FINGER SNAPS

Snapping his fingers.
Dancing on toes.
He has music
wherever he goes.

     Can you snap your fingers?  I remember how I practiced for a long time trying to learn to do this.  You might have fun snapping your fingers as you read this poem.  What other noises can you make?  You can clap.  Can you whistle?  What different noises can you make for your own music?  Once you get a tune going, can you write a poem for your tune?  Have fun making music today.

January 11, 2015

haiku

bells and whistles ring
from the small child's hand-held toy
too, too much noise.

    We rode the train from Shanghai to Beijing.  The train station is adjacent to the airport.  I thought that was really handy.  On our train car we were the only tourists.  I had a great time observing all the locals.  Many of the groups travelling were families. 

IT'S NOISY OUT THERE, FRED

Today I think
there's music 
in the air.
I sit to listen
and the sounds
are there.

The refrigerator hums.
The ceiling fan clicks.
The light makes a buzz,
and the old clock ticks.

So much music
bringing me cheer,
I just need it quiet
so I can hear.

     Close your eyes and listen for a moment.  What do you hear?  How are the sounds inside different from those outside? Does your school sound different from your home?  Is the school library filled with different music than the art room, the music room, the office?  Take you note pad and sit quietly  listening for five minutes.  Write down everything you hear.  Can you shape our notes into a poem.  You can do this exercise with friends to see who has the longest list in five minutes.  Can you turn each sound into a simile?  Have fun writing today.

haiku

Gila Woodpecker
screams from the Saguaro
new motel rises



    I was sitting outside writing, bemoaning the fact that there is construction going on across the canyon making lots of construction noise.  Trucks backing up and ding, ding, dinging.  Hammers pounding, cranes with diesel engines running and voices of men yelling directions at each other.  
   I was working on haiku, so I was trying to figure out a five syllable line for the construction noise and not having much luck when all of the sudden the Gila Woodpecker started screaming and I put the whole thing together.  I love how the last line works for the construction, but also for the living arrangements in the Saguaro.  Sometimes haiku works like that.  The poet is given a gift and it is our job to write the words down.
   Can you write your own haiku today?  Have fun and I hope you are gifted too.

Public Toilets

"Boinga, boinga, boinga,"
said Marie Spears
placing her hands
over her ears.

"That toilet flush,
makes too much noise.
I wonder if
it is as loud
in the BOYS."

     This poem is the result of seeing a little girl in the Ladies restroom.  I'm not sure what this poem means, except that girls are curious about what the boys' bathroom looks like.  And of course, the new low water flush toilets are very noisy.  Personally, I never thought I'd write a poem about public restrooms--but there you go. Anything is fair game when writing poetry.  And I do like saying "boinga, boinga, boinga."  Can you write your own poem that uses a nonsense word?  Have fun.

I'm Awake

A train is whistling

down the track.

Its wheels chug

clackety-clack.

Don't know 

where it's going

or when it'll

come back.

Why does it

waken me

when it's only 

3:03.

    What are some of the noises you hear in the night?  What do you do to get back to sleep?  Can you write a poem about those sounds?