Riding

I've ridden a horse
in Colorado.
I've ridden a burro
in old Mexico.

I've ridden a buffalo
across the plains.
I've ridden a elephant
 at a zoo in Des Plains.

I've ridden a reindeer
across the Ukraine.
I've ridden a camel
'cross sand in Bahrain.

But the best way to ride,
that I like,
is to pedal around
on my two wheel bike.


      Think about all the ways that you move and transport yourself.  Can you make a list of the many transportation vehicles you've been on or in.  Have you ridden in a car, a train, a bus, a plane?  How about a wagon?  Can you write a poem about it?  Where did you travel to?

Lunar Picnic

I'll pretend

to be an astronaut.

You can too,

or you can not.

I'd like to steer

a rocket ship

and fly it to the moon.

 I'd dart around 

among the stars

and not fly back til noon.

I'd take some bread and cheese

with me, and yes,  I'd take

a spoon.

I'd share my food 

with everyone

I met upon

the moon.

   Today I've been thinking about pretend play.  If you could pretend to be anyone, who would you be?  A pirate?  A Viking?  An opera singer? A ballerina?  Or maybe just your dog?  What ever you choose, try writing a poem about what you would do.  Have fun.

Burro Benny

Brown Burro Benny,

Will you give me a ride?

I can brush burrs

out of your hide.

I'll plait your tail.

I'll trim your mane.

Let's ride in the sun.

Let's ride in the rain. 

     I wanted to write some poems that use other desert animals and Benny appeared for me to ride.  I hope you enjoy today's poem.  If you were to take a burro ride, where would you go?  Can you write a poem about it? 

Counting Stars

ONE star,

first out tonight.

TWO stars,

twinkling bright.

THREE stars,

shine at night.

FOUR stars,

a pretty sight.

I count every star

that I see,

but there are too many

to count in our

Milky Way Galaxy.

Counting poems are fun to write.  Would you like to try one?  What will you count?  Birds? Buttons? Cars? Leaves? Rocks? Snowflakes?  Have fun what ever you are counting.  You're welcome to share your poem here. 

Counting Doves

One dove sitting

on a telephone wire,

along lands another,

says he's a great flyer.

Two doves sitting 

on the telephone line,

along lands another,

says he's doing fine.

Three doves sitting

on the telephone post,

along lands another,

says,  four is the most

number of birds

to sit on this post.

Along came a hawk,

off they all flew,

flying away

into the blue.

One flew east,

one flew west,

two flew south

and built a nest.

       This morning there was a quail sitting on my fence.  He had a grey chest, a white band and dark bottom.  It looked like he was wearing a winter sweater with a feather cap on his head. He had his feathers fluffed to capture the air and warm himself.  I wonder who first observed the birds doing this and figured out we could do the same thing with down quilts to keep warm.  Do you have a cold poem you want to write today?  Enjoy.

Cactus Wren Song

On top of a Saguaro

all covered in spines

sang a brown cactus wren

in a song that was fine.

This little brown bird

flew to the Palo Verde tree,

his loud trilling song

was quite pleasing to me.

     Do bird songs cheer you?  I heard this one at the end of my morning walk.  I was just coming back up the hill to my house when I saw the bird sitting on top of the tallest Saguaro singing his heart out.  It gave me a real lift and I felt like if that little bird can be happy that it is a sunny day, I too, should be happy for today.  I hope you are happy today.  Can you write a list poem today about all the things that make you happy?

Scurrying Quails

Scurrying quails

in a throng,

skittle, scattle

as they go along

they sing

a quail-ish song,

Churr-Cheep,

Churr-Cheep,

Churr-Cheep.

     Happy Sunday.  Have a fun day.  It is a great day to go outside and collect data of all the things you see, hear, smell and feel to use for writing poems next week.  What ticklies your fancy?  Yes, I know it usually is "tickles" but I like the idea of there being "ticklies."  Give your best smile to someone today.