail from an airplane,
A hawk swooping and soaring,
A humming bird zipping by,
And blue, blue, blue of sky
illuminated by the sun.


     Does your sky talk to you?  What is it saying today?  I hope you Sunday is as sunny as mine.  Can you find time to write your own poem today?  (I almost didn't have time!)  Have a great day.

TRIOLET for Fairies

Based on two lines of poetry by Rose Fyleman

There are fairies at the bottom of our garden.

They often have a dance on summer nights.

Have you seen them there, do you reckon?

There are fairies at the bottom of our garden.

When you hear them, please beg their pardon.

Wee folk hate to be seen by star light.

There are fairies at the bottom of our garden.

They often have a dance on summer nights.

    I had so much fun writing the triolet for yesterday's post, I thought I'd try it again today.   Have a good weekend.  I hope you find time to write your own poem.

TRIOLET based on a Natalie Goldberg Quote

Follow what you love.
It will take you where you need to go.
Notice every mourning dove
To follow what you love.
Look to the stars above
To show you what they know.
Follow what you love.
It will take you where you need to go.



     I'm working with another form this week--the Triolet, a French form.  (Pronounced TREE-o-lay) This is an 8 line form with two end rhymes.
The first line is repeated again in the fourth and seventh lines.  Then all you need is two other lines --the third and fifth--to rhyme with the end word of the first line.
     The second line is repeated as the eighth line, and line six needs to rhyme with this.
      So if I made a chart for the triolet, it would look like this:

     Line 1.     A1
     Line 2.     B1
     Line 3.     A
     Line 4.     A1
     Line 5.     A
     Line 6.     B
     Line 7.     A1
     Line 8.     B1


     With all the repetition, this is a fairly easy poem to write.  My problem is always finding the right first two lines.  So, I took a quotation from Natalie Goldberg,  "Follow what you love, and it will take you where you need to go."


     Just for fun, let me see if I can do this again with another quotation, this time from Mother Teresa.

It is not how much we do,
But how much love we put into doing.
Everything we work through,
It is not how much we do
That creates a life that's true.
Work is not what keeps us going
It is not how much we do,
But how much love we put into doing.

    Hmmm, I think that one is a success too.  Both of these quotes came from a deck of cards SWEET DREAMS: 36 Bedtime Wishes by Cooper Edens and Sheryl Abrams, published by Chronicle Books.  These cards are designed to be left on a child's pillow at bed time.

   Your challenge this week is to try writing your own triolet.  You are welcome to leave your poem in the comments.  Have fun trying this form.

    Poetry Friday is hosted by  TeacherDance this week.  Linda, thank you for hosting.

    As an extra bonus you might like to try writing a Valentine for your favorite book character.  See yesterday's Valentine post.

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY

Here are some Valentine rhymes for book characters.

To Harry Potter.
You really are swell.
My Valentine for you
is a secret spell.


For Horton the Elephant
Here's what I've sent,
A friend who is faithful
100%.


For Ferdinand the Bull
this Valentine Day,
I'm sending you
a flowery lei.


For the French girl, Madeline
a very special Valentine--
a package of drawing chalk
for drawing straight lines.
on the sidewalk.


      Now it is your turn.  Can you write a Valentine verse for your favorite character?  I had fun writing these verses.  I hope you have fun with yours.  Please share your creation in the comments below.

Valentine

I'll make you a card
for Valentines,
Red ribbons and yarn
and maybe twine.
I'll write upon it,
Will you be mine?
when I make you a card
for Valentines.

    Do not ask me why I'm feeling so lazy today.  Maybe it has to do with the four books I checked out from the library yesterday.  Can you write a valentine to your favorite character  from a book?  Post your poem in the comments and tomorrow we can try for a poetry party.

CUPCAKES

One cupcake, a delight.
Two cupcakes, pink and white.
Three cupcakes, for you and me,
Four cupcakes, are just enough.
Five cupcakes, now I'm stuffed.


     Can you guess what I've been doing this morning while I think about a poem to write?  Can you write your own poem about a dessert you like today?

WINTER COLD

Tonight it might freeze.
The citrus trees
Could loose their leaves.
Could lose the fruit too.
What to do?

To keep  the trees
Away from harm,
We put lights on
To make them warm.

Then for more heat
And lots more drama
We dressed the trees
In pink pyjamas.


     This was a fun poem to write because at first I had a hard time finding a rhyming word for pyjamas.  At first I thought about moving that word, so it wasn't my end word.  But, the pyjamas is the whole point of the poem and it really needed to be the final word.  So I went to my rhyming dictionary and there were several options.  Can you write a poem today about what you do to keep warm?  Have fun.

Big Bear Hug

Toes tap.
Fingers snap.
Knuckles rap.
Hands clap.
Arms flap.
Wrap around you
In a Big Bear Hug.


     This is an action poem.  Can you act out the lines?  Now have fun trying to write your own action poem.  What actions do you want to include?

MONKEY IN MY BACKPACK

There's a monkey in my backpack
     and he's trying to get out.
There's a monkey in my backpack
     and he's wiggling all about.
There's a monkey in my backpack
    and he's jumping all about.
There's a monkey in my backpack.
    Can you hear him shout?
     LET ME OUT!


