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.

ELEMONKOE

My ele-mon-koe
is amazing and neat
with an elephant's head,
a monkey body,
and two canoes for feet!

He trumpets his trunk.
Through the river he glides.
Splash and swish.
Eating peanuts and bananas
is his favorite wish.

    Are you tired of manticore poems?   I hope not.  I'm still having fun.  I enjoyed how the children thought canoes would make good feet.  Remember, I live on an island where children participate in canoe teams for paddling competitions.  This is a part of their culture and certainly good material for poems.

       Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day.  Did you carry a poem today to share with friends and family?

It is Poem in Your Pocket Day
and here's what I'll do,
I'll carry a poem
to share with you.

I'll take out my poem
and learn it by heart,
and then you'll think
I'm very smart. 

Eat more poetry!

ELEPHANT WALK

The elephant walks,
thunk, Thunk, THUNK!
With big, flapping ears
and a long gray trunk.

   This is an action rhyme.  Can you walk three steps with heavy feet making the thunk, Thunk, THUNK? Can you use your hands to flap big ears?  Can you make a long trunk using your arms?  Sometimes it is fun to walk like the animals.  For your poetry challenge for today, can you pick an animal and write your own poem about how that animal moves? For more elephant activities check here.
   How about a sloth?

Creep, Cr-e-e-p, cr-e-e-e-p,
a sloth moves through the trees.
He steps 
so slowly
he barely 
s-h-a-k-e-s 
the leaves.

Your poems can inspire others.

  

BEDTIME STORIES

Mom reads to me at bedtime
from my favorite book
about Horton the elephant
who hatched an egg
and how funny
that baby bird looks.

   Does your mom or dad read to you at bedtime?  What is your favorite story?  Every child should have the right to be read to before bed and to have a favorite bedtime story.  Can you write a poem today about your favorite bedtime story?  Or make up your own story. 

THE ELEPHANT

I saw an elephant
at the zoo.
His eyelashes were
long and black.

I thought I saw
him wink at me
so I smiled
and I
winked back.


    What are some other animals you might see in the zoo?  Can you write your own poem about a zoo animal?  Have fun writing.

The Elegant Elephant

An elegant elephant
sat for tea
and used her napkin
most delicately.

She tried to be dainty,
as you may suppose,
when using her napkin
to cover her nose.

But the napkin was huge
and as long as a hose.
When she unfurled it,
it dropped under her toes.


    This is a poem about manners.  Can you try writing your own poem today about something mannerly?  Who might give you advice as when to say please or thank you?  Do you have a favorite animal you can make the main character of your poem?  Have fun writing.

    I was having so much fun saying elegant elephant that I tried to think of other things that would distinguish an elephant, making her elegant.  Do you think she would wear a hat to a tea party?


    A elegant elephant
wore a flowered hat
it slipped off her head
whenever she sat.

THE ANIMALS GIVE THANKS

Thanks said the elephant
eating his grass.
Thanks said the rhino
as he wandered past.

Thanks said the giraffe
munching on leaves.
Thanks said the monkey
swinging through trees.

Thanks said the lion
as he strolled on his way.
We're glad we're not turkeys
on Thanksgiving Day.


    I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with lots to be thankful for.  Can you write a poem for a friend today?  Have fun writing.

DIRTY DOG

My dog is dirty,
he rolled on the path.
I've filled the tub
to give him a bath.

I've looked all around.
He's can't be seen
now that I want
to wash my dog clean.


     Have you ever given a dog a bath?  How about a cat?  Is there another animal you could bathe?
I once scrubbed the side of an elephant.  Just like giving a dog a bath, I got more water on me than I did on the elephant.  I thought about changing this poem to be about an elephant instead of the dog, but I think I want a different poem for that.  Elephants love water and they would be the first ones in the water making mud. 
   Your poetry challenge for today is to write a poem about bathing, grooming or feeding an animal.  Have fun writing.

TOO MANY BABIES

Rebecca has plenty of Beanie Babies®

Her whole collection is something crazy--

      A gorilla,

           An elephant,

                A cockatoo,

     A moose,

          A bunny,

               Or is it two?

