Today is Cinco de Mayo, the day for pinatas, fiestas and family fun as people celebrate Mexico's independence.
Today is Boy's Day as families pay tribute to the males in their family. Paper fish kites fly from porches to announce the number of males in the family.
Today is World Day of Prayer, a day to pray for peace and to offer thanks for all our blessings.
I couldn't decide which holiday to write my poem about for today. I've already written a poem about Cinco de Mayo here.
I've also written a poem for Boys Day, a holiday celebrated here in Hawaii.
So I guess I'm writing a prayer poem.
MY PRAYER FOR YOU
A star is named for you.
The moon looks pleased for you, ever changing.
The sun shines too.
Pheasants chuck in the grass.
Roosters watch them pass
and egrets keep an eye out.
It takes all kinds.
Each of us is born at a different time.
Each of us is different.
I wish we had more time together.
Shillings and pounds, how does it end?
Forget war, I wish you peace.
This is free verse poem written in triplets. Can you try writing your own free verse poem today? What do you want to tell the world about your world today? What do you want to celebrate? Have fun writing your poem. Tell it slant.
Showing posts with label free verse poem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free verse poem. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
COLORS BLEND TOGETHER*
Yellow and orange hibiscus ,
green fields and mountains,
anthurium and red ti leaves,
brown monk seals and plovers,
blue waves and blue, blue sky,
white clouds in the wind,
egrets winging by,
a rainbow necklace overhead
making a strong people--
all the races, blended together,
here in Hawaii,
the land where all colors
call it home.
Aloha.
* From a line, All colors blended together, suggested by Clo Ann Smith. This free verse poem is the result of her suggestion. Can you try writing your own free verse poem about where you live? Can you include at least one simile? Have fun writing today.
What pictures does this poem make you think about?
Ho-ne-ho-ne: adj. Playing tricks, teasing, fretting; not letting one alone.
A human being is nothing but a story with a skin around it. Fred Allen
green fields and mountains,
anthurium and red ti leaves,
brown monk seals and plovers,
blue waves and blue, blue sky,
white clouds in the wind,
egrets winging by,
a rainbow necklace overhead
making a strong people--
all the races, blended together,
here in Hawaii,
the land where all colors
call it home.
Aloha.
* From a line, All colors blended together, suggested by Clo Ann Smith. This free verse poem is the result of her suggestion. Can you try writing your own free verse poem about where you live? Can you include at least one simile? Have fun writing today.
What pictures does this poem make you think about?
Ho-ne-ho-ne: adj. Playing tricks, teasing, fretting; not letting one alone.
A human being is nothing but a story with a skin around it. Fred Allen
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
USEFUL
On my walk today
I found
the broken half
of a hatched
bird shell.
I looked around
for the tree
with a nest
it could
have come from.
Nothing,
no trees close,
only a palm
on the other
side of the road.
I thought
of a bird's habit
of cleaning
its nest
by removing shells.
Flying spent eggs
away from their nest,
getting rid
of the things
no longer useful.
On my way home
I too wondered
what I could
get rid of
that was no longer
useful.
I am so happy to finally be home. I'm busy sorting through mail, getting my traveled clothes washed and put away, and taking care of many of the small details that slipped while I was gone. As you can see I'm thinking about the things that need to be cleaned up and organized. What in your life needs tro be cleaned up or organized? What can you get rid of? Can you write a poem about that today? Have fun writing.
I found
the broken half
of a hatched
bird shell.
I looked around
for the tree
with a nest
it could
have come from.
Nothing,
no trees close,
only a palm
on the other
side of the road.
I thought
of a bird's habit
of cleaning
its nest
by removing shells.
Flying spent eggs
away from their nest,
getting rid
of the things
no longer useful.
On my way home
I too wondered
what I could
get rid of
that was no longer
useful.
I am so happy to finally be home. I'm busy sorting through mail, getting my traveled clothes washed and put away, and taking care of many of the small details that slipped while I was gone. As you can see I'm thinking about the things that need to be cleaned up and organized. What in your life needs tro be cleaned up or organized? What can you get rid of? Can you write a poem about that today? Have fun writing.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
CLEMATIS
Purple clematis grow
under the mailbox.
