LITTLE CAT

The birds sing.
     Little cat creeps.
The birds perch.
     Little cat leaps.

All the birds have flown away.
Little cat wants to play.

He sits on his haunches,
     flicks the tail at the tip.
He washes his face
     and licks his lip.


     Do you have a cat?  More people in the United States have cats than dogs.  It did used to be that way.  Dogs used to be the more popular pet.  Can you try writing a poem today about your pet?  It doesn't have to be a real pet.  It can be one from your imagination.  It might be a llama, a hippo, or a bear.  Anything is OK for your poem.  Just have fun writing.

THE EARTH CRACKED OPEN: A Lament

I opened my mouth
and tasted the sky.
I opened my heart
and heard birds cry.

Their conversations
were noisy and deep.
In many tongues,
I heard them weep.

The earth is changing.
It's no longer the best.
We birds can't find
a good place to nest.

Temperature is rising.
Can't take the heat.
Like canaries in coal mines
birds die in the street.

Bees leave the hive.
They're in another zone.
Ask how we can do this
to the place we call home.

     A lament is a poem expressing grief or sorrow.  It is a poem of mourning.  I wrote this poem on Earth Day last week.  I'm very concerned about what we are doing to care for our planet, even though I live on a small island in the Pacific Ocean.  I garden and recycle.  What are some things you do to care for our land and oceans?  Can you write a love poem today to the earth?  Have fun brainstorming and then writing your poem.

Me ka mahalo nui.   
With deep gratitude. 

 What can you do to show your 
gratitude to the earth?

LITTLE CAT

The birds sing.
Little cat creeps.
The birds sing.
Little cat leaps.

Birds have all
flown away.
Little cat
is here to stay.

He sinks on haunches,
flicks his tail at the tip.
He washes his face
and licks his lip.

   I like that verb creep I used in the second line.  When was the last time you crept?  Why were you going slow?  Why were you trying to be quiet?  Did you want NOT to be noticed?  Were you trying to surprise someone?  Since I think creep is such a great verb, how about using it in a poem today?  Have fun writing creepy poems today.

   Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day.  Are you carrying a poem with you to share with friends today?  What poem have you chosen?  What poems did your friends share with you?  I hope you have a happy poetry day.

STOMP

Stomp, stomp.
Stomp, stomp.
I'm doing an elephant stomp.

Stomp, stomp.
Stomp, stomp.
Through the jungle I clomp.

Stomp, stomp.
Stomp, stomp.
On big feet I stand.

Stomp, stomp.
Stomp, stomp.
Leaving footprints in the sand.

Stomp, stomp.
Stomp, stomp.

 This is another of the exercise poems.  Can you walk like an elephant with big heavy feet?  Have you ever watched how different animals move?  Yesterday I was watching a myna bird as it hopped along the ground.  Then I saw a chicken scratching in the dirt.  Can you try writing your own exercise poem today?  Pick an animal or an object and tell us how it moves.  Do you remember other action poems like, I'm a Little Teapot, or My Grandfather's Clock?  What other action rhymes can you add to my list?  Have fun writing you poem, and if you'd like, you can share your creation in the comments below.

   Today is Poetry Friday and Katie at Logonauts 
is hosting us this week.  Go here for more poetry.  Thanks Katie, for gathering us all together this week. 
   You'll even find the poem BIRDS I wrote for Mary Lee Hahn as part of our Summer Poetry Swap. What fun. 

I hope you have a great week with poetry.  Happy Poetry Friday.

This is your world, create the one you'd like to live.

MORE RAIN

Yesterday it rained.
The worms came out to play.
Today the birds sing.
This is what they say:
"My worm is bigger than your worm."

Let the landscape speak to you.

 

BIRD TRILLS

Winter is coming.
The birds all trill.
Snowflakes will fall
to give us a thrill.

The geese all gather,
fly south through the sky.
Why do I feel sad to say,
"Good Bye?"

     Happy December, the last month of the year.  What is your favorite month?  Why?  Each month has something special about it. Can you write a poem today about your favorite month?  Have fun writing.

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.

TODAY

Today,
I'll try to
unbutton myself
let my heart
fly free.

Today,
I will let
my imagination
soar like a hawk
searching the skies.

Today,
I will chase
clouds floating above
changing shapes
on a whim.

Today,
I will sing
to the birds
and find happiness
in every flower.

Today
I will have fun
being me.
I will write
this poem
for you.

   What will you do today?  What makes you happy?  What gives you joy? As long as you're living, you might as well live big.  Have fun today.  What can you do to help someone else along their journey today? Now, can you take your answers to these questions and shape them into a poem? Have a grand time writing.

It rained today,
I say hooray.
The desert flowers bloom.

The cactus grow,
what do you know?
Saguaro blossoms coming soon.

   Spring is definitely coming to the desert.  Desert marigolds are blooming.  My daffodils have yellow trumpets.  I've seen two snakes this last week--a rattler and a corn snake.  The birds are doing their springtime behavior.  There was half an egg shell in the pool today.  Is spring coming your way?  I hope so.  Can you try writing your own spring poem today?  Have fun writing. 