She even has a pig

     in a hat of daisies.

And her Dalmatian

     has a tag for rabies.

Altogether Rebecca has 21

     or 19, maybe.

Do you have a collection?   Of rocks, books, baseball cards, or nail polish?  My friend children's poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has a collection of buttons she is adding to. You might enjoy visiting her blog by clicking on her name in the line above.  Can you write a poem about collecting things today?  Have fun writing.

Donna over at Mainelywrite is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup today.  Thanks Donna.  You'll find lots of links to some great children's poems here.

BEING CAT

If I were a cat
I know what I'd do
I curl in your lap
and purr for you.


    Today's poem came because I was reading a poem posted today by US children's poet laureate Kenn Nesbitt.
    His poem starts: If I had a dollar/ I know what I'd do...  and as I reread the lines, I thought, hey, I've written a poem with those same words.  And the more I thought about the lines, the more I knew these lines would make a good outline for lots of poems.  My previous poem was about a dog, so I tried again with a cat.  The poem above is what came out.  But what would happen if you used a bird?

If I were a goldfinch,
I know what I'd do,
I'd sit at the feeder
and sing songs to you.

     Or what happens if I try another animal?

If I were an elephant
living in the zoo
I'd share half my peanuts
and give them to you.

        I could also try a holiday, this is what I ended with for the Fourth of July.
If I were an American flag
I know what I'd do
I'd wave for freedom
in red, white and blue.


    Would the basic pattern work for professions?

If I were my teacher
I know what I'd do.
I'd make recess last all day.
How about you? 

 So now it is your turn.  Think of an animal, an object, or an event, and write your own poem.

If I were (fill in the blank.)
I know what I'd do.
I'd ______________________
____________________ with you.

    Give it a try and see if you have fun.  You are welcome to leave your poems in the comments below.  Have fun playing with this.

LONG TAILED BUSH LIZARD

A long tailed bush lizard
is resting in the sun.
He's waiting for Halloween,
knows it is fun.

Running in and out 
of your jack-o-lantern.
You might call him
a little rapscallion.

Eating flies and gnats
and pumpkin too.
He wishes a Happy Halloween
to me and you.

    What does your dog or cat think about Halloween?  Will your pet wear a costume?  If you had a pet animal how would you dress her for Halloween?  Can you write a poem about that?

Elizabeth, an elephant
wants to dance
for Halloween.
She needs
the biggest tutu
I've ever seen.

When she trick-or-treats
she carries a big sack.
And if you don't feed her
she'll never come back. 

The Elephant

There is an elephant
in my lunchbox.
He's eating all my food.
He never says,
Please or Thank you.
I think he's very rude.

Riding

I've ridden a horse
in Colorado.
I've ridden a burro
in old Mexico.

I've ridden a buffalo
across the plains.
I've ridden a elephant
 at a zoo in Des Plains.

I've ridden a reindeer
across the Ukraine.
I've ridden a camel
'cross sand in Bahrain.

But the best way to ride,
that I like,
is to pedal around
on my two wheel bike.


      Think about all the ways that you move and transport yourself.  Can you make a list of the many transportation vehicles you've been on or in.  Have you ridden in a car, a train, a bus, a plane?  How about a wagon?  Can you write a poem about it?  Where did you travel to?

Have you had enough of food fights?  Here is what the elephants do.

ELEPHANTS

An elephant never

has fights with food.

His mother taught him

it’s downright right rude.

You never know who

might get hit and cry

If you toss your food,

or let it fly.

But down by the river

what an incredible sight!

All through the morning

and into the night

Spraying & splashing

left and right

Elephants are having a

water fight.

So here is today's challenge.  Think of another animal.  We all eat don't we?  So what if those animals had a food fight, or fought over food.

Maybe ants, lizards, monkeys, robins or snakes?  What would it look like?  What would is sound like, or smell like?  And my gracious be sure to include what it tastes like and feels like to the animal.  Have fun and let those words fly.   Have a great day.