CELEBRATE POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY

I've got a poem in my pocket.
I've memorized it
Until I ROCK it.
I HIP-HOP it.
I'm doing quite fine.
I can recite each line.
Because, you see
I LOVE POETRY.

   Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day.  What poem will you carry in your pocket to share with friends?  Can you write a poem today about why you like poetry?  Have fun writing.  May your poems ROCKET and HIP-HOP IT.

I BELIEVE

I believe in things
I can not see
like Santa, the Easter Bunny
and fairies who live in my tree.

I believe a spiritual being
guides from the heavens above,
but most of all
I believe 
in the power
of love.

   Is there something make believe that you want to believe in?  Can you write a poem about that today? 

DIVERSITY

I want to learn
about people
with different faces,
to find out more
about their country
and the distant places.

I want to learn 
their customs,
eat their food,
step to their dances,
speak their language
in gratitude.

Our world is
such an amazing place,
Can you help me
to learn 
about every race?

     Part of the reason I like to travel is because I like meeting people from other countries.  I learn something from everyone I meet.  Everyone is different.  Everyone is special.  All this diversity makes our country very rich.  Can you write a poem today about someone different? About one of the dances? One of the foods?  One of the customs that person has that is different? What is one of the customs your family shares?  Can you write about sharing today?  Have fun.

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

I'm trying to make
the world a better place.
I try to put a smile
on everyone's face.

A woman with groceries,
I try to help her.
I donate my used toys
to the homeless shelter.

To animal rescue I give
my baby sitting cash.
And when I see it
I pick up trash.

For hospital kids,
I make a get well card.
Working to improve the world
really is not hard.


   Can you write a list poem today of way you can think of to try to make the world a better place?  Have fun writing.

SO MUCH YELLOW

Paloverde Tree

Goldfinch hide
in the Paloverde tree,
so much yellow
they are hard to see.

  The Foothills or Yellow Paloverde trees (Cercidium microphyllum, a member of the pea family) are blooming right now (From April to May.) All the hillsides are covered with the bright yellow blossoms.  The trees grow up to 25 feet high and have smooth green bark which is photosynthetic.  Their leaflets are tiny, little things grown bipinnately in clusters to help in preventing water loss. This morning I saw a bird perched in my Paloverde and it took me a moment or two to identify it.  Actually, I didn't identify the bird until it flew away because the golden feathers of the bird blended with the tree.

   Do you have blooming trees where you live?  Can you try writing a tree or a bird poem today?  Have fun writing.

TODAY

Today,
I'll try to
unbutton myself
let my heart
fly free.

Today,
I will let
my imagination
soar like a hawk
searching the skies.

Today,
I will chase
clouds floating above
changing shapes
on a whim.

Today,
I will sing
to the birds
and find happiness
in every flower.

Today
I will have fun
being me.
I will write
this poem
for you.

   What will you do today?  What makes you happy?  What gives you joy? As long as you're living, you might as well live big.  Have fun today.  What can you do to help someone else along their journey today? Now, can you take your answers to these questions and shape them into a poem? Have a grand time writing.

LATE SPRING

Creosote bushes
yellow flowers blown
pollen litters the ground.

Saguaro blossom
in wedding white cone.
Bees come sniffing around.

Mothers Day bonnet
decidedly shown
the cactus early crowned.

    I can not believe that parts of the US had snow, yet again, yesterday. Here in the desert we are hurling toward summer. Already the Saguaros are starting to flower. In a couple of weeks, just in time for Mothers Day they will have white crowns of flowers around their tops. Yesterday I watched a quail with ten little quailets scurry through my fence and walk around under the bushes. It looked like one mom and ten little babies, no bigger than golf balls. On the top of my fence sat the male on look out. It was fun to watch those ten little ones scurrying in ten different directions, going forward and back, depending on what took their attention. It did make me think of toddlers in the play yard.
   Today's poem is written in triplets, three lined stanzas, with rhyme. Can you try writing your own triplet today? Pick a plant or animal from your world and experiment.  Have fun writing.