Purple for loyalty.
Purple for royalty.
The promise for poetry,
the prayer for possibilities
for tomorrow.
Reaching
skyward climbing
higher and higher
on the old fence post.
What is your favorite flower? Set a timer for sixty seconds and make a quick list of every flower you know. Can you pick one of the flowers to write your own poem today?
Poetry speaks to us in the language of flowers.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
December
Sunsets come earlier
and the sunrise
waits for a later time
making more of the night
leaving me in darkness
except for the bright
of a too white
December moon.
I don't know why, but over the last couple of years I've been learning more about the moon, Indian legends and other folklore about luna. Maybe it is my midnight writing. I used to write in my closet at night, now I'm in my studio with windows. So, of course I look out into the desert at night. I find it interesting that half of our lives is spent in darkness. Most people sleep through it. Your poetry challenge for today is to write a night time poem. Have fun writing.
The moons of our lives are a blessing.
and the sunrise
waits for a later time
making more of the night
leaving me in darkness
except for the bright
of a too white
December moon.
I don't know why, but over the last couple of years I've been learning more about the moon, Indian legends and other folklore about luna. Maybe it is my midnight writing. I used to write in my closet at night, now I'm in my studio with windows. So, of course I look out into the desert at night. I find it interesting that half of our lives is spent in darkness. Most people sleep through it. Your poetry challenge for today is to write a night time poem. Have fun writing.
The moons of our lives are a blessing.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
THE DANCER
Play the music,
her toes tap
her heels click.
She bends her knees
for a gentle kick,
first left
then right.
Her hips sway.
She does a twist
at her waist.
Her arms reach
out then up.
Her shoulders drop
and she moves
to find her groove.
She's dancing
free and wild,
making the music her own
and the best
is her smile
I want to embrace
as she dances
to her music.
Have you ever listened to music that made you want to get up and dance? Have you been to a concert where everyone sat in their assigned seats and then someone got up to dance in the aisle? Have you watched a toddler dance to music? What happens to keep us from enjoying music like a baby? Your poetry challenge for today is to write a poem about how music makes you feel. Pick whose voice you want to write your poem in and have fun dancing words on your paper.
Dance with me, dance with me under the moonlight.
her toes tap
her heels click.
She bends her knees
for a gentle kick,
first left
then right.
Her hips sway.
She does a twist
at her waist.
Her arms reach
out then up.
Her shoulders drop
and she moves
to find her groove.
She's dancing
free and wild,
making the music her own
and the best
is her smile
I want to embrace
as she dances
to her music.
Have you ever listened to music that made you want to get up and dance? Have you been to a concert where everyone sat in their assigned seats and then someone got up to dance in the aisle? Have you watched a toddler dance to music? What happens to keep us from enjoying music like a baby? Your poetry challenge for today is to write a poem about how music makes you feel. Pick whose voice you want to write your poem in and have fun dancing words on your paper.
Dance with me, dance with me under the moonlight.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
COUNTING BUTTERFLIES
Today, I count butterflies
in my backyard.
First, I see the sulphers
flutter by to pause
on the trumpet vine
uncoil the long proboscis
drink a sweet drop of nectar
before flittering off
in a yellow dance, like music
like rain drops on leaves and petals.
Then I see an orange and black.
It could be a Viceroy or a Monarch.
I must count the bars on forewings
to be certain.
Not like their orange and brown cousin
the Painted Lady who flies through my yard
stopping here and there to spread wings.
And the Swallowtails come
with red dots on their hindwings
It makes me think of tuxedos,
this marvelous creature of flight.
I wonder what it must be like
to start life as a lowly caterpillar
crawling on leaves, munching,
munching, until it hides
in a cocoon. Then to evolve
into something beautiful,
lighter than light, so butterflies
can take flight.
And I know, I too
soon must change.
My time is near.
