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.

SO HUNGRY

I'm so hungry
I could eat a bear.
My teddy says,
"Don't go there!"

I'm so hungry
I could eat a horse.
"Don't eat me!"
says my horse, of course.

I'm so hungry
I could eat a cow.
"If I'm eaten,
there's no milk, now."

I'm no longer hungry
Don't want to be fed.
I think I'll return
to my bed instead.


     This is not the first poem I've written about being hungry.  What kind of poem could you write to answer the question: How hungry are you?  What would you eat?  Have fun writing a food poem today.

A WORLD FULL OF B'S

Suppose the world
was all full of bees.
There'd be buzzing and bumbling
in all of the trees.

A bandanna wearing buffalo 
would play a banjo tune,
while Belugas and baboons
blow bubbles at the moon.

And an itty-bitty baby bear
hip-hops and bops in his chair
while a badger, none too soon,
plays a big, long, black bassoon.

Oh life would reveal so many mysteries
if the world was filled with all these B's.

    I think the summer heat is getting to me.  It was 107 again today, and can you guess what the predicted temperature is for tomorrow?  This poem is a riff on the letter B, can you pick your own letter and write a poem with lots of that letter?  Have fun.

LET'S TRY B

Betty, a blue bottle rocket,
buzzed through the bluebells.
"Bring me some buttons
and a blanket for my bed."

Barney, a boxer,
begged of his buddies,
"Bring me a bone
or a biscuit to eat."

Bertha, a brown bear,
bragged to her babies,
"I'll eat more bean burritos
than that big blue buffalo."

    I did have fun trying to think of vocalizations that started with the letter B. I didn't use barked, brayed, bawled, or blubbered.  So now it is your turn, can you write your own poem today with lots of B's?
    Did you know that a bottle rocket is a dragonfly?  These are all tongue twisters.  I think National Tongue twister Day falls in February, I'll have to check when that is.

THE CROCODILE

Knocking at my door
was a crocodile.
He opened his mouth
to a toothy smile.

I was scared.
Thought I'd be dead.

Tick-or-treat,
was what
the crocodile said.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.


     I had so much fun making the illustration for the poem today.  One nice thing about the quiet time of drawing is that it lets my mind work on the poem some more.  Can you see how this poem could be done in two voices?  Or the children could say the "Trick-or-treat" while the adult recites the rest of the poem.
      Now using this pattern with the same opening line "Knocking at my door" you could use other animals.  I tried a bear next.

Knocking at my door
was a grizzly bear.
He had big teeth 
and smelly hair.

And the rest of the poem stays the same.  
Or, a flamingo.

Knocking at my door
was a flamingo.
She had long legs
to go, go, go.

She was so pink,
almost red.

Trick-or-treat,
was what 
the flamingo said.

     I think I could go on with many more animals.  I'm going to try.  So, your challenge for today is to write your own poem about what is knocking at your door.  Have fun thinking of the possibilities.  Happy Poetry Friday.
    The Poetry Roundup is over at Live Your Poem.  Thank you Irene Latham for hosting us today.

THE BEAR

There is a bear in the forest
with long dark nails.
He has a shabby coat
and a short brown tail. 

He digs in the dirt
to eat snails and grubs.
He muches all the blackberries
that he takes off our shrubs.

He stands in the river
catches fish in the steam
and he eats everything
that he's ever seen.


     What do you know about bears?  Can you write about a bear for your poem today? 
Happy October.

Christmas Star

Mama Bear
asked her
sweet little cub,
"What would you like
for Christmas, Dear?"

Little Bear thought
in deep silence
and finally said,
"Mama, I want 
a star."

Mama Bear
looked both
near and far,
but she couldn't find
Little Bear's star.

So she made
sugar cookies
shaped like a star
and sprinkled
sugar glitter.

Then she said
to Little Bear,
"There you are."

"These cookies
are very sweet,
but they're something 
to eat.  They aren't 
the star I was after. "

Perplexed, 
Mama Bear
picked up her knitting
and had inspiration.
She stitched in stars
on her creation.

"These stars
are cuddly warm,
but a sweater is 
something to wear.
It isn't a star 
that floats 
in the air."

"Your star wish will be 
the death of me, "
said Mama Bear
most fretfully.

Which is why,
if you look 
in the sky
this very night
you'll see
Mama Bear and
her little cub
drifting on air 
high above,
shining as stars
radiating love.
Ursa Major
and Ursa Minor
ladling Christmas cheer.


     This poem (oh, I hesitate to call it that) needs lots of work.  Let's just call this one a draft.  I've got the basic outline of what I want to do with it. But that's the way it rolls on some days.  It is a good idea.
    Part of this came from the fact that last night was a new moon and it was supposed to be the best night for viewing the geminaids astrological shower, except we had rain and a total cloud cover so if the stars were out there doing their thing, I certainly couldn't see it.  So, to cheer me up, your challenge for today is to write a poem about stars.  If you don't like that challenge, write something, anything.  Have a great weekend.

Poetry Friday: Today's Roundup is at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Enjoy!

A Bear Comes to Tea.

If a bear comes to a tea party

he'll want to eat

extremely hearty.

He'll nosh on salmon,

shrimp and trout,

and will not leave

when you want him out.

     I'm still playing with the tea party.  When I first drafted this poem, I had, " trout, salmon and shrimp."  I just couldn't get a good rhyme for shrimp.  So I had to change the line and order for the fish.  I tried ending the line with "shrimp, too" so I could rhyme with "too." but that sent the poem into a dead end also.  Today, instead of writing a poem, can you read to find poem with an end rhyme that you think is elegant (clever)?  If you find one you especially like will you share it with me in the comments.please?