June 8

"Taste me," said the Earth.
"Drink me in.
I smell like a newly mowed
alfalfa field
on a summer's eve.
And if you patiently stand
quietly still
you will see the strobe
of fireflies
with nothing better to do
than flash their lights
looking for a mate
on a warm summer's eve."

Today is International Ocean Day.  It's a day to think about sustainability and what we can do to be better citizens of our Mother Earth and the oceans.  What can you do to make the world a better place?  Try writing a poem from the persona of the Earth or the oceans.  What do you think they would tell us?  Have fun writing.

  The earth belongs to everyone.

FIRE III

Fire works
bursting in air
are a spark of inspiration.

Fire grows
day lilies, aloe, roses
fire pokers, and burning bush.

Fire blows
flame throwers sculpt
a transparent glass lamp.

Fire streaks
across the sunset--
sailors delight.

Fire flies
in the blink
of a lightning bug.

   And to think I thought I'd have a problem coming up with enough fire poems.  I have some more for tomorrow too.  Can you imagine the illustrations for these short poems?  I can.  Can you write a poem today about the sun rise?  Have fun writing.

FIREFLIES

What do fireflies know?
     How to fly high, how to fly low
     Flashing light as they go
     And to hibernate before the snow.

What do fireflies know?
     Even their larvae have a glow.
     Searching for a mate, they put on a show.
     If you catch one, let it go.


     Michelle Barnes and Joyce Sidman have challenged children's poets to try writing a "Deeper Wisdom" poem.  This is a poem based on What Do the Trees Know? by Joyce from her book WINTER BEES & Other Poems of the Cold .  You can find out more about this challenge and suggestions for writing your own poem on Michelle's blog, Today's Little Ditty.