Today's poem is a free verse poem. Can you write your own free verse poem about what you see in your room, or backyard? Have fun.
in my backyard.
First, I see the sulphers
flutter by to pause
on the trumpet vine
uncoil the long proboscis
drink a sweet drop of nectar
before flittering off
in a yellow dance, like music
like rain drops on leaves and petals.
Then I see an orange and black.
It could be a Viceroy or a Monarch.
I must count the bars on forewings
to be certain.
Not like their orange and brown cousin
the Painted Lady who flies through my yard
stopping here and there to spread wings.
And the Swallowtails come
with red dots on their hindwings
It makes me think of tuxedos,
this marvelous creature of flight.
I wonder what it must be like
to start life as a lowly caterpillar
crawling on leaves, munching,
munching, until it hides
in a cocoon. Then to evolve
into something beautiful,
lighter than light, so butterflies
can take flight.
And I know, I too
soon must change.
My time is near.
Today's poem is a free verse poem. Can you write your own free verse poem about what you see in your room, or backyard? Have fun.
All nature sings in children's poetry.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Sorry to be slow with my posting for yesterday, but it was my birthday and I was having a grand time. I went to a Friends of the Library book sale and bought lots of great picture and poetry books. Lots of books at $10 a bag. And here is a poem about what happened with my birthday dinner.
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Eating dinner,
my cards and presents
by my plate.
Unwrapping gifts
my family knows me
I get a new journal.
The cake is chocolate
the ice cream too.
I look up to see
movement out the window.
Surprise!
There in my backyard
is a bobcat.
She slowly walks closer.
She has come to give me
one more present
the gift of her sighting.
Do I need the last line of this poem? Or, should I switch the last two lines? Can you see how, "There in my backyard/ is a bobcat." is more exciting than There is a bobcat/ in my backyard? The order of the words helps to build excitement.
Can you write a free verse poem about what you did today?
I feel wonderfully blessed to have so many friends sending greetings for my birthday via email and Facebook. Thank you all. I'm such a lucky girl.
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Eating dinner,
my cards and presents
by my plate.
Unwrapping gifts
my family knows me
I get a new journal.
The cake is chocolate
the ice cream too.
I look up to see
movement out the window.
Surprise!
There in my backyard
is a bobcat.
She slowly walks closer.
She has come to give me
one more present
the gift of her sighting.
Do I need the last line of this poem? Or, should I switch the last two lines? Can you see how, "There in my backyard/ is a bobcat." is more exciting than There is a bobcat/ in my backyard? The order of the words helps to build excitement.
Can you write a free verse poem about what you did today?
I feel wonderfully blessed to have so many friends sending greetings for my birthday via email and Facebook. Thank you all. I'm such a lucky girl.
Editing a poem is like picking fleas from a monkey's back.
Friday, May 8, 2015
TWILIGHT
This light pushes through clouded glass,
a fading of visions. The sun has passed fiery red,
birds settle for the night, only the owl
begins his evensong. The leaves still on the trees
have lost their color and begin to stir.
The children called from their play
pedal bicycles home. The table set for the evening meal
and the dog fed. Now is the time
of the clock's unwinding. The son tells the father
of the weekend scout jamboree.
The daughter shares the sleep-over invitation.
The mother asks about homework and the father
lets the weight of the day slip
from his shoulders, considers how bright
these stars will shine.
The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Michelle Barnes today on her blog Today's Little Ditty. She also has a fun poetry challenge going for this month suggested by Nikki Grimes. Thanks for hosting us, Michelle.
a fading of visions. The sun has passed fiery red,
birds settle for the night, only the owl
begins his evensong. The leaves still on the trees
have lost their color and begin to stir.
The children called from their play
pedal bicycles home. The table set for the evening meal
and the dog fed. Now is the time
of the clock's unwinding. The son tells the father
of the weekend scout jamboree.
The daughter shares the sleep-over invitation.
The mother asks about homework and the father
lets the weight of the day slip
from his shoulders, considers how bright
these stars will shine.
