GOOD BYE DOVES

Doves sit on the courtyard wall
making their dove-y coo-y call.
Saying hello and good bye
before they fly 
into the blue, blue sky.

  The doves usually huddle on my back hurricane fence, but today they all sat on the wall in front of the house so I'd be sure to see them.  They didn't want to be missed.  Have you ever missed something?  What was it?  Can you write a poem today about something missed?  Have fun writing.

Cold turkey sandwiches are de-lish.
   The Poetry Friday Roundup is over at Carol's Corner.  Go here for links to more children's poetry.  Thanks Carol for hosting us.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you.
May your food be plentiful,
May family and friends be close too
and may your day be wonderful.

May you feel blessed
with all the things you need
and may you be thankful
in both word and deed.


   I hope your day is fantastic.  What are you thankful for today?

   On days like today, I feel blessed to call you friend.

JAVELINA

A javelina stood in the road today.
He didn't budge, as if to say,
"I hear that you are moving away.
I think I'd like for you to stay."

It was a while before he moved on,
he ambled off, and then was gone.
I didn't move, or even try.
I was sad when the javelina said,
"Good bye."

     Lately, it seems like the animals are coming out in force to give me wonderful memories of Arizona.  Do you really think they are giving me a special treat because I'm moving away?  Several times this week the phainopepla has perched at the top of the ocotillo to sing a symphony just for me.  I feel a little like that man who was trying to grow tulips for his spring garden party.  All winter long he'd go out to where the bulbs were planted.  He'd talk to the plants; he'd croon and whistle to them; he'd tell them how beautiful they would be.  When Spring came the bulbs didn't stick their pretty little heads up.   The man stepped up his efforts.  He gave them extra fertilizer.  The day before the garden party, still nothing.  By now the man was angry that all his time and efforts were for nothing.  He went out to the garden.  He stomped his feet.  He yelled and cursed.  He told the bulbs, "If you don't come up by tomorrow, I'm going to rip you out of the ground."
    The next day the man went back out to his garden ready to go to work digging the bulbs up, but to his amazement there were beautiful, richly colored tulips, all abloom just in time for the garden party.
   Now that I'm ready to move, all those animals I waited patiently to see are showing themselves to me.

   Can you write a poem today about something you have learned from observing?  Have fun.

I am thankful.  What do you give thanks for?

MOVING

I'm packing boxes.
I'm in the groove.
I'm getting ready
for the BIG move.

   
     I've moved several times in my life.  Usually the moves occur over the summer, but I can think of two other times I've moved before the end of the year.  When I was 10, I moved and started fifth grade at a new school.   That was a tough year of learning new things.
     This time I'm moving to the island of Kauai in Hawaii.  In twenty days a big cargo container will arrive at my house.  We'll load it with all the packing boxes and then the cargo container will be put on a boat to be shipped to our destination.
     Have you ever moved?  If you did move,what prized possessions would you take?  What would you leave behind?  Can you try writing a poem about moving today?  Have fun!

How long does it take to say a few kind words?

THE BOBCAT

The bobcat knows

how to jump and leap.

He also knows

how to run and creep.

The bobcat knows

how to roll and play.

He also knows

how to walk away.

  A little bobcat kitten, only about a foot long , sat on the cushion storage box outside my front window this week.  He was looking inside at me. I watched him walk on top of my garden wall, leap to the top of a 7 foot metal fountain next to the wall.  He almost slipped off.  Then he jumped over the wall, strolled around the mesquite tree before deciding it was time to leave.  He looked so cute.  I wanted to go outside and pet him, or put a saucer of cream out for him. But, I knew mama bobcat was probably close by and I didn't want to upset her.  Later in the day, I saw mama chasing a rabbit.  I had to remind myself a bobcat is a wild animal and it is best to keep my distance.

    This got me to thinking about friends in Colorado who have bear sightings and friends in Vermont who have moose sightings.  Children in Laos can see elephants in their yard and in Kenya lions.  There is wildlife around us in all parts of the world.  What can you see in your part of the world?  Can you try writing a poems about wildlife today?  Have fun writing.

Plan today for a bright tomorrow.

WHAT'S IN MY BASKET

"Josephine" by Joy Acey, 2015

Let's go shopping.
What do I see?
Put them in my basket
1,   2,    3.

Let's go shopping.
What are your picks?
Put them in my basket
4,    5,    6.

Let's go shopping.
Everything is fine.
Put them in my basket.
7,    8,    9.

One more thing
that makes 10.
Empty the basket.
Count again.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.


This poem is inspired by Josephine, a little girl I met while shopping today.  This is also a counting poem.  Imagine you have a magic basket.  Everything you put into the basket multiplies.  What would you put into the basket?  For your poetry challenge today, can you write a poem about your magic basket and one thing you put in the basket?  Have fun writing.

