This Poem

has tremendous potential.
It might
      make a new friend,
      or find a lover,
      stop a baby from crying,
      win votes,
       create laughter,
       inspire wisdom,
       stop a war,
       bring tears and make memories,
       build dreams,
       or put you to sleep,
  and possibly this poem
  can change lives.







This poem is a list poem based on the line "This poem has tremendous potential." What other things might a poem do?  Can you try writing your own list poem?  Have fun writing.

LIZARDS

One alligator lizard
resting in the sun
wonders where the others are
off having fun.

Two collard lizards
climbing on the wall
with long thin fingers
they don't fall.

Three whipped tail lizards
race around the mesquite tree
chasing each other's tail
they entertain me.

Four striped lizards
dash over rocks
find one to hide beneath
away from circling hawks.

Night Haiku

A new moon tonight
makes stars and planets shine bright--
wishing on Venus



    Can you write a haiku about the night sky? 

GET WELL

I have a friend
who is sick.
I'll make him a card--
"Get Well Quick."
Then I'll send it
off today
and hope that soon
he'll come to play.

     Sorry to be so late, but I spent the day with a sick friend.  Can you write a poem about being sick today?  Have fun writing.

morning haiku

pale pink light sunrise
over the Sarita Mountains
another Thursday

haiku

Crickets chirp calling
on a starry desert night
bats circle above

My, Oh My, Oh My!

A bunny hops along the road,
a squirrel scuttles by,
a quail bobs to the other side.
My, oh my, oh my!


     This is what I saw on my walk today.  Did you take a walk?  What did you see today?  Can you write a poem about it?  Have fun writing your poem.

I FOUND A FEATHER

I found this little feather
I'm sending on to you
to put beneath your pillow
to make your dreams come true.


     I've been finding more feathers on my morning walks.  I usually pick them up and put them in my pocket while I think about the bird dropping a feather.  Have you ever considered how far a feather might travel? I'm getting quite a feather collection.  What is something you collect?  Can you write a poem about that today?  Have fun.  Isn't summer time great for writing poetry?

ANOTHER WISH

I wish I were a butterfly
a flitting through the sky,
then I would come to visit you
and make your dreams come true.

     Hey, I've changed the rhyming pattern.  This quatrain verse is written in couplets.  I hope you are having a great Sunday.  Can you find time to write a couplet today?  How about something with wishes or dreams?  Think big and have fun writing.  Happy poetry.

I WISH

I wish I were
a soccer player
kicking the ball
upon the grass
and if you kicked
the ball to me
I promise
I will pass.


     I'm still having fun writing "I wish..." poems.  It is Saturday and I'm watching the World Cup soccer games, so this is what you get.  Would you like to try writing your own soccer poem?  Have a great weekend.

WHO ARE YOU ?

I wish I were an old empty trash can
then I could hold your discarded first drafts
and I could be a part of your journey
as you learn your children's poetry craft.

I'd love to see the rhymes you have chosen
and all the silly things that you can do
in your writing of verses for children
to make their days joyous for me and you.


     Happy Poetry Friday.  I hope it is a good one for you.  Yesterday on my morning walk, I was listening to Paul Simon on my MP3 player.  Punky's Dilema came on and I was struck by the words:
Wish I was an English muffin
‘Bout to make the most out of a toaster
I’d ease myself down
Comin’ up brown
I prefer boysenberry
More than any ordinary jam
I’m a “Citizens for Boysenberry Jam” fan....
you can read the words to the whole song here. 
The song starts with "Wish I was a Kellog's cornflake."  Do his lyrics get much more corny than that?

   I've always admired Simon's ability to use original, often silly lines in his songs.  I thought "I wish I was..." would make a great opening line for a poem.
And as I thought about it, I remembered the Oscar Meyer ad that used the same
beginning--Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weiner
that is what I'd really like to be

So, here is your poetry challenge for today.
Start with the "I wish I was _______________________."  You fill in the blank and go form there.

I wish I were your old dirty running shoe
then we could race along the dusty trail.
And I could take you to the mountain top
and we could keep on running without fail.

I wish I were a little rain drop
falling down from out of a white cloud
and I could help to make your rainbow
with all my colors bright and loud .

I wish I were a bright red cardinal
singing songs, I'd do my best
to feed worms to the baby birds
that I've hatched within my nest.

Now it is your turn.  What is the first thing you think of to fill in that blank?  Please leave your ideas in the comments, I'd love to see what you come up with.The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Jone Mac  this week.  You can find more poetry at her blog Check It Out. Jone, Thank you for hosting us this week.  What other party games would you like to play at the Roundup?

The Poetry Friday.

HAIKU

roadrunner dashes
lizard in his mouth
what a miracle



    Some days it is really awesome living in the desert.  On my walk this morning I saw a little tea cup sized cotton tail.  Just as I was about to say something to my husband about seeing it, another adult rabbit hopped right after the first one. 

What did you see today?  Can you write a haiku about it?  Have fun writing.

COUNTING POEM

One, two,
what ya gonna do?

Three, four,
I'm not going to take it any more!