  The Friday Poetry Roundup is hosted this week by Renee LaTulippe on her blog, No Water River. You can find more poetry from other children's poets here.

WEATHER

Some days are cloudy.
Some days are hot.
Some days are rainy.
Some days are not.

Some days have rainbows.
Some days wind blows.
Some days are cold.
Some days it snows.


What ever the weather
Can we get together?


    What is the weather like in your part of the world?  My niece lives in Sydney, Australia, so she is having late fall weather.  It will soon be winter there.  My friend lives in Colorado and they had snow two weeks ago. I'm in Tucson and we're having hot, hot sunny weather.  All over the world the weather is different.  Your challenge for today is to write a poem about what the weather is like outside your window.  Have a great day enjoying your writing and your weather.
    Normally, I do NOT start every line of a poem with a capital letter.  In this poem I chose to do that.  Can you guess why I started every line with a capital in this poem? 

Raisin Buns

FIVE little raisins
in a raisin bun,
round and fat,
having great fun.

Along came a girl
with a quarter that day,
she bought a bun
and skipped away.

FOUR little raisins
in a raisin bun,
round and fat,
having great fun.
 
Along came a boy
with a quarter dashing past,
he bought a bun
and ate it up fast.

THREE little raisins
in a raisin bun,
round and fat,
having great fun.
 
Along came a mom
with a quarter in her hat.
She bought a bun.
It made her feel fat.

TWO little raisins
in a raisin bun,
round and fat,
having great fun.

Along came a dad
with a quarter from Stockholm,
he bought a bun
and took it straight home.

ONE little raisin
in a raisin bun,
round and fat,
not having any fun.

The baker ate it
because the bun looked sad.
He thought the taste
wasn't too bad.

No more raisins.
No more buns.
They've all been eaten.
Our rhyme is done.

   I wish I had a small person in my lap to count off toes as I say this rhyme.  It could also make a fun rhyme for two voices.  What is your favorite breakfast food?  Or lunch food?  Can you write a counting rhyme for the food?  I might try five fat pancakes next. I could put a different kind of syrup on each one.  Have fun writing today.

GOSSIP All Over Town

Miss South,
a blabber-mouth
told
Miss North,
who sallied forth
to tell
Miss West,
she was a pest,
who told
Miss East, 
who confessed
to her priest,
spreading gossip
all over town.

   How did you learn the directions NEWS (North, East, West, South)?  Can you try writing your own poem today that includes the four compass points?  Have fun writing.
 Have you ever gossiped?  Have you told a secret you shouldn't have?  What happened?  How did you feel?
Is a blabber-mouth the same as a tattle-tale? What should you do if someone is spreading tales?

Listen, listen
to your heart, dear.

Hear, hear
the words it sings.

Listen, listen
to your dreams, dear.

Write, write the words
for happiness it brings.

     Dream big and may you find just the right words to share your dreams with others.

     Linda Andersen has interviewed me on her blog A Writer's Playground.  You can find out about Frog poems and me here.

FERMATA

Fermata, one-eyed owl
a musical symbol
go back, start over
repeat from here.

I want those owls
to show the way
I need to return
to finish in music.


   Do you know what a fermata is?  It is a musical symbol that looks like a one-eyed owl.  What other musical symbols do you know?  Can you try writing your own musical poem today.  Have fun.

HAIKU

Sun rise radiates
through a dew drop on the limb
a prism rainbow

Can you try writing your own haiku today about light?  Would you like to participate in the world's largest collaborative poem on the internet?  Simply write your haiku on light and go here to EarthRolling Haiku Collaborative.  The theme of Year of Light was designated by the United Nations.  You can leave your haiku in the comments and find out more about this project at the link above.

Today's Poetry Roundup is hosted by Robyn Hood Black at her blog Live on the Deckle Edge.  Thanks, Robyn, for hosting us.  You'll find other great poems and poetry are her blog site.

And, you can check up on the latest lines added to the progressive poem at Irene Latham's blog, Live Your Poem. 

