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.

Monday, March 31, 2014

LAST DAY OF MARCH

Here I am
silly old me;
watching the birds
happy as can be.


  I hope your day is happy too.  Tomorrow starts National Poetry Month--a whole month to celebrate all things poetry.  That makes me REALLY happy.  What makes you happy?  Can you write about being happy for your poem today?  Have fun.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

SPRINGTIME

Springtime,
I gather to me
happiness of bird song,
joy of coyote yip,
gladness of green,
and all the greatness 
of yellow blooming.
I open my heart wide
to the hope for a bright
and jubilant future--
a fresh and new
beginning.


   Use your five senses today to make a list of things you see, hear, smell feel and taste about spring.  Can you use your list to write your own poem?  Have fun.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

haiku

this early morning
along the black ribbon road
coyote races


     I don't often see a coyote during the day.  I hear them calling at night more often.  But I did see one today.  The moment it saw me, it took off running down the road trying to quickly get away.  I thought the event was worthy of a haiku. 
Can you find five minutes today to try writing your own haiku?  Have fun.

Friday, March 28, 2014

BUS RIDE

People cry,
    scream,
        and fuss
whenever I take
     my lion
          on the bus.

He doesn't bring
    his entire pride.
So why can't they share
    a simple bus ride?

They yell,
    they moan,
        they even shout.
They point at the door
     and say, GET OUT!


      Do you ever ride the bus?  What crazy characters do you see on your ride?
Planes, buses and trains--we often meet new people when were riding along.  But what if you were to meet an animal, or a robot.  Can you write a poem about who you'd meet?  Have fun writing.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

RUN RABBIT


Little rabbit
hopping in the desert
hops around the sage bush
hopping on quick feet.

Little rabbit
hopping in the desert
hops around the saguaro
looks for greens to eat.



    A rabbit hopped quickly past me on my walk this morning.  Our desert rabbits are very fast.  Spring is coming quickly.  I've seen more lizards and quail this week.  I even saw a dead snake on the road yesterday.  What changes are you seeing as spring approaches?  Can you write a poem about that?  Have fun writing. 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

UNCLE DAVE

My Uncle Dave is a pirate.
He's the nicest man I know.
He sails upon the seven seas
and watches whale spouts blow.

I love to have him visit
with all the things he brings.
He gives me golden dinner plates
and jewel encrusted rings.

He has a teal green parrot
that sits right by his ear.
It speaks in fifteen languages
to squawk loudly, Feed me, Dear!

Uncle Dave says when I'm older
it will be his pleasure
to take me off to sea with him
so we can hunt for treasure.


    What do you want to do when you grow up?  Can you write a poem about that today?  I ask that question, and all ready my brain is leaping to rhyme Nurse with worse, and night writer with fire fighter.  I think it might be better for me to write the poem without rhyming.  Oh, it is going to be a fun day for writing.  Enjoy.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

CRAZY FRED

Crazy Fred is stuck in bed
He can't get up today.
His belt is wrapped around the frame
and there he's forced to stay.

     I'm working on nonsense poems today.  This is the first verse to something I see as longer.  Crazy Fred is going to take his bed with him every where, like a turtle.  I've got more work to do, but I thought I'd share this verse with you.  Can you write your own silly poem with a made up character?  Let me see if I can help out a little.

Cousin Harry liked making magic.
That's how he lost his nose.

Oh my, Oh my,
Aunt Mildred's teeth
got stuck in the pie.

Uncle Bob has lost his job.
The pickle factory is shutting down.

You can use any of these lines for poem starters, or create your own.  Have a fun time writing your poem and being a little silly today.  It doesn't have to rhyme.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Blooming Trees

The trees are blooming
and there is a breeze.
Palo Verde flowers
are making me sneeze.

I take pills
so I don't wheeze
during this season
of allergies.