Five, six,
it's hotter than the River Styx.

Seven, eight,
I can hardly wait.

Nine, ten
for the rains to begin.


We're getting a small break in the weather, it is only supposed to get to 99 degrees today.  Yahoo!  Can you try writing your own counting poem today?  Imagine you're traveling by car and you can write about the things you see.  Or, think about cleaning out one of your dresser drawers.  Have fun writing.

HAIKU

More clouds gathering

in the Sonora desert

no rain, one more day

   I thought our heat was going to break today, but it didn't.  And the weather forcast in the paper for this week lists the chance of rain at 0% for every day listed.  I'm waiting to see if the one day of 99 degrees (our first break in triple digit weather in three weeks,) really happens.

    Can you write a haiku about the weather around your place, or perhaps you'd like to try a limerick?  Have fun writing.

MY YOYO

My yoyo is a marvelous thing
it climbs up and down
on its yoyo string.
I roll my yoyo
to stay in the deep,
I've taught my yoyo
how to sleep.
I toss my yoyo out
Around the World,
my yoyo can whirl,
my yoyo can twirl.
Sometimes I do 
make a mistake
the string starts to fray
and then it breaks.
So,
if you come to play yoyos
there is one thing
you can bring
it is a pocket
of extra
yoyo string.



Still, we've had no rain.
Still, the temperature is above 100 today.
Still hot winds blow
and the best way
to keep cool
is to be still.

It is so hot..., can you write your own hot or wet or dry poem today.  Just have fun writing.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

For Fathers Day
Dad will get his wish
because my dad and I
both love to fish.

Out on the lake
we'll take the boat
throw in our lines
to watch bobbers float.

Doesn't matter if we catch fish
or how bad is the weather
the best thing about fishing
is we are together.

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads.

Can you write your own tribute poem to your Dad or Grandpa?  What is the best thing about him?  What do you like to do with him?  Is your dad a hero to you?  Why?  Have fun writing.

SUNRISE

to the east

Sunrise
to the east
angry red awakening

Birds chatter
doves fly
saguaro to saguaro

In the west
still visible
full moon
in a too blue sky

to the west

   Happy Flag Day.  I learned this morning that flag day was started by a teacher Bernard J. Cigrand in 1885.  He gave his students an essay to write on the meaning and importance of our flag.  This was to commemorate the June 14, 1777 adoption by Congress of the Stars and Stripes in the Flag Resolution of 1777.
I also learned that the state of Arizona has had five flags flying over Tucson--Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, the United States, and the Arizona state flag.  How many flags have flown over your state?  Can you write a flag poem today?
Have fun writing.

On a field of blue
50 white stars stand
each like a brave soldier
with a gun in his hand.

To protect and defend
these United States
as we try to remember
historical dates.

Thirteen stripes shine
in white and red
for the first states
and to honor the dead.

This is our flag
long may it wave.
As we celebrate Flag Day
and the heroes so brave.

HAPPY FLAG DAY

Polar Bear

Polar Bear
on an ice floe      the moon is shining bright.
                                     
Polar Bear
on an ice floe     his coat drips wet and white.

Polar Bear
on an ice floe      catches fish with his paws.

Polar Bear
on an ice floe      eats seals with his claws.

Polar Bear
on an ice floe      he's hungry as can be.

Polar Bear
on an ice floe      I hope he doesn't see me.



     This is a poem for two voices.  Can you try writing our own poem for two voices today?  Have fun writing.

     The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Catherine Johnson this week.  Hop over to her blog for more poetry fun.  Have a great Friday the Thirteenth.

SOON MONSOONS

Hot winds
bounce thin branches
of the mesquite tree.
For lack of rain,
the paloverdes
have lost all their
tear drop leaves.
Date palms flap
and everyone,
everyone waits
for monsoons--
soon monsoons.
Please hurry.

 

 

 

Paloverde trees without leaves, notice the clouds gathering in the background.

  The Paloverde tree has green stems and leaves.  The bark of the tree can photosynthesize.  In the hot weather the tree loses it's leaves so it won't lose moisture through the leaves.

Green twigs on the Paloverde

The leaves are like tiny little tear drops.

All photos, copyright 2014 by Joy Acey

Your challenge for today is to write a poem about your favorite plant.  Have fun writing.

DOTS

I am the dot
in the polka-dot.
I am the spot
on your dog.
I am the round typanum
you can find on a frog.

   I wrote this poem because I liked the phrase, dot in the polka dot.  Lately that is how I've been feeling, one among a mass of similar looking spots.  I wondered what I could do to make myself stand out in the crowd.  Then this morning I found out that the author of Spot the Dog books, Eric Hill had died.  When my youngest was 4 years old we would sing, "Spot, Spot, wonderful Spot.  Sometimes he's good and sometimes he's not." The theme song to the British TV series. My son named our Welsh Springer Spaniel SPOT.  He is now 15 years old, and still occasionaly sings--a trick my son taught him.
     So then my poem became about round things.  What are some round things you can think of?  Can you add another verse to this silly poem?  Have fun writing.

haiku

Desert heat rises
rivulets above the road
a lizard races

    How hot is it?  So hot the lizards don't put their feet down on the pavement. 
Have you ever been barefoot at the beach and raced across the hot sand to the water?  Can you write your own haiku today?  I hope you are having fun writing everyday.
   I had to look up how to spell rivulets and discovered that this is another word that can be pronounces with two or three syllables.  I'm starting my list of words like that, cardinal is another word that can be pronounced with two or three syllables. 
Do you know others?  This is tricky when you are writing a syllabic poem like a haiku, a fib, or a minute poem.

