AH, SPRING!

Egrets take to their wing.
Shama trill and lilt notes ring.
The myna birds do their bird thing.

Cows in the pasture bray their moo.
I'm glad to be here, wish you were too.

The man on the corner
is washing his car
all the while singing
to a distant star.

The weather is better.
Yes, it is spring
and I can't think
of a more enjoyable thing.

Aaaaah, Spring. 

   What things do you notice with spring?  Mary Oliver has a line in her poem The Summer Day, "I don't know exactly what prayers is.  I do know how to pay attention."  Every time I pause to notice things around me, I wonder am I paying close enough attention.  I need to practice--a lot.  How do you practice paying attention?  What have you noticed today?  What have you learned today?  Can you try writing a poem about that?    Then try drawing a picture to go with your poem.  Today I was playing with digital drawing.  My picture was drawn on my computer using a program called Paper 53.  I need to learn more about the program, but for now I had fun playing.  I hope you find time to play today, too.  After all, it is spring.

   A shama is a local bird, only found on Kauai and O'ahu.  Also known as the White Rumped Thrush, it has a red-orange chest like a robin.  It is considered to by the most gifted song bird on our island. It was first introduced to Kauai from Malaysia in 1931 and released on O'ahu in 1940.

Nothing is so beautiful as spring-- Gerald Manley Hopkins

Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Swing

Joy Acey 2017

My chicken is a dancing bird,
he really loves the swing.
And every time the sun comes up
we ALL can hear him sing.

  I had fun playing with another bird today.  I'm finding if I use that big U shaped body, I can draw lots of different animals with small heads. (I sketched a hippo, a bear, a cat and a pig.) I had fun playing with my water colors today.  What did you do today that was fun?

  I also played with painting flowers on a vine.

Joy Acey, 2017

  What are you aware of today?  Today, I'm trying to be aware of the vibrations I'm sending out into the Universe.  I want it to be a glorious, happy, positive day.
  I have a friend who told me her mother will not let her into the kitchen to help make meals when my friend is mad or angry.  Her mother says it affects the the food and everyone who eats it will taste the anger.

  Can you write a poem about something you are aware of today?  Have fun writing.

Poetry Friday

Today is Poetry Friday and Keri is hosting the round up on her blog at Keri Recommends.  You'll find more great poetry by folloing her link.

Listen, listen
to your heart, dear.

Hear, hear
the words it sings.

Listen, listen
to your dreams, dear.

Write, write the words
for happiness it brings.

     Dream big and may you find just the right words to share your dreams with others.

     Linda Andersen has interviewed me on her blog A Writer's Playground.  You can find out about Frog poems and me here.

Black-backed Jackals

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

A Jackal sings
with a scream and three yaps,
and if you heard it, you'd ask him
to close his trap.

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

Jackals are efficient hunters of small animals.  They also scavenge the food
from other predators.

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

     Have you ever tried to learn to sing?  What is your favorite song?  Can you write a poem today about singing or playing a musical instrument?  Have fun with this poem.  Good luck writing.

WHO IS IN THE TUB?

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

Someone is in the bathtub
and I bet you'd never guess
it's a hippo in my bathtub
and she's causing quite a mess.

She's splashing out the water
and causing bathtub ring.
But the worst part
of a hippo in my bathtub
is the songs she tries to sing.



      Oh, I had so much fun with today's poem.  It got me to thinking about other animal poems I've written.  I've had penguins driving cars, a flamingo on a skateboard, even a gorilla in my refrigerator.  So, here is your poetry challenge today.  Pick an animal.  (I like to pick ones with interesting or amusing shapes.) Then put the animal in a setting. (I like to pick common place things.  I've written poems about a snake at a birthday party and a mouse in my lunch box.)   Now write a poem about what happens next.   Have fun playing with yur animals and settings.  Happy writing.

     For more poetry fun, the Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted today by Margaret Simon. Head over to Reflections On The Tech to join the party and read more fun poetry.  Thank you, Margaret, for hosting us today.

Morning Walk

I paused this morning
on my walk
To stand and listen
to the small birds talk.

Perched high up
in the Paloverde tree
they called to each other
too-whit, too-whee.

Their calling song
made me smile
and helped me walk
an extra mile.


   It is Sunday and it is Vida de Loca day in Tucson.  This is like a big community picnic, where lots of local restaurants have booths to sell ethnic foods.  Early this morning there was a farmers market to sell local produce.  And of course there is music and dancing.  Can you write a picnic poem today?  What fun things happen at your picnics?  Have fun writing.

SING

Tra-
la-la
Dee-
Dah
A lilt
trips
over
your lips
in a song.