Happy Friday the 13th.  Today is Poetry Friday and the round up is being hosted by my friend Bridget Magee on her blog Wee Words for Wee Ones 
You'll find links to other children's poetry there.  Thanks Bridget for hosting us.

BUTTERFLY WALK

Joy Acey 2015

Today I took a walk
with a butterfly
and every step I took
it would flutter by.

Glad for the company
as I walked along the road.
That butterfly, he helped me,
by lightening my load.

    I don't know why, but watching nature always makes me feel happy, fanciful.  It lightens my spirit.  Is there something in your life that always makes you feel good?  Can you try writing a poem today bout things that make you happy?  Have fun writing.

Today I'll keep a smile on my face, because the world is a marvellous place.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

My grandpa served in Vietnam.
His daddy in World War II
My dad was in Desert Storm.
He's a veteran too.

I'm proud we have veterans,
and I'm glad for all they do.
I know they keep us free
and safe, they're true
red, white, and blue.

So each night
when I go to bed
and I say a prayer,
I ask for peace
around the world
for people,
everywhere.

  Do you know someone who is a veteran?  When and where did he or she serve?  What can you do today to thank that person for their service to our country?  Can you write your own poem to a veteran today?  Have fun writing.

True patriotism sometimes requires men to act contrary...  Robert E. Lee

WHO IS LISTENING?

At the top
of the spires
of the ocotillo
where red flames grow
perches a phainopepla
emptying his throat.
His sweet song
drifts over the sage
brush for all to hear.
But if no one 
pauses to listen, 
is there a sound?

     I live a very quiet life at the end of a road on three acres.Sometimes when I go into town, to the mall to go shopping, it seems really noisy to me.  There are all sorts of buzzing, rings, voices, and sounds I don't normally hear.  I think about those birds and I wonder what voices the city folks hear.  What birds have you seen or heard today?  For your poetry challenge for today, can you try writing a poem about some sound you hear?  Have fun writing.

     Today I'll stop and listen to the sounds around me.

WILD!

Wind roars
water rains
desert dances
a wild refrain.


  Today's poem is a tribute to Irene Latham who is celebrating a 10 year blogaversary.  She's having a party and invited us all to write poems about wild.  Can you try writing a WILD poem today?  Have fun,
  You can visit her party to find other wild tribute poems at Irene's blog here

Celebrate, even the rain.

HAIKU

Joy Acey, 2015

Since my hand is in a cast, I've been reduced to one hand typing and this encourages me to write really short poems.  Hence the haiku.


dancing in moonlight
silver steps in the garden--
a snail creeps along.

     And if you think typing is hard, you should try controling a paint brush with your non-dominant hand.  But I'm still plugging along.  For your poetry challenge for today can you try writing you own haiku about something from nature that has 8--like a spider, an octopus, or even an elephant.  (RATS!  I made a mistake, elephants only have six sets of teeth.)  Did you know that elephants have 6 sets of teeth in their life times? Have fun writing and you may leave your haiku in the comments below if you'd like to share your creation.

     The Poetry Friday Round Up is hosted by Katya Czaja on her blog Read. Write. Repeat.  You can find links to lots more poetry for children here.  Thanks for hosting us at your poetry party, Katya.

    Today I'm making a list of eight great things in my life.

Listening to Nature's Poetry

 


Each morning when I rise

I find to my surprise
a gift Nature has written to me
another verse of poetry.

Do you like watching Nature outside your window?  I have a thistle bird feeder and two hummingbird feeders outside my windows so I can watch and listen to the birds.  Now that winter is arriving, we have more birds coming to the feeders.  Can you try writing your own poem about nature today?  Have fun watching, listening and writing.

Choose to be happy today.  What happy things can you plan to do? 

I LOVE YOU

I love you
up and down
from the top
of your head
to the tips
of your toes.
I love you
round and round,
front side
back side
up and down.
I love you
in and out
and all about
my love knows
no bounds.
Sun rise
sunset,
do I love you?
You bet.
I'll always love you
more than crackerjack.
I'll love you
all the way 
to Pluto and back.
I love you.

     Dear Friends,
         Thank you for hanging in there with me while I cope with a broken wrist.  On Tuesday I go back to see the orthopedist, and hopefully the swelling has gone down enough that they will be able to put a cast on my wrist.  For now, I'm typing this post with the fingers of one hand.  It is terribly slow and frustrating.
        Thank you for all the prayers, card and good wishes sent to me.  You are the best readers anyone has ever had.  I appreciate you.
        Your poetry challenge for today is to write a poem about something that is broken and doesn;t work.  Have fun writing.

After midnight, they say, dreams come true.