      This poem can be read in two voices with everyone joining together on the last line.  Young children can act out the jumping and wiggling.  Everyone can join together in shouting the last line.  Can you write your own poem today about what you put in your backpack?  Have fun.  Here's wishing you a GREAT weekend.

Quail, Almost Villanelle

Quail bob across the road, scurrying to and fro.

Sun is out as they rush about, little for them to fear.

They eat all along the way, tasting as they go.

We watch head feathers dip, wonder what they know.

Little chicks trail behind, follow in the rear.

Quail bob across the road, scurrying to and fro.

Sun keeps rising higher, desert life's a show.

Mother quail calling, her clicking can you hear?

They eat all along the way, tasting as they go.

Scratching seeds, we watch the young chicks grow,

and listen to their coo-coo ringing in our ear.

Quail bob across the road, scurrying to and fro.

A hawk sees feathers bob in the sunlit glow.

Chaos as the covey breaks, dashing like a deer.

Quail bob across the road, scurrying to and fro.

They eat all along the way, tasting as they go.

     I've been working on poems for the very young all week and felt like I wanted to try something a little harder to flex a little poetic muscle, so I pulled out my HANDBOOK OF POETIC FORMS.  The Villanelle is the penultimate form listed in that book.  (Since I'm left-handed, I often start reading books from the back.)  I have the rhyme pattern for this form down.  Now I need to do some more polishing to get the line lengths right, and I need to find another word to use instead of so many bob's.  I'm open to your suggestions.

What forms do you like to try?  Can you name the form for the poem you'll write today?  

   Have fun writing and I hope you have a great weekend.  Stay warm.

   The POETRY FRIDAY Roundup is at A TEACHING LIFE today.  Thanks for hosting all the children's poets.

RIBBET, RIBBET

Ribbet, Ribbet,
    Sings a frog,
While he sits
     Upon a log.

He watches, listens
     and he sighs--
Out darts his tongue,
     Zapping flies.
         Ahhh!


     I had a grand time last night playing with some pastels my sister gave to me.
What do you think of my silly frog?  This poem uses onomatopoeia.  Can you write your own poem with onomatopoeia?  Have fun.

WEDNESDAY WALK

High in the ocotillo
sits a small hummingbird,
cheery, singing, tiny fellow,
he calls out this happy word--
              CHEEP


      The birds are definitely becoming more active.  Besides all our desert doves, I saw several phainopepla this morning and a hawk swooped to sit on top of the telephone pole.  All the small birds scattered.  While I was eating my lunch yesterday, I heard a roadrunner.  My cactus wren is being quite noisy, too.   What is your favorite bird?  Can you write a poem about birds? 

Tuesday Morning--Writing

This morning as I sit here
my paper and pen idle
on the table.
I watch out my window.
See two rabbits
leaping over one another,
jumping, darting
around the creosote bush
happily dashing into each other
and I pick up my pen to
dash and leap
writing a poem for today.

     What do you see when you look out your window?  Can you write a poem about that today?

Monday Morning--Seeking

Watching the dark nest holes
in the Saguaro cactus
a small white head bobs
perhaps a cactus wren chick,
head raised, mouth open,
seeking someone to feed it,
like the arms of the cactus
arms raised,seeking 
heavenly blessings.

     Oh, did we have a beautiful sunrise today.  The sky in the east was an Indian blanket of roses.  What do you see outside your window?  Can you write a poem about that?  Here is wishing you a great Monday.

SPRING

Spring is coming.
What a thrill.
Nary a shadow
for Punxsutawney Phil.

This was the headline from yesterday:

Groundhog Day 2013: 'Punxsutawney Phil' Predicts Early Spring

     I hope you are ready for an early spring.  I certainly am.  How about writing a poem about spring today.

LIBRARY MINUTE

Late at night in the library
no one's  here but
the cat Dewey
who keeps the watch.

The books are shelved, the lights are dim
empty book carts, 
there's only him
walking the stacks.

Hold shelf packed with reserved books,
computers off,
every where looks
set for morning.


     Thanks to all my librarian friends for the inspiration for this minute poem. I recently read the non-fiction book DEWEY, about Dewey Readmore Books, the library cat from Spencer, Iowa.  What are you currently reading?  What are your favorite books?  Can you write a poem today about a book?  Try a minute.

Moon Minute

     I enjoy writing minute poems.  This form has 60 syllables broken into 3 stanzas.  Each stanza has 8 syllables in the first line, then 4 syllables in each of the next 3 lines.  This works out to 20 syllables in each of the three stanzas, or a total of 60 syllables in the whole poem, hence the name of a "minute" poem. 

The sun sinks to bring on the night

big moon shines bright

from a low height--

an awesome sight.

Such beauty is, without a doubt

something to shout

about –Moon's out

glowing light spout.

Now it is the end of the day,

I'm on my way,

coyotes bray,

Good Night, hooray.

      Can you try writing your own minute poem?  Have fun.