     There are a lot of songs and poems that include a scale for singing. Fa-la-la-la-la-la lah. Do-re-mi, so, your challenge for today is to write a poem that includes some musical notation.  All of our lives need more music, let's see if you can put it into your poem today.

WHILE EATING CUSTARD PIE

Little cat swung
on a crescent moon
singing a jolly,
happy tune.
She sang low,
she sang high
to the stars
in the moonlit sky.

     I went to sleep last night thinking about this poem.  Originally the poem was an excuse to use the line while eating custard pie. But as the night wore on, I rewrote the poem to a Halloween poem with pumpkin pie, and this morning in a brilliant job of editing, I got rid of the pie. (How can you sing and eat pie at the same time?  It is like eating crackers and trying to whistle.) So then I rearranged the lines and ended up with an a-a, b-b rhyming pattern.  I did try a,b, a, b, but I didn't like that as well.  I could have used longer (fewer) lines, but I like these shorter lines for early readers.  You could make the argument that my rhyme scheme now is a, b, c, b for two stanzas, but I'll hold with the idea that what I really have here is rhyming couplets.  I have this theory that most rhyming children's poetry is written in couplets and the a,b,a,b pattern is really a couplet with internal rhyme.  Any comments?
       Your poetry challenge is to write a poem about an animal in the sky. (A Rhino in the sky with diamonds, maybe.)  Have fun writing. 

WEDNESDAY

It's the middle of my week,
neither up or down.
I think I'll sing,
Happy Hump Day
all over town.

I'll sing and be happy
as I go on my way.
Welcoming strangers
on this Camel Day.

    Hey, it is Wednesday.  Have you ever heard it called camel day, or hump day?  What are some other names for the days of the week?  Have you heard of TGIF? Or wash day?  How about movie night?  Or church day?  Pay day is another.  Do you have a math day or poetry day at your school?  Can you try writing a poem about one of the special days at your school?  Have fun writing.

YOUR TONGUE

A tongue is
an amazing thing.
It lets us talk
and helps us sing.

We use it when
we need to chew.
So many things
a tongue can do.

But let me advise
you, this my son,
use caution when
you use your tongue.

Hold your tongue.
Don't speak fast.
Words once uttered
tend to last.

Pain and hurt
can rue the day
when your tongue 
wags away.


     This is a didactic poem. A didactic poem tries to teach.  This one advises to think before you speak.  As Geoffrey Chaucer admonished:
 A tongue cutteth friendship all a-two.       
    Do you have some rules that your parents tell you, or classroom rules?  Maybe say please and thank you, use an inside voice, or chew with your mouth closed?  Can you write your own poem today that offers an instruction?  Have fun writing.  If this doesn't appeal try writing about when the rules go wrong.

Fairy Ride

A fairy rode 
on a rabbit's back,
hopped from here
to the top of Mt. Sac.
They told stories
and sang
along the way.
Yippie-I-O
Kai-Ay.
Hurr-ay.


     There were several rabbits out this morning on my walk.  Would you believe it was already 86 degrees and it wasn't even 7 o'clock yet.  I thought I'd forgotten the first of the month ritual to turn around three times and say, "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit."
Do you know that silly thing for having good luck during the month?  Do you know other rituals or superstitions?  Can you write a poem about that today?

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD

 

A bluebird flew

to the top

of tall pine trees

and sang

his warbling 

song for me.

He sings 

in the morning.

He sings

at noon.

He makes

me happy

with his bluebird tune.

     I had fun playing with art again yesterday, so I had to write a poem to go with my picture.  A poem that is written in response to another piece of art is called an ekphrastic.  Can you write your own ekphrastic poem today?

A WILD RIDE

A fairy rides on a toad 
who is white.
She giggles and laughs
and sings with delight.

They jump through the forest
where her flower beds loom.
And she whispers to me
It's magic that makes
my garden bloom.

Her pansies are bigger
than that white toad,
as together they leap
on down the road.


     Elves, brownies, pixies and fairies, all kinds of wee folk live in the forest.  When she isn't riding on her toad, what do you think the fairy is doing?  Can you write a poem about that today?  Have fun?

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.

Hot Air Balloon

I'm leaving town
I'll be back soon
I'm taking a ride
in a hot air balloon.

The noise is loud
when the burners fire.
The heat takes me up
higher and higher.

I float in the sky.
It's a wonderful thing.
Now I know why
flying birds sing.

     I saw a hot air balloon floating on the horizon on Saturday and I've been thinking about it all week.  I'm going to draw a picture to go with this poem.  It shouldn't be too hard to draw a hot air balloon.  Today try drawing your picture first and then write your poem to go with it.  I'm thinking easy shapes, like an apple or a sail boat.  What do you think?

