MERMAID

A mermaid sat
upon the rocks
singing to the reef.

On days the sun
was shining, her smiles
were filled with teeth.

On days the rain
was splashing, her songs
were filled with grief.

   I read something today about a "mermaid mind."  I thought this a lovely reference to wild and fanciful thinking.  Perfect for muse stirring poetry.  Great for dreaming.  What do you dream about?  Can you write a poem today about dreaming? 

Between dreaming and reality, I think I'll take the dream.

OF THIS DAY

Walk

into the morning

skies gray,

clouds cover,

rain--

a bluesy day.

Put feet

on the floor,

brush teeth,

plaster a smile.

Walk into this morning

make something beautiful.

   This is another poem that reads well, line by line, in either direction.  This is always a good sign for me that I've got only the essential words I need to convey the meaning of the poem.  I pulled a lot of words out of my draft.  I had considered using the title for the last line of the poem, but in revision I decided I didn't need that line.  I also had a simile--rain falls like tears-- but I thought that was a cliche, I'd heard that before.  So I got rid of the simile, and it left me with the question of What can rain do but fall? So it becomes redundant to say rain falls. I got rid of falls, too.  Now it is your turn.  Can you write a poem about the weather in your part of the country?  Then, after you have a draft, can you go back and get rid of every extra, redundant, cliche word you can find?  My critique group used to tease that they bring their poems and go home with haiku after we took out everything extra, all the words that didn't contribute to the meaning of the poem.  And, if you think that is bad, try critiquing haiku.  It is a fun challenge because absolutely every word has to count--exactly what writers of picture books are told when they write 100 word stories.

  The Poetry Friday Round Up is hosted by Buffy Silverman  this week.  You can find other poems by children's poets at her blog, Buffy's Blog 
  Thank you Buffy for hosting us this week.
   Just curious, are you like me?  Every time Friday rolls around, I feel like my poem for the day isn't good enough.  I look at poems I've posted earlier in the week and think I should have waited and posted that poem for Friday.

   Children's Poetry can make sunny days.

WHAT DOES THE TOOTHBRUSH KNOW?

What does the toothbrush know?
     The minty taste of the paste's flow.
     To brush up and down, to and fro.
     To slide over each tooth slow.

What does the toothbrush know?
     A missing tooth makes a window.
     To rinse before you go.
     To make each smile all aglow.


         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.

ELEPHANTS

COPYRIGHT 2014,Joy Acey

Hold up, Mommy.
Don't walk away.
This grass is good.
I want to stay.

I'll grab your tail.
That's what I'll do.
Because I don't
want to lose you.

I'll try as I may
to hold on tight.
Don't want to let you
out of my sight.



   Elephants have six sets of teeth that they wear through at about one set every ten years.  Their teeth are mostly molars with flat surfaces on top.  Elephants are endangered because many are killed each year for their ivory tusks.  Many of the babies fall down wells and then starve and die.  What do you know about our largest land animals?  Do you have a favorite book about elephants?
Can you write your own elephant poem today?

copyright2014, Joy Acey

GOING TO THE DENTIST

I'm going to the dentist today.

They'll clean my teeth for me.

While I'm there they'll take an Xray.

I hope they don't see even one cavity.

I brush my teeth to keep them clean

and use dental floss each day.

I want my teeth to be bright and gleam

and I hope they stay that way.

     What is the rhyming pattern on this poem?  Do you like going to the dentist?  My dentist always gives me a new tooth brush.  Do you have sealants on your teeth?  Do you get a fluoride treatment?  Having clean, strong teeth is important for good health.  Your dentist and dental hygienist can help with this.  Can you write a poem about your dentist, or your teeth today?  Have fun.