Happy Poetry Friday

Our weather this last week has been fantastic.  On Wednesday I went to McBride Gardens on the south side of the island for the opening of their new canoe garden featuring all the plants that were brought to the island by canoe.

I did learn two interesting facts:

The Hawaiian islands are the most remote islands in the world.  They are the farthest away from another land mass.  I'd never thought about that before.  But, just finding our islands by boat must have been a great accomplishment for early travelers who only had the stars to guide them.

Hawaii has had more plants and animals go extinct here than any other place in the US.  This is why gardens and nature preserves are so important.

There was a blessing of the garden.

Here is a poem I wrote about my experiences this week.

PRESENCE

Fog blooms on my window pane.
Silver dew laces upon the hill.
Rainbows where there once was rain,
Finding myself by being still.

A rooster crows down the lane.
Wrens perch on a mango bough,
Living fully, but not in vain,
Living my life in the here and now.

What have you done this week?  What have you learned?  Can you try writing your own poem about something you've experienced this week.  Have fun.

It is Poetry Friday.  You can find more poetry at the Poetry Friday Round Up hosted by Kay McGriff  at A Journey Through the Pages  this week?  Thanks you Kay, for hosting us all.

SPRING

Spring is coming.
I can tell.
The quail have started
to screech and yell.

Cane flies are 
at my window today
and the little cactus wren
calls me to come play.

My fence roses are blooming
in yellow and white,
spring in the desert
is a beautiful sight.

     I hope it is starting to feel like spring where you live.  I've had a vase of daffodils on my kitchen table this week.  The coyotes have been particularly noisy howling at one another on my morning walks.  And, there are four planets visible in the night sky.  Our daytime temperatures are in the 80's.  Lovely weather, except for the wind, and that just moves the clouds around making interesting shapes of them.  Everything is good.  Can you try writing a poem about something good in your life?  Have fun being grateful and writing.

CHORUS

A bird symphony
surrounds
red of cardinal
and gila wood pecker
blue of jay
purple and yellow finch
rosy pink of dove
brown quail and cactus wren
gray of a mocking bird
voices swirl
trill high
sing deep
some tap a beat
the music lifts
pulls my head
higher, higher
makes me feel
like I just might
              Y!
         L
    F

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.