The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Michelle Barnes today on her blog Today's Little Ditty. She also has a fun poetry challenge going for this month suggested by Nikki Grimes. Thanks for hosting us, Michelle.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Dear Friend,
Send me the song
of a cactus wren
trilling and hauntingly sweet.
By the tune
I will know
you are there, still
in the desert,
where wide skies unfurl
pink, purple, red;
where Saguaros rise
in benediction
and living is
a devotion.
I've been busy today making Prickly Pear jelly. I covered my arms with leather gauntlets and wore leather gloves, but still the spines went through my gloves and clothing. That is the hardest part of making the jelly. What is something hard or difficult for you to do? Can you write a hard poem today? (That was a little pun.) Do have fun writing your own poem.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
SOON MONSOONS
Hot winds
bounce thin branches
of the mesquite tree.
For lack of rain,
the paloverdes
have lost all their
tear drop leaves.
Date palms flap
and everyone,
everyone waits
for monsoons--
soon monsoons.
Please hurry.
The Paloverde tree has green stems and leaves. The bark of the tree can photosynthesize. In the hot weather the tree loses it's leaves so it won't lose moisture through the leaves.
The leaves are like tiny little tear drops.
Your challenge for today is to write a poem about your favorite plant. Have fun writing.
bounce thin branches
of the mesquite tree.
For lack of rain,
the paloverdes
have lost all their
tear drop leaves.
Date palms flap
and everyone,
everyone waits
for monsoons--
soon monsoons.
Please hurry.
 | ||
| Paloverde trees without leaves, notice the clouds gathering in the background. |
 | |||
| Green twigs on the Paloverde |
The leaves are like tiny little tear drops.
 |
| All photos, copyright 2014 by Joy Acey |
Your challenge for today is to write a poem about your favorite plant. Have fun writing.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
SUMMER 2014
Summer arrives
and it's HOT.
Leaves wilt,
Saguaro blossoms
last less than a day.
The doves, pigeons
and the quail
scope out swimming pools
to watch and drink.
The gila woodpecker
takes his fill
and the hummingbird feeder.
Lizards laze on walls
and even search for cracks
in the doors to catch
a cool breeze
from the air conditioning.
It is 108 degrees today. We're all counting the length of triple digit days. This is a free verse poem that describes life in the desert. Can you write your own poem about what the weather is like in your part of the world? Do have fun writing.
I've been having fun making poetry boxes this week. I'll explain tomorrow. I also read that tomorrow in National Doughnut Day, so I'd better work on a poem for that. Yum! I'm hungry just thinking about it.
and it's HOT.
Leaves wilt,
Saguaro blossoms
last less than a day.
The doves, pigeons
and the quail
scope out swimming pools
to watch and drink.
The gila woodpecker
takes his fill
and the hummingbird feeder.
Lizards laze on walls
and even search for cracks
in the doors to catch
a cool breeze
from the air conditioning.
It is 108 degrees today. We're all counting the length of triple digit days. This is a free verse poem that describes life in the desert. Can you write your own poem about what the weather is like in your part of the world? Do have fun writing.
I've been having fun making poetry boxes this week. I'll explain tomorrow. I also read that tomorrow in National Doughnut Day, so I'd better work on a poem for that. Yum! I'm hungry just thinking about it.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
It's Spring!
Spring arrives
and all the world is green,
each green is a green
unlike any other.
Announcing a new season
from the neon
of new little fists
held tightly on sleeping tree branches
fingers eager to unfurl;
to the dark green of tall saguaros,
and deep, dusky green of eucalyptus
each green unique as a fingerprint,
gathering into itself
the joy and sunshine
of celebrating Spring.
Happy first day of spring. I hope there isn't any snow where you are. Your poetry challenge for today is to write your own spring poem. What do you like to do during spring? Fly a kite? Watch frogs? What is your favorite thing about spring? If Spring had advice for you, what would it be? Have fun writing.
and all the world is green,
each green is a green
unlike any other.
