HAPPY BOYS DAY

     Happy Poetry Friday.

Three paper kites
hang from our house
they flutter, flap and sway.
These paper fish are flying
high to celebrate
Tango no sekku
a Happy Boys Day.

On May fifth in communities with a Japanese influence you'll see paper carp
dancing on bamboo poles to honor the men in the household.  There are lots of Japanese-Americans who live on my island so we celebrate boys day and there are lots of paper carp flying today.  This holiday is also known as the Feast of Banners.  You can find out more about this celebration here. 

   There is a legend about the swimming carp becoming a dragon.  Can you write a poem today about a dragon?  What color would your dragon be?  Have fun writing.

E kūlia i ka nu‘u.

 
Strive to reach the highest.

--a Hawaiian proverb

  To read more poetry posts, Jama Kim Rattigan is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup today on 

her blog Jama's Alphabet Soup here.  Thanks Jama, for hosting us this week.

Happy Cinco de Mayo and have a great weekend.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

The earth is here.
Let's hope to stay.
Turn off the lights
when you go 
out to play.

If you go out
with your dog today
pick up after him.
Happy Earth Day.

     What can you do to protect our environment?  To make the earth a better place to be?  Today we are to celebrate the earth, so have fun planting flowers, picking flowers and playing with your dog and picking up after him.  Can you try writing your own poem today to celebrate Earth Day?
      I have one more manticore poem to share with you, but that can wait until tomorrow.

      Today I'm here to celebrate the Poetry Friday Roundup.  All the children's poets have gathered over at  Jama Rattigan's blog to leave links to our poems.  You can find more poetry at Jama's Alphabet Soup.
Thank you Jama Rattigan for another delightful, fun, educational, picturesque, yummy post.  Thank you for hosting us this week and throwing a GREAT party.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.  E. L. Doctorow