THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE

Whoever said,
The best things
in life are free,
stopped to listen
to birds singing
in a tree.

 I hoped that worked for you.  I was trying up loading a video of the bird singing.

And now, I noticed the moon was still out on my morning walk.

The moon is caught
in the saguaro spines.
The needles are strong,
holding like twine.

What will happen
if it can't get away?
Will we be stuck,
day after day?

Will we never
have another night?
Somehow that doesn't
seem quite right.

    

     Ok. That one will take patience.  There are a lot of long pauses.  I was trying to make a poem up on the spot, something I like to challenge myself to do and the pauses between lines are a little long while I was thinking about where the poem was going to go.  Have you ever tried to make up a rhyme while standing on your feet?  Sometimes the movement of my feet helps the rhythm of the poem.  But, in this case I just wanted something to go with the cool moon in the saguaro.  I tried a haiku too.  Perhaps you'd like to try a haiku to go with one of the pictures you've seen today, or better yet, use something from your landscape.  Have fun.

If the videos don't work, I'll come back and edit them out.  Have a great weekend.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Karen Edmisten this week on her blog at http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/  Thanks for a great party, Karen.  You can find lots of other great poetry for children on her blog.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN

 Inside the butterfly garden
the butterflies are all astir.

 Their wings, they are flapping,
flying in a whir.

 Yellow, orange and blue ones,
dancing all about.

 Careful when you exit.
Do not let them out.

 Watch them stop to rest,
dull underside of wing.

 Filled with graceful magic

the butterfly garden brings.


   Have you ever hatched a butterfly?  Have you watched one fly?  Have you visited a butterfly garden? 
Can you write your own butterfly poem today?   

Turtle's and Mink's Conversation.

"What do you think?"
asked the mink,
"Would you like
some cocoa to drink?"

"Oh my dear,
I think it's clear,
that water
from the sink,
would make
a better drink
for a mink,"
said turtle.


   Quick, name two animals.  Now write a conversation between the two.  What would a cat say to the cow?  What would a pig say to the hummingbird?  What would Charlotte say to Wilbur?  

"Who-who,"
said the Owl.
"I think it's true,
that the night
brings a moon
to me and to you."

"Oh, no,"
said the snake.
"You've made 
 a mistake.
That light you  see
is a flashlight, tee-hee."

    Have fun creating your own poem.

WINTER MOON

Cream sickle, dream sickle,
wintertime moon,
you rise too late
and set too soon.



     My friend Rosi wrote a haiku in response to my poem SNOW MOON.  It got me to thinking about other phases of the moon and how I like to sleep more in the winter.  Have you written a poem about the moon?  The moon currently is waning, so it soon will be sickle shaped.  Did you know that Sickle also refers to a group of six stars in the constellation Leo?  Have fun writing your own poem today.
     And yes, I was also thinking about food--Creamsicles.

EARLY SPRING

The weather is warm.
The air is dry.
The sky is blue
as the bluest sky.
Wild flowers bloom 
on every hill.
Birds are calling
their lovely trill.
Springtime is coming
what a glorious thrill.



     Today is beautiful and I'm happy and grateful.  What is making you happy today?  Can you write a poem about it? 
     Yesterday morning on my walk there was one bird sitting in the top of the ocotillo singing up a storm.  This morning when I walked past that ocotillo, there were two birds sitting there.  I guess the singing bird found someone to sing with him.  I think my own life is like that.  I have lots of friends around, but unless I open my mouth to sing and say, come join me, new friends don't know they are welcome to come and play.  Who can you sing out to today?

Snow Moon

Canopus and Sirius
are the brightest stars 
tonight.
Even thought the moon
is full, and round
and snowy, white.
Come along and join me.
It's quite a sight to see.
And the best part
of this vision
is it's absolutely free.




     Early Native Americans called the first full moon in February the Full Snow Moon because it came at the time of the year when the snows are the heaviest.  That certainly is true this year.  It was also called Full Hunger Moon because this was the time of the year when it was most difficult to find animals for hunting.
     Can you write your own moon poem today?

EARTH WORM

An earth worm
hides below,
eating dirt,
moving slow.

Watch him wiggle.
Watch him grin.
Hiding out from
that robin.


     I've been reading Julia Donaldson's picture book, SUPERWORM, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, (2012, Arthur A. Levine Books, An imprint of Scholastic Inc.) and it got me to thinking about earth worms.  
     Here is your poetry challenge for today: write a poem about something you might find underground.  Have fun writing.