BAGS

A bag is a bag,
a kind of sack
for holding your lunch
or afternoon snack.

Used for art projects
or wrapping up gifts,
a bag is an instrument
for playing your riffs.

A bag is a kite
or makes scary masks.
A bag is useful
for all sorts of tasks.

Bags in all sizes,
plain or cute,
but a paper bag won't do
for a wet bathing suit.

   Today try writing your poem on a paper bag, then give it to a friend.  Have fun writing.


Today is Poetry Friday and you can find more poetry posts over at the poetry roundup on  Amy Ludwig Vanderwater's blog, The Poem Farm.      Go here for all the posts.  Thank you, Amy, for hosting us this week.






Today I'll be as happy as a mynah bird in a papaya tree.

APAPANE

© 1999 Peter LaTourrette

‘Apapane (Himatione sanguinea) on ‘Ohi‘a
Pihea Trail, Kaua‘i
© 1999 Peter LaTourrette


The apapane sits
in the ohi'a tree.
He flies so quickly,
he's hard to see.

Red and black feathers
whir to the beat
as he pauses
for nectar to eat.

He loves to sing
all day long.
Can you can hear,
his lilting song?



   The apapane (ah-pah-pah-neh) is a Kauai forest bird.  It has black wings and a red body.  It drinks nectar from the flowering trees, and, of course, the flowers are red, too.  My bird book says the apapane is a member of the vireo family.  I want to thank Peter LaTourette for permission to use his photograph. He's a brillant photographer.  If you go  here you can see several more examples.

   What is you favorite bird?  An owl?  A flaming red cardinal?  Or, a L.B.J. (little brown job)?  Can you try to write your own poem about a bird today?  Have fun exploring birds.

   Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has a brand new book EVERY DAY BIRDS, with poems about birds you may enjoy reading. The paper cut illustrations by Dylan Metrano are spectacular.

There is beauty and peace in poetry.