    Thank goodness, I don't have allergies, but I have friends who do.  This is not a good time of year for them.  When I lived in North Carolina and the pine trees would bloom, everything would receive a coat of yellow pollen.  If it rained, there would be a yellow river flowing in the gutters taking the rain away.
    Here is your poetry challenge for today.  Can you write a list poem about all the things that make you sneeze?  Have you ever sneezed when the sun light hit you directly in your eyes?  Boy, is that a good way to learn not to look directly at the sun.  Have fun writing your poem.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Sounds of Spring

The doves coo
as they dance 
around the birdbath.

The quail
click and chuckle
calling young ones
to hurry to them.

The windchime
tings 
a sweet melody.

The hummingbird
whirs and chatters
at the lemon blossoms.

The gila woodpecker
makes knocking sounds
as he bores more holes
in the old saguaro.

These are the sounds I hear
as I sing my own song
to rejoice
in the coming
of spring.

     What are the sounds that remind you of spring?  Basketballs bouncing?  Children flying kites?  Dogs barking?  Can you write your own sound poem today?  Have fun.  Happy Sunday.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Mice Aren't Nice!

What is that noise
I hear in my house?
It's a scurry.
It's a scraping.
It's a little gray mouse.

His nails are clicking
all over the floor.
I hear him knocking
at every wood door.

With a little gray tail
and noisy small feet,
I think he is looking
for something to eat.

I've set out traps.
I'm not being rude.
That little gray mouse
ate up all my food.


    It is that time of year.  The mice and packrats are having babies, so who knows where I'm going to find them next.  I'm always sad when I find one of them in my swimming pool.  Can you write a poem today about one of the pests around your house?  (And if you're moved to write about your little brother, that is OK too.)

Friday, March 21, 2014

Hawaiian Thank You

May I 
Always be
Happy
And grateful for
Love
Openly given.



     The Hawaiian word for thank you is mahalo.  Yesterday I had a friend call to talk about her gratitude rock.  She carries it in her pocket to remind herself to be thankful for all the beauty in her life and all the wondrous encounters she has.  I have another friend who makes a list every Sunday of all the things from the previous week she is thankful for.
    I'm thankful you have come to read my poem today.  Now that spring is here I feel like there are changes occuring in the universe and I'm so glad  we are a part of the changes.  So thank you.  Today's poem was written especially for you.  Your challenge for today is to write your own poem about thankfulness or gratitude.  Perhaps you'll want to try an acrostic poem too.
     Thank you for stopping by and now I'm off to go rock hunting.
     Happy Poetry Friday.  For more fun poems today hop over to  The Drift Record , Julie Larios is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.  Thanks, Julie, for all your work.  Great poetry party!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

It's Spring!

Spring arrives
and all the world is green,
each green is a green
unlike any other.
Announcing a new season
from the neon
of new little fists
held tightly on sleeping tree branches
fingers eager to unfurl;
to the dark green of tall saguaros,
and deep, dusky green of eucalyptus
each green unique as a fingerprint,
gathering into itself
the joy and sunshine
of celebrating Spring.


     Happy first day of spring.  I hope there isn't any snow where you are.  Your poetry challenge for today is to write your own spring poem.  What do you like to do during spring?  Fly a kite? Watch frogs?  What is your favorite thing about spring?  If Spring had advice for you, what would it be?  Have fun writing.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Pink Lemonade





Spring is coming,
what do I see?
Citrus blossoms
on my tree.

When I look
to my delight
the fruit and leaves
are green and white.

Cut open the lemons,
and what do you think?
The fruit on my tree
is lemonade pink.


     My lemon tree smells wonderful.  Every time I see fruit growing on the tree, I feel like I've got a special tree and the King of Spain's daughter is going to come and visit me--all for the sake of my little lemon tree.  Here is your challenge for today.  What is your favorite nursery rhyme?  Can you take that rhyme and re-write it to modernize the poem? 

I have a little lemon tree
and nothing will it bear
but some juicy lemons
for bees buzzing there.

When I cut it open
nothing can I see
but the pinky fruit
waiting there for me.

     Oh well, you get the idea.  What if you tried Humpty-Dumpty?  Have fun writing.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Almost Spring

Breathe.

Breathe.

