Rhino

I rhino dozed
in the sun,
munching cane
as he watched
his friends
having fun.

Zebra said, "Hello,"
as he rushed by.
Rhino kept munching,
acting shy.

"Looking good there,
Big Guy," said Giraffe
as she waltzed by.

Rhino kept munching
and didn't reply.

"Hey, Rhino," said Baboon,
"Why so forlorn?"

"I don't want to seem like
I blow my own horn."

   Do you ever worry about people feeling like you are bragging?  Does it take away the pleasure you feel in your own accomplishment? When you worry about what other people will think of you it is probably time to stop and think about how the other people are feeling and to be thankful for your own blessings.  What can you do today to make someone else's day extraordinary?  Would you like to try writing a poem about that today?  Have fun writing.
  This rhino is part of a collection of soapstone carved animals I have.  I'm going to see if I can use it to try to draw my own rhino and paint it with water colors.  I have another chicken I want to draw too. 

 Today is Poetry Friday and you can find more great poetry posts at Check It Out

  Thanks Jone for hosting us.  Jone has some exciting news about the Poetry Camp at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington on October 1.  Check it out. Click on the links to find out more.

ZEBRA

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

running and bucking
black and white zebras grazing
race African plains


   I saw two kinds of zebras in Kenya--the plains zebra and Grevy's.  The plains zebra can have a white belly and white inside their legs.  The Grevy's has narrower stripes and the stripes cover all of the animal.  A zebra is an equid--member of the horse family.  This haiku is about the zebras.  Can you write a haiku about one of the African animals?  Have fun writing.

ZEBRA

copyright 2014, Joy Acey

Zebras
stand together
to graze and slowly herd
kicking, bucking, running in grass
feel free.


     Today's poem is a cinquain--a five line poem.  A syllabic form, there are two syllables in the first line.  Four syllables in the second, six, eight, and then two in the last line.  Can you try writing your own cinquain today?  I hope you have fun writing poems.

Jungle Happiness

It is hot days and cool nights.
It's hiding in the long grass
so you have to carefully
look to see the tigers' stripes.

It's a whole pride of lions
resting in the trees and
zebras and giraffes racing.

It's plants growing large
in the humidity
and when you find a river
it's the elephants trumpeting
and hippos blowing bubbles.

It's watching out for crocodiles
and alligators and flesh eating fish.
And being very careful NOT
to rock the boat.


     What would make you happy to be in the jungle?  Can you write your own jungle poem today?  Have 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. 

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.