ONE HOT SUMMER 7

Will the monsoons ever come?

Will I see lightning?

Will I hear thunder?

Once more?

Yes, the monsoons will come.

But now it is summer.

Doves coo and 

the elf owl hoots a sweet lullaby

to sing you to sleep.

Listen.

Hush now,

sleep,

the monsoons have come.

Raindrops splash

against your window.

Cracks of lightning shine

in the sky,

and everything is cool

and green,

once more.

    So, there you have it.  Everyone is waiting for the monsoon season to begin again.  I hope you have enjoyed working your way through a week's worth of waiting for the monsoons.  
       I did want to share the headline from yesterday's newspaper with you.  In Tucson, we really do wait for the monsoons to come.

This poem is inspired by NOW IT IS WINTER, written by Eileen Spinelli.  The ending to her story is very different from mine.  Her's is very elegant.  Please read her book to see how it makes a great mentor poem.  I hope my ending makes sense.  

      Now for your poetry challenge.  Look at poems you like and find what you think is a good end line.  Now make that line the first line for your own poem.  Have fun writing.

Writing Children's Poetry is the best place 

I know to play.

ONE HOT SUMMER 6

Will the monsoons ever come?

Will we see the water

rush and gush across the road?

Will the cracks

in the earth disappear?

Once more?

Yes, the monsoons will come

and we will see water

rushing and gushing

and filling the cracks.

But now it is summer,

and the snake and tarantula

sleep underground.

Now you and I shall hike.

Here is your backpack

and your water bottle.

All ready to go?

Walk slow.

Shhhhhh.

    Today is day six of my poems based on NOW IT IS WINTER written by Eileen Spinelli.
Only two days left to this tale. 
     Here is your poetry challenge for today.  Can you make a list of things you would say "Shhhh," to?  Can you write a poem about that?  Write a list poem, or pick one item and tell us about it.  How do you feel hen someone tells you to shhhh?  Have fun with writing your poem.

Children's Poetry is the owl that calls to me each night.

ONE HOT SUMMER 5

Will the monsoons ever come?
Will water rise in the wash?
Will we be able to fish 
like Dad and I did last year?
Once more?

Yes, the monsoons will bring
the river back and water 
will rush through the wash.
But now it is summer
and the bats fly at night
swoop in circles catching bugs
and sunsets come 
in reds, purple, orange.
How pretty.

  This poem is inspired by NOW IT IS WINTER, written by Eileen Spinelli,  Her picture book was illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma, published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, copyright 2004.  And, as you can see this is the fifth day I've been adding verses to this poem.  Our monsoons haven't started yet, but they should be arriving soon, in the meantime we fight the heat.  It does explain why our kids get out of school in May.  One wonders what people did before air conditioning.  Oh, I do remember--swamp coolers.And I remember driving over desert roads with a canvas bag hanging from the radiator for extra water to keep the radiator cool.
    What things do you do to stay cool in the summer?  This is your challenge for today, write a poem about things to do to stay cool.  When I was young I'd go to the matinee at the movie theater, or to the library to stay cool on hot summer days.  Have fun writing your poem.

A children's poem presents unlimited possibilities.

ONE HOT SUMMER 4

Will the monsoons come?
Will I help Grandpa
gather Saguaro fruit
and desert marigolds?
Will we look for horned toads
and gila monsters
near the arroyo?
Once more.

Yes, monsoons will come
to you and Grandpa
and to the horned toads
and gila monsters.
All will be there.

But now it is summer.
Now we lick
prickly pear popsicles.
So cool, so delicious.
Taste it.

     I'm still using NOW IT IS WINTER, written by Eileen Spinelli for my mentor text.  What is your favorite food to eat in summertime?  Can you write a poem about summer foods today?  Have fun writing.

   It is Friday again and time for the Poetry Friday Round Up.  A chance for you to read more poetry by children's poets.  The Round Up is hosted by Jama Rattigan today at her blog Jama's Alphabet Soup.  Hop over to the party and enjoy the poetry.  Thanks, Jama for being the hostess with the mostess for us.



Reading children's poetry is a great way to build vocabulary.

ONE HOT SUMMER 3

Will the monsoons come?
Will I race outside laughing
with my mouth open
to catch rain drops
on my tongue
once more?

Yes, monsoons will come
and raindrops
will fall on your tongue
and laughter too.

But now it is summer.
Now you can stand in the shade
to feel a few degrees cooler
playing shadow games.
What fun!

    It is three days now that I have been using Eileen Spinelli's NOW IT IS WINTER as my mentor text.
What games do you like to play in summertime?  Can you write a poem about your favorite game?  Have fun writing.

Children's poetry must be written with enthusiasm.