Christmas Paradise

Sitting on the beach,
lazing in the sun.
Children dash in the waves.
 Fun,      fun,      FUN!


   Can you believe it was 77 degrees in Kauai yesterday?  My friends are all sending me pictures of snow and talking about how cold it is.  They write about sweaters, snow shoes and sitting by the fire drinking hot chocolate.  I love those things, but I'd rather read about them than be in the cold.  I'd rather see pictures than live it.  After living on Kauai for a year, now when I put on a coat it seems to weigh my whole body down.
   I can remember visiting my sister in Australia one January.  All the children were on the beach having a water rodeo, with swimming and life saving competitions because it is summer south of the equator.
   What is the holiday season like in your part of the world?  What holiday traditions do you treasure?  Can you write a poem today about what Christmas means to you?  This might make a fun list poem.  Have fun writing.

WINTER HAIKU

Building a snow girl
on her head we put a hat
and a mop for hair.

In pink hats and gloves
we're hit with flying snow balls
we bomb the boy's fort.

Good books I can read
I'm set for a school snow day
warm, cuddled inside.

Windows with crystals
sparkling in the morning sun--
diamond tiaras.

Baking with Grandma
we make sweet sugar cookies--
a Christmas present.

For Christmas we sing
all around the neighborhood
finding peace on earth.

   So here are a half a dozen winter haiku, can you write your own winter haiku using a 5-7-5 pattern?  Have fun writing.

MONGOOSE

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

Mongoose
stops in the grass
his red nose glows brightly
thinking of reindeer and Merry
Christmas.

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

   Today's poem is a form poem--a cinquain.  It's a five line poem with 2 syllables in the first and last lines.  There are four syllables in the second line, six in the third and eight in the fourth line.  Seeing the bright red nose on the mongoose made me think of a re-telling of the Rudolph story set in Africa with eight mongoose instead of reindeer.  Do you think Santa could be a Masai?
   Can you try writing your own cinquain today?  Have fun working on your own poems.

MASAI

In Africa

where the sun shines hot

and dust blows

across the plains.

Masai warriors

herd their cows

hoping for

summer rains.

     In the countries south of the equator it is summertime.  The Christmas preparations in these countries are very different from countries in the northern hemisphere.  What things do you do to get ready for Christmas?  Have fun writing a poem today about anything.  

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

 

December is a busy month.
It's hurry, hurry, hurry
bustle, bustle.
It's time to write cards
and hustle, hustle.

It's a time of secrets
and hiding places.
It's cookie baking 
and happy faces.

It's decorating the tree
all weekend long
and practising singing
the Christmas songs.

It's a time
when there is lots 
to do.
And, I'm taking
this season
to think
of you.

     Thank you for reading my blog and sharing poetry with me.  Your poetry challenge for today is to write your own poem about one of the things you traditionally do during December.  Have fun writing.

HAPPY BOXING DAY

It is the day
after Christmas
and today is the day
to say thanks
for all the people
who worked
yesterday.

To Policemen
and firemen,
doctors and nurses.
To grocery store workers,
waiters and waitresses,
the filling station workers.

To tow truck drivers
and all those people
working in hotels
and the entertainment
industry.  The folks
at Disney, Universal, Sea World,
and Knox Berry, Six Flags.

To the people on TV,
the cameramen,
the switchers and audio,
and weather, news,
and sports teams.

To all the people
who worked yesterday
on Christmas,
so you and I could play,
I say, Thank You.
I hope you can enjoy
a Happy Boxing Day.

     Boxing Day is the day after Christmas and traditionally it was a day in British households when the servants who had worked the day before so the family could have a lovely holiday dinner--those servants got the next day off and the family they worked for would have their dinner left for them in boxes.
    As our society becomes more 24/7 with services available at all hours on all days, the number of persons working on Christmas day has increased.  Your challenge for today is to write a poem to thank someone who worked yesterday so that you could have a good Christmas.  Today is a great day for writing your "thank you" notes in the form of a poem.  Happy Boxing Day.

CHRISTMAS STAR

See.

There

At the top.

Rejoice a star.

     What is at the top of your Christmas tree?  Who put the ornament there?  when I was a child we had an angel that went on the top of the tree.  It was the last thing to go on the tree and the honor of placing the last ornament was saved for the youngest child.  What traditions do you have for Christmas?  Can you write a poem about that? 

Christmas Dessert

Our house

is toasty,

the stove

steaming,

Mom is making

our Christmas

plum pudding.

   Have a great Sunday.  I'm flying off to Hawaii today.  So it is your opportunity to write about anything you wish, just write.  Have a great day.

Decisions

Pine trees whisper
while I give thought
to which is the best
on the Christmas tree lot.

It might be a balsam
or a Douglas fir
trying to decide--
my mind is in a whirr.

Finally, I see  one
that stands out from the rest.
This is my Christmas tree.
It is the best.


     I knocked at the door of my neighbors' house yesterday.  From the window I could see the beautiful 7 ft. tree in their living room.  Seeing the tree made me feel so cheerful and full of Christmas spirit.  It did make me feel so happy.  What makes you feel happy?  Reading a book?  Getting your homework done?  Doing a good deed?  Can you write a poem today about something happy?

                          cut Douglas fir tree
                          stands in the Christmas tree lot
                          a cardinal sings

Grandma Asks

What would you like for Christmas?
My grandma asked of me.
I didn't know what to tell her,
or what my present should be.

I don't need another dolly,
I all ready have a bike.
So, I just shrugged my shoulders
and said, whatever you like.  

   If you'd like to hear me read this poem, go here:

https://soundcloud.com/joy-acey/grandma-asks-at

   

  Do you have a Christmas list?  Today, can you write a list poem about what you want for Christmas, or about the presents you are giving?  Have fun thinking.

Shopping

Monday

cyber seeking

time to get a head start

on Christmas holiday shopping

click, done

     Did you recognize that this poem is another cinquain.Did you do any on-line shopping yesterday?  I hope your shopping gave you time to be inspired for writing a poem about something you like to do on your computer.  Have fun. 

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.