Announcing a new season
from the neon
of new little fists
held tightly on sleeping tree branches
fingers eager to unfurl;
to the dark green of tall saguaros,
and deep, dusky green of eucalyptus
each green unique as a fingerprint,
gathering into itself
the joy and sunshine
of celebrating Spring.
Happy first day of spring. I hope there isn't any snow where you are. Your poetry challenge for today is to write your own spring poem. What do you like to do during spring? Fly a kite? Watch frogs? What is your favorite thing about spring? If Spring had advice for you, what would it be? Have fun writing.
Monday, March 3, 2014
SPRING FLOWERS
Outside
her kitchen window
Grandma grew flowers
in special window boxes--
bright red geraniums
that smelled like spicy pepper.
When I see those flowers
I think of Grandma
and the spaghetti she made
every Friday night.
Do flowers make you think of anyone? My favorite flowers are daisies. Every time I see daisies I think of happy times. Can you write a poem today about your favorite flower?
her kitchen window
Grandma grew flowers
in special window boxes--
bright red geraniums
that smelled like spicy pepper.
When I see those flowers
I think of Grandma
and the spaghetti she made
every Friday night.
Do flowers make you think of anyone? My favorite flowers are daisies. Every time I see daisies I think of happy times. Can you write a poem today about your favorite flower?
Monday, January 20, 2014
Monday Morning
Morning sun
cuts over the skyline.
At the top
of the tallest juniper
perches a hawk
scanning the sky,
eyeing a telephone wire
with four noisy starlings.
Some days the poems just come out in free verse. I tried to work this information into a haiku, I certainly felt an "ah-ha" moment when I looked up to see a hawk in the tall juniper, and then I realized why he was turning his head to scan his surroundings. BUT, I had too much information to boil it down to a haiku. I thought about a fib, but that wouldn't work either. I'm just going to have to put more time into this poem if it is going to end up as something other than free verse. I think free verse is a good place to start to shape poems. So, your challenge for today is to spend a few moments just watching and listening. Then quickly write down the information in short items. Can you shape these into a poem so the reader can feel like they are in the same spot you are? Have fun.
Friday, December 13, 2013
CREATION
Words
flow
dance
twirl
jumpleapfly
like learning
bird talk
or the steps
of a Latvian folk dance
like a volcano
erupting
on fire
it feels wonderful
powerful
like being
a Greek Goddess
one of the muses
from my brain
hopefully
to live
in your heart
Today's poem is a great stretch for me. I don't usually write free verse poems for children, but this is what wanted to come from my pen and I'm going to respect that. I'm doing some experimenting with this poem. My own form of CREATION. Does the "jumpleapfly" work all together like an airplane taking off from a runway? I know this poem is a little hard to read because of the lack of punctuation, but I did that intentionally because I wanted to take advantage of the enjambment and I wanted to slow the reader down to enjoy each word created and perhaps to create their own meaning in the spaces between the words.
Your challenge today is to create your own poem. Take any word you like and have fun playing with it. Do you feel like an acrostic or a haiku? Perhaps rhymed couplets or the common verse of quatrains. What ever you try have fun with your own creation.
The Friday Poetry Roundup is being hosted today by Tabatha Yeatts on her blog The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks, Tabatha for hosting the party.
Click on the link to find many other great children's poetry posts today.
flow
dance
twirl
jumpleapfly
like learning
bird talk
or the steps
of a Latvian folk dance
like a volcano
erupting
on fire
it feels wonderful
powerful
like being
a Greek Goddess
one of the muses
from my brain
hopefully
to live
in your heart
Today's poem is a great stretch for me. I don't usually write free verse poems for children, but this is what wanted to come from my pen and I'm going to respect that. I'm doing some experimenting with this poem. My own form of CREATION. Does the "jumpleapfly" work all together like an airplane taking off from a runway? I know this poem is a little hard to read because of the lack of punctuation, but I did that intentionally because I wanted to take advantage of the enjambment and I wanted to slow the reader down to enjoy each word created and perhaps to create their own meaning in the spaces between the words.