Fill yourself
with the smells of Spring.

Become so light
you feel
as if
you can
fly.


     I was listening to music on my walk this morning and there was a phrase, "good things are coming your way."  It made me consider the good things that might happen to me today.  So here is your poetry challenge, make a list of good things that might be coming your way.  Can you use your list to write a list poem, or pick one thing and write about that.  Have fun thinking of good things.

Monday, March 17, 2014

A TIGER BY THE TAIL

Outside my window
a tiger whiptail lizard
climbs the garage wall,
pauses to do push ups,
rushes forward,
then stops in the sun.
He looks, left, then right,
blinks his eye
then scoots to the roof
to disappear from my sight.
There are days
I wish, I too
might rest in the sun
always moving upward.

     I bought a new reference book while I was at the Book Festival.   I used it for this poem.  LIZARDS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST edited by Lawrence Jones and Robert Lovich, is a photographic field guide I plan on using to help me identify all the different kinds of lizards around my house.  Using field guides is a great way to identify the birds, insects and plants in your part of the world.
    Your poetry challenge for today is to write a poem about something natural you can see.  Have fun writing.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

MY BOOK

Oh, look!
A good book.
Just what I need,
Something to read.
Not too gory,
an exciting story.
A dashing hero,
off he goes.
Fit and hale
for an exciting tale.
He does daring deeds.
I love to read.


    This is another "thinkie," the start of a poem, a draft.  I've been at the Sixth Annual Tucson Book Festival again today.  I attended several exciting workshops and got to hear several great children's authors read.  It was an exciting day.  So, I'm sorry this is late, but it has been a day I would call: feeding the pump.
Can you write your own poem today about something that makes you proud?

Saturday, March 15, 2014

MY NEW TEE

t-shirt with Poetry Friday Anthology for Science cover





Hey look at me!
I have a brand new tee.
Book cover on the front,
a poem on the back.
It doesn't get
much better than that.


I hope you have a great Saturday.  I'm off to the sixth Tucson Festival of Books.  My newspaper says there will be approximately 450 authors there.  WOW! 
I'm planning to have lots of fun.  I'll be reading science poems at 1:00 with Juanita Havill and Ken Slesarik. 

It is the middle of March, we'll have a full moon on Sunday.  Has this been a cruel month, or a fun, busy one for you?  Can you write your own MARCH poem today?  Have fun.

Friday, March 14, 2014

HAPPY POETRY FRIDAY

The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science (Teacher's Edition)

       It is Friday, time for a poetry party and time to celebrate the new Poetry Friday Anthology for Science, compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, published by Pomelo Books. . 

      The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science is a fun way to discover science and poetry together.  The Anthology has 218 poems written by 78 children's poets. 
Each poem is a magic creation to develop a child's interest in science and poetry.

Three great children's poets have kindly agreed to help with the celebration--Laura Purdie Salas, Janet Wong, and Eileen Spinelli.



       Laura Purdie Salas, children's author and poet has allowed me to share her acrostic poem from the anthology. Thank you, Laura.

THINGS TO DO IN SCIENCE CLASS
by Laura Purdie Salas

Look at labels.
Ask advice.
Be sure to check directions twice!  Wear

Solid shoes to shield your feet,
And keep your table clean and neat.
Follow Rules that you are given.
Explore
The startling world
You live in.


©2014 Laura Purdie Salas.  Used with permission of the author, all rights reserved. (Third Grade, Week 2, Lab Safety, from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, Pomelo Books.) 

    I love acrostic poems and this one I thought was a dandy.  Do you see how it fits to spell a word in the left margin?  But this poem also rhymes, which makes it a special poem to me.  Well done, Laura.  Can you take your own science word and write an acrostic?  I used the word LAB to write mine:

Love 

All about
Biology.

   Now it's your turn.

   And while you are thinking about writing your own science poem, I want to share another fun science poem.  This one is from Janet Wong, extraordinary children's poet. Thanks, Janet.

DR. LEE
by Janet Wong

Last week
I couldn't
see the board
in any
of my classes.

