SATURDAY MORNING

Woke up this morning
there on my deck
a snake was sleeping
and causing heck.

The dog was barking,
the cat hissed to say,
Wake up, Mr. Snake.
Please slither away.

SEA, SEA

Sea, Sea,
what do I see
swimming down here
in the deep blue sea?

A whale, a whale
is what I see,
swimming down here
in the deep blue sea.

Minnows,minnows
are what I see
swimming down here
in the deep blue sea.

Shells, shells
are what I see
on the sand
in the deep blue sea.


     This poem is a fun one for making a poetry game for young children learning about the ocean.  Children can take turns naming something they can see in the ocean to make the next verse.  Is it kelp, a jellyfish, shark, lobster, crabs,  or some other treasure?  There are certainly enough possibilities that every child can have a chance to play and the rest of the class can fill in the other lines. 
     This poem also introduces homophones--two (or more) words that sound alike but have different spelling and meanings.  Sea and see, sound the same but have different meanings.  Can you write a poem today that includes a homophone?  Have fun writing.

    Happy Poetry Friday.  Tara at A Teaching Life is hosting us all for the Friday Poetry Roundup.   Thanks, Tara.  And thank you for sharing the lovely William Blake poem about the end of summer THE SCHOOLBOY with us.

SELFISH SNOT

His elbow jabbed me
in the ribs.
He told me he was
calling dibs.

Upon the pear
I thought was mine.
I didn't think
his jab was fine.

I didn't think his jab
was kind.
I thought I'd share
some of my mind.

I wondered what
I should say
to let him know
he'd NOT get his way.

And jabbing elbows is not wise.
We need to learn to compromise. 

And with thisyellow, juicy pear
perhaps, he and I 
could learn to share.

THE COLOR PINK

"Pink," she said.
With the softness of clouds
the fragrance of sweet peas,
the taste of warm watermelon.

Pink, the kindest of colors,
a flamingo dunking
to grasp a shrimp,
or the almost white
of galahs.

Pink is forgiveness
in soothing tones,
the soft nap of baby's blanket.

Pink wipes tears
from the cheeks
of the mean reds.


   Can you write your own color poem today?  What does the color make you thin of?  what music goes with your color?  Have fun writing your poem.

USE SUN BLOCK

The sun is beating
on my arm.
I need UV protection
to keep me from harm.

I spread sun block
all over the place
and put a double dose
on my face.


    What safety precautions do you take when you go out doors?  When you are camping?  When you go swimming?  Can you write a poem about one of the things you do to be safe?  Have fun writing.

MONDAY MORNING SLOG

Some mornings 
I don't want
to get up at all.
Back in my bed,
I want to crawl.

It is then
that I plaster
a smile on my face.
I get up, get dressed
and join the human race.


     Do you ever have mornings when you don't want to get up?  What would you do if you could spend the whole day in bed?  Can you write an ode to your bed today?  Enjoy your writing.

HOW THE WHALE FELT

Oh, dear! What should I do?
I opened my mouth
and a boat with Jonah
came in too.

A boat and Jonah,
I should note
are stuck
down there
inside my throat.

Oh, dear!  What can I say?
I've coughed and coughed
but they won't go away.

Oh, dear! I feel quite ill.
No matter my effort,
they're stuck there still.

Oh, dear! I don't want 
Jonah for a guest.
With him in my throat
I can not rest.

Oh, dear! On keeping them
I'm not too keen,
I like food filtered
through my baleen.

Oh, dear!  I'm surely stuck.
that wooden boat
is my bad luck.

Oh, dear! I can't take much more.
My throat is raw
and very sore.

Oh, dear! I don't want to pout.
Can you tell me
how to get them out?


      This is a poem that works well for a group reading.  The group can repeat the refrain of, "Oh dear!" or members of the group can be given separate lines.  Can you try writing you own poem with a repeated line today? 

Piazza Pigeons

Pigeons in the piazza
billow and coo
walking round churches
looking what to do.

They scurry from
the tourists' feet.
Looking for seed
and food to eat.

They grab the seed
from tourist hands,
flap their wings
acting grand.

Pigeons know
just what to do
to supply
memories for you.

     Can you write a poem about something you experienced on your summer vacation?  Have fun writing.

SUNFLOWERS

Fields upon fields
of sunflowers bright.
Rows upon rows
of yellow light.
Stretching
toward the bright sun,
Vincent Van Gogh's delight.


      What is your favorite kind of flower?  Can you write a poem about that today.  How do you think you'd feel if you were a bee and came upon a whole field of sunflowers?  Have fun writing.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted by Betsy at http://ithinkinpoems.blogspot.it/2013/08/poetry-friday-is-here.html today Thanks, Betsy for a great party!