CHORUS

A bird symphony
surrounds
red of cardinal
and gila wood pecker
blue of jay
purple and yellow finch
rosy pink of dove
brown quail and cactus wren
gray of a mocking bird
voices swirl
trill high
sing deep
some tap a beat
the music lifts
pulls my head
higher, higher
makes me feel
like I just might
              Y!
         L
    F

YOUNG CARDINAL SINGS

If I could raise
my song high in the sky
my song would be for love:

But alas, my song
has too heavy notes
too full of all my woes.


    Do you like to listen to the bird songs?  Can you write a poem today about songs or singing?  Or perhaps you'd like to write about a bird you know.  David Elliott has a lovely picture book filled with poems about birds.  On the Wing is illustrated by Becca Stadtlander, published by Candlewick Press.  There is a video here of several of the poems.

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

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Hello Earth,
     How do you do?
Today is the day,
     I celebrate you.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Thank you for mountains
      capped with snow.
Thank you for bird songs
      I'm learning to know.

Thanks for flowers blooming
     on the Palosverde tree
Thanks for sharing
     your earth with me.




     What is one thing you are thankful for about our earth?  Can you write a couplet about that and leave it in the comments below?  Have fun writing your own Earth Day poem.  Can you try an acrostic on Earth Day?

Morning Walk

I paused this morning
on my walk
To stand and listen
to the small birds talk.

Perched high up
in the Paloverde tree
they called to each other
too-whit, too-whee.

Their calling song
made me smile
and helped me walk
an extra mile.


   It is Sunday and it is Vida de Loca day in Tucson.  This is like a big community picnic, where lots of local restaurants have booths to sell ethnic foods.  Early this morning there was a farmers market to sell local produce.  And of course there is music and dancing.  Can you write a picnic poem today?  What fun things happen at your picnics?  Have fun writing.

LAST DAY OF MARCH

Here I am
silly old me;
watching the birds
happy as can be.


  I hope your day is happy too.  Tomorrow starts National Poetry Month--a whole month to celebrate all things poetry.  That makes me REALLY happy.  What makes you happy?  Can you write about being happy for your poem today?  Have fun.

EARLY SPRING

The weather is warm.
The air is dry.
The sky is blue
as the bluest sky.
Wild flowers bloom 
on every hill.
Birds are calling
their lovely trill.
Springtime is coming
what a glorious thrill.



     Today is beautiful and I'm happy and grateful.  What is making you happy today?  Can you write a poem about it? 
     Yesterday morning on my walk there was one bird sitting in the top of the ocotillo singing up a storm.  This morning when I walked past that ocotillo, there were two birds sitting there.  I guess the singing bird found someone to sing with him.  I think my own life is like that.  I have lots of friends around, but unless I open my mouth to sing and say, come join me, new friends don't know they are welcome to come and play.  Who can you sing out to today?

BIRD SONGS

Birds sing a symphony,
some high,
some low--
chirping,
tweeting
as I go
walking along the road.


HUMMINGBIRD

I had a conversation
with a hummingbird,
who stopped at my feeder
for a drink.
I tried to tell him
all my thoughts
and he told me
what I should think.

Can you write your own poem about a bird today?

Goldfinch

Goldfinch at the feeder
finding all they need.
Fluffing out their feathers
cracking open seeds.

Perching on a dowel,
huddling from the wind
they fly to my citrus tree
making branches bend.

Along comes a purple finch,
the feeder has run out.
No more seed for the birds,
they flutter all about.


    I'm thinking of dropping that last stanza.  What do you think?   Happy Saturday.  Today is a great day for staying inside and watching the birds outside.  What birds are in your part of the world?  Can you write a short poem about a bird you see?  Have fun observing.

Dream Poem

I woke up this morning
from a fanciful dream.
Where I directed a musical
beside a forest stream.

Everyone was singing
a light, happy song,
even the cats and dogs
and the birds sang along.

Everyone was smiling
the skies were full of cheer
the music was so pleasant,
we all paused to hear.


    What do you think the folks in my dream were singing about?  What do you think they were wearing?  It did make for a delightful dream.  You should have heard the frogs.  Your challenge for today is to write your own dream poem.  Have fun.

It Rained

On my way home
from my cancelled
swim meet,
hundreds of lizards
were in the street.

They came out
in a blink
to the road
to get a drink.


     Living in the desert, it is always interesting to see what the monsoon rains bring.  Last evening there were hordes of lizards and birds gathering on the pavement.  I remember as a child that this kind of weather would drive thousands of crickets into the streets.  The crickets would gather in the light in front of stores.  The store owners would put out sulphur to kill the crickets.   It smelled like rotten eggs.  You could hear the crunching sound of crickets being crushed by cars in the street.
    Have you had any rain lately?  What changes do you notice?  Can you write a poem about the changes rain brings?  Have fun writing.