Dr. Lee
saw
right away
that I needed
some glasses!

When I grow up
I want to be
a doctor
just like
Dr. Lee!



©2014 Janet Wong.  Used with permission of the author, all rights reserved. (Kindergarten, Week 34, Science Careers, from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, Pomelo Books.) 


Janet told me she envisions Dr. Lee as a woman. I think it is a delightful poem to think about all the medical, biological, scientific professions one can go into if you like science.  Young people hold the future of the world and science can help to make our lives better.


Eileen Spinelli has also given me permission to share her poem.  This poem has a special effect on me.  Every time I read it, I get a tiny little flutter in my heart as I consider all the possibilities in the world that can happen between those spaces inside the atoms. (If you click on her name above you can see another science poem of hers and all the covers of her wonderful books.)

IMAGINE SMALL
by Eileen Spinelli

Imagine something very small:
a rubber duck, a ping-pong ball.

Imagine something smaller yet:
a pebble or a violet.

Go smaller now: a silver bead
a baby's tooth, a pumpkin seed.

Keep going--
freckle, flea or gnat,
a speck of dander from the cat.
Imagine that.

And then imagine this--so cool--
a teeny-tiny molecule.
So teeny-tiny you and I 
can't see it with the naked eye.

To think of it gives me a chill.
But there is something smaller still:
the atom!

Billions fit in a fleck of foam
or on the dot at the end of this poem.

Billions.



©2014 Eileen Spinelli.  Used with permission of the author, all rights reserved. (Second Grade, Week 9, Matter, from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, Pomelo Books.)   
Gosh, I don't know why, but I really feel up-lifted when I read this poem.

Here is my poem from the anthology:

Capillary Action
by Joy Acey

 I put my stick of celery
in my cherry drink.
Three days later
the leaves turned pink!

Tell me your reaction.
Tell me what you think?
Could capillary action
happen when I drink?


If you'd like to know more about THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR SCIENCE you can see more sample poems at the Pomelo Books web site here.

Sylvia Vardell had a terrific post about the books on her blog Poetry for Children last week, here.


   These science poems are special to me because science plays a big part in my life.  My husband is a scientist, an immunologist to be specific.  He loves to do science experiments and find out new things.  It is exciting to find out something new no one else has ever known before and then to be able to share that information with others.  But, due to cuts of almost 25% to federal research budgets, less than one in six new grants is being funded.  Research programs across the United States are being eliminated and scientific labs are shutting down.  There are some fun student made videos titled STAND UP FOR SCIENCE, that discuss this problem on the  Federation of Societies for Experimental Biology web site.


Perhaps by reading THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR SCIENCE you'll discover something you never knew before, or find something about yourself  you didn't know.  I hope you do and I hope you'll be able to share your new knowledge.  Have fun with science and poetry.  Happy Friday.

    For more poetry on our Poetry Friday Roundup, hop over to Rogue Anthropologist and catch lots of other great poetry sites. 

    On Saturday at 1, Juantia Havill, Ken Slesarik and I will be reading science poems from the Poetry Friday Anthology for Science at the Science tent at the Book Festival in Tucson, on the mall at the University of Arizona.  It is all FREE and we'd love to see you.  Drop by and say HELLO.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Hurry, Hurry

I'm in a hurry.
Life's all a swirl.
I feel like I'm
one busy girl.

So much to do.
So much to see.
I'm really glad
that I am me.


     This is light verse today.  My niece and her fiancée are visiting from Australia and I've promised to take them to the Air and Space Museum in Tucson Arizona.

     Your poetry prompt for today is to write a poem about air, space or firmament (isn't that a delightful word.)  Have fun.

   And be sure to come back tomorrow because I have a special Poetry Friday Roundup treat planned with poems from THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR SCIENCE compiled  by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, published by Pomelo Books.


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

WHEN I GROW UP

Sometimes I wonder
who will I be
when I grow up
and I'm still me.

I like to play piano
do math and to read.
But each of these things
is only a seed.

