HOW TO MAKE A FAIRY GARDEN

Look for a quiet spot
under the canopy of a tall tree.
If there are dead leaves
that's good, if there is moss
in the shade it is even better.

Scatter stones
to shape a walkway.
Carve a log into a house.
Use two rocks to make a bench,
others for some chairs.
Add a pine cone or dried mushroom
for a table.

Use sticks to form a fence.
Do you want to dig a wee well?

Then put out a sign saying
Fairies Welcome
and hope one takes up residence.
Plant seeds of happiness
and watch your garden bloom.



     I'm being fanciful and I invite you to join me.  This is a "how to" poem that gives directions.  Can you write your own "how to" poem today? Perhaps you'd like to write about how to catch a fairy.  Have fun.
Let your imagination soar.

WATCHING BIRDS

Thrasher, 
tanager,
finch,
Cactus wren,
warbler, 
Gambel's quail,
white-winged dove,
Gila woodpecker,
phainopepla,
even a vireo
all know
my bird feeder
is the place to go.

And two hawks circle
float in the sky
making those birds
flutter and fly.


    The birds are having a grand time in my backyard today.  I've counted 10 white winged doves sitting on the fence in a row.  The music is wonderful from the small song birds.  The Gila woodpecker is a pest.  She lives in one of the holes in the Saguaro and dines at my house.  I wouldn't mind, but she keeps trying to drink from my hummingbird feeder and with her long this beak, she does a great job of it.  If you were a bird, what kind would you be?  Can you write a persona poem today in the voice of a bird?  Have fun.

WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING

When I woke up this morning
the sun was already out,
I watched two quails scurry
with little quailets all about.

When I work up this morning
I saw two rabbits eating grass
they munched across the garden
as I watched them wander past.

When I woke up this morning
I saw a lizard on the wall
he was clinging tightly,
he didn't even fall.

When I woke up this morning
I watched the goldfinch fling
themselves upon the bird feeder
and heard the song they sing.

When I woke up this morning
I thanked the shining sun
and all the clouds in the heavens
for making this Sunday fun.


    What did you see this morning when you woke up?  Can you write your own poem about that?  Have a great day.
    To all my wonderful friends and readers, thank you for making my birthday a really, really special day for me.  I think I had the best birthday ever.  Thank you.

BEING ME

Today I'll try to be the best I can be
because there really is only one ME.

I'll work really hard to learn and to grow
because I'm the only me that I know.

I'll read a book, write a poem or three
I'm the only one who knows how to be me.

When we play together, you will see
You can be you and I will be me.

  

    This is the start of a poem.  Where it is going, I don't know yet.  But, it is Saturday and that makes it a play day for me--a day to feed my creativity well.  What will you do today to feed yourself? Try to write something today even if it is only a shopping list or a to-do list (it is often easy to turn those into poems.) 
   Today is the birthday of  Theodore Roethke (my birthday poet) and Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Perhaps you can find some time today to read some of their poetry. 
    Have a great day and write soon.

WHEELS ON THE ROAD

The wheels on the car,
squish, squish
thump, thump
over the hot tar road.

The wheels on the pick up truck
squish, squish
bump,bump
over the macadam road.

The wheels on the dump truck
squish, squish
rattle, rattle
over the gravel road.

The wheels on the semi truck
squish, squish
swish, swish
over the highway road.

The wheels on the bus
squish, squish
jump, jump
over the wet, black road.

All the vehicles
come and go, come and go
splashing, bouncing
rolling over all our roads.


  There were a lot of cars out on my morning walk, and this is what I came up with.  If you're a fan of THE WHEELS ON THE BUS, you might see some similarities, except I'm going with different vehicles; and all of the tires go squish, squish.  Do you have an idea why?

   Now stick with me here.  I jumped from this idea to how I could take the same cadence of WHEELS, to my pet turtle.

MY PET TURTLE

The head on my turtle,
ducks right in,
ducks right in,
ducks right in.
The head on my turtle,
ducks right in,
hiding in his shell.

Can you see how the verses for the feet and tail might follow?  Now, jump back to a child going to bed.

GOING TO BED

The toes on my feet
tuck right in,
tuck right in,
tuck right in.
The toes on my feet
tuck right in
to my snugly bed.

  Then you could move to:
the feet on my legs, the knees on my legs, the shins on my legs, the thighs on my legs-- you name a body part and it can be tucked into bed.  And if a child doesn't want to go to sleep he could keep you going all night thinking of body parts to tuck into bed.

  So, here is your challenge--think of an object--animal, mineral, or vegetable, and write your own short verse using this repetitive cadence.  Have fun with this, you can be as weird and bizarre as you choose.  Just WRITE, and have fun with poetry.

FLYING KITES

A blue kite flew in the sky
Then a green kite
Came floating by.
 A yellow kite jumped up too
A white kite and a red kite
To join the blue.
All the kites flying high.
Then up came a pink one
To float on by.
They're all flying
Having fun.

MY TRAIN

Chug, Chug. Chug
goes the train
moving down the track.
The engine starts the front.
The caboose brings up the back.

Behind the engine 
rolls the coal car
it helps the train
travel very far.

In the middle
roll the flat cars,
and the box cars, too.
Chug, Chug, Chug.
They're coming to visit you.

     What is your favorite toy in the toy box?  Can you write a poem about it today?