SATURDAY MORNING

Woke up this morning
there on my deck
a snake was sleeping
and causing heck.

The dog was barking,
the cat hissed to say,
Wake up, Mr. Snake.
Please slither away.

SEA, SEA

Sea, Sea,
what do I see
swimming down here
in the deep blue sea?

A whale, a whale
is what I see,
swimming down here
in the deep blue sea.

Minnows,minnows
are what I see
swimming down here
in the deep blue sea.

Shells, shells
are what I see
on the sand
in the deep blue sea.


     This poem is a fun one for making a poetry game for young children learning about the ocean.  Children can take turns naming something they can see in the ocean to make the next verse.  Is it kelp, a jellyfish, shark, lobster, crabs,  or some other treasure?  There are certainly enough possibilities that every child can have a chance to play and the rest of the class can fill in the other lines. 
     This poem also introduces homophones--two (or more) words that sound alike but have different spelling and meanings.  Sea and see, sound the same but have different meanings.  Can you write a poem today that includes a homophone?  Have fun writing.

    Happy Poetry Friday.  Tara at A Teaching Life is hosting us all for the Friday Poetry Roundup.   Thanks, Tara.  And thank you for sharing the lovely William Blake poem about the end of summer THE SCHOOLBOY with us.

SELFISH SNOT

His elbow jabbed me
in the ribs.
He told me he was
calling dibs.

Upon the pear
I thought was mine.
I didn't think
his jab was fine.

I didn't think his jab
was kind.
I thought I'd share
some of my mind.

I wondered what
I should say
to let him know
he'd NOT get his way.

And jabbing elbows is not wise.
We need to learn to compromise. 

And with thisyellow, juicy pear
perhaps, he and I 
could learn to share.

THE COLOR PINK

"Pink," she said.
With the softness of clouds
the fragrance of sweet peas,
the taste of warm watermelon.

Pink, the kindest of colors,
a flamingo dunking
to grasp a shrimp,
or the almost white
of galahs.

Pink is forgiveness
in soothing tones,
the soft nap of baby's blanket.

Pink wipes tears
from the cheeks
of the mean reds.


   Can you write your own color poem today?  What does the color make you thin of?  what music goes with your color?  Have fun writing your poem.

USE SUN BLOCK

The sun is beating
on my arm.
I need UV protection
to keep me from harm.

I spread sun block
all over the place
and put a double dose
on my face.


    What safety precautions do you take when you go out doors?  When you are camping?  When you go swimming?  Can you write a poem about one of the things you do to be safe?  Have fun writing.

MONDAY MORNING SLOG

Some mornings 
I don't want
to get up at all.
Back in my bed,
I want to crawl.

It is then
that I plaster
a smile on my face.
I get up, get dressed
and join the human race.


     Do you ever have mornings when you don't want to get up?  What would you do if you could spend the whole day in bed?  Can you write an ode to your bed today?  Enjoy your writing.

HOW THE WHALE FELT

Oh, dear! What should I do?
I opened my mouth
and a boat with Jonah
came in too.

A boat and Jonah,
I should note
are stuck
down there
inside my throat.

Oh, dear!  What can I say?
I've coughed and coughed
but they won't go away.

Oh, dear! I feel quite ill.
No matter my effort,
they're stuck there still.

Oh, dear! I don't want 
Jonah for a guest.
With him in my throat
I can not rest.

Oh, dear! On keeping them
I'm not too keen,
I like food filtered
through my baleen.

Oh, dear!  I'm surely stuck.
that wooden boat
is my bad luck.

Oh, dear! I can't take much more.
My throat is raw
and very sore.

Oh, dear! I don't want to pout.
Can you tell me
how to get them out?


      This is a poem that works well for a group reading.  The group can repeat the refrain of, "Oh dear!" or members of the group can be given separate lines.  Can you try writing you own poem with a repeated line today?