Dragon Lily

Lily, a dragon,
on the first day of school
wore flowers around her neck
so she could look cool.

And when it was time
to go out and play,
Lily just sat
and sniffed on her lei.

So while other dragons
were breathing with flame,
 Lily was sweet
and acted quite tame.

MY PET DRAGON

I have a pet dragon
his name is Fred.
His scales often glow
and turn bright red.
Whenever I whistle
and call him by name,
Fred opens his mouth
and out breathes a flame.
I have to be careful.
You'd think I'd have learned,
that calling out, "Fred!"
will get myself burned.

   Penny Parker Klostermann's new picture book THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT arrived in the mail today.  I won the book from a draw at Renee LaTulippe's blog NO WATER RIVER. The book is lots of fun and it inspired me to write my own dragon poem.  Your poetry challenge for today is to try writing your own dragon poem.  If you had a dragon, what color would it be?  What would you name it?  What would you do with it?  Have fun writing.

Poetry comes with silence.

FIRE II

Fire warms
melts snow and ice
into streams and rushing rivers.

Fire crows
at dawn
Cock-a-Doodle-DOO.

Fire breathes
from the open mouth
of a dragon.

Fire counts
backwards, 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1.
LIFT OFF!

Fire darts
in tropical waters
the firefish swims.

   I'm still having fun playing with fire.  Once I get all of these gathered together, I'll have to figure a logic for ordering them.  Can you write a poem today about the sun?  Have fun.

haiku

Polite dragon sleeps
at the top of the mountain
clouds caught in a lei

Many plumeria trees
are blooming.
You can smell them.

       Here are two form poems for today.  Can you try writing your own form poem today? 

Dragon's Breath

A dragon's breath of green fog
rests in rough ropes
around the base
of  the Catalina Foothills.

As I walked I knew
a knight named Sun
would come
and fly
the dragon
away.



     This is what I saw on my walk today.  The green foggy mist was quite something.  And I bet you were already thinking of "c" words for vocalizations--called, cried, croaked, coughed.  But I didn't want to become predictable or boring.  So I'll save that for another day.  Can you write your own poem today about  a green dragon?  What will the two of you do together?  Doesn't it seem like a perfect day for a dragon visit?
     Have fun writing your poem.

WHAT IS POETRY?

WHAT IS POETRY?
Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history. --Plato
 
What is poetry?
   It is finding the truth, no need to lie.
  It's munching on watermelon and letting seeds fly.
 
   It's a letter that comes with a card in the mail.
  It's the lacy silver threads left by a garden snail. 
 
   It's daffodil trumpets covering the hill.
  It's a deer at the creek, drinking her fill.
 
   It's giggling and laughing and being absurd.
  It's reading a haiku and feeling each word. 


  It's a dragon who blows flames, loud and hardy.


     I added today's line to this progressive poem because I wanted to include some of the magic I feel when a poem just pours out of me--those are the wonderful (wonder filled) days. 
    Are there clouds in your sky today?  (I was going to write "overhead in your sky,"  but I can hear the voice of my friend Sally saying, "Overhead is obvious.  Where else can clouds be but overhead?  Get rid of that word.  You haven't told me anything new.")
   See if you can find some time to just sit and watch the clouds.  What do they make you think of?  Let your mind wander and if this creates enough space for your own poem, have fun writing the words down.  I hope you have a great Sunday with much to be thankful for.  Enjoy the day.

Dream Thrower

I want to be a dream thrower,

like a baseball pitcher,

tossing good dreams to you.

Let me bring the genies,

and the fairies.

I want to be a dream thrower.

Let me sail a magic carpet 

for you to climb upon.

Then we can speed away

on  a wild ride.

I want to be a dream thrower.

Let me call upon the flying dragon,

the hot air balloon,

the pixie dust--

so we can soar 

through the sky.

I want to be a dream thrower,

so I can make tea for you

and invite the King and Queen.  

Let me bring my paint box

and we'll paint everything

in vibrant hues.  

And if I am a dream thrower,

I'm sure you will see

this world is

an exciting place to be;
all we have to do
is use our creativity.  


       I hope this poem got your imagination stirring.  If you were a dream thrower, what dreams would you create?  Please write a poem about your dream. 

Doreen Dragon

Doreen Dragon

dances down the street.

She do-se-do's

past all she meets.

Doreen wears a diadem

on her head.

She doesn't take it off--

even in bed.

Doreen is dainty,

delightful, debonair.

Her diamonds, they dangle

in the air.

This dazzling darling,

she dashes, she darts.

Doreen is a damsel

who has won 
all our hearts.

     Doreen definitely loves jewelry.  Can you see her with her tiara, and rings on her fingers and toes, and ropes and ropes of necklaces?  Can you write a poem about jewelry?  Or do you have a special piece of jewelry that has a story about who gave it to you, or the occasion?  Can you write a poem about that?