HIPPOPOTAMUS

Joy Acey, 2014

copyright, 2014, Joy Acey

Hippo, hippo, hippopotami

down by the river acting shy.

You can hear them

grunt and groan

as they go splashing by.

Hippo, hippo, hippopotami.

I wrote this poem because I like saying hippopotami.  Are there any words you like the feel of in your mouth and the sound in your ear?  Can you write a poem today with words that you like--bubble gum, buffalo, beautiful, caramel?  Those are a few of mine.  Today is a great day for making a list of words your mouth likes.  (Why do so many of my favorites relate to food?)

Have a super-dee-dooper day writing a poem.

FLOATING ON THE RIVER

A river named Poetry
flows through my dreams
with cascading mists
dancing in moonbeams.

The cool taste of words
delights in my ear
as I'm drifting in poems
full of good cheer.

I wade with my Wellies
and grab some smooth stones,
for as long as there's poetry
I've no need to roam.

Exotic destinations are all
found in verse.
Addicted to rhyming,
oh, that is my curse. 

POEMS LIKE A RIVER

Write like the river.
Let your words flow.
Where it will take you
you may not know.

It might be to fantasy
or could be sci-fi.
Words create reality, 
so give it a try.

Let poems drift
out of you pen,
and then when you're done
start over again.

   Happy Poetry Friday!  You poetry challenge for today is to try free writing a poem.  If you get stuck try sitting quietly and making a list of all the things you hear.  Then can you shape that list into a poem? Have fun writing.

     I'm travelling and having some problems posting from my iPad.  I'll post this poem for now and will fix it later.  Boy, is this frustrating.

Dream Poem

There is a river
I skate upon
in my dreams
from dusk until dawn.

Oh the adventures,
skating near and far
and when I'm tired
I rest on a star.

    What do you dream about? Your dreams can take you anywhere.  Can you write your own dream poem today?  Make it fun.

JUNGLE ABECEDARIAN

   I can't believe I'm coming back for one more round, I guess I'm just having too much fun with this form.  I opened my notebook this morning to write today's poem and found the beginnings of this poem that had stalled out and decided  I could finish it.

“Ahem,” said an Alligator,

Biding his time, “This

Creek flows fast and mighty fine.”

Down on the bank is bunch grass to

Eat, It's juicy, sweet,

Fine, tender, and so

Good and green. The

Holopono River has the best bunch grass

I've ever seen. And

Just as the Alligator has another

K-R-U-N-C-H,

'Long swims a river snake looking for lunch.

Monkeys make

Noise in the Bayans

Overhead, knowing each of them soon may be dead.

“Please,” said the gator politely, “I'm looking

Quite diligently for a

Reptile for

Supper for me.

That tastes terrific and is

Ultimately filling, a

Very nice dinner.

Would you be willing?” “Can't grant the wish.” Snake

X-ed his eyes, “Here's the deal, it's no surprise,

You won't want me for your next meal, I'm too small.

Zebras make a much better dish.”

    Please help me out, any suggestions for improvement?  Have you tried writing your abecedarian yet?  Have fun writing your own poem today. 

Capybara

A capybara

rested by the river

watching the waters flow.

He thought about 

going swimming

but he didn't want to go.

A cattle bird sat on his head

eating the ticks and lice.

"Oh thanks," said the capybara,

"that really is quite nice."

     The Capybara is world's largest rodent.  Some call it a giant guinea pig.
This is another picture from my Peruvian trip.  Where are you going for a summer vacation, or where would you like to go?  Write today's poem about that.  And remember you are supposed to be having fun writing your poems.  So, if you don't like my suggestion,write something else.  The important thing is to write early and often.