Will I be a banker,
play in a band,
be a librarian?
Who knows what I'll be
when I am a woman.

This I know,
I can be 
whatever I 
want to be.
My future is anything.
It's up to me.


     Quick, make a list of ten things you like to do.  Now, make a second list of professions that need those skills.  When I was growing up, I never even considered that someone needed to design the roller coaster rides I liked to ride on.  I didn't even know there were people who designed video games--and I certainly didn't know any poets.  What do you want to do when you grow up?  I hope you've got a long list.  Can you shape your list into a poem?  Have fun writing.  Hey, and if you don't have dog trainer on your list, throw that in and see what happens, unless of course, if you have allergies to pet dander.  Maybe you can work to find a cure for that.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

THE GATHERING







Looking for a murder,
the weary crow
calls from atop a telephone pole
                     CAW!
CAW!                                CAW!

above circle hawks. 


     A murder is what a group of crows is called.  Do you know other group names like a school of fish?
What is the name for a group of paper clips?  A group of shoes?  A group of sandwiches? I'd give you the answer if I knew it, but I don't think there are answers.  This means you can make up your own word.  All you have to do is get other people to agree to your word and use it.  Or if just one other person uses the word, it can become your own secret code.
    I saw a crow this morning on my walk and it got me to thinking about this poem.  When I turned to walk home, I was hoping to see the crow again calling to me, but instead the hawk was there.  This got me to consider all the birds that have sat on the telephone pole.  I'm now thinking about writing a persona poem (your teacher might call it a mask poem) from the view point of a telephone pole.  Would you like to try a persona poem today too?
Perhaps you can make it a concrete poem (shape poem) or use interesting line breaks like I did in the poem above.
Have fun writing your poem. 



Monday, March 10, 2014

TREE

Today I learned
something new
for me.
I learned that a tree
isn't always a tree.

Some trees
don't have leaves,
you see.

A wooden form
to fit inside
a leather shoe
is a shoe tree.

A wooden post 
to hold
lots of hats
is a hat tree.

And a tree
to hold 
my genealogy
is a family tree.

So you see
not all trees 
have leaves.


     My citrus tree has been blooming and the smell is delightful.  But  this morning when I looked out at the tree, I noticed someone had been eating all the leaves.  I felt like Baby Bear, "Someone has been eating at my citrus tree and they ate it all up."
    So when I started to write today's poem, I guess the word tree was stuck in my brain.  Your challenge for today is to pick a word and write a poem about the different meanings of the word.  I'm thinking spoon, or run,  might work well.  Let me know what word you chose and have fun writing your poem.

Interview

I was interviewed this morning on Joan Edward's blog,

you can find it here:

http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/delightful-interview-with-joy-acey-the-princess-of-poetry/



Sunday, March 9, 2014

THE WIND

All night long
the wind blew and blew.
It huffed and puffed
and rattled too.

It made the wind chime
clatter and clang.
All night long
rattle-ting-bang.

I'm tired this morning.
I don't know why.
Good thing the wind
        finally,
              decided to die.


    We've been having lots of wind in the desert.  It has me thinking about scientists who study wind currents.  Meteorologists?  Wind is very important to the earth.  Wind makes haboobs, hurricanes, dust devils and tornadoes.  Winds are important to sailors and to pilots.  You'll see a windsock at every airport.
    According to Wikipedia, the first wind tunnel was invented by Francis Herbert Wenham in 1871.   Airplane and automotive manufacturers use wind tunnels to perfect their designs.  Biologists have used wind tunnels to explain how dragonflies and bees fly.  I think I'm going to go find out more about the importance of wind.  Can you try writing your own wind poem today?  Since wind is a part of nature, this is an excellent subject for writing haiku.  Have fun writing.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Saturday

Saturday is 
my big day.
It is when I
get to play.

I change my sheets,
clean my room.
Then it's off 
with my friends
I'm gone.
Zoom.

Today I think
I'll fly a kite,
ride my bike,
or take a hike.

Don't really care
what I do today,
whatever I do
I'll have fun--It's Saturday.


