Dirty Billy

My baby brother Billy
has a circle on his nose.
Somehow he missed eating
all of his Cheerios.


He wears yellow mustard
red catsup, and something green
on his shorts and t-shirt
that this morning were clean.

  Did you get new back-to-school clothes?  What did you wear for the first day of school?  What do the new clothes say to each other when they meet at school? Can you write a poem about clothes today?  Have fun writing.

Today I'll be as happy as a new pair of shoes.

MY NEW T-SHIRT

Oh, Dear!
This is my greatest dread.
Mom put my new white t-shirt
in the wash with something red.

That red something,
what would you think?
It turned my t-shirt
a vivid shade of pink.

     I hope you are having a great day.  Do you have a favorite t-shirt, shoes or dress?  Can you write a poem today about one piece of clothing you like the best?  This could be fun.  Maybe it's your blanket. 

T-Shirt Give Away

PROGRESSIVE POEM Each day during the month of April I will add a line to this poem.

WHAT IS POETRY? 

Perhaps no person can be a poet, or can even enjoy poetry, without a certain unsoundness of mind. --Thomas Babington Macaulay

It is finding the truth, no need to lie. 
It's munching on watermelon and letting seeds fly. 
 
It's a letter that comes with a card in the mail. 
It's the lacy silver threads left by a garden snail.
 
It's daffodil trumpets covering the hill. 
It's a deer at the creek, drinking her fill.
 
It's giggling and laughing and being absurd. 
It's reading a haiku and feeling each word. 
   

It's a dragon who blows flames, loud and hardy.   
It's fairies in the garden having a tea party.
 
It's the sound of a truck shifting its gears. 
It's the feel of two soft puppy dog ears.
 
It's a bright sun rise and glowing moon shine. 
It's a Carolina wren singing in a Lob-lolly pine. 
 
It's a snowman rolled on a cold winter morn.   
It's crows calling from tall tasseled corn.
 
It's the whisper of hummingbird wings in the air.
It's plaits and curls tied with bows in my hair.

It's spying a bird feeding her young.

It's pink cotton candy that melts on your tongue.

It's watching black ants as they march by. 

      On April 20, Poetry for Kids Joy celebrates the two year anniversary of posting a poem every day.  Happy Birthday Blog.  To help with the party, I'm going to give away an orange, size large,  POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL  t-shirt.  If you'd like the opportunity to win this t-shirt, just leave your name in the comments below with a line about what poetry is to you.  Be sure to leave your name so I can contact you if you are the winner.  I will take entries from now until midnight between Friday and Saturday (Pacific Standard Time, April 20, 2013.)  If you don't want this t-shirt, I bet it would be easy for you to turn it into a couch pillow.  Please tell all your friends.

A Year

In September, I got a new blue backpack to start school.

In May, a wren built a nest in the planter outside my window.  I heard the birds sing.

In November, Grandma sent me a new pair of soft red mittens.  I lost them before the new year.

In June, I went swimming in the cold water of the lake.

In January, I didn't celebrate my birthday, the snow was too deep.

In August, Grandpa took me fishing, I caught my first fish.

In October, Daddy took a trip to Texas and brought me back a t-shirt.

In February, my younger sister stole $5 from Mom's purse to buy books at the book fair.

In July, I ate six ears of buttered corn at the Fourth of July picnic.

In March, the frogs croaking down by the creek were so loud they kept me awake.

In December, I got a bicycle for Christmas and was so happy.

In April, it was National Poetry Month when I wrote this poem.

     Here is another list poem based on the months of the year.  I've mixed up the months to keep the poem more interesting and less predictable.  What line do you think is the most interesting?  I've tried to include the five senses--smell is probably the weakest in this poem.  What would make a better line to feature smell?
    So here is your assignment.  Write 12 lines of poetry based on the 12 months of the year.  Try to include your five senses.  Make one line a negative line of something you didn't do or something that didn't happen.  If you have a sibling, make one line about something your sibling did or likes.  Do you have a pet, devote one line to your pet. Start by making a list of things you've done, seen, received--that sort of thing, and then pick some interesting ones to shape into your poem.  Have fun.  Please share your creations with me in the comments below, or at least share your most or least interesting line.  Write on.