HARRY HOUDINI

Crouched
inside a safe,
inside a water tank
Harry Houdini
holds his breath
works his way out.

    Today is Harry Houdini's birthday.  He was a famous magician.  If you could have any magical power, what would it be?  Can you write a poem today about your power and what you would do with it?  Have fun thinking about magic.
   I wrote this poem as part of my friend Heidi Mordhorst's monthly challenge to write poems using words ending in CH.  Today's word is crouCH.  You can read more poems using CH words on her blog at www.myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot.ca

MARCH 8, 2015

broom sedge seeds unhitch
from their whiskery branches
floating in the breeze

   Heidi Mordhorst has a list of words ending in CH that she has challenged us to write poems using a daily word.  The word for Monday is "unhitched."  I enjoyed the thought of seeds becoming unattached from their branches.  We have three large broom sedge bushes along our fence and they constantly shed seeds that float through the air and make me sneeze.  You can find out about Heidi's poetry challenge on her blog MY JUICY LITTLE UNIVERSE.

Jump Rope Rhyme

My friend Heidi Mordhorst has been hosting a fun challenge on her blog My Juicy Little Universe this month.  Every weekday during March she has a different word ending in "CH" for us to write poems with.  Today's word was punch.





Ice cream soda,
Delaware punch,
will you be
my honey bunch?

If you love me
here's what to do
we'll jump together
one and two.

   Can you try writing your own jump rope rhyme today?  Have fun.

LOST BOOKS

Happy Poetry Friday.

     First, I have a letter poem up on Michelle Hendrich Barnes' blog today.  She and David Elliot challenged children's poets to write a letter poem during the month of February.  You can find my poem here.
http://michellehbarnes.blogspot.com/2015/02/february-dmc-wrap-up-giveaway.html   
Thanks Michelle for a fun challenge.  I had a hard time distilling  this poem down to the fewest words to still tell the story.  WOW!  This was fun.

     Second, Heidi Mordhorst is hosting the Friday Poetry Roundup today.  She has an exciting list of words ending in "CH" for us to try writing poems for during the month of MarCH.  Thanks, Heidi for a great exercise and for hosting the roundup.  You can find the list and more great poetry on Heidi's blog My Juicy Little Universe.

     Third,  at a recent FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY bag day sale I picked up two interesting books.
The Child as Poet: Myth of Reality? by Myra Cohn Livingston, published by The Horn Book, 1984.  This was signed by the author.  A bit of a tome, but the references are excellent.

The Brownings: Letters and Poetry, selected and with an introduction by Christopher Ricks, Doubleday, 1970.  Oh, this has been a fun read to see the history between these two important poets. 
Does your library have book sales?  I find it is a great way to add to my poetry library (and to keep learning.)  

    OK, fourth a poem for today.

I lose my books,
it's seek and find.
I often think
I've lost my mind.

I search and search,
where can it be?
My book is there
waiting for me.

    I really do try to keep my things organized, but there is always more stuff to add to the clutter.  What do you do to try to keep yourself organized?  Can you write a poem today about something you've lost (maybe your homework) or something you've found or found out?  Have fun writing today.

MORTIMER'S VISIT

Morty, Morty,
have you got a minute?
You hopped for JOY
and now I'm in it.

A children's poetry blog
HOPPITY-HOP!
I'll add my 2 cents
so your tour doesn't stop.


    I was tagged by Heidi Mordhorst last week to feed and house Morty for the week.  (Notice how we've become such good friends that I have a pet name for Mortimer?  You're allowed to groan that was a very bad pun.  He does look a little like my Dutch Uncle.) I've got to tell you, having him for a guest is like having fish visit.  At first he is all cute and cuddly, but then he becomes a BIG responsibility.  Just keeping him entertained has been interesting.  He's eaten all my carrots, chewed holes in my new shoes.  He wants to eat my poetry.  Oh what's a girl to do?
Answer the interview questions quickly and send him on his way.

Morty:   What does it take to be a children's poet?

JOY:      You don't have to be royalty, but it helps.  All it takes is to write poems and small rhymes for children--early and often.