WOOD SORREL FAIRY

A fairy sitting
among the wood sorrel.
Pale purple flowers
grow under the trees.
It's shady as she 
watches a squirrel
dash through the sorrel
making a breeze.

    I'm still imagining what it would be like to have a pocket fairy.  I could send her off to do errands for me.  To find things out for me, to check on my friends.  If you had a small fairy what would you do with him or her?  Can you write a poem about that?  Have fun with your imagination.

BLISTERS

I'm growing blisters 
on my hands from my swaying
on the monkey bars

     Do you have playground equipment at your school?  What is your favorite piece?  What do you like best about recess?  Can you write a poem about how it feels to be on the playground today?  What is your playground like?  Have fun writing.

LITTLE MOUSE

In my house 
while I'm sleeping
a little mouse
is crawling, creeping.

In the dark
he scurries past
tiny feet
running fast.

While my cat
wants to play
the little mouse
runs away.


     Can you write a poem today with an animal for the main character? Have fun writing.

MEET ME

Meet me in the garden
in the spot where pixies play.
We can watch the flowers grow
on this springtime day.

Have tea with me in the garden
by the flowers the fairies grow.
We can sip from honeysuckles
while you tell me all you know.


   If you had an imaginary garden, who would meet you there?  Can you write your own poem about that today?  Have fun imagining.

The Morning Rabbits

The coyotes loud howls
alto and tenor in the air
floating just in the morning light

A gibbous moon still hangs
and venus rising appears
as I start my walk

Always I like walking at morn
summer and winter in Tucson
the sagebrush in purple shadow
the saguaros in deep blue in the wash

So quiet, and the cholla
and ocotillo stretch, and
I see rabbits, a surprise
those quick moving cotton-tails.

I pause to turn
toward the vast sandy hill.
A rabbit stops, large dark eyes

Nary a blink, then
a twitching foot
to scratch an ear, then
a leaping run into the brush.

Like the desert itself
beautiful and fleeting
here one moment then changed--
gone.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

In the dawn
across the lawn
comes a fawn.

Down the hill
standing still
deer eat their fill
wait the kill.

THE RABBIT

Jane Yolen had a poem she shared last week in a Welsh meter.  She called it an AWDL (an ode.)  This sent me back to my books on forms of poetry.  Nothing seemed to fit until I came across a CLOGYRNACH in the SHAPES OF OUR SINGING written by Robin Skelton (p. 288.)  I had to try one.

The rabbit hopping by the creek
His coat is light gray, smooth and sleek.
Hungry for more meals
at clover he kneels
and conceals what he sneaks.

   Yesterday was a five bunny day.  Most of them are really tiny and I think the hawks will be eating well.
If you were a rabbit, what would you do to protect yourself?  Have fun writing your own poem about a rabbit today.
  Laura Purdie Salas hosts The Poetry Friday Roundup this week. You can find more children's poetry on her blog at http://www.laurasalas.com/blog/books/connect-pfhost/

HAIKU

yellow sunshine hangs
heavy on the lemon tree
time for lemonade


My lemon tree has so much fruit this year that some of it is going to the birds.  I've eaten all the oranges, but the lemons seem to just keep coming.  I guess I should make lemon bars and lemon cake.  What else can I do with the lemons?  Can you write a haiku, an acrostic or a couplet about your favorite fruit?  Have fun.

The Moon

Clouds drift across the moon
in a lacy mantilla
anticipating
like a wave,
hesitating
at its crest,
holding its breath
before dropping,
dropping into the night
from deep dark eyes.

   I often get up in the middle of the night to write. When this happens, one of the first things I do is look out the window to try and find the moon.  There is something anchoring for me about being able to see the moon and identify its phase. Last night as I was watching, lacy clouds shrouded the moon. When I see clouds over the moon, I always think of Alfred Noyes' poem THE HIGHWAYMAN.You might enjoy looking at the poem to see the different ways the poet describes the night.  Can you try writing your own poem about the moon today?