Your challenge today is to create your own poem. Take any word you like and have fun playing with it. Do you feel like an acrostic or a haiku? Perhaps rhymed couplets or the common verse of quatrains. What ever you try have fun with your own creation.
The Friday Poetry Roundup is being hosted today by Tabatha Yeatts on her blog The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks, Tabatha for hosting the party.
Click on the link to find many other great children's poetry posts today.
Monday, October 14, 2013
THIS MORNING
The wind sings
a happy song
around dancing leaves.
They flutter up
before flittering
to the ground
in a patchwork quilt.
Soon it will be time
for the lull
of winter sleeping.
But for now
there is wood to chop,
pumpkins to harvest,
apples to press,
and honking geese
to fly south.
There is much to do,
just ask the wind.
In this free verse poem, I wanted the title to be the first line. I thought about using a lower case letter to start "the," but I thought that would look like a mistake. So the English teacher in me, insisted that the first line of the poem begin with a capital letter.
Have you ever thought what the world would be like if we didn't have wind? Can you write your own poem about the wind, or fall today? Have fun writing.
a happy song
around dancing leaves.
They flutter up
before flittering
to the ground
in a patchwork quilt.
Soon it will be time
for the lull
of winter sleeping.
But for now
there is wood to chop,
pumpkins to harvest,
apples to press,
and honking geese
to fly south.
There is much to do,
just ask the wind.
In this free verse poem, I wanted the title to be the first line. I thought about using a lower case letter to start "the," but I thought that would look like a mistake. So the English teacher in me, insisted that the first line of the poem begin with a capital letter.
Have you ever thought what the world would be like if we didn't have wind? Can you write your own poem about the wind, or fall today? Have fun writing.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
PUPPY LOVE
My neighbor's dogs
all furry puff balls
run and leap
with joy
when they see me.
Their greeting
a quick dance
filled with sunshine.
Who could not
feel love
to be greeted so?
They lift my spirits
to soar
like the hawks
circling above.
Do you have a dog? Do your neighbors? What dogs do you know? Is there a dog in the book you are reading? Can you write a poem today about a dog or cat. This is a free verse poem. Can you write a poem today about a dog, or even a cat that you have met? Think about using your five senses to describe the animal. Have fun writing.
Monday, March 11, 2013
BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS
I like to read
and travel
on the magic carpet
a book provides.
I like meeting new people
in books. I like
learning rhyming words
from poems in books.
I like tasting sweets
I can cook from books
and songs I can sing from books.
I've learned to tie knots from books.
I find places to hike,
and meet fairies, elves, and imps
and all sorts of things
from the books that stretch
my imagination.
I never know where
the next book
will take me
which is why
I love
books, books, books.
Can you write a poem today about your favorite book? Or try writing a persona poem in the voice of a book. Have fun.
and travel
on the magic carpet
a book provides.
I like meeting new people
in books. I like
learning rhyming words
from poems in books.
I like tasting sweets
I can cook from books
and songs I can sing from books.
I've learned to tie knots from books.
I find places to hike,
and meet fairies, elves, and imps
and all sorts of things
from the books that stretch
my imagination.
I never know where
the next book
will take me
which is why
I love
books, books, books.
Can you write a poem today about your favorite book? Or try writing a persona poem in the voice of a book. Have fun.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Stretching
He said,
the universal
resolution
is to try
to stretch
more in 2013.
Said that
he'd bend
over and touch
his toes
each morning.
That he'd try
to make
his dollar
go even
further.
And when
it came to
his writing,
he'd try to stretch
the time he had
for laying down
his words.
What resolutions are you considering for the new year? Can you make a list of your resolutions? Please leave one of your resolutions in the comments below.
the universal
resolution
is to try
to stretch
more in 2013.
Said that
he'd bend
over and touch
his toes
each morning.
That he'd try
to make
his dollar
go even
further.
And when
it came to
his writing,
he'd try to stretch
the time he had
for laying down
his words.
What resolutions are you considering for the new year? Can you make a list of your resolutions? Please leave one of your resolutions in the comments below.
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