MY CLUB HOUSE

I'm building a club house
in my back yard
with cardboard boxes
it shouldn't be hard.

I'll hoist up a flag,
watch it unfurl
with words to say--
JUST FOR GIRLS.

I'll invite my friends,
bring in my toys
and we can try to keep out
the pesky boys.
(Like my brother,
who is sure
to yell to my mother,
all through the day,
"Sister won't let me play.")

     Have you ever built a club house out of boxes?  Have you built a train, a boat, or a space station?  Can you write a poem today about what you might build if you had the boxes?  Who would you invite to play with you?  What would you do?  Would your club house have rules?  Have fun with your imagination and try writing a poem.  Have an adventure today.

UCKY EYES

I woke up this morning
with crud in my eyes,
felt like a boulder
was there in disguise.

The sandman 
came to visit me.
When I blinked my eyes
it felt gritty.

I love my brother.
He's very young.
Sometimes I wish
he'd watch his tongue.

He pointed at me
and to my surprise
He said,
Look, you have
poopy-eyes.

     I'm being naughty this morning.  Normally, I wouldn't present a poem with the word poopy in it, but this was so much fun to say "poopy-eyes," that I couldn't control myself.   Used this way, I think it is a perfectly good word.   Have you ever heard this term to describe the junk you get in the corners of your eyes when you sleep?  
         Do you know what it means when I write, I wish he'd watch his tongue?  It means to think about and be careful about what is said.  Maybe I should have watched my tongue this morning.  What do you think?  During World War II the military used the phrase, Loose lips, sink ships.
        Can you write your own poem today about what it felt like when you got up this morning?  What was the first thing you thought?  Have fun writing.

       Yes, I know I've screwed up the meter on the second stanza.  I've switched the accents on gritty,  if you have a suggestion for fixing this problem, please leave it in the comments below.  I appreciate your help.  

Happy May 5th, Boys' Day

Carp fly over
the doorstep.
Carp fly over
the porch.

Bright orange fish
catch the breeze
flap like kites.
One big one
two smaller ones
the  fish are my dad,
my brother and me.

Mom made sure
the fish flutter
to celebrate
boys' day;
to mark 
how many men
live in our house,
to celebrate here
in Hawaii.

     Is Boys' Day celebrated in your community?  Your challenge for today is to write a tribute poem to a boy you know.  What makes him special?  Why is it great to be a boy?  Have fun writing. 
    

POCKETS

Dad's pockets hold
his wallet and car keys.

Mom's pockets have
a tissue for her sneeze

My sister's pockets
hold a nail file
and a package of gum.

My baby brother's pocket
holds a box
of golden raisins.

My pockets hold
all sorts of things,
a rock, a beetle,
an extra yo-yo string.

There is also something
that might be a surprise.
It is a poem
I'm trying to memorize.

     What is in your pockets?  Can you write a poem about that?  Or better yet read some poetry today and try to find a poem you would like to memorize.  Write the poem out and put it in your pocket so when you have a few moments you can take it out and work on memorizing your poem.
      I'm going to try to memorize more poems this year.  Won't you join me?  You never know when having a poem can come in handy.  Have a fun Sunday.

VERY SHAKA

This poem is another gift that came from meeting Welena, a three year-old Hawaiian girl.  The "shaka" is a hand gesture used in Hawaii.  It consists of the thumb and pinkie extended and the other three fingers curled close.

Originally the meaning was hang loose.  Meaning take it easy, relax, but the gesture has transcended to mean "Aloha" spirit.  The gesture traveled widely among surfers and is now firmly in our non-verbal vocabulary.


Very Shaka.
Very Shaka.
Aloha, hang loose.
Aloha, hang loose.
How are you today, Bro?
Very well, I thank you.
Just hang loose.
Just hang loose.


    I can not take credit for this poem as it is based on a traditional nursery song in French, Fere Jaqua.  So I know you can figure out the hand gestures that go with the poem.  Your challenge for today is to take any nursery rhyme and make up your own words to go with it.  Have fun playing with this challenge.  I hope you have a very relaxing day filled with Aloha spirit.

My Mittens

It is getting cold.
I need a hat.
Can you tell me where
my mittens are at?

My boots are too small.
I need a new jacket.
Found one of my mittens
by my tennis racquet.

This mitten is too small.
Where is the other?
If I can find it
they'll go to my brother.

Nothing fits because
I've gotten older.
And the weather is getting
much, much colder.

Play 

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     I think if you click on the red Play above, you'll be able to hear me read this poem. I'm experimenting with this.  I hope it works.

     Is it starting to look a lot like Christmas in your part of the world?  Do you have new winter clothes to wear?  How do you stay warm?  What advice do you think your hat, scarf or mittens might give to you about not getting lost?  Can you write a persona poem today from the point of view of some piece of your winter clothes?  (Some people call this a mask poem--one that gives voice to an object.)  Oh, I hope you have fun writing today.  I know I will.  If you'd like to share your poem, please leave it in the comments below.
     Thank you for stopping by.  It's time for hot chocolate.

THE COLOR PINK

Pink

I think

is my

favorite color.

Pink 

looks better

on my sister

than on my brother.

Pink 

I think

looks the best

on these

baby birds

in their nest.

     What else can you think of that is pink?  What is your favorite color?  Can you write a poem today that includes a color?