DANCING

Our spring winds blowing
yellow creosote blossoms
bow to their partner.



The plants are changing
their dresses drop to the ground
springtime allergies


   Can you use the word SPRING to write an acrostic today?  Have fun writing.

Start by writing the word SPRING down the left side of your page, then fill in the words.

Special time,
Plants
Release new leaves
In
Neon
Green.

MY FRIEND

I have a special friend
who is kind as he can be.
Every time I'm feeling down
he has a hug for me.

    Do you have a special friend?  What makes her special to you?  Can you try writing a poem about your friend today?  Or write about friendship.  Have fun being a special friend to someone.

THE CRACKERS

Someone ate all the crackers.

     Was it you?

Must have been real lip-smackers.

     Was it you?

Did you eat crackers with your tea?

     Was it you?

You didn't save even one for me.

     Was it you?

I only wanted to eat a few.

     Was it you?

I miss those crackers.

     Oh, boo-hoo.


  This is a poem for two voices. Can you try writing your own poem for two (or more) voices today? Perhaps you'd like to work with a friend to write the poem. Have fun writing. 
    Michael McFee has a fun poem about Saltine crackers. You can read that poem here.

2015 Progressive Poem

It is that time of the year again.  Time for the progressive poem.  

 

                     Yesterday the poem started at Jone Mac's blog Check It Out with the first line.  Today I get to add the second line.  Then tomorrow the poem moves to Heidi Mordhorst's blog  My Juicy Little Universe.

Here is the poem so far:

She lives without a net, walking along the alluvium deposits of the delta,

shoes swing over her shoulder, on her bare feet stick jeweled flecks of dark mica.

What a way to start us out!  Thanks Jone for a great opening line.  With a long line there are lots of possibilities.  What is with the long lines?  Last year Charles Waters started us out with an incredibly long first line too.  This one has 22 syllables, ten feet (if I counted right!)  I wanted to try to rhyme again this year, but with a line that long I gave up on it.  Heidi, the next line is yours, do your magic.  Have fun.

Thanks to Irene Latham for another great adventure during National Poetry Month.  Here are all the places the Progressive Poem will travel.

1 Jone at Check it Out
2 Joy at Poetry for Kids Joy
3 Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe
4 Laura at Writing the World for Kids
5 Charles at Poetry Time Blog
6 Ramona at Pleasures from the Page
7 Catherine at Catherine Johnson
8 Irene at Live Your Poem
9 Mary Lee at Poetrepository
10 Michelle at Today’s Little Ditty
11 Kim at Flukeprints
12 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche
13 Doraine at DoriReads
14 Renee at No Water River
15 Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge
16 Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a Godforsaken Town
17 Buffy at Buffy’s Blog
18 Sheila at Sheila Renfro
19 Linda at Teacher Dance
20 Penny at A Penny and her Jots
21 Tara at A Teaching Life
22 Pat at Writer on a Horse
23 Tamera at The Writer’s Whimsy
24 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect
25 Tabatha at The Opposite of indifference
26 Brian at Walk the Walk
27 Jan at Bookseedstudio
28 Amy at The Poem Farm
29 Donna at Mainely Write
30 Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY

Did you play any good April Fools jokes today?  I tried the oldest one in the world on my husband this morning as we were out on our walk.  I told him his zipper was down, and sure enough, it worked,  He immediately reached for his zipper to check.  I'm so naughty.  It was so much fun. It was the first joke played on him today.

April Fools comes once a year.
But as for jokes, have no fear.
All the teasing is done in fun.
I hope your day is a happy one.

Your challenge for today is to write your own April Fools poem.  What is the best April Fools joke you ever played or had played on you?  I'm going to spend some time working on my own poem.  Maybe by next year, I'll have a really good poem to share with you.  If I'm clever I can make it work as a joke too.
I checked THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS, compiled by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong to see if there was a good April Fools poem in the book published by Pomelo Books.  The joke was on me,  I didn't find one.  Now I get to do some more research.  What fun.