The Night Sky

The sky is a black bowl,

turned over to spill

icy crystals

sparkling bright

to fall 

across my eyes.

I see a bear,

a horse, a lion,

a warrior,

even a dipper

racing across the sky.

     It's Saturday.  How are you spending your weekend?  Can you write a poem about one thing you are doing this weekend? 

A Golfing Giraffe

Gerald Giraffe

plays golf

on the green.

It's the strangest

sight

I've ever seen.

His legs are spread

in a golfer's stance.

And he wears

plaid golfer pants.

Perhaps he'll make

a hole-in-one.

Gerald Giraffe thinks

playing golf is fun.

     Happy Friday.  There are a lot of "G"s in this poem.  Is there a "g" in your name?  The name of your town?  Street?  Can you write your own "G" poem?  I hope you have giggling fun writing.

A Fox and the Opera

"Let's go to the opera,"

said funny Frannie Fox.

"Please buy us tickets

for a ground floor box."

"There I will feel safer

than in the balcony.

A ground floor box,

is sufficient for me."

"You can wear a tuxedo,

and I a frilly gown,

when we hear the opera

for our night on the town."

     What do you think a fox in a box at the opera would look like?  What would be the opera Fannie listens to?  Can you write your own poem about the opera, or animals going to the opera?  I'm actually having fun thinking about this.  I may add some more verses later, or perhaps I can turn this poem into a picture book manuscript.  Have a good time with you poem.

A Poem

A poem 

makes my toes

tap,tap,tap.

It makes my legs

want to 

kick,kick,kick.

My knees want to bend

and my bum

wants to

shimmy, shimmy, shake.

My body wants to sway.

My blood pulses.

My fingers

snap, snap, snap.

Poetry makes me

want to throw 

back my shoulders,

throw up my arms

into the air,

and shout 

Wahoo, Wahoo!

Even in sad times

poetry makes me feel

          J

          O

           Y.

   I'm taking a break from the bestiary today because I didn't like yesterday's poem.  And because I was thinking about this poem on my walk and I wanted to share it with you.  My walk this morning was a fun one.  When I started there was a cloud in the sky that looked like a twister with two holes for eyes.  Then those eyes morphed into eye brows and then a mustache and goatee.  Finally the whole thing morphed into a shape like a wolf with a very hungry look because his tongue was lolling out of his mouth.  Do you like watching clouds and making up pictures for them?  So the challenge for today is to watch clouds and write a poem about it.  Or if you'd rather just write a poem like mine about how poetry makes you feel.  Have fun.

Elliot the Eel

Elliot the Eel

wasn't nice-- even a bit.

He shocked all his friends

with his electrical hit.

One morning Elliot awoke

and could not see.

He had lost his

electricity.

"Please help me,"  

Elliot pled,

as Wally Walrus 

swam past his head.

Wally helped Elliot

out that day.

Now Elliot has

changed his way.

Today Elliot the Eel

is kind and genteel.

To his friends, he's sweet.
He knows how they feel.

     How many animals can you name that start with the letter "E"?  Or can you write a poem about eggs?

Doreen Dragon

Doreen Dragon

dances down the street.

She do-se-do's

past all she meets.

Doreen wears a diadem

on her head.

She doesn't take it off--

even in bed.

Doreen is dainty,

delightful, debonair.

Her diamonds, they dangle

in the air.

This dazzling darling,

she dashes, she darts.

Doreen is a damsel

who has won 
all our hearts.

     Doreen definitely loves jewelry.  Can you see her with her tiara, and rings on her fingers and toes, and ropes and ropes of necklaces?  Can you write a poem about jewelry?  Or do you have a special piece of jewelry that has a story about who gave it to you, or the occasion?  Can you write a poem about that?
    

If I Drove the Bus

If I drove the bus
I'd toot my horn
at folks on the street.
Toot, toot, toot.

If I drove the bus
I'd turn on the wipers
and listen to the blades.
Swish, swish, swish.

If I drove the bus
I'd travel up and down hills
and see across the bay
from my high seat.

If I drove the bus
I'd drive straight to you
to pick you up just so
I could show you
the driving I can do.

  The inspiration for this poem came from my friend and poetry pal Heidi Mordhorst, who has a blog My Juicy Universe.  Hop over to Heidi's blog to read her poem and find out more about the great poetry books for children she has had published.   I met Heidi at a Highlight's Founders Workshop in Poetry with David Harrison last May.  I hope to see her at the next poetry workshop in 112 days.
  So if you could drive a bus, what would you do?  Where would you drive?  Who would be on the bus with you?  Write a poem about your adventure.