WINDOW ART

I blow

my breath

across

the glass.

My window

fogs up

really

fast.

I draw

the moon

and watch

it glow.

Making 

art

in my

window.

    This morning on my walk I watched my breath come out of my mouth in a fog.  I tried to blow circles. 
     Your breath is a marvelous thing.  Can you write a list poem today about all the things you can do with your breath? 

  I can whistle,
sing,
blow up a ballloon,
blow bubbles,
croon.

Or pick just one of the things and write about that.  Keep warm.

Thank You

     Yesterday at about 7:00 PM, the 40,000 page view of my blog occurred.  Thank you very much for coming by for a visit.  If you follow me regularly, you have my gratitude.  It is so much fun for me to have you read my poetry.  I appreciate all your help with my blog.  Thank you for giving me a reason for writing my poems. 
     If you have a topic that you think would make for a good poem for children, just leave me a note in the comments and I'd be happy to give it a try. 
     If you know of someone who needs a poem, I'll give that a try too.
     Finally, if you want to share your own poem for children, please leave your poem, or a link to where you've posted your poem, in the comments below.


LET'S CELEBRATE

Let's celebrate
and have a party.
Let's sing and dance
and eat very hearty.

Let's give out hugs
and shout a cheer.
40,000 visitors
have come here.


     Today, let's celebrate you.  What are the good things about being you?  Can you write a poem about that today?

The Elf

A happy elf
worked all year long
and as she worked
she sang this  song:

"Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas,
I make toys
for good
girls and for boys."

All year long
she sang happily
making toys 
for you and me.

Now she rests
on a shelf
glad to be
a hard working elf.

    Happy Poetry Friday.  What are you working on today?  Can you write a poem about Santa's elves today?

    Today's Poetry Roundup is hosted by Robyn Hood Black. Thanks for stopping by today.  For more fun read all the poems I've posted this week.  I have a video with Scarves, audio with two other poems this week.
    

I WROTE A POEM TODAY

Woot! Woot! 
Ya-hoo! Yay!
I want to say
I wrote a poem
for you today.

I feel so good.
I want to sing.
My little heart
beats ting-ting-ting.

Eeee-haw!  
What about you?
Wouldn't you like
to write one too?


     I've been too busy lately and when it came to writing a poem for today, my mind was all in a whirr.  Do you ever feel like that?  There were just too many directions I could go.  Too many ideas in my head.  Too many things I could write poems about, and I wasn't happy with any of them.  So I started to write a poem about how I couldn't write a poem; but when I'd gotten done, I had written a poem.  So I started over with a poem to celebrate the poem I'd written.  I like this poem a lot more.  I like celebrations.  How about you?
     Do you think you could call this poem an ODE?  An ode is a poem in praise of nature, public figures, or events.* I think this poem is in praise of writing a poem, so I can classify it as an ode.

  *Definition taken from A POET'S GUIDE TO POETRY, by Mary Kinzie, University of Chicago Press, copyright 1999, page 441.

    Today's challenge is to write a poem.  Do you want to write your own ode in praise of something?  Do have fun.

Five Bats Go Flying

Five bats flying
one Halloween night
they zipped and zoomed
they flew to the moon
as they took flight.

"I think I see something,"
said the first bat.
"Oh yes," said the four,
"on a broom, that's the cat."

"I see something."
said the second bat.
"Down in that ditch."
"Oh yes," said the four,
"that is a witch."

"Eeeeee," said the third bat.
"Look at what I see."
"Oh yes," said the four.
"A skeleton hangs in that tree."

"Eeeeek!" said the fourth bat.
"Is that a phantom?"
"No," said the four.
"It's a jack-o-lantern."

"Come," said the fifth bat.
"I know what we should do,
we'll fly in front of the moon
and sing
OOO-ooo-OOO."

"Yes,"said the four bats,
"that's what we should do,
we'll fly to the moon singing
OOO-ooo-OOO-ooo-OOO!"


     Sorry, I'm late today.  I've been having too much fun playing with this poem and the art work to go with it.  What I really want to do and will do soon is re-cast this poem as a poem for five voices--or as a mini-play/poem with one voice for each of the bats, a narrator and the chorus for the group of bats.
    Anyway, now it is your turn.  Can you write a poem about a bat today?  This is a good poem to try in rhyme since the "at" family of rhyming words is pretty big with lots of possibilities.  What ever you do, have fun today.  I'm so glad you stopped by. Thank you for coming to my poetry playground.