SING

Tra-
la-la
Dee-
Dah
A lilt
trips
over
your lips
in a song.



     There are a lot of songs and poems that include a scale for singing. Fa-la-la-la-la-la lah. Do-re-mi, so, your challenge for today is to write a poem that includes some musical notation.  All of our lives need more music, let's see if you can put it into your poem today.

WHISTLE

Tongue curls,
purse lips,
little blows
in tiny sips
Whee-ee-ee-ee-ee!
It is a whistle.


    Can you write your own poem today that includes a whistle?  Have fun playing with this sound.

RASPBERRY

Ripple of air
blown between
tongue
and lips.
A reverberation
happens there
when air flows.
Blow!
Feel the tickle
on your tongue.

    A fun stage of development for babies is when they learn how to blow raspberries.  What are some of the funny sounds you can make with your mouth?  Can you write a poem about this silly subject?  Have fun writing.
    Happy Boxing Day.  Do you know why the day after Christmas was called Boxing Day?  It is a holiday still celebrated in Great Britain.

SMILE

A smile
happens
while
you
turn up
your lips.


     Happy Sunday.  What is something that makes you smile?  Can you write a poem about smiling today?

PECK

A quick
small kiss
touching lips
to forehead,
eyebrow,
earlobe,
nose,
chin,
or neck.
Smoochies.


      This is another in a group of small poems to share with the 0-2 year old group.  Poems to encourage parents and babies to play.  
      Your poetry challenge for today is to write your own poem that includes a kiss.  Have fun writing and thinking about all the kisses in your life.

SIPS

Sips
are
small drinks
through
your
lips.

PRACTICING

Quietly I sit.
Watch lips move
on him and her.

I'm practicing,
you see-- to be
a good listener.

      I was reading Hilton Als' column CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK in an old issue of THE NEW YORKER, magazine that I hadn't read yet.  He ended his column with, "Waters has redefined yet another genre, and reengaged our interest in the power of listening."  This got me to thinking about the power of listening.  What qualities are involved in being a good listener?  How might that give you power?  If you had to choose, would you rather be known as a good listener or a good speaker.  I have a friend who is active in Toastmasters because she wants to do presentations and be a good speaker.  But I don't know any clubs to help people be better listeners.  Your challenge for today is to write your own poem about the qualities of a good listener.

Thank You

Thank you for coming to visit today.
It's always a good time
when you come to play.

Now that you're here
what shall we do?
Do you want to play
a game or two?

Perhaps we could work puzzles
or even write rhyme.
You're being here
assures a fun time.

     Today's poem needs work, but it is a holiday and I'm so busy trying to catch up on work. 
Happy Inauguration Day.  I'm eager to see what Richard Blanco wrote as an occasional poem for the celebration.
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  I can't celebrate MKL Day without thinking about T.J., a five year old autistic boy I met on this day in 2003.  I was wearing my MLK button on my collar and T.J. wanted me to know that he was a KING too, and a Jr. too. 
   T.J. has always been special to me because he gave me the inspiration for this poem.  It was first published in my collection Extra Hands, Extra Heart, poems for and about children with special needs. 

T.J. DISCOVERS BRACES

On Monday
at Burton GeoWorld Magnet School
a young autistic boy
names body parts.

He touches my neck and says, Neck.
Touches my necklace.  Necklace, he says.
Hair.
Eyes. 
Eye brow.
Chin.
Lips.

When his warm fingers
touch my lips,
I smile,
showing my braces.

His dark eyes look inside,
he pauses, considers
then, proudly announces,

A teeth necklace.