ONE HOT SUMMER

Will monsoons ever come?
Will clouds umbrella over the sun
to make shade?
Will they drift into my dreams
like cool dew drops over my pillow?
Will the rains come?

Yes, the monsoons will come.
But now it is summer.
Now the sunlight blazes.
Heat ripples off the pavement.

The morning sun glares
when I pull my covers
over my head.
The birds hide in holes
in ancient Saguaros.
They lift their wings
to say hello.

     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. 
    What things do you like to do in summer?  Can you pick one of your favorites and write a poem about it?  Why is that your favorite summer thing to do?  Have fun writing.

If more people read children's poetry the world would be a better place.

SUNRISE

to the east

Sunrise
to the east
angry red awakening

Birds chatter
doves fly
saguaro to saguaro

In the west
still visible
full moon
in a too blue sky

to the west

   Happy Flag Day.  I learned this morning that flag day was started by a teacher Bernard J. Cigrand in 1885.  He gave his students an essay to write on the meaning and importance of our flag.  This was to commemorate the June 14, 1777 adoption by Congress of the Stars and Stripes in the Flag Resolution of 1777.
I also learned that the state of Arizona has had five flags flying over Tucson--Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, the United States, and the Arizona state flag.  How many flags have flown over your state?  Can you write a flag poem today?
Have fun writing.

On a field of blue
50 white stars stand
each like a brave soldier
with a gun in his hand.

To protect and defend
these United States
as we try to remember
historical dates.

Thirteen stripes shine
in white and red
for the first states
and to honor the dead.

This is our flag
long may it wave.
As we celebrate Flag Day
and the heroes so brave.

HAPPY FLAG DAY

Ladies' Hats

Out in the Sonora desert
where cacti grow fat 

the Saguaros are blooming
like a lady's hat.

    If you look carefully at the white trumpet flowers of the saguaro in my picture, you can see black dots that are bees gathering pollen.  Our flowers are out early this year.  The flowers are usually at their height on Mother's Day, which is why I think of flowered ladies' hats.

   Is there a flower,  plant, bird, or animal that you have noticed this year being early or late?  Your challenge today is to write a poem about being early or late.
Are you a person who is early?  Are you a morning person?  Or are you late, letting your homework go until the last moment?  Do you like staying up late at night?  Have fun writing your poem no matter when you do it.

THE DESERT IS CALLING

Saguaros reach with arms in the air.
Paddles turn purple on the Prickly Pear.

Golden Barrels grow more golden spines 
and red flames on the Ocotillos look fine.

Morings are rosy, get out of bed.
Evenings come in a purple red.

In between the skies are a brilliant blue.
The desert is calling,
                           calling,
                                 calling 
                                       to you.


 What is it like where you live?  What changes do you see as the seasons change and the weather gets colder?  Can you write a poem about that today?

  As it starts to get colder here, we have more birds at the birdfeeder.  More snakes trying to keep warm in the road--bad idea, they get run over by cars.  And more creatures (scorpions and tarantulas) who think my warm house is the best place to be--wrong!  Snakes, and scorpions and tarantulas, oh my!
I hope you have a fun time reading and writing poetry today.