BUNNY JUMP!

A little flea jumps
one bunny ear 
across to another.

Whee!

She flies across 
the bunny ears
looking for her brother.

    Can you write a poem today about donkey ears?

MAGIC FEATHER

I have a magic feather for you,
make a wish, and your wish,
will come true.

Hold the feather,
you must believe,
then magical wisdom
you'll receive.


     If you owned a magical feather, what would you wish for?  Can you write a poem about that today?  Have fun writing.

FALLING FEATHERS

 When a gila woodpecker
loses a feather,
he doesn't wail,
cry or moan.

He knows losing feathers
makes room
for new feathers
to be grown.

So when I lose
I should not cry
new opportunities
are coming,
by and by.


     I found this feather on my walk today.  Have you ever seen a feather before that had both stripes and dots on the same feather?  What is something unusual you have seen today?  Can you write a poem about that?  Have fu

Poetry Box

Happy Friday
Happy Poetry Round Up.
I've been making Poetry Boxes this week.

I've been repurposing Altoid boxes, but any small box will do if you want to try making your own.  The green box is a little plastic lunch box I bought for fifty cents.

Inside the box I included a small poem.

I added paper and a pen to the box and it is all ready to go in a pocket or purse to be handy when the muse strikes or you get stuck in a line or office waiting.

I did have a longer poem I wrote first, but I think this shorter poem works better.

Here is the longer poem.

POETRY BOX

If you have woes
during a stressful time
pick up this pen
and jot a rhyme.

For poetry chases
your troubles away
and writing will
improve you day.


So what do you think?  Which poem do you like better?  Thank you for your help.

Now, for a fun challenge.  Today is National Doughnut Day.  Can you write a poem about doughnuts?  Here is mine:

DOUGHNUTS

I like doughnuts.
round ones,
square ones,
and the bar ones.

Glazed and powdered,
frosted and dusted
jellied ones
and those that are crusted.

Bear claw or buttermilk,
fried or baked.
I even like the holes
of doughnut cakes.

Shake on cinnamon,
almonds or sprinkles
eating doughnuts
gives my eyes twinkles.

My only problem,
I made a mistake.
I ate so many
my belly aches.
   
     The Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted today by Carol over at Carol's Corner.  Head on over for more poetry fun on Friday.  Thanks Carol, for hosting a great party.

SUMMER 2014

Summer arrives
and it's HOT.
Leaves wilt,
Saguaro blossoms
last less than a day.

The doves, pigeons
and the quail
scope out swimming pools
to watch and drink.

The gila woodpecker
takes his fill
and the hummingbird feeder.

Lizards laze on walls
and even search for cracks
in the doors to catch
a cool breeze
from the air conditioning.


     It is 108 degrees today.  We're all counting the length of triple digit days.  This is a free verse poem that describes life in the desert.  Can you write your own poem about what the weather is like in your part of the world?  Do have fun writing.
    I've been having fun making poetry boxes this week.  I'll explain tomorrow.  I also read that tomorrow in National Doughnut Day, so I'd better work on a poem for that.  Yum!  I'm hungry just thinking about it.

THE GIFT OF SLEEP

The gift of sleep
comes with down pillows,
soft cotton sheets,
and dreams of fairies
flying through willows.
  

    This poem started because I liked the idea of a gift of sleep.  Can you try writing your own dream poem today?

Summer is here.
It's getting hot.
I'm glad the pool
opens at 9 on the dot.

    Is it hot enough for you?  Can you write a poem today about being hot.


I know you like me,
when I'm hot.
I am a pancake.
I hit the spot.

A WORLD FULL OF B'S

Suppose the world
was all full of bees.
There'd be buzzing and bumbling
in all of the trees.

A bandanna wearing buffalo 
would play a banjo tune,
while Belugas and baboons
blow bubbles at the moon.

And an itty-bitty baby bear
hip-hops and bops in his chair
while a badger, none too soon,
plays a big, long, black bassoon.

Oh life would reveal so many mysteries
if the world was filled with all these B's.

    I think the summer heat is getting to me.  It was 107 again today, and can you guess what the predicted temperature is for tomorrow?  This poem is a riff on the letter B, can you pick your own letter and write a poem with lots of that letter?  Have fun.

haiku

A Gambel's quail struts
on the fence rail looking out
at vast desert sands.


     Boy howdy, is it warm today.  Our temperature is about 108, summer is definitely here in Tucson.  Can you write a short poem today about the temperature in your place?  Have a fun day writing.