VIEW FROM THE TRAIN WINDOW

Grapes hanging
on a vine.
Growing plump,
looking fine.
Soon to be picked,
pressed into wine.
Sounds to me
like something divine.


     I hope you are having a good week with your writing.  Have you ever made grape jelly?  The rich smell of the jam fills the house.  The steam fills the air.  The thick liquid poured into clear glass jelly jars creates beautiful gems.  What is your favorite flavor of jelly or jam?  Can you write a poem about that today?  Maybe you'd like to make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to munch on while you are working.  (We all need inspiration.)  Have fun writing.

TRAVELING

I've traveled to Italy.
I've visited Rome.
The place I like best
is one I call home.

   If you could travel any where, where would you go?  Can you write a poem about that today?

ADVICE

I have a simple suggestion
To put a smile on your face,
Use your imagination .
The world is an amazing place.


Can you write a poem today about your imagination?

BARREL CACTUS

Barrel Cactus, Joy Acey, Aug. 2013

In the desert it's raining.
The thunder BOOMS.
But in the morning
the barrel cactus blooms.

The flowers are glossy ,
yellow and red,
so I'm happy if I see
a thunder head.


     Most of the time the barrel cacti are just big lumps of spines.  Some have pretty yellow spines, like on golden barrel cacti.  But when we have monsoon rains every plant and animal feels like it better reproduce fast or they will miss their window of opportunity.  What is blooming around you?  Can you write a poem describing a plant you know?  Have fun thinking about all the things you know about the plant.
Does your plant have a name?  Enjoy writing your poem.

It Rained

On my way home
from my cancelled
swim meet,
hundreds of lizards
were in the street.

They came out
in a blink
to the road
to get a drink.


     Living in the desert, it is always interesting to see what the monsoon rains bring.  Last evening there were hordes of lizards and birds gathering on the pavement.  I remember as a child that this kind of weather would drive thousands of crickets into the streets.  The crickets would gather in the light in front of stores.  The store owners would put out sulphur to kill the crickets.   It smelled like rotten eggs.  You could hear the crunching sound of crickets being crushed by cars in the street.
    Have you had any rain lately?  What changes do you notice?  Can you write a poem about the changes rain brings?  Have fun writing.

HUSH PUPPY

Hush Puppy, Hush Puppy,
Don't howl to be fed.
Here is a piece
of hot, fried corn bread.


     I'm thinking about a series of very short poems about all things Southern.  Can you write your own poem about something in your region?  What does it mean to be from the Midwest?  What does the North West have that is missing in other states?  Is your state known for bragging?  Try writing a poem about it today.  Have fun.

Camping

Let's go camping,
sleep in a tent.
We'll stay up all night
till our energy is spent.

Just me and my dog
and my best friend James.
No TV.
No computer.
No video games.

We'll tell ghost stories
and play games with cards.
We'll recite silly poems.
We're the tent camping bards.

New Pencil

My new pencil
writes very well.
It punctuates 
and it can spell.


My new pencil
writes wonderful tales
to take me on adventures.
It never fails.

MY TOYS

My favorite doll
is an action figure
I put her in water
and she grows bigger.

My favorite doll
has lace socks.
She comes to school
in my lunch box.

My favorite doll
has a feather fan.
She sleeps in a bed
I made from a can.

My favorite doll
is getting fat.
She is hiding out
beneath my hat.

My favorite doll
has a dress that's red.
Now she is sitting
on top of my bed.

My favorite doll
likes to run and jog.
She is resting
beside my dog.

I can't find my doll.
Oh, what should I do?
There she is hiding
next to my shoe.

LEARNING TO RIDE

I lean to the left.
I tilt to the right.
Learning to ride
may cause me some fright.

I'll keep on practising.
I know I'll be great.
But first I must learn
to steer my bike straight.



     Can you write your own poem today that includes a bicycle or another form of transportation?  What ever you do, have fun.  Maybe you can write about your bicycle that has special powers.  Or write about using bicycle parts to make a machine.

Riding to School

Meet me on our yellow school bus.
We can take a ride.
We will look for seats together
sitting side by side.


     If you rode a school bus today, who would you want to be sitting in the seat next to you?  Can you write a poem about that?  Have fun.

First Day of School

I have paper and pencils
and new crayons too.
I have a new backpack.
It's color is blue.

I have a new notebook
that I think is cool.
I think I am ready
for the first day of school.

Who Is Home?

(original art by Joy Acey, all rights reserved)

When eating an apple
try not to squirm
if the bite you have taken
is home for a worm.

     Gosh, this is the second worm poem I've written in a week.  Can you write your own poem about a creature that lives under ground?  Have fun.