     Hope you are having a grand day.  Aren't Saturdays wonderful?  Did you get to sleep in this morning?  Are you doing anything special tonight?  What is one thing you heard today?  One thing you saw?  One thing you did?  Can you write a poem about your Saturday?  Have fun writing poetry.  Be happy.

    Poetry for Children: Science Poetry: Student Editions

    Poetry for Children: Science Poetry: Student Editions



Check out this on the new Poetry Friday Anthology for Science compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong from P omelet Books.

Friday, March 7, 2014

IDEAS

I had a new idea.
It might be slightly dim.
I put it in my brain
to let it take a spin.

It bumped against some others,
then Eureka was the shout.
A new idea had been formed.
I kicked the whole thing out.

Now I have a better idea.
Somehow it seems just right.
As I take to my chair
and write and write and write.


     I'm looking forward to this weekend.  I've got so much work to catch up on.  It is rather exciting when everything starts happening at once.  I feel like spring.
What is happening in your life?  Can you write a poem about that?  Have fun writing your own poem, or if you have lots happening to write about, you might want to write more than one poem.  Happy Friday.

    Poetry Friday is hosted by Margaret this week over at http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/
    Thanks, Margaret for the great Friday party and Congratulations to all the Poetry Friday poets.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Chirp, Chirp Tweet

The little bird sings
chirp, chirp tweet--
its happy little song.
Chirp, chirp, cheep,
chirp, chirp, tweet
all day long.


     I've got to tell you, I MUST, really love writing poetry because I've been working on poems all day and I just looked up at the clock and realized it was almost 5 o'clock!  I haven't eaten lunch, I haven't started dinner.  I'm in trouble because I'm going to be running late until I go to bed.  But, I'm feeling wonderful because I got some good work done today.  For your poetry prompt, how about writing a couplet about being last or behind?  Have fun writing. 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

New Books

A new book
just arrived
in the mail.
It makes
me happy
without fail.


     How do books make you feel?  Can you write a poem about that?  My contributor copies of THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR SCIENCE, just arrived in the mail and I really like the collection compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, published by Pomelo Books.  I'm off to read some of the other poems.  Have fun reading and writing your own poems today.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

LITTLE ONE

Baby rests in mother's arms.
She's entranced with baby's charms.
Baby's dreams are very deep.
Mother now can go to sleep.
Baby rests his weary head.
Mother now can go to bed.



Can you write a poem today about one thing you remember about your Mom?
Happy Marti Gras.

Monday, March 3, 2014

SPRING FLOWERS

Outside
her kitchen window
Grandma grew flowers
in special window boxes--
bright red geraniums
that smelled like spicy pepper.
When I see those flowers
I think of Grandma
and the spaghetti she made
every Friday night.


    Do flowers make you think of anyone?  My favorite flowers are daisies.  Every time I see daisies I think of happy times.  Can you write a poem today about your favorite flower?

Sunday, March 2, 2014

haiku

fierce wind gusts and roars 
citrus blossoms fall from trees--
broken promises

wildflowers rolling 
bending toward the ground
waiting for calm

pink mallow flowers
dancing by the picket fence
thankful for the rain

    As you can see, I've been playing with haiku again.  Here are three.  Which one do you like best?  It really is a great day to be inside writing.  I hope your writing is going well.  Happy Sunday.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Thunder

Rumble,
rattle,
roar.
Ka-boom.

Clash,
clang,
bang.
Ka-boom.

Loud thunder
and then,
the rain
rushes in,
making rivulets
and flooding.

But,
oh,
it is rain!
Wonderful, 
glorious,
rain. 
It has been
so long
since I've
seen you,
RAIN.
Welcome!


     I went on my morning walk today and got soaked before I could get home.  The thunder was a little frightening.  What is the weather like for you?  Can you write a poem about that?
   I've been waiting all week for the new moon that is supposed to be in the sky tonight, and now I won't be able to see it.  The whole sky is covered with clouds.  
   I hope you have fun writing today.