The Quick Mouse

A gray mouse scampered by.
The lion said,
"Stay and play."

"Eeeeeek,"
squeaked the mouse
and hurried away.


  Lazy Lion is looking for a friend.  He thought Mouse would be his friend.  But, Mouse ran away.  Why do you think Mouse ran?  How do you think Lion felt?  How do you think Mouse felt?
  Some schools have a "friendship" bench.  When a child needs someone to play with they sit on the bench until another child comes to ask them to play.  Does your school have a friendship bench?
  Can you write a poem today about being friends or friendship?  Have fun writing.

A person of great fortune counts his wealth in friends, but you only really need one good friend.

MY CAT

copyright 2015, Joy Acey

My kitten,

as everyone knows,

is the best cat 

you can find.

I dress her

in my doll's clothes.

She never seems to mind. 

copyright 2015, Joy Acey

     This poem was inspired by Stella and Sophie, two new friends I met last night.  Do you have a pet?  A cat?  A dog?  What do you do with your pet?  What does your pet do to you?  Can you write a poem about your pet (real or imaginary) today?  Have fun thinking about imaginary pets.

Writing children's poetry is the best way I know to meet new friends.

This Poem

has tremendous potential.
It might
      make a new friend,
      or find a lover,
      stop a baby from crying,
      win votes,
       create laughter,
       inspire wisdom,
       stop a war,
       bring tears and make memories,
       build dreams,
       or put you to sleep,
  and possibly this poem
  can change lives.







This poem is a list poem based on the line "This poem has tremendous potential." What other things might a poem do?  Can you try writing your own list poem?  Have fun writing.

I'm discovering
in my life
the best things
aren't really things.
I am finding
what I like best
is the happiness
that you bring.

For when I'm sad
and gloomy,
you always bring
a smile.
And when I'm down
and feeling sad
you come
and stay awhile.

Sometimes
you feed me 
candy.
Sometimes
you read a book.
And when 
I really need a friend
I don't have far
to look.


    Today's poem was written especially for you. I was thinking about you and all the fun things you do for me when I wrote this poem. Thank you for being a friend.  Thank you for making my days sunny.
     For a fun exercise, can you figure out how to read this poem with two or more voices?
   Is there someone you are grateful for?  Can you write a poem for them today?  Have fun writing.

LET'S PLAY

Some days are bright and sunny.
Some days are dark and gray.
But, it always is a fun day
when you come to play.

     Today's challenge should be a fun one.  Put on your thinking cap.  Can you write a poem about having someone come spend the day with you?  Use your imagination.  It could be your best friend, but it could also be someone from a book, someone from history, even something from the future.  Have fun imagining and then write a poem that tells me who it is and what you did together.  Oh, my goodness!  My mind is now racing.  What if I had a unicorn to play with?  What if a President came to play?  Oh, wait, I once wrote a whole story about having a star come to play with me.  I wonder what I did with it?  Happy Tuesday, there are so many possibilities.

A walrus wore
an evening suit.
He walked the beach
and he looked cute.

He searched the sands
for perfect shells.
And for stories
he could tell.

He looked for a friend
so they'd be a pair
and his stories
he could share.


    Do you know what an evening suit is?  It is a dinner suit and also called a tuxedo.
So a walrus dressed in a tuxedo, might look very cute. Do you ever wonder what a penguin would look like in an evening suit?  How crazy!  If you were going to dress animals, what would a giraffe wear, or a camel?  How about a pig?

    Linda Baie is the hostess with the mostess for our Friday Poetry Roundup today, you can find her post and links to almost 40 other children poets on her bog TeacherDance today.  Thanks, Linda for throwing the party this week.  It is a dandy good time.  And thank you for your day after Halloween poem.  My sister has been bugging me about writing a poem for what happens to all the Halloween costumes, decorations, etc. on the day after.  Now I can point her in the direction of your excellent poem.  Thank you for writing it.  I enjoyed the reading.

GOOD BYE

Renee, Renee
what should you say
when you see a friend
walking away?

Well, of course
you'd say, Good Bye
for your good friend
you might even cry.


Can you try writing a Good Bye poem today?  How do you tell someone you are going to miss them?

MY NEW FRIEND

My new friend
is like a rock,
a plain geode
found in the desert.

As I get to know her
it's like cracking
that geode
to discover
the beautiful
crystals
sparkling 
inside.


    Oh, I've been having a lovely time writing poems this week.  This poem used two similes.  Can you find them?  What will you write about today?  Have a cool Saturday.  It is only supposed to get to 105 here today.

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY

Here are some Valentine rhymes for book characters.

To Harry Potter.
You really are swell.
My Valentine for you
is a secret spell.


For Horton the Elephant
Here's what I've sent,
A friend who is faithful
100%.


For Ferdinand the Bull
this Valentine Day,
I'm sending you
a flowery lei.


For the French girl, Madeline
a very special Valentine--
a package of drawing chalk
for drawing straight lines.
on the sidewalk.


      Now it is your turn.  Can you write a Valentine verse for your favorite character?  I had fun writing these verses.  I hope you have fun with yours.  Please share your creation in the comments below.

My Anger

Sometimes I get angry.
I shout, stomp and scream.
My face turns a hot, bright red.
Can you see the steam?

Sometimes I simply lose it
when I try to hold that knot.
I'd call my anger an enemy
but then again it's not.

For anger let's me know
that something isn't right,
and I should try to talk things out
instead of starting fights.

Yes, anger is a friend of mine
for I must learn control,
and anger sees what needs to change
to make my life more whole.


     I'm not mad, actually I'm happy it is Friday--time for Poetry Friday Roundup.  Violet Nesdoly is hosting today and you can find lots of other children's poems to read by following that link above.  Thank you Violet for hosting us.

     Your challenge for today is to try to write a simile about being mad or angry.   "I'm as mad as ________.
What simile can you find to fill in that blank?
A startled rattle snake.
An alligator transported to Alaska. (seems I'm stuck on short a sounds, let' see)
A bucking zebra bitten by hornets.

Chewing Gum Friend

I like you so much

you're as good as they come,

that I'd even share,

your chewed chewing gum.

     WOW!  I must be in a silly mood this week.  I think this poem has the yuck factor that kids would like.  What do you think?  Can you write your own poem about gum?  Maybe you can try chewing as you write and see if that effects your poem, or the rhythm of your lines.

My Winter Cocoa Mug

My favorite cocoa cup

is the color of my friend

sweet,

warm,

comforting.

     Today's poem is a little different, so the challenge will be too.  Take any object of winter (sweater, boots, mittens, snow shovel, etc.) and then tell how that object is like your friend.  When you compare two things and say one is  like the other, that is a simile.  When you say the winter object IS your friend--that is a metaphor.  Use either a simile or a metaphor in your poem.  Have fun.