Morty:    Hey, why are you the Princess of Poetry?

JOY:      I get to be royal because everyday I try to do my best, and each day I get a little better. (I sure hope so. You can be royalty too.)

Morty:    What poem do you wish you'd written?

JOY:      Oh, Morty, there are so many really great children's poems written.  But, I don't WISH I'd written poems.  I do it.  It is called BIC(bum in chair) time and I write a lot of poems.  Every poem, if you look closely at it, has merit, even if it is only that you get to eat it.  So now can I send you on, please?


These are the rules for Mortimer's blog tour, (thanks Renee, I copied from you.)

Here’s how to hoppity hop “Mortimer Minute” style!

• Answer 3 questions. Pick one question from the previous Hopper. Add two of your own. Keep it short, please! This is a Blog Hop, not a Blog Long Jump. This is The Mortimer Minute—not The Mortimer Millennium!
• Invite friends. Invite 1-2 bloggers who love children’s poetry to follow you. They can be writers, teachers, librarians, or just plain old poetry lovers.
• Say thank you. In your own post, link to The Previous Hopper. Then keep The Mortimer Minute going — let us know who your Hoppers are and when they plan to post their own Mortimer Minute.

- See more at: http://www.nowaterriver.com/poetry-friday-the-mortimer-minute-childrens-poetry-blog-hop/#sthash.vx5llQuS.dpuf

    Hey Morty, I'm sending you to Donna Earnhardt at WordWrangleNC  for a short visit.  She's the author of a very funny picture book, BEING FRANK. 

Now Morty, please don't eat any more shoes.


  And Jeanne Poland at the Vibrant Channel Creator, said she'd take this rascal off my hands too.  So look for Morty over at Jeanne's place next Friday.

    Thank you Heidi Mordhorst for sending Mortimer to me.

 Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted by Laura Purdie Salas over at Writing the world for kids.
Thank you Laura for hosting the party.

Christmas Ornaments

     Isn't it fun when good ideas start to pile upon each other, taking an ordinary thought and making it something different and fun?

     Today's post started with HeidiMordhorst asking for poems related to light for a themed poetry roundup this week. That request got the wheels in my brain turning slowly.,

     Then, I was notified by children's poet Matt Forrest that I had won two hand made Christmas ornaments from Maine. That got me feeling very grateful and thinking about Christmas ornaments.

      This made me stumble upon the idea of making a Christmas ornament for several of my children's poetry friends.

     So here is a candle of light for Heidi. The text says:

You shine so bright

through the night.

Let your light shine.

     Matt Forrest's ornament had to be a bell.

Hear the bells ring.

Hear the bells sing.

On Christmas Eve

ting-a-ling.

     David Harrison gets a Christmas star, like a sheriff's badge, in honor of his book COWBOYS.

On top of the Christmas tree

sits a golden star

to welcome good wishes

from near and far.

     To Tabbatha Yeatts who set up a Christmas exchange between fellow children's poets, her own Christmas ornament.

Of all the ornaments

on the Christmas tree

you are a special one

to me.

     To Amy VanDerwater at Poetry Farm, my Christmas exchange partner,

                               (this is supposed to be a barn)

At midnight

all the animals

get to speak

in their own

special poetry.

     To Robyn Hood Black, haiku specialist and wolf expert,

                                     (this is supposed to look like a wolf)

Yip. Yip.

Bark. Bark.

This is how

a wolf says HARK,

and Merry Christmas.

     To Renee LaTulippe at No Water River,

May the waves

of creativity

gush

for you.

Here's wishing you

waves of happiness.

    I still need to make a sunburst for Janet Wong.

You bring
children's poetry
to the world
and beyond.

    And a butterfly for my poetry sister Cory Corrido .

Flap your wings,
fly awhile
you always bring
a poetry smile.


     Can you tell I'm having fun with this?  If you'd like to share your Christmas ornament idea, in the comments below leave the shape of the ornament and the text you'd put on it and who the ornament is for (it can be for yourself--I imagine Jama would have cookies, Laura Purdie Salas would have a book. )