Crazy Mad

I'm mad about monkeys,
crazy for cockatoos.
I love cuddly koalas
and jumping kangaroos.

All of these animals
and my own little Ted
leave me no room
when I go to bed.

Do you have a favorite stuffed animal you sleep with?  What do you think your animal dreams about? Can you write a poem about your stuffed animal's dream today? Have fun writing.

I paid the electric bill to read your poem.

MANTICORE VII

My manticore is
a Tri-le-key.
He has a triangle head,
the body of an eagle
and the feet and tail
of a monkey.

Who says a trilekey
can't be a regular guy.
With eagle wings,
he can soar and fly.

He eats snakes,
he spies on the ground,
and when he sees one
he makes a monkey sound.
hu, hu, hu.

   That is the last of the manticores poems I wrote with the second grade students at Kapa'a Elementary School. I was re-reading the Afterword, X. J. Kennedy wrote for the 35th Anniversary Edition of THE REASON FOR THE PELICAN by John Ciardi.  He mentions the made up characters of Lewis Carroll, and Edward Lear, and the Bugle-Billed Bazoo, the Brobinyak and the Saginsack of Ciardi.  These silly characters opened the door to Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky to add their own wacky characters.  Great fun to trace your silly poetry character ancestry back in history.  So your challenge for today is to make up your own imaginary character and let us know what it does.  Yesterday, on A Writer's Playground, in her blog post Linda Andersen wrote about socks getting lost in the dryer.  Now there is a great monster I'd like to know.  One that picks your socks off the floor and eats them.  What would you call such a monster?  Write your poem.  Have fun.

The one who asks questions doesn't lose his way.  African proverb

ELEMONKOE

My ele-mon-koe
is amazing and neat
with an elephant's head,
a monkey body,
and two canoes for feet!

He trumpets his trunk.
Through the river he glides.
Splash and swish.
Eating peanuts and bananas
is his favorite wish.

    Are you tired of manticore poems?   I hope not.  I'm still having fun.  I enjoyed how the children thought canoes would make good feet.  Remember, I live on an island where children participate in canoe teams for paddling competitions.  This is a part of their culture and certainly good material for poems.

       Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day.  Did you carry a poem today to share with friends and family?

It is Poem in Your Pocket Day
and here's what I'll do,
I'll carry a poem
to share with you.

I'll take out my poem
and learn it by heart,
and then you'll think
I'm very smart. 

Eat more poetry!

Monkey

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

A monkey sat
and stared at me.
I wondered what he
thought he'd see.

He chattered, chirped.
I heard him cry.
This monkey was
one noisy guy.

Did he want my peanuts
to take away?
Or was he just asking
me to come play?


   My drawing is of a velvet monkey, which is very common in Kenya.  They may gather in groups of 30 or more and are equally adapt in trees or on the ground.  I saw one of these monkeys just outside my tent.  He stole my little package of M&Ms, the rascal and then came to the tent flap and stared at me like he was begging for more.  The velvet monkey has a black face and black hands and feet.
If the monkey could write a poem in his voice, what do you think he'd say to me?  Have fun writing your poem today.

THE ANIMALS GIVE THANKS

Thanks said the elephant
eating his grass.
Thanks said the rhino
as he wandered past.

Thanks said the giraffe
munching on leaves.
Thanks said the monkey
swinging through trees.

Thanks said the lion
as he strolled on his way.
We're glad we're not turkeys
on Thanksgiving Day.


    I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with lots to be thankful for.  Can you write a poem for a friend today?  Have fun writing.

The Monkey

A monkey raced
into my room.
He's jumping 
on the bed.
I hope he'll 
be gone soon,
and isn't waiting
to be fed.

MONKEY IN MY BACKPACK

There's a monkey in my backpack
     and he's trying to get out.
There's a monkey in my backpack
     and he's wiggling all about.
There's a monkey in my backpack
    and he's jumping all about.
There's a monkey in my backpack.
    Can you hear him shout?
     LET ME OUT!


      This poem can be read in two voices with everyone joining together on the last line.  Young children can act out the jumping and wiggling.  Everyone can join together in shouting the last line.  Can you write your own poem today about what you put in your backpack?  Have fun.  Here's wishing you a GREAT weekend.

Epigraph

     Last Thursday I presented a poem with an epigraph by Wistawa Szymborska.  I discussed the term "epigraph" and suggested that you try writing your own poem with an epigraph.
     In talking with Jessie Artes about epigraphs, he mentioned one from his mom.
"A hard time will make a monkey eat pepper," by Arnell Artes. I did a goggle search on this phrase and found it was an old Southern saying.Have you heard it before.

HARD TIMES

Hard time will make a monkey eat pepper-- Arnell Artes

You know the hard times,
we've all had them
I walked to school
in the snow
once had only peanut butter
and crackers to eat for a week
shoe holes stuffed with newspaper
collars turned inside out
to get twice the wear
I wore skirts made from
Daddy's trousers.
Nothing was wasted
but any time I didn't
clean my